The Reign of Antichrist

With many fearing the coming of Antichrist soon, a serious study of Catholic prophecy is in order. Culleton's two works on the subject are valuable in pursuing such a study. Originally written in the late 1940's this book is even more appropriate for those studying prophecy today. Any serious student of Catholic Prophecy should possess several books and this one is near the top of the list. They should also have 'The Apocalypse of Saint John' by E Sylvester Berry and 'The Book of Destiny' by Herman Bernard Kramer. Culleton's other work, 'The Prophets and Our Times', which serves as a prequel for this work is also very useful in carrying study forward. In the 19th century James Ratton wrote two books, 'Essays on the Apocalypse' and 'The Apocalypse of Saint John'. His works should also be consulted by the serious student of Catholic prophecy. Father Culleton wrote his first book THE PROPHETS AND OUR TIMES at the suggestion of Monsignor (later Bishop) Philip G. Scher, who was the pastor when he was an assistant at Monterey. The book itself was written somewhat later when father was pastor at Taft, California (1934- 1944). It was widely read having gene through three editions totaling 12,500 copies. Most purchasers who wrote the author complained that so many had borrowed their copies that the book was literally read to pieces. Father Gerald Culleton lost his life in an automobile accident, February 19, 1950. He was on his way to say Sunday Mass in his mission church when his car struck a truck in the thick fog. This was at the place called Traver on U. S. Highway 99. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Fresno, California. The manuscript for this book was pretty well completed when he died. The index and biblography only were missing. The manuscript passed by will to Father Culleton's Bishop, who passed it along for publication. The introductory chapter states: "The only point I am forced to make deals with an opinion now quite widespread, that the times of Antichrist are uponus. The only reason I speak is because I have found no one without preconceived ideas whom I can quote. "First: Several have told me that Antichrist is already born. One puts him in Pennsylvania, another in Illinois, a third in Iraq; a fourth has informed me that he already has temples in the four corners of the earth, one corner being Chicago and another Los Angeles. Christ has said, "If they say, 10, here is Christ or there, go ye not out to look." If I err not, this means we should not bother with these rumors.When Antichrist comes, the whole world will know him, the elect for what he is, the rest for what he is not. "Second: It is said that the times in which we live fit very well into those which will immediately precede the coming of Antichrist. This is not for me to judge. They are indeed evil times. They are more intensely and widespreadly evil than any that have existed since Constantine. They will, no doubt, get worse. The Church will suffer much more than She now suffers. But whether what we now see or may live to see is any more than one cf the numerous eras which are to precede Antichrist, I do not know. There are those quoted in this book who say we are near the times of Antichrist. "Who am I to say they are wrong? But on the other hand, who are they, that we are to believe them. We do not doubt their good faith. The value of their word we know not."