FOURTEEN
There is no place a Christian cannot go; for all the earth is the Lord’s, and even the camp of the enemy.
Julius Mann, Bible Notes, vol. 18, ch. 10
Another meeting for church leaders was arranged, but one designed to last several days. It was to be staged at the city’s main convention centre, which boasted one of the best restaurants in Carlow. The meeting was open to anyone who wanted to be considered a Christian religious leader. It would be connected by private TCS to many other similar meetings all over the world.
Roy knew it was his duty to be there, to represent the Kingdomite churches, even though their St Antipas future was not looking too good. He knew there was a possibility that the leaders from Chichester might be trying to contact him through the meeting, if they remembered their little outpost during the world crisis.
Jamieson Laturette and the always entertaining Daniel Lamb began the meeting by each speaking about what they hoped to achieve with the conference. They were both excited that they were soon to link up to the live speech by the Pope at Vatican City as he addresses the world about the crisis. Everyone waited in awe, knowing that the huge screen behind the stage would soon display the Holy Pontiff.
As he sat back and took it all in, Roy felt strangely uncomfortable with the other leaders. He tried to reassure himself that they were at last about to help the world. Being surrounded by fellow church leaders was what he was used to, like the old days when everything was normal. He knew he should be more relaxed; he was with his fellow ministers. But something was not right and he had no idea what it was.
He thought about the book he had read the night before. Such a nightmare-inspired outlook on the future was far from what Roy wanted to think about. He looked at the leaders seated near him. He knew most by name, and a few were good friends, and regular attendees at inter-church meetings. As he listened to the speakers share their thoughts, he dearly wished it was all normal again, and this was only one of their regular meetings. He knew that what they were saying was right, that all the churches must stick together. They must work together to help the world. Worrying about futurist interpretations of symbolism was no help to anyone.
Roy laughed at himself for reading such a book. There was a good reason why both he and his church rejected such ideas. They were unrealistic scare-mongering by over-enthusiastic evangelists, doomed to be wrong and making a mockery of sound biblical exposition.
The more he thought about it the more he saw how stupid he had been acting. His life-long devotion to his church had almost slipped away into fanaticism. He had let his emotions control him so much they nearly destroyed him. But now he was back on track. People like Jamieson would help him, and perhaps he would even build up the courage to report to Chichester the loss of his church.
And to think I was ready to condemn them all for missing the rapture!
A commotion broke out on the far side of the large auditorium as the present speaker Patrick Walsh was building up to a good pitch. Slow to start at first, it spread down the left-hand aisle, as people stood up and became agitated. Roy stood with the rest, but could only see others in front of him trying to get a look. He asked Rick Rheem, in the row in front of him, if he knew what was going on. Before his friend could answer, the mystery revealed itself. Wuting and Jian stepped up to the stage.
Walsh watched them in disbelieving silence like the rest. The two young Chinese men approached him without breaking their stride. He backed away as Wuting unhooked the microphone and spoke into it slowly and deliberately.
“Repent and obey Jesus. The Kingdom of God is near.”
He reattached the microphone to the stand and with Jian walked back the way they had come. Indignation filled the packed room. Rick turned to Roy and made a comment, but Roy ignored him and pushed his way down the row in hope of catching up to them. Everyone had something to say, and in the confusion no one noticed Roy as he stepped quickly down the stairs to the front near the stage and ran toward a side exit. From there a long corridor went to another set of doors and the street. Roy saw the Two walking with a fast pace to the second set of doors. He called them to stop, but they ignored him until they were clear of the building. Roy ran and called for them when he was out on the street.
Wuting turned and said to him, “We did not know you were in there, Roy.”
“What was that all about?”
“We were doing as the Spirit instructed.”
“But do you realise who they were in there?”
Wuting looked at Jian and exchanged a few words.
“Yes,” Wuting said to Roy.
“Look, you can’t speak to them like that. You have to show some respect. They are the most influential leaders in the city. We’re about to go live to the Vatican. This is a very important conference. You can’t just walk in, say that, and then walk out again.”
“You walked out too. They would know you are with us.”
Roy realised he had sided with the gatecrashers rather than the leaders. He looked back to see if he was followed. He hoped no one knew the Two were actually staying in his house.
“You have taken the right path,” Wuting said with a smile. “Rejoice, Roy, and see the Kingdom of God come to your city.”
“It already is here,” Roy responded with growing impatience, beginning to see the Two as dangerous rebels. “It’s in there, at the conference, with the leaders. Every Christian church is represented in there. You have gone too far. You are being totally unreasonable. If you are going to be our guests on this island, and my guest in my house, you should act more politely.”
“You are wrong, Roy. You must decide this day who you follow. But we will pray for you. We know God has a plan for you. Otherwise, why did he send us to you?”
“If he did.”
“Do you doubt us now?”
“I wouldn’t have had any trouble thinking you guys are sent by God if you were not so offensive. These are respectable people, and all you do is insult them? What we are doing is good; we’re trying to find an answer to what to do about this crisis, and how we can help the world.”
“Roy, how can you still doubt us? We have already seen many blessings come your way. Your neighbour is one.”
“My neighbour? What about my neighbour? What are you talking about?”
“His name is Bern, is that right?”
Roy reeled at the thought of Bern finding them. He hoped they did not fight, or even that his sons had abused them. Or had they merely talked to Bern and listened to his extensive ideas? They did not know anything about his fragile mental state. Gentleness was always needed with him. He might snap and need to be sent back to the special home for more therapy.
“What have you done? What did you say to him?”
“We preached the gospel to him.”
“You what?”
“He believed and committed his life to Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“He what?”
“We baptised him in his bath, and laid hands on him, and he had become Spirit-filled.”
“He has?”
“He is a very powerful witness.”
“He is?”
“A fast mover in the Lord.”
“We’re talking about my neighbour here?”
“Yes, your neighbour. You do know him, don’t you?”
“I know him, yes. But I don’t understand.”
“What part don’t you understand?”
“Well, all of it. Are you trying to tell me you’ve converted Bernard Thompson?”
“Bern-ard?”
“Bernard. I call him Bern; my neighbour. You’ve converted him?”
“Converted, if that is what you call eternal salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord; yes.”
“I don’t believe you,” Roy said with a nervous laugh.
“You still don’t believe?”
“You’re having me on.”
“Why is it so hard for you, Roy?”
“I know Bernard. I’ve talked to him for y
ears. He never seemed one bit responsive to the gospel. He was always interested in theories and doctrinal conflicts, but not salvation; not joining my church, or any church.”
“He may not have been responsive to you, but he was responsive to us.”
“What did you say to him?”
“We preached the gospel to him.”
“Look, Bernard has a few problems he’s dealing with. You’ve got to be careful with him. I hope you haven’t deluded him.”
“Not deluded. Yes, we saw he had problems. We saw he needed Christ very bad. We ministered to his needs. He is changed now.”
“Changed? What do you mean? What have you done to him?”
“He is new creation, Roy. The old has passed away. Behold, all things are new. Christ can change anyone who lets him.”
“But this is Bernard Thompson we’re talking about, not some altar-call repenter.”
“Believe us, Roy. Your neighbour is bold. He joined us on our street walks.”
“Bern? Joined you?”
“Rejoice, Roy. Are you not happy?”
“I can’t believe a word of it.”
“Why? Has the devil blinded you? Look at what is happening around you. The kingdom of darkness is falling away. The kingdom of light is coming and is now here.”
Roy quickly thought to himself that if what they were claiming were true, then he was looking at two very special men. Two of the 144,000. How could there be any doubt? And they were staying in his house. But how could he know if it was really true?
“Where’s Bern now?” he asked them. Show me Bern, he thought. If he has really changed then I will believe it all.
“Bern walked with us for a couple of streets. He grew tired and went home. His flesh is weak but his spirit is enlivened. He will do better in the future, by God’s will.”
“He’s at home right now?”
“You go see him; see how he has changed. See Christ in him making him a new creation. Then you will believe us and be set free from your doubt.”
Roy nodded without a further word of protest and let them carry on walking the streets and praying. He hesitated when he went back through the conference hall to the indoor car park. He hoped no one would miss him, and that he would be able to make it back in time for the link-up to the Vatican.
He drove as fast as he could without breaking any road rules. Once home, he ran up to Bern’s house and thumped at the front door. One of his sons answered. Roy was not expecting him. His bald and brightly coloured orange head startled Roy; it was worse close up.
“Is Bern here?”
“What you want?”
“I want to see Bern,” Roy said as he noticed the rings and studs in his lips. Just looking at them made Roy’s own lips hurt. He tried his best to act unmoved.
“You our neighbour?”
“That’s right, yes. I’m Roy Hoyle.”
“We been watching you. You think you know so much? You know nothing. Your time will come. Don’t think you’re gonna miss out.” His eyes glared as he talked, and his voice steadily rose in anger.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, all right? Is Bern here? I want to talk to him. I’m a friend of his.”
“Was it you that got to him?”
“What do you mean? What’s happened to him?”
“We don’t know! We came back and he was not doing anything he normally does. He’s gone crazy. He’s happy, and jumping around all over the place. We tried to make him stop, but it just made him all the more happy. And he’s saying all this weird stuff. We thought he had taken something new, but after we searched him we found nothing; we realised he was talking all religious.”
“Religious?” Roy repeated, stunned.
“Yeah. Was that you that did it to him?”
The other brother came up behind the first, identical except his head was bright blue. At his first sight of Roy he started swearing.
“Is Bern here?” Roy persisted, unwilling to let them frighten him off.
“He’s not seeing anyone,” said the first. “Was it you?”
“No it wasn’t.”
The second brother told the first it was the Two, using his own vulgar description. The first saw the answer in Roy’s eyes.
“We’re gonna get them, shut them up,” said the first. “It was them, wasn’t it?”
“Let me se Bern.”
“He’s seeing no one!” He slammed the door.
Roy walked back to his own house feeling at least two pair of eyes fixed on him. His legs felt weak and his heart was racing. But he was happy and excited. He finally realised who Wuting and Jian were. No one else could do what they do.
Once inside he ran to his den and flung open his Bible to the last few pages. Roughly turning the pages, he searched the text until he found:
And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with him a hundred and forty four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and before the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty four thousand, which are redeemed from the earth.
These are they which are not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
And in their mouth was found no gile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
“Yes!” Roy shouted.
He went to his window and looked at the Thompson house. He would have to warn Wuting and Jian that it was not safe for them as long as the Thompson brothers were home. He dearly hoped Bern was safe. Too many people were missing; he hated the thought of another disappearing from him. For the first time since visiting their house, Roy thought about Pete and Susie Carter. Where are they? And why couldn’t I have known more about the rapture?
Roy planned to watch his neighbour’s house until Bern’s sons left. Their large car always made such a din that he would always know when they were going. As soon as that happened and they were clear of the street, he decided that he would rush over and contact Bern. Perhaps he could even convince him to leave the house and stay somewhere safe. But where?
He tried to think of a safe place to hide him. Only one came to mind. He knew Jamieson would be hospitable and willing to accept Bern, but he was not so sure about the other monks. He would have to convince them that Bern was indeed a fellow believer. He laughed to himself as he realised that he himself did not know if Bern was a believer. He could not imagine Bern becoming a Christian, and he wondered what Wuting and Jian had that he did not; what novel new evangelism strategy did they have?
Watching Bern’s house and any signs of his sons, was a difficult endurance. As evening drew near, Roy decided he needed help. He called Lenny and told enough to make him speed over on his scooter. As the darkness of evening slowly came on, both Roy and Lenny watched at the lounge window with all lights out.
“I think I’m convinced now, Lenny,” Roy said with a sigh.
“I’ve been convinced for a long time.”
“There’s a few things I can’t fit in, but seeing the work of Wuting and Jian, I’m convinced about who they are and the times we are living in. We’ve missed the rapture all right. Obviously we weren’t mature in the faith, and we need to go through a time of refining. I don’t fully understand that, but I can’t deny it’s true. You were right all along, and those books. I will admit my theological background has let me down on this count. We’re going to have to go through the Great Tribulation. I’ve never taken must interest in all this end-time conjecture. Looks like I’m a bit behind in these things. I’ll do my best to catch up, that’s for sure.”
“I’ve been reading all I can, too,” said Lenny. “Try
ing to figure out what’s going on at the moment, you know? Try to see what’s coming up next.”
“What do you think is coming up next, then?”
I’m asking him a question, Roy thought with some shock. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
“Well,” said Lenny, “it looks like we’ve got three-and-a-half years until the covenant is broken.”
“The covenant?”
“The covenant ‘with many’, from Daniel nine. You know, when the Beast draws up his peace treaty with Israel.”
“Lenny, I can accept Revelation as genuine prophecy. But I must confess, I have a little trouble with the book of Daniel.”
“Why’s that? Daniel defied the order not to pray and was thrown to the lions. I’ve always loved that story. It was Daniel versus the world, and Daniel won. They tried to kill him, but the lions had their mouths shut by angels. Isn’t that great?”
“Yes, but the trouble is that most reliable scholars date the book to be Maccabean, the second century BCE, and not the sixth.”
“So?”
“So, it’s not genuine. Daniel may have only been a fictional character. It seems the book was written to encourage the Jews during the Maccabean period.”
“Well, it encouraged me, too.”
“What I mean is we can’t trust it as genuine prophecy.”
“But that’s what the pre-tribulation rapture is based on. Seven years before the Second Coming. You can’t throw out Daniel. You’ll have to throw out everything we believe about these last days.”
Roy rubbed his chin as he reconsidered what he had learned about Daniel. From what he could remember, the discussion was brief and dismissive. But he knew that if his Old Testament theological professor was wrong then it would not be his first mistake, going by recent events.
“All right, perhaps Daniel was written in the sixth century BCE, and the scholars are wrong,” Roy conceded. “But why go to Daniel to find out what’s going to happen? That’s Old Testament. Doesn’t it mention a seven year period in Revelation?”
“No, there’s only three-and-a-half years in Revelation. Daniel is the only one that talks about seven years, as far as I know. That’s how they know there’s seven years between the rapture and the Second Coming. Daniel’s really important, you know.”
“All right, so what is meant to happen in the three-and-a-half years in Revelation?”
“That’s when all the trouble breaks out.”
“Trouble? Like plagues and catastrophes?”
“Yeah, the whole deal. But you know, I’ve been reading this other book that was written for us, those who will have to go through the Great Tribulation. It gives advice on what to do, you know?”
“It sounds interesting. I’d like to read it.”
“But it talks about us survivors living in caves for three-and-a-half years. It gives all these helpful hints on what to do in caves; how to light fires and stay warm, you know?”
“Caves? For three-and-a-half years? Well, I guess we can manage that if we have to. There are a few caves in St Antipas.”
“Sure. And we might be able to sneak in when all the tourists aren’t looking.”
Roy nearly laughed. He knew this was no laughing matter, and Lenny was becoming annoyed.
“But these caves are meant to be in Israel,” said Lenny.
“Israel?”
“Yeah, this place called Petra. Man, that’s more of a tourist trap than our St Antipas caves.”
“What’s meant to happen before that, in the first half of the last seven years?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, it must say something in that book of yours. After all, that’s where we’re supposed to be right now, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I’ve looked through and it doesn’t say anything, except that things in the world will be getting worse and worse, and building up to the last half.”
“What else does this book suggest will happen in the last half, then?”
“There’s this bit that really worries me. It says that when the mark comes in it’ll be all right for Christians to take it. What do you think? Do you think that sounds right, Reverend?”
“The mark of the Beast? On the forehead or hand?”
“Yeah, the one that says God’s wrath is reserved for it. Man, one of the angels has this special bowl of wrath ready to pour out on all those with the mark.”
“This is all getting a bit hard for me to accept, Lenny. You see, all my training says these things are just allegories. To think that they could be real and about to happen to us, blows my mind.”
“But the thing is, this book says Christians don’t need to worry about the mark. How can that be right if God is going to punish anyone who has it?”
“Well, I would suggest the book means the mark can’t affect our eternal justification.”
“But if you read Revelation it says all those with the mark get thrown into the lake of fire. And I’ve got this other book that says if any Christian takes the mark, he is no longer a Christian, but eternally damned. Man, I can’t handle that. If they are going to force us to take it, I’d rather just give it all up now, than try fighting it. What’s the point if we’re gonna end up damned?” He was becoming agitated, and started pacing the room.
“I think the trouble is the position the author holds regarding eternal salvation. Some say a Christian can lose his salvation, while others rightly say salvation is for eternity.”
“That’s not the only thing I’ve noticed in these books. Some say the rapture is before the Great Tribulation, others half-way through, and others at the end. If you think about it, only one can be right, and that means all the others are wrong, so they’ve got it all wrong. What one is the right one? One of them must be right, aren’t they?”
“It’s all right Lenny; calm down.”
“Some talk about a partial rapture, when some believers get left behind and have to wait seven years before the Lord comes back again for them.”
“I think I favour that one.”
“But that means there are two raptures. I don’t remember reading in the Bible anything about two raptures. It doesn’t make sense!”
“I don’t know if the partial rapture means there will be two raptures.”
“There has to be. If we have already had the rapture, then what happens to those living at the end, when, as the Bible says, the Lord comes in great power and great glory in the clouds of heaven; you know, ‘all the nations will wail, even those who pierced him’?”
“Well, I don’t know,” Roy said with a tired sigh designed to calm Lenny. “It looks like we will have to wait to see for ourselves.”
“One book I’ve got,” Lenny said as he sat on the edge of the couch, “that’s big and really old and falling to pieces, says the Christians who live through the Great Tribulation will stay alive in their mortal bodies after the return of Christ—remembering that those who were in the rapture were changed into their immortal bodies, and the mortal Christians go into the Messianic thousand-year kingdom, as mortals, and repopulate the Earth. The Theocratic kingdom, they call it.”
“I guess that’s possible, if there’s a literal kingdom; but I’m not sure about that. Our church always taught the Kingdom of God was the Church Age.”
“But it doesn’t make any sense,” said Lenny, “to say Christians will stay in their mortal bodies and go into the Messianic Kingdom. Saint Paul said flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, didn’t he?”
“I don’t think Saint Paul meant the Messianic Kingdom. He was talking about the Church Age.”
“And if you read what Paul wrote about the rapture, in First Thessalonians, it sounds like it is meant to happen at the time of the Second Coming, when the Kingdom comes.”
“Well, I’m sure those who have studied it all in detail know what they are talking about.”
Lenny went quiet as he stood and again paced the room, deep in thought. “I wanted to ask Wuting and Jian about it,”
he said after a while. “But they were always too busy praying. They pray so much, those two.”
“Lenny, what’s all these doubts about the rapture books? I thought you believed them. You’re the one who convinced me. Don’t start doubting now. After all, if the missing people have not been taken to Heaven, then what did happen to them?”
Lenny sat down without a word. Roy wished he had not asked him the question.
“It’ll be all right,” said Roy. “I’m sure the rapture has indeed happened, and all our loved-ones are in Heaven, each with their own palm branches, praising God before the throne, as it says in Revelation. And that’s while we’re down here keeping his light shining.”
Roy again wished he had said something else. Their dark room gave no appearance of a shining light. To Roy it illustrated his own lack of spiritual fervour. He decided he should do his best to accompany Wuting and Jian on their street walks, so he could learn from them.
“Look at Wuting and Jian,” said Roy. “There’s a good example of light shining in the darkness. Two of the glorious 144,000!”
“You believe that too, do you?”
“That they’re part of the 144,000? Of course. Probably pairs like them all over the world, walking and praying.”
“I guess that depends on how literally you want to read Revelation.”
The loud and disruptive sound of the Thompson brothers’ car prevented Roy from inquiring as to what Lenny meant. It was what they were waiting for. Roy and Lenny watched the car slowly roll out the drive and cruise down the street.