Tom snaps back to reality and slams his hands onto the stearing wheel....."Way to go idiot" "Oh Jesus what do I do?" "The Holy Spirit reminds....(flashback to daughter) "daddy please ask Jesus into your heart"
"Dear God...I am so scared...I am so lost..but if what they say is true you have my family with you right now....and that's a good thing. God I haven't prayed in years but my daughter says I need to ask Jesus into my heart...so here it goes..."Jesus will you please forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart?"
Instantly a flood of tears begin to flow....and a sweet peace fills his heart...Tom hits the garage door button and heads inside..."JESUS IS IN MY HEART" He shouts.
- STA
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Maddie lay awake in bed. She couldn't stop thinking about what Steffi had been telling her earlier that day.
"Maddie, you know that I love you and your family. You're not just employees, you, Shade and Matt are part of the family. Time is getting short. Someday, and I think soon, Jesus will come back for His true church. The Bible calls it the Blessed Hope, but most folks call it the rapture. I want you and your family to hear the trumpet and hear Jesus shout your names when the time comes. I don't want any of you to be left behind. The thought of what you will have to endure..." Steffi had trailed off her eyes filled with tears. "Oh Maddie, please, please, I'm begging you. Ask Jesus to save you now before it's too late." she had said as the tears rolled down her face.
"I'll think about it, Steffi. I promise." Maddie had told the younger woman, drawing her into a hug.
Something about the way Steffi had spoken, her steadfast certainty, had spurred Maddie to talk to her husband and son that evening. "You know Steffi isn't the only one who has been talking about this. Gabe was telling me earlier today about Jesus coming back. You know Gabe. he's not one to force his opinion on anybody, but I could tell he felt really strongly about this." Shade had said. "He's worried about us too. He told me it wasn't enough to acknowlege that God exists, but that you need a personal relationship with His Son Jesus."
"I've got a friend a school that's been talking to me too." Matt said. "He said I needed to ask Jesus into my heart. That nothing I do can get me into heaven. He said that nobody goes to the Father, but through His Son Jesus. I gotta tell you, Stephen really has me thinking." Matt finished.
"We'll go to church with Gabe and Steffi on Sunday." Shade said. Maddie and Matt agreed. It was a little after 9:30 and everybody had gone to bed.
Maddie had been feeling pressure in her chest all day. She thought maybe she was having a heart attack. She looked at the clock. 12:02am. "Shade. Are you awake?" She sat up and looked at her husband.
"Yeah."
"I've got this funny pressure in my chest. Maybe I'm having a heart attack." Maddie said.
"If you are, then I am too." Shade answered.
Maddie took a deep breath. "I want to ask Jesus to be my savior."
"Me too."
Maddie and Shade both got up and knelt next to the bed.
"Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. Please wash my sins away. Come into my life and save me. I know now that I need You. Please forgive me for waiting so long. In Jesus name, Amen." Maddie finished.
"Dear Jesus. I'm not really sure what to say. I'm sorry for the way I have pushed you out of my life. I come to You now and ask Your forgiveness. Please come into my heart. I am a sinner, and only You can make me new. In Jesus name, Amen."
Shade and Maddie both felt a peace they had never felt. Both of them continued to stay on their knees, thanking and praising Jesus.
"Wow." Maddie said. "I've never felt like this before. It's like a piece of me was missing, and now I'm whole." she said as she and Shade crawled back into bed. "We need to talk to Matt in the morning."
"We will love." Shade said. "We will."
- Zags
Receptionist: Johnson & Johnson.
Mr. Bill: This is Mr. Bill and I want to talk to Mr. Johnson. My ex-wife has disappeared with my kids – I was supposed to pick them up – I get there and no one is there. Do you think the aliens took them, or is she just hiding them from me?
Receptionist: Sorry, Mr. Bill, but Mr. Johnson is not in – can I take a message?
Mr. Bill: Where’s Mr. Johnson – I need him right now!!
Receptionist: Mr. Johnson disappeared with the others, sir. Hold on, one moment please.
Receptionist: Johnson & Johnson
Mr. Reed: Where’s Mr. Johnson? The jail says my son disappeared. I’m worried they’ve harmed him, I need someone to go up there and find out what’s going on!
Receptionist: I’m sorry, sir, Mr. Johnson is not available. Hold one moment please.
Receptionist: Johnson & Johnson
Mr. Johnson (Jr.): Julie! Where is everyone? I’ve tried my dad several times, he doesn’t answer. I’m at the courthouse and most of the staff and even the Judge disappeared while we were arguing the Brewer divorce.
Receptionist (Julie): Oh, Mr. Johnson, I don’t know (sobbing). The phone is ringing off the hook with people looking for you or Mr. Johnson, Sr. Lots of people have disappeared, sir. We've got client after client calling. What should I tell them? Oh, hold on.
Receptionist: Johnson & Johnson
Mrs. Johnson: Hello, Julie. Can I speak to Bob?
Receptionist: Oh, I’m sorry Mrs. Johnson, but Mr. Johnson disappeared like the others.
Mrs. Johnson: WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE DISAPPEARED??
Receptionist: He was in his office with a client, and then the phones started going crazy so I went in to ask him what to do and he and the client were gone! Just like that. I don’t know what to do.
Mrs. Johnson: FIND MY HUSBAND – WHERE IS HE?
Receptionist: I don’t know, but your son is on the other line. (sobbing) I’ll ask him to call you….
- KL
Again a young woman sits in front of her tv watching all of the reports afraid to leave her spot even for a second...she is paralyzed with fear...she rocks back and forth talking to herself "this is not happening...everything is ok this is just a dream...this is not happening everything is ok ..this is just a dream..this is not happening.......everything is ok......................"
- STA
Walking into the lounge he notices several people changing channels on the TV. A nurse stands by the window trying to get a few extra bars on her cell phone. Tears are streaming down her cheeks as she chokes on each sob. The daycare center had just called her along with calling all parents involved. Her 6 month old twin daughters had been taken and she was desperate to find out where they were. She tried her cell phone again trying to reach her husband. He was probably still at the church getting ready for choir practice that evening.
Dr Nelson sat down with the other doctors watching as the president approached the podium.
- Renee
Tallahassee, Florida
Nathan slid to a stop in the driveway of his house. He jumped out of the car and sprinted to the door, jammed his key into the lock, and threw the door open. "Tori!!" he shouted. He ran up the stairs and to the door of his little sisters room. "Tori!!" he shouted again, banging on the door.
He was reaching for the doorknob when the door opened. "What?!!" his little sister glared at him. "It's four o'clock in the morning Nathan." she screamed in her brothers face.
"They're gone!!"
"Who's gone." Tori asked.
"Mom and Dad."
"What?"
"I went to the airport to pick them up, and their flight was just getting ready to land. I was in the waiting room at their gate and a lady walked up next to me, and made a comment about the plane running late. I turned to say something and she was gone. She just disappeared. Then I heard a loud boom. Their plane crashed as it landed."
"What?" Tori said stunned.
Nathan caught her by the upper arms. "Their plane crashed. Everybody on board died."
"No!! You're wrong. Maybe they were on another filght." Tori shouted.
"I've been at the airport for hours, and they confirmed about an hour ago that Mom and Dad were on that flight." Nathan let go of Tori's arms and covered his face with his hands. "Their gone." He fell to his knees and began to sob.
Tori stood there stunned. Her eyes filled and she knelt down in front of her brother. She threw her arms around him and began to cry.
- Zags
As the young mother drives up her winding road, she knows in her heart – she won’t find the children or her husband at home. She knows the reason he hasn’t answered her calls. The tears are running down her face and she sniffles, but it’s not really a sniffle it’s a groan mixed with disgust for the only thing left to admit. She was left behind. It’s not a good book anymore, its real life.
The house comes into view. It’s dark and still. She knows that the last time she saw her family will be the last time until she gets right with God and goes to Heaven. She knew that she wasn’t really saved all those nights she sat through Bible study with her husband. All those nights she prayed with her children. The countless hours she poured into helping with children’s church and children’s choir. She knew – she knew then.
The car comes to a stop in her usual spot. Her husband’s truck is there, the baby’s car seat is in the back seat. Her little girl’s bike is leaned against the house – like she just ran in for a minute. She breaks down one more time. She hits the steering wheel, she cusses – why was she so stupid? Why didn’t she quit worrying for one little minute about what others thought and let God in? As her heaving sobs become sniffles, she manages to get out of the car. She goes into the quiet house. She flips on light after light – nothing. She screams her husband’s name, she screams her kid’s names. Nothing. It was eerily still and deafeningly quiet. Now was the time to admit it – they had been raptured and she had not.
Finally, she sits down on the couch, with her Bible in one hand and a box of Kleenex in the other, she prays:
Dear God: Please forgive me for my sins. I know you are the one true God and I want to accept your gift of salvation. I repent of my sins - all of my sins, Lord. Please use me for Your will. Please guide my every word and my every movement. Let me be a light in this dark place. I know some tough times are ahead, and Lord, I'm ready. I love you. Amen.
- KL
On a Ranch in the Panhandle of Oklahoma
Shade had just drifted off to sleep when the phone rang. "Hello." he answered
"She's gone. Just dishappeared right in front of me." the voice slurred.
"What. Henry is that you."
"Yeah, it's me. She's gone Shade. Just vanished."
"Who is it?" Maddie asked. The phone had woken her as well.
"It's Henry. He's been drinking. I think Rose left him." Shade answered her.
"NO!! Shhe dishappeared. Just up and vanisshed inta thin air." Henry slurred. "Was harpin' on me 'bout my drinkin again."
"Henry, I'm sure she'll cool down and come back. She always does." Shade reassured the man.
"Naw. She went to be wit Jesus."
"What?" Shade shouted. "When?"
"Bout ten. SShe was shtandin there in front of the clock, and then poof, sshe wass gone." Henry began to cry. "She ai'nt comin back SShade. Jesus took her, and now I'm all alone." It sounded like the phone hit the floor.
"Henry!! Henry!! Pick up the phone!!" Shade shouted.
"What happened. Did he pass out." Maddie asked.
"I don't know, Maddie. HENRY!!!"
Then Shade heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot.
- Zags
Dr Nelson sat there watching in stunned silence. He could not believe what he was seeing. Massive car pileups not just in Oakland but all over the country. Planes falling out of the sky with massive explosions. The scene showed people laying hurt or dead with emergency personel trying to seperate the two. Helicopters tranporting the injured to area hospitals. The announcer was talking about the planes not having pilots or they couldnt find their bodies. Cars also not having drivers. "What is going on here." he said to himself. Richard Nelson had been the only child of George and Grace Nelson. He had come along late in life for his parents and they had always told him, he was their little blessing from Heaven. They had raised him in the church but as he got older he found ways to excuse himself from going with them. He always had his nose in a book from the day he learned to read. His grades were at the top of his class which made it easy for him to get into medical school after he graduated. His parents had used their life savings to send him to school to become a Doctor. In school he had pretty much learned that science was the truth of all things and he believed it too. When his parents had attended his graduation they had sat on the front row smiling and applauding as he recieved his diploma. It had been a great day for their whole family. His mom had reminded him at the party afterwords that God had truely blessed him and to not forget that. His mom had always tried to get him to understand Gods plan for his life and to live accordingly. He loved her so much for always trying but he had never wanted to commit to her way of thinking even though he probably knew she was right. He made it out to dinner about once a month and that had been about all he could handle of her preaching. He endured because he respected her so much and felt he owed his parents that much. She would call him at work a couple of times a week to check in on him and always asked him to go to church with them on Sundays but now that he was a doctor he told her his patients had to come first. Now he was worrying about them. If the news was right he was sure his parents were gone too. The news was saying either aliens had taken all these people or the much talked about rapture had occurred causing all this chaos. He didnt want to believe either one. He jumped up off the lounge couch and mostly to himself announced he had to get to his parents house and rushed out the door as his pager went off telling him to report to OR2.
- Renee
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Zoe could hear beeping. The smell of antiseptic was overpowering. It was making her stomach roll. She could hear phones ringing and people crying. There was someone in the room with her.
"Zoe, can you hear me? If you can hear me squeeze my fingers. Come on Zoe, just a little squeeze."
Zoe flexed her fingers, and slowly opened her eyes. The light overhead was blinding, causing her to flinch and quickly close them again.
"She's coming around. Inform Dr. Rourke."
"Where am I?" Zoe asked.
"You're in the hospital."
Zoe slowly opened her eyes. She focused on the young man standing next to the bed. "Trevor? What happened?"
"You were in a car accident. You've been unconsious for a few hours."
A harried looking man rushed into the room. "Zoe, I'm Dr. Rourke. We were getting worried about you. How do you feel?"
"My head hurts." Zoe answered raising a hand to her head.
"You took quite a blow to your head. Your airbag went off, but your seatbelt wasn't fastened. We ran a cat scan..."
"I was driving home from the gym." Zoe breathed. "I..Oh.. I felt..." She began to shake as tears began to roll down her cheeks. She bolted upright in the bed, catching Dr. Rourke by his tie.
Trembling, and sobbing uncontrollably, she screamed. "I felt her!! I felt her leave!! JADE!!!" She fell back against the pillows moaning, and sobbing.
- Renee
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Zoe could hear beeping. The smell of antiseptic was overpowering. It was making her stomach roll. She could hear phones ringing and people crying. There was someone in the room with her.
"Zoe, can you hear me? If you can hear me squeeze my fingers. Come on Zoe, just a little squeeze."
Zoe flexed her fingers, and slowly opened her eyes. The light overhead was blinding, causing her to flinch and quickly close them again.
"She's coming around. Inform Dr. Rourke."
"Where am I?" Zoe asked.
"You're in the hospital."
Zoe slowly opened her eyes. She focused on the young man standing next to the bed. "Trevor? What happened?"
"You were in a car accident. You've been unconsious for a few hours."
A harried looking man rushed into the room. "Zoe, I'm Dr. Rourke. We were getting worried about you. How do you feel?"
"My head hurts." Zoe answered raising a hand to her head.
"You took quite a blow to your head. Your airbag went off, but your seatbelt wasn't fastened. We ran a cat scan..."
"I was driving home from the gym." Zoe breathed. "I..Oh.. I felt..." She began to shake as tears began to roll down her cheeks. She bolted upright in the bed, catching Dr. Rourke by his tie.
Trembling, and sobbing uncontrollably, she screamed. "I felt her!! I felt her leave!! JADE!!!" She fell back against the pillows moaning, and sobbing.
- Zags
As he walked into OR 2 he quickly informed them that he had to leave due to the crisis and the need to check on his elderly parents.They would have to call on the emergency doctor on call. He hurried out without waiting for their response. As he passed the emergency room he noticed it was filled to capacity and knew that they had been put on divert but the people didnt seem to care, they continued to lineup outside the main door. He hurried to the parking garage, his mind only on his parents. Throwing his bag on the backseat as he unlocked his car door he quickly started the engine and backed out of his personal space. He drove down all the levels until he reached the main highway exit. Turning right he followed the road as best he could. He was shocked to see cars piled up all along the way. He had to manuver his way around cars left in the middle of the road and cars smashed into each other. At this pace it would be hours before he reached his parents house. Up ahead he could see flashing lights and emergency vehicles blocking the road. As he approached the flashing lights he was stopped by one of the emergency crew. "Sir, I dont know how you made it this far, but the road is blocked due to major emergencies up ahead. You cant go any further." "I have to get through. My name is Dr Nelson and I have an emergency at my parents house." he stated. "Let me see what I can do." the crewman told him as he walked over to a policeman talking with one of the paramedics.
- Renee
As fresh recruitments arrived the OR staff that had worked way into overtime made their way to the locker room to gather their belongings and change into their street clothes. The emergency was so critical that none of them had been allowed a break to check in with their own families. They had no idea what they would find out as they headed for their own homes. "I wonder why Sarah Bigalow didnt show up tonight." one of the scrub nurses said. "Maybe she didnt have her pager on her since she was scheduled off today. I know she and her roommate were going out to dinner tonight." another answered. "Her roomate is the RN who works in labor and delivery isnt she? the scrub nurse asked. "Yes, Sarah says shes always preaching at her about Jesus coming back soon." another answered. The scrub nurse laughed out loud. " Well maybe he came and got her tonight." "Fat chance of that." another laughed. "I'm still here, and I'm a christian, been one since I was 9 years old." They all changed their clothes and headed to the parking garage together.
- Renee
- Renee
Dr Nelson watched as the policeman approached his car. "Put this helmet on Dr and park your car over there by the emergency vehicles." "Why cant I take my car?" he asked. "Well sir, there are so many catastrophies up ahead that cars cant get through, but I'll take you on my motorcycle ." "Can I put my doctors bag in your side pack?" "No problem doc." He pulled the car over and slipped the helmet on. "I'll get the tow truck in the morning to bring you your car." the officer told him as he climbed up on his bike. "What if the hospital needs me to come back?"he asked. "You will just have to tell them you cant get back till morning." Thinking about what the officer said he realized this time he would have to put his parents first instead of his patients. Climbing on board the officer pulled out and headed the mile or so to his parents house. As they made their way past all the disasters in the road he felt as though he would loose the only meal he had had the past 17 hours. Body parts lay at every site they manuvered around. He pulled his helmet down over his eyes and closed them. His heart was aching thinking he might not ever see his wonderful parents again. He kept thinking about all the calls his mother made to the hospital just to hear his voice and he felt so ashamed of himself. "God if you are really out there please show me." he spoke silently to himself. He felt the cycle begin to slow down and he opened his eyes to see that they had arrived. He could see the lights were on and hope filled his soul. As he got off the bike he returned the helmet to the officer. "Thanks for bringing me home." he told him. "Well I just hope everything is alright for you." the officer told him. "I'll have your car here first thing in the morning." "Thank you officer." he told him as he headed towards the front door. He looked back and watched as the officer secured the extra helmet and pulled away from the curb and sped off.
- Renee
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