POPE JOHN PAUL II, "THE END OF THE TIMES", AND THE MIRACLE

This is an older article, published before John Paul II's death but it has a few good points regarding "The End of the Times" prophecy.

Deacon John

Message from Garabandal International regarding Pope John Paul II and the prophesies of Garabandal

Many believers in the apparitions of Garabandal have been worried about the effect the death of Pope John Paul II will have in relation to the predictions of Our Blessed Mother. To make the matter as clear as possible, we offer these quotes from Conchita’s own diary.

Our Lady announces a Great Miracle and a Chastisement

“The Blessed Virgin advised me of a great miracle that God, Our Lord, will perform through Her intercession.
Just as the chastisement will be very, very great, in keeping with what we deserve, so too, the miracle will be extremely great, in keeping with the needs of the world.
The Blessed Virgin has told me the date of the miracle and what it will consist of. I am supposed to announce it to the people eight days in advance, so that they will come. The pope will see it from wherever he is, and Padre Pio also. The sick who are present at the miracle will be cured and the sinners converted. There will be no doubt in the mind of anyone who sees this great miracle which God, Our Lord, will perform through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
And now as we all await this great day of the miracle, let us see if the world changes and the chastisement is averted.”

The Announcement about the Last Pope and "the End of the Times"

It was during the early part of June 1963, the bells of Garabandal started to ring.
Conchita: “The bells are tolling for the dead! It must be for the pope (John XXIII, 1958-1963) Now only three remain.”
Aniceta: “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Conchita: “It is not nonsense. The Virgin told me: After this pope there will only be three more.”
Aniceta: “Then what? Will it be the end of the world?”
Conchita: “The Virgin did not say the end of the world but the end of time.”
Talking to Mother Maris des Nieves:
Conchita: “One day I said to the Virgin, at the time of the future events (warning, miracle and chastisement) 'Will that be the end of the world?' And She answered me 'No, the end of time'.
Frs. Holstein and Ravier, S.J., in Jesus-Christ, Maitre de Pensée (Jesus Christ, Master of Thought), point out: “The end of time in no way signifies the end of all time: it designates that period of holy history which separates the two advents of Christ: His Coming on earth at Christmas, and His glorious return. Inaugurated by His birth in Bethlehem, it is still going on and will terminate at the Parousia (The Second Coming of Christ).”
Conchita told Fr. Marcelino Andreu: “When you see the warning you know we have opened up the end of time.”
Finally, Fr. Francois Turner, one of the most highly regarded authorities on the Garabandal apparitions, in Garabandal Magazine (Jan – Mar 1979) answered two of the questions so many ask today:

1. What is the meaning of “the end of the times" – el fin de los tiempos”?
2. Will there be other popes after John Paul II?

What is the meaning of “the end of the times" – el fin de los tiempos”?

In English, the translation is: “the end of our epoch”, or "the end of these times". It is also satisfactory to say: “The end of the present period.”

Will there be other popes after John Paul II?

According to Star On the Mountain, by Fr. M. Laffineur, this prophecy does not tell us whether or not there will be popes after John Paul II. It is possible that the role of the papacy will change in some of its modalities – indeed, some might be tempted to say that this is very likely if not already a fait accompli. But to say that the papacy will disappear does not seem to be in keeping with the teachings of the magisterium, or Pope Paul VI, who stated that the papacy is a permanent institution of the church – a tenet that is traditional in the Catholic Church.
In summary, Conchita’s startling pronouncement made at Garabandal may signify the coming of a great epochal event around the end of John Paul II’s reign which would coincide with the close of an era, but not of time itself.
Regardless, the death of Pope John Paul II brings us even closer the period of the warning and miracle. If anything, his death, coming when it has, has brought us closer to the brink of the fulfilment of the prophecies of Garabandal. It should be remembered, too, that John Paul II - as with St. Pio - yet can see the miracle from wherever he is, in Heaven or on earth, when it occurs.
Finally, a detailed treatment of the above questions may be found on the Garabandal International Web site at: http://www.garabandal.com/magazine/janmar2004_popes.htm
Believe in Our Blessed Mother, trust in Her Son and live the messages!
Kevin Sharpe, Workers of Our Lady of Mt Carmel de Garabandal