Jasper and the Shroud of Death
Book 2 of the Jasper Series
When Jasper is told to prepare for the coming war in Heaven, he and the Angels must take up a perilous quest to unravel the Mystery of Death. Along their expedition, Reapers seek to deter their progress and attack them. The Angel Elana captures one of these vile creatures within her Holy lasso and after questioning it, it becomes their guide.
The path to Death and beyond is vast, with a complexity that has never been realized before. If you have a fascination with the subject of Death, you won’t want to miss the content herein. But what is most shocking becomes the question of who is Death and why he is cursed to this existence.
The answers will surprise you and shake the foundations of Heaven and Hell.
Don’t fail to read, ‘Jasper and the Shroud of Death.’
Sample Chapter
From Book 2
JASPER
and the Shroud of Death
Flipping channels on the television, it wasn’t easy to find a station that featured anything other than a news report about climate control updates or a progress report of the war.
In the city of Kingston, in a coroner’s morgue, a morgue pathologist awaited a visitor. While he waited, he watched the news on his small screen TV. A news reporter played recent footage from the president of the United States; “From our last world climate control talks, we discussed how we were going to save our planet by reducing carbon emissions by 99%. The feedback from experts around the world agree that we had crossed a limited time of no return years ago, but thanks to the Atmospheric Air Scrubbers, all is not lost. Some countries of the world have reported celebrating this fact by keeping their polluting factories open, but let me be perfectly clear. There is no wiggle room! The Atmospheric Air Scrubbers are not the answer we were looking for. They’re just a helpful tool to assist us at reaching our goals. Imagine trying to clean the air as we pollute it. Well, this is exactly what we’re doing. What we need is for every nation, every business and every person to use only clean energy. The fighting to make this happen has to stop. Violence will not save the planet! The world going to war is not the answer! Shutting down the export of crude oil and fossil fuels is only part of the solution. A great shift of how we function on planet earth is the answer. We still have a long road ahead, but the generations to come can look forward to the days when the Atmospheric Air Scrubbers will all be shut down so Mother Nature can do what she’s designed to do from the beginning. Perhaps we will all learn a deeper lesson here from all of this; a lesson of the value of life. So here’s to equal rights and equal opportunity for all in a world of free, clean air and prosperity.”
Switching off the television, pathologist Dr. Fredericton meandered to his window. Looking out through the rain drops at the lights of the city, his eyes continued skyward to the silhouette and lights of the city’s Atmospheric Air Scrubber. It was a tower reaching high out of the center of the city.
A knock wrapped upon the door from a heavy fist.
“Come in, it’s open!” Called Dr. Fredericton.
A man in a trench coat entered the dimly lit lab. “Another wet night, doctor.” He removed his wet jacket and hung it on the coatrack.
“I’ve been expecting you. Did traffic keep you?” asked Dr. Fredericton.
“The synagogue, actually. There’s never a shortage of words there, I’m afraid.” Stepping into the light the man revealed he was a Bishop in priestly robes.
When the bishop stepped toward the doctor from behind, he could see he was looking out at the Atmospheric Air Scrubber. “It gives people a sense of security, you know. Just to hear it at work cleaning the air. It also gives people a sense of pride to know we beat the threat of climate change and reversed its destructive affects.”
“Yes doctor, but have you heard another problem? It’s been detected in the latest model of Air Scrubbers. Many people feel the planet is correcting itself and the Air Scrubbers are merely taking all the credit.” Said the bishop. “So, shall we get down to business?”
“Yes, yes of course. This should have been done long ago. I can’t fathom why the government would want any cadaver to be on ice so long. I have him thawed out now. I’m sorry to have to rush you but the sooner you’re finished, the sooner I can get started. It’s been a long day.”
“As you wish. My prayers are never too long, it’s just… This one… You know his story don’t you?”
“Oh, Jasper? Of course. Everyone knows his story, but not many believe his clams. A blind man who can see Angels? Come on. Give me a break.” Dr. Fredericton said.
“If the stories were true, why would the Lord favor this one so much?” The bishop contemplated.
“I’m sure if it were true, it would have happened to you, unless…” The doctor tantalized him.
“Unless what?” The bishop asked with a heaviness drawn in his eyes. He half wished he could take back the question.
“Well, perhaps Jasper didn’t separate himself from people as you do, rather he gets right down with the poor and does not discriminate. Just look at you, your robes I mean, clearly you’re of a whole other classification of people. Jasper cared with unconditional love and it showed in the things he said and did. He wasn’t concerned with how he looked or how others perceived him. He only cared that God loved him and by the strength of the Lord, he loved.”
“Are you suggesting I’m in danger of the flames of Hell?” The Bishop asked.
“All are in danger of Hell, dear Bishop. Remember what you taught me, ‘many who believe they will go to Heaven will, in fact, not go to Heaven and many who think they will go to Hell will not go to Hell. The judgement of God is not of this earthly discretion.’”
The bishop didn’t feel very welcomed or respected any longer and decided to just get his prayer over with and depart for the night. Spreading his hands out over Jasper’s bodily remains, the bishop cleared his throat and prayed; “When the world around us seems empty, and we feel alone and unloved, when we least expect it and have almost given up hope, God shines through and the Angels will see you off to distant clouds. We remember Jasper and Celebrate in the treasures he left behind; his legacy. We live in thankfulness that he was, but God wanted him for his own and set him free in his eternal embrace. Amen.”
“That was one of your best prayers.” the doctor said. Then he handed him a clip board with a document authorizing the autopsy. “Just sign on the line labeled, ‘witness,’ please.”
“I know where to sign thank you.” The bishop snapped.
The first thing Dr. Fredericton did was check the body and record all his findings; weight, age, scars, tattoos, birthmarks, bruises and wounds. After he took a blood sample and made finger prints, he photographed the body. Then he went on to check his teeth and make X-rays. The body’s torso was opened and Dr. Fredericton checked the organs. Nothing out of the ordinary was found until he checked Jasper’s eyes.
They were white like a blind man as to be expected. This was also added to his report, then the death certificate was drawn up to completion and submitted.
The bishop took the folder and turned toward the door. He was to take the paperwork and prepare funeral arrangements. Making an extra effort not to make eye contact with the doctor, the bishop took his jacket from the coatrack and began sliding his arms into the sleeves, “God bless you doctor, I have no interest in taking any more of your time. Peace to you and God bless you.” With that the bishop abruptly left closing the door behind him.
“He actually thought he saw Angels.” The doctor spoke to himself, “The people who followed him claimed he was telling the truth and that they too had seen Angels.” He walked to his desk. It was covered with paperwork. From a desk drawer, the doctor pulled out a bottle of whisky and poured a little for himself.
Taking a moment to relax in his thoughts before he headed home, he believed a shot of whisky would help him think.
The examination was finished, but Jasper’s eyes; they seemed so mysterious
. The saying goes, ‘Try walking in another man’s shoes.’ No, he wanted to try seeing through another man’s eyes.
Carefully, he cut away one of Jasper’s milky white lenses of his eyes. Then he removed the other one. Taking small plastic transparent containers, the doctor added a preservative solution and sealed each of the two lenses in its own container.
Standing next to his window again, the doctor lifted the white lens and tried to see the city lights through it. Through the translucent lens the lights looked like a splotchy kaleidoscope of colors.
While the doctor was busy, he unknowingly had other visitors arrive. Visitors of a spiritual nature. Jasper entered the room with the Apostle Paul. There they saw Jasper’s body on the table with its chest opened up. Demons surround it and look like they are chewing on it. They were only speeding up the process of decomposition.
Death arrived with his two sons; the twins: Mold and Decay. Each one laid down beside Jasper’s corpse.
Jasper said, “I wish my body could be more respected in death. I’d like to honor it for the life I lived in it.”
Paul answered, “There is no honor in flesh, however. When you were separated from your body, you were separated from your sin. Your spirit can stand before the Lord blameless if it hasn’t already been corrupted by the flesh.”
Paul tells Jasper, “You know, your story isn’t so dissimilar from my own. We both had blindness physically affect our lives before our eyes were truly opened. Paul swats a Demon away from Jasper’s body.
A pen teetered on the edge of the table until it finally pivoted over the edge and clattered to the linoleum floor. At the sound the doctor lowered the lens and spun around. There was nothing there. When he noticed it was just his pen that fell loosened his tension. Lifting the lens to his eye again, he looked at the body of Jasper on the table. Through the foggy imagery everything was slightly fuzzy like it was out of focus. The doctor saw what appeared to be a small child crouched down and almost sitting on Jasper’s chest. Trying to make sense of the image, Dr. Fredericton thought it looked more like a Demon-like form through the fog of the lens. It was a squat little fellow who bobbed his head up and down from time to time. It seemed interested in the open chest of the cadaver. “So this was what it was like for Jasper?” he wondered.
Then, what seemed to be a long line of light or lens flare of sorts, began to move. So strangely, the tall line of light appeared to move around behind the table of Jasper… or did it walk?
The hairs on the back of the doctor’s neck stood straight up, but he was frozen. He couldn’t stop looking at the strange image. It came near to the stout creature on Jasper and drew a long appendage, like an arm, then it looked like it slapped at the little stout creature.
Dr. Fredericton lowered the lens. Sweat had beaded upon his fore-head. With his own eyes he examined Jasper’s body on the table, but there was nothing else amiss. When he lifted the lens to his eye again the tall lens flare was at the other end of the table and the little Demon was crouched on the floor at the foot of the table. The tall thin being of light stepped forward and held his hands out toward the creature. When he opened his palms, a bright light shot out. The light was so intense it lit the doctor’s face like a camera’s flash bulb.
“That light came out of this lens?” Dr. Fredericton mused. He was faced with quite the conundrum. His scientific mind raced to explain away and solve the mystery. “No, impossible. I’m just seeing what I want to see. There must be a logical explanation for this” He began to understand what caused Jasper to say he saw Angels. ‘If I can explain what Jasper was really seeing, it might be the greatest find since electricity.’ He thought.
Reluctantly, the doctor slipped the two lenses into his pocket. He then put Jasper’s body back in storage and cleaned up. When he was finished all of these things, he grabbed his jacket and opened the door. Pausing for a moment, Dr. Fredericton looked back at his empty lab. ‘Could it be true?’ He wondered. ‘Ghosts of spirits and such?’ Standing in complete silence, he concluded, ‘Nah, impossible.’ Scanning the room scrupulously before he turned out the lights, he finally shivered and slipped out the door.
Completely stunned, Jasper never suspected it was possible, “Someone removed the lenses of my eyes and was able to see what how I once could see when I was alive.” Jasper told the Apostle Paul.
“Do not worry about this minor thing, Jasper.” Paul reassured him, “The Lord has a plan to destroy those lenses to support the shroud of mystery surrounding the things of the spirit and protect Heaven.”
Jasper felt conflicted about God’s plan, “Is that the wisest course of action?”
“It is not wise to disagree with the Lord. I can tell you this from experience.” Paul warned.
“But it is like you said, Paul. You and I are not so dissimilar. Ever since we were privileged to have our eyes opened to the spirit, we became devout to doing the work of the Lord. It is so difficult to prove to people that God exists. Perhaps someone should remove this shroud of mystery, as you put it.”
“Are you suggesting the Lord allows all people of earth to see the truth of Heaven?” Paul asked thoughtfully.
Jasper nodded and smiled as though the greatest idea ever had been revealed to him. “I am convinced that somehow, this will create a change for all people that will start a revolution of faithful people. This can only result in a better future for the whole world. How was I permitted to step foot in this Holy realm in the first place? It wasn’t until I saw the truth of the spirit that I truly began to live.” Jasper asked.
“I have to admit, I fully understand what you’re saying. My experience was the same. It was by Grace.” Paul answered, “The sheer Grace of God made me who I am.”
Jasper tells Paul, “If we can be delivered from our sinful lives, they too, the people of the world, should also be given a similar opportunity of mercy.”
“I must agree you have proposed a tempting proposition. I will go to the foot of the Father’s throne and speak to God on our behalf. In the meantime, you should remain near the lenses. We can’t afford to let them out of our sight.”
“Very well, Paul. It will be interesting to see where all of this will go.” Jasper waved a collaborative farewell then turned to follow Dr. Fredericton.
End of Sample Chapter
Author’s note
Should an author worry about consequences of writing fiction? Does God approve? The Bible does not warn against reading or writing fictitious stories. In truth, the Bible is full of fiction. By this I am not saying the Bible is untrue. What I do mean is that sometimes the Bible uses fiction to relate truth like when it contains examples of storytelling. If you’ve read Jotham’s fable (Judges 9:7-15) or Ezekiel’s allegory (Ezekiel 17:1-8) it is clear what I mean.
All of Jesus’ recorded parables are fictional stories. Each one reveals a spiritual truth, but are actually made up. I think it’s important to apply biblical guidelines no matter if a story is a spiritual allegory, historical fiction, or simple entertainment. Ephesians 4:29 reads, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Even if a story is intended as pure entertainment, all writers should keep in mind that their stories should contain an element of teaching. No matter what the medium, the message should be of spiritually serious content. (James 3:1)
On angels, you’ll find many products and decorations of angels or in reference to them. In today’s society, angels are not only widely accepted, but believed. You can see it in the retail range from books to clothing to toys. You can find over 200 books about angels in book stores and several million copies have been sold worldwide. So why are people interested in this merchandise if angels cannot be proven? Do angels actually exist?
Is the person on the street holding the sign, ‘Will work for food.’; really an angel in disguise? Or the person who arrives just in
time to save two young children from a runaway car; was she really an angel? In the book of Hebrews 13:2 it tells us; ‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ With over 300 references in the Bible about angels should we let our ignorance dictate what is true? Just because you haven’t seen them means very little. They are spiritual after all.
In the New Testament angels announced the birth of Christ, in Luke 2:8 angels told Shepards where to find the infant Jesus, also in Luke an angel went to a tomb of Christ where they announced His resurrection.
My favorite perspective of angels was written in Billy Graham’s book Angels: God’s Secret Agents. In it he stated:
‘I am convinced that these heavenly beings exist and that they provide unseen aid in our behalf. I do not believe in angels because someone has told me about a dramatic visitation from an angel, impressive as such testimonies may be. I do not believe in angels because UFO’s are astonishingly angel-like in some of their reported appearances. I do not believe in angels because some ESP experts are making the realm of the spirit world seem even more plausible. I do not believe in angels because of the sudden worldwide emphasis on the reality of Satan and demons. I do not believe in angels because I have never seen one- because I haven’t.
I believe in angels because the Bible says there are angels; and I believe the Bible to be the true Word of God.’
The pendulum swings back and forth between the want of money and power to the seeking of a truly spiritual way of life.
Angels pull you and I back from the edge, warning us of dangerous situations and delivering comfort, enlightenment while guiding us through difficult times.
The Hebrew word for angel is ‘mala’ak,’ it means the same as the Greek word ‘angelos,’ which means angel. In all translations and languages angel means messenger. God created angels to protect us, to guide us, and to speak to our hearts with words of strength and encouragement.
In a Gallop Poll last year, it stated that 50 percent of the people tested believed in angels (New Stateman Society 58). If you count yourself amongst these 50 percent, be bold and let the world know, though angels are hidden from sight, you see the evidence.
The truth has let you see.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ROBERT A. HUNT resides in his home land of Canada, British Columbia with his beautiful Danish wife and five children. A diehard story teller for as long as he can remember, Robert finds time to write science fiction fantasy but when Robert isn’t writing, he’s mining or spending time with his family and exploring the beauty of North America or socializing with other authors and readers online.
Robert has written 8 novels to date with many more soon to be released. These include the Genation series; Earth Volk, Grizz: Rise of the Blackguard, Verticus, (Available now) Insectivolk wars and Ultimate Power (Available soon). Other titles from Robert A. Hunt include; The Legend Trilogy; The Crater Mountain Sasquatch Legend, The Coalmont Legend, and The Cross Breed Legend – (Available now)
To find more books from Wordpainter Publishing, simply look us up on the World Wide Web at:
https://wordpainter-publishing.blogspot.ca
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