"NO!"
It's just a period in our history where there is a sifting of souls. The period when the tempter works on the elect, the baptized. A period when I/we need to be on our guard. Painful to watch.
Here's a treasure from a book called Prayer in the Presence of God, written by Dom Augustin Guillerand, sent to me by a gracious woman and sister in Christ, among so many of you - both men and women - whom I have had the pleasure to make acquaintance.
Springs gush forth from rocks in the desert. The waters of the sea of rivers divide to allow a vast concourse of people to pass over. The walls of the city fall down, enemies are put to flight and manna descends daily from Heaven. The sick are healed, the lame walk and the dead are raised to life. Hardened sinners are touched by grace, while the minds of men are elevated so that they perceive beyond them perspectives of light by which they almost seem to enter into the very truth of God. Wills are strengthened and at once take control of passions until then unleashed. Divine Love comes so near to souls that He seems almost to consume them and to transform them into His own likeness.
The Church stands, shining on the top of the hill. I watch it as an observer, similar to Paul's last entry in the New Testament.
When you find yourself thinking that it is the 'Church' that is imploding, go there. One day, it will be such a familiar place to you that you'll take up residence there.
Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.
Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him....
"Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates.
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit.
"I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star."
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let the hearer say, "Come." Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.
I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book.
The one who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
