Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

I’m delighted to be able to share with you some of my thoughts on Ralph Martin’s new book, The Coming Judgment: Are We Ready?

Like many of you, I’ve been listening to Ralph’s teaching and reading his books for many years—since 1978! For the past thirty-five years, I’ve had the great privilege of working closely with him in the mission of Renewal Ministries. Throughout that time, I can say that few truths have weighed more heavily on his heart than the reality of the coming judgment and the eternal destiny of souls. He has addressed these topics to a greater or lesser degree in several of his previous books and numerous articles, but this book is different. It is by far his clearest, deepest, and most powerful work on the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell.

The Coming Judgment confronts us with the shocking—and frequent—words of Jesus on these essential realities, truths that are rarely spoken about today in the Church. There is an urgency that runs through the entire book, beginning with critically important questions: Are we hearing the actual words that Jesus and the apostles preached? Have we allowed their words to penetrate our consciences and our souls? Have we made a wholehearted response to those words? Are we ready for the coming judgment? Are we ready to meet the Lord?

The book is also firmly rooted in the living Tradition and Magisterium of the Church, the witness of the saints, and the Catechism, revealing the remarkable clarity, unity, and continuity of the Church’s teaching on the four last things throughout her history. Yet all that depth is presented in an accessible and inspiring way. Despite what some might expect, it is not a long, dense, or heavy read. At just over two hundred pages, Ralph—true to his unique gift for getting to the heart of things—captures the essence of the decisive events God has set before us: the return of the Lord, the Great Tribulation, the Final Judgment, and the resurrection of the dead.

In his endorsement of the book, Archbishop Anthony Fisher wrote: “Too many people, pastors included, put their heads in the sand when it comes to our ultimate destiny.” He’s right. Most people do not want to think about these last things. Like the thought of death itself, they seem too unsettling or too heavy to face. Too many decide to remain silent because they don’t want to be the “bearer of bad news.” There is not enough space here to explain all that is wrong with that predominant posture, other than to say it is cowardly and foolish. To respond that way is to miss the point entirely. The words of Jesus and the Apostles is the truth that sets us free. This is ultimately a message of hope—good news rooted in the mercy of God and the promise of eternal life for those who belong to Christ.

I pray this book will help many bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful discover—or rediscover— the transforming power of these saving truths. There can be no genuine renewal of the Church without a clear, consistent, and courageous proclamation of the biblical worldview and the whole Gospel that Jesus himself preached. If we allow Christ’s own words to confront us and awaken our hearts, the Holy Spirit will deepen our faith, stir within us a healthy fear of the Lord, renew our hope in eternal life, and ignite in us a greater zeal for souls.

Finally, I want to encourage you to buy a copy—or copies—of The Coming Judgment. Take it to your prayer time, read it together with your spouse, discuss it with you family and friends, and ask the Lord how he might use you to help communicate this urgent message.

In Christ,

Peter Herbeck

This article originally appeared in Renewal Ministries’ July 2026 newsletter.