ral Marxism-the "errors of Russia" predicted by the Virgin Mary in an apparition to three shepherd children at Fátima in 1917-are the systematic evils John Paul II speaks of in his book. This "wicked work" still stalks our world today but is in its twilight, foretold to suffer inevitable defeat.

But before this godless age is over, many believe a climactic series of events will unfold-a perfect storm of misery involving wars, natural disasters, plagues, social chaos, even cosmic mayhem-that will cleanse humanity and fulfill not only the last prophecy of Fátima but ancient Biblical prophecies too.

Since 1981, visions of the Virgin Mary in a bucolic Herzegovinian village called Medjugorje foretell again this epic transition in history. Once more, a new era of life on earth is said to be coming-one immersed in the spiritual-but not before a tempest of apocalyptic unrest.