Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Catholic antidote to "end-times" fever., August 9, 2004
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.
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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Relearn What You 'Forgot' About Catholic 'Endtimes', September 19, 1999
By A Customer
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
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A monumental achievement!, November 1, 2003
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.
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