In this article we reflect on the surprising similarity that the Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness (Mt. 4; Lk. 4) has with the temptations that humanity could experience -based on the prophetic announcements of a world hunger, and the massive implantation of the microchip in the human body.
The Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is probably related to three critical temptations that we might experience at the times of the ‘Great Famine’ and the Mark of the Beast. The example of how Jesus overcame these temptations could then be of utmost importance for the Christians of today’s world.
Overcoming this ordeal stands out as an important event in the life of Jesus, and it was only then that Jesus began His public ministry proclaiming the Good News to humanity.
Typically, commentators make an association of the forty days and forty nights with the time when Moses fasted also for forty days and forty nights, after which he wrote the ten commandments on the tablets (Ex 34:28), and with Elijah’s fasting for the same period of time (1Ki 19: 8). Note also that Jesus at the Transfiguration appears alongside both Moses and Elijah (Mt 17: 2-3).
It is also commonly related to the journey of the people through the desert for forty years after the flight from Egypt (Deut 8:2; Jos 5:6), a time of suffering and need, and with the Universal Flood for forty days (Gen. 7:4), among others.
As we can see, there are elements of biblical events that usually appear with certain recurrence, constituting at the same time, figures or symbols of events yet to happen, as we are given to understand in revelations to the great italian mystic Maria Valtorta:
… every word of the Book is a lesson that, as the Spirit had it written for a current event, refers to an event that will take place in the future. (Maria Valtorta – The Gospel as Revealed to Me)
Returning to the core of the question, in the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Mt 4; Lk 4) the Gospel shows a hungry Jesus, outcast, away from the city, alone, poor and as the Son of God. He had been led by the Spirit to that place.
1) After forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry, the tempter appeared and suggested that He could make the stones become bread to appease his hunger.
While hunger naturally diminishes the body’s strength, the mind becomes sick and easily irritable, if you are not very watchful and prayerful, the discomfort caused by lack of food can quickly lead to impatience.
Jesus had been without food for many weeks and was obviously hungry. Satan therefore tried to use Jesus’ natural desire to suggest that He could use his power to create food and feed himself. Jesus knew that food was necessary for a person, but He also knew that obedience to God was more important. Thus Satan in the first temptation suggested to set aside divine Providence and to resort to sinful means to satisfy his basic needs.
The Holy Scriptures are very clear that in the end times only those having the Mark of the beast will be able to buy and sell. Blessed Virgin Mary’s revelations also point out that this mark (referred to as the implantation of the microchip in the human body) will be imposed in such a way that the peoples could not oppose to its implementation. Those who have the mark will have the goods they need, such as food, clothing, money, etc. Surely there will also be infiltrators in the religion who will deny this, affirming that God would not allow something like that, and that having it is something totally ethical, because in reality it would not be the mark of the beast but something else.
Here we find a first correlation with the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, and in the face of a global shortage our response should be His: “It is written: One must not live on bread alone, but on every word coming out of the mouth of God.“
Side Note: A generation that eats their own children
Additionally, we could find, without much effort, a connection with abortion or more precisely with infanticide: before the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted, Jesus goes to the Jordan to be baptized. In Mt. 3:9, the evangelist says that John the Baptist criticized the approaching Pharisees who boasted of being Abraham’s children.
The Baptist said at that time, that God could raise up descendants for Abraham from ‘these stones’. Now let us notice how immediately Jesus is taken to the wilderness and the tempter moves him to turn stones into loaves of bread. These references to transforming stones could well correspond to a terrible future temptation for humanity in the face of a global famine: that of eating one’s own (or other’s) children in order to get rid of hunger.
If we reflect on this, that might seem difficult to believe, we will observe that the fact that in much of the world there is an increase in pro-abortion laws, some countries even allowing the mother to ‘abort’ (without euphemisms we would say to kill) the child after it is already born. It seems to be a clear sign of the great plausibility that today’s societies may be subjected to this dreadful temptation facing a future world hunger. It is possible that the media, which we now see supporting pro-abortion bills, in the face of the coming famine will go as far as to purposely spread bad examples to parents, suggesting that they could eat their children (not referring to them as children, but as fetuses, or using some other ambiguous word as they have us accustomed to), for the deed would not be illegal and would not bring them consequences.
Let us always remember that children from their conception are human beings, although for the law they could become ‘a thing’ like a mere stone, to God and to us they are children of God whose life must be respected and protected, the Lord can raise up children of God from those ‘stones’.
In this context, the statement of Jesus about the tribulations of the end times sounds even more dramatic: “Woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!” (Mt 24:19). Furthermore, the Book of Revelation contains even a direct reference to what we are saying here: “The Dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.” (Rev 12: 4b). All seems to be a sign of a very specific threat against pregnant women, those with young children and the children themselves during those times.
Update: In support of what is said in this side note read the following bible quotes: Lam. 2:20; Lam. 4:10; Deut. 28:53; Bar. 2:3; 2 Kgs 6:28-29; Ez. 5:9-10
2) Next, He was tempted to perform a spectacular sign that would prove to all men that He is the Son of God. To jump from the highest point of the Temple, since God would save him from harm because Scripture says that angels would take care of him.
Turning to God pretending to save him from a suicidal act would be sin. It would be tempting God to act in a certain way only to satisfy an individual’s whims. In this temptation Satan tries to exploit the unbearability of the pains to his advantage and distort the teachings of the Sacred Scriptures.
Regarding the times of the Famine, the prophetic revelations give account that when the world economy falls, there will be many who will make the decision to voluntarily end their lives through suicide, proof of their null spiritual growth, since they spent their lives for the material, which is a passing thing.
The devil will try by many means to make them believe that God would not want them to go through sufferings, denying the duty of Christians to carry our crosses and bear difficulties in a christian way. Those furthest away from the faith could be tempted to believe that it is more worthy to die without suffering, putting an end to their lives, than to have to suffer pains, as it is being seen today with euthanasia and assisted suicide, thus exploiting the lack of faith of those who do not believe in the soul, eternal life, God or the truth in the Holy Scriptures.
Let’s remember that committing suicide is a grave sin against the commandment You shall not kill, in addition to what is said in 1 Cor 3: 16-17 (our bodies are temples of the Spirit of God, if someone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him.) To these insinuations in the face of a pain that is difficult to bear, let us have the patience and the necessary detachment from material things, thinking of them as a means and not as an end in itself, and respond like Jesus: “You must not tempt the Lord, your God“.
3) Then He was tempted to rule the world through an idolatrous alliance with Satan, using his methods to gain power and security.
Jesus had been promised a kingdom, but that kingdom required embracing his Cross of glory and would be made up of people of good will willing to serve him freely, not as depersonalized beings subject to force or deception.
In this temptation we see represented all those who will be invited to join the ‘New World Order’, to form the ranks of the antichrist and participate in the battle of the devil against Christ and his Church. It would be very easy to understand how in a situation of world chaos and anarchy the power of evil would increase. The revelations say that at some point Christians would be “persecuted and hunted” to put the Mark of the beast on them.
It may seem like an easy and comfortable path, without danger, but by adopting Satan for their lord they will be killing their soul and failing to keep the first commandment. Let us respond to this temptation like Jesus: “Go away Satan! Because it is written: You must worship the Lord, your God, and serve only him.“
Finally, once these three temptations have been successfully overcome, -which we could experience in the future, the victory in which we are all called to participate comes, and the angels begin to serve him.
