Customer Reviews

Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before, During, and After Antichrist

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This was quite simply an excellent book. It is well written and thoroughly researched. Mr. Birch is a scholar of the first order. More importantly, though, he has the ability to pull the material together and communicate it to the reader in a manner which makes, what would otherwise be some heavy material, very comprehensible. (By the way I would also recommend to anyone who can to watch the 6 and 1/2 hour series, "The Last Things", with Desmond Birch on the EWTN network).
I have always been fascinated by the topic of eschatology, however, never really believed that the Catholic faith had any opinion on the topic, (having never heard it from the pulpit); boy, was I wrong. The Catholic faith has a very well established school of thought on the topic. A school of thought which also has a rock-solid foundation. Desmond Birch does an excellent job laying out the reasons that the rapturists have "left behind" their sound rational teachings from the Catholic church and the early Fathers and Doctors of the Church. I might also add that though this book points out the fallacies of the positions, opinions and techniques of the rapturists he does it without mentioning names and in a very charitable manner. I really can't recommend this book more strongly, (there should be a 10 star option). This book is not glitzy, nor is it likely to end up on many bestseller lists, however, it is an eye-, and mind-opening view of the truths of the Church; one is left with the firm belief and conviction that contrary to the views of some the end is not around the corner. It appears that we have much history left to us, as well as many opportunities to perform God's will on Earth as it is done in Heaven.
A word of caution. This books is obviously written by a Catholic and examines Catholic eschatology. If you, a potential reader, are riddled with anti-Catholicism to the extent that you cannot study with an open-mind you probably will not be very happy with this book. However, the truth is the truth regardless of our individual opinions.

This scholarly book may not appeal to those who want to see sensationalism, but for the reader who wants to read the definitive book on Catholic end-times belief, this is it. Desmond Birch backs up his every conclusion with sound theology. Clearly he has spent a lifetime studying not only scripture, but many obsure Church documents from the early Church. He makes one of the best arguments I've seen for the teaching authority of the Church, which he presented simply as background to understanding the role of Mary in the early Church and today. He is neither gullible nor superstitious, and is unabashedly aligned with Rome--only Church approved apparitions are covered. One of the asides in the book was tremendously meaningful to me personally: Birch pointed out how just about every heresy in history was directly related to a lack of devotion to Mary on the part of the founder of the heresy. After laying all the bricks for a better understanding of apparitions, he discusses in great depth the content and implications of the messages. Everything is summarized very neatly at the end of the book, in case your head is spinning by that time! I couldn't recommend TT&T more enthusiastically. It is a phenomenal study of end times.

Aloha Brothers and Sisters In Christ, I am so excited about a Book I just finished reading! I have been reading from many List Members questions about where to find good Catholic Books. I consider 'Trial, Tribulation & Triumph...Before, During and After Antichrist' by Desmond A. Birch one of the very BEST Books on the Subject I have EVER read! The Book, "TTT" is published by Queenship Publishing. "TTT" is an extraordinary 'read'!!! I 'thought' I knew my Catholic faith. After reading "TTT", I realized I'd 'forgotten' to 'remember' much! I suppose getting 'caught-up' in today's frantic news blitz of information and mis-information, one tends to forget that which one thought one would never forget and then finds out one did! "TTT" has renewed and refreshed my knowledge of Catholic Approved 'End Times' Prophecy, heightening my enlightenment to a level which requires me to expand my understanding of the subject! And believe me, Desmond A. Birch has pages and pages of Bibliography which will keep me reading probably for the rest of my life! Trial, Tribulation & Triumph, ("TTT") involves 23 years of researching and writing on the part of the Author, Birch. He even traveled as far as Rome to translate ancient writings from the 'Fathers' of the Church found deep within the Vatican Library! Birch uses exclusively Scared Scripture, Tradition and tradition,(Caps. "T" and lower case "t" explained in Book)and Church Approved revelation and prophecies to form the 'Chronology' of the events leading up to and including the 'End of the World' we as Catholics can believe. The events which we can expect include, The Minor Chastisment, The Age of Peace, (NOT the 1000 years of peace!!!), The Major Chastisment - The Tribulation of Antichrist, and The Four Last Things. However, a sequence of events that surround the 'end of the world' is not all one receives as Church Approved knowledge after reading "TTT"!!! "TTT"offers the reader an in depth education on 'discernment', Tradition and tradition, Sacred Scripture, Oral and Written Tradition and tradition, Apostles and Sub- Apostles, Extreme Higher Criticism, Vatican II, and believe me so very much more! "TTT" will blow your socks off!!! Desmond A. Birch's Book, 'Trial, Tribulation & Triumph' is recommended by Bishops, Priests and Theologians. Every single quotation in his Book is researched, verified and documented! There is no wonder why many religious and lay individuals are calling "TTT" 'A Masterpiece'! Father William G. Most (recently deceased, God Rest His Soul) was a Full Professorof Theology and Scripture at Norte Dame (Pontifical) Institute's Graduate School. He was also one of the 'Experts' who answered questions from all of us on the EWTN WebSite. Fr. Most wrote of Birch's "TTT": "today Many think the end of the world and great Antichrist may be just around the corner, and that he will appear before the year 2000. A powerful aid (to remedy these errors) is now available in a solidly theological work, Trial, Tribulation and Triumph by Desmond Birch. Now there will be no excuse for false notions or denials on the Antichrist and the other last things." Continuing quotes from Fr. Most: "And false teachers in Catholic universities and colleges hold sway, and often are able to oust the teachers who would follow the Pope. Many priests and nuns who have read the latest book or have attended a workshop given by false teachers not only think this way, but teach others (error). And they (false teachers) are lauded for doing this, and ridicule those who would still dare to teach what the Church teaches. They say Vatican II has revolutionized all theology so that those trained before it no longer know much of anything. So we must watch and pray and utilize all resources, such as TTT to help us steer a course between the Scylla of false beliefs and the Charybdis of enticing errors. We are and should be extremely grateful to our author for this tremendous resource." These quotes and more from Father Most and other Religious are included in the Book. I could go on and on about this Book, but I have probably written too much already. Forgive me for getting so long, but I am so excited about this Book, I wanted to share but a little bit about it with you!!! God bless you all, always and bundantly!!! Aloha nui loa, Pat Na`ea

Don't be daunted by its 500-page length. TTT is extremely wellresearched and scholarly, but also eminently readable. The first twochapters, on Tradition and the effect of extreme higher critics,should be manditory reading for all Catholics, even those not interested in eschatology. The remainder of the book is an excellent antidote to end-times hysteria; it restricts itself to approved prophecies only, and beautifully explains what Catholic teaching really is on the subject. My only complaint is that there are quite a few editing glitches; that's easily overlooked, however, in light of the overall high quality of this work.

Desmond Birch has written a masterly book. It should be required reading for everyone and not just for Catholics. I didn't find it easy to read however, and proofing was not up to scratch. The author's conclusions are as valid now (post-September 11th) as they were in 1996 when the book was written. The author was able in 1996 to conclusively show that the many hysterical prophecies predicting the end of the world in 2000 were false. The author has exhaustively examined a huge amount of material to reveal a common thread:
1)The world MAY OR MAY NOT endure a coming chastisement (World War 3?) Many nations may be wiped out. But, mankind can prevent it if only we will reform our ways.
2)Following the chastisement, we will experience a coming Age of Peace, of an unknown duration. Perhaps a sort of religious renaissance.
3)Incredibly, mankind will again fall from grace and the terrifying age of the Anti-Christ will definitely be ushered in, no matter what. The stage is then set for the showdown of all time. The chickens will really come home to roost! No one knows the hour nor the day, but, after the death of Anti-Christ, the Messiah will come in glory. You'd better believe it!

It would be interesting to hear the author's thoughts in this post-September 11th era.

It would also be interesting to know more about the author. I believe that he asked that we should pray for him. He deserves it. Thank you, Mr Birch.

....but most appreciated!!

I was raised Southern Baptist - we were very deep in "Biblical Eschatology" and I was more immersed than the rest! I was 'hook, line,& sinker' into the 'rapture trap' and what I thought was 'Biblical Prophecy.'

This book cleared up a ton of confusion on my part & I would recommend it to every Catholic, but especially those attending RCIA!

A+ read.....

A complex topic, but the author has done a masterful job of sifting the information and presenting it in a highly readable, format and style. Explains why some concepts held on this topic are erroneous, and what we must hold as being true. A MUST READ for everyone!

This book is excellent and I agree strongly with all the previous positive comments on it. I read this book right after the year 2000. As someone else has posted, I wish the author could update the book (published in 1996) because there is, in my opinion, a bit too much discussion on "year 2000 end-times issues" that now are of less interest (because it is obvious that the catastrophists were wrong). The book could also be enhanced with more analysis of approved prophecies that received few treatment (dreams of Dom Bosco, La Sallete and Fatima, por example). All in all, this is probably the best place to go, if you want to understand the truth on eschatology.

Amazingly, classic Catholic eschatolgy has been all but forgotten in the modern church. While there are many popular theories about the end times, Desmond Birch has compiled only church approved prophecies. His conclusions are very different from modern millenial theories. His work is a wake up call to Catholic's who have been led astray by false visionaries. It is also a fearsome warning addressed to a modern world steeped in mockery, impurity, and apostasy. The main thesis of "Trial, Tribulation and Triumph" may be proven to be true before the end of the millenium. If this "classic" version of Catholic eschatology is accurate, there will soon be very little to argue about.

Desmond Birch is a trained scholar in eschatology as his writing in Trial, Tribulation & Triumph shows. He sought out information about the End Times in the United States and deep within the Vatican library to shape and form his written masterpiece. Birch in his written work believes we should think about End Times as something to be hopeful for because of the prophecy that foretells of an age of peace-- and because hope given when there seems no room for much is a great good. There is a Minor Chastisement that is to occur which sparks the inception of End Times. We can struggle and persevere as is declared in Romans 5: 1-4 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Birch has selected prophecies that are approved apparitions by the Catholic Church, though not taught by them. He has composed the selected material, in the majority of the book, in chronological order and displays it in a clear and unified fashion. He uses the prophecy of Our Lady of Fatima as an example to convey to the reader what the world may be in store for in the future, however, does not claim End Times is presently around the corner as many believe is the case. There is a comment by Lucia after the consecration of Russia that continues to leave my eyes wide open.

I look at the moral decay, atheist philosophy, and political decisions by world leaders and wonder if Socialism is spreading and placing a stranglehold on the Church?

Trial, Tribulation & Triumph was written in 1996 and much has happened since then. There have been natural disasters such as The Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, China's huge earthquake and floods in Pakistan. The European Union is now most likely fully formed and is experiencing probable collapse country by country. You may recall the PIIGS (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) which all have considerable debt amounts and have looked to both the IMF and EU Bank for assistance. If this activity in the European Union continues, the world may have a Great Catholic Monarch emerge on the scene to restore order because that is what Birch claims with plenty of support, such as hundreds of prophecy that all talk about this Monarch.

Ultimately, it is up to the believer to choose whether or not to believe in private prophecy such as Our Lady of Fatima and those about the Monarch because they fall outside the direct influence that the Catholic Church's teachings have on us. But remember, there is taught prophecy: Daniel, Revelation and the Catholic Catechism. Birch does a great job linking taught prophecy to approved prophecy and conveying it in a sequence of events from the Minor Chastisement to Antichrist.