Kristen was exausted. She had had fitful dreams all night about the Man. She would wake up her heart pounding and with an unbearable pressure in her chest. She would get up and pace thinking about them. In one she had seen the Man sitting bleeding, helpless while men gathered around Him mocking and spitting on Him. The had placed a purple robe about His shoulders, and placed a crown made of sharp thorns on His head. They had shoved the thorns into the Mans brow and drops of blood had trickled down His swollen face. He hadn't uttered a sound. No tears had formed in His eyes. The other men had become angry that they couldn't make the Man cry out and begun to punch Him in the face. When they were finished the Man had lain on the ground, His swollen eyes looking heavenward.
Kristen again tried to focus on her reading lesson, but her mind was muddled from lack of sleep and with a sigh she lay her head on the table. She heard Zoe reading in the background and as Kristen closed her eyes she heard Zoe say, "He was wounded for our transgressions, and by His stripes we are healed."
Kristen was standing on a hill. She saw three men, all of them with their hands and feet nailed to crosses. She also saw that in the sky, men, all of them wearing bright shining white robes. She had never seen such a pure white color. They all looked anxiously at the Man on the middle cross.
Kristen heard whispering and turned her head to see another man in a white robe, not as bright as those on the men in the sky. He was beautiful, and he had with him three ugly little creatures. They had long sharp teeth and long nails, and were grotesque in their appearance. They were running and jumping about, flipping and dancing. They laughed, and clicked their long nails together. They would snap their teeth, spit, and hiss when they looked at the Man.
Kristen turned her eyes back to the Man on the middle cross and she saw a drop of blood drop from His hand and as it hit the ground she thought she heard it speak. The Man suddenly threw His head back and cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Kristens heart ached at the sheer longing in the Mans voice. Yet still the Man shed not a tear.
She strained to hear when one of the other men on the crosses began to curse at the Man in the middle. The other man on the other cross kept looking at the Man in the middle and spoke to the other man. Kristen couldn't hear exactly what he said, but she saw him turn his eyes to the Man in the middle and ask Him to remember him when he came into His kingdom. The men in the sky began to cheer, their white robes flashing even brighter.
The Man answered and said, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
When the Man spoke these words one of the ugly little creatures looked as if he had been struck. It staggered back a step and began to hiss and spit angrily at the Man. Another also staggered back and scrambled behind the man standing on the ground. His robe seemed to be a dingy white now. He had a frown on his face, and he began to whisper even more furiously at the Man.
- Zags
____________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch
Everyone looked up at Kristen's whimper. Maddie started to get up and go to the girl, and then something changed her mind. She felt a need to pray for Kristen. She looked at everyone. "We need to pray."
Kristen stood watching the scene in front of her. She saw the Man struggling to breath. He suddenly spoke, "I thirst." One of the men who had been playing some sort of game, stood up and placed a sponge on the end of a spear and dipped it into a bucket. He raised the soaked sponge to the Man and touched His lips.
The Man rested His head back against His cross as a young man and a women approached. They spoke, and it seemed as if the Man was giving the younger man orders. Kristen struggled to hear what was being said, but the drops of blood that were rolling down the cross and falling from the Mans hands drown out their voices. Kristen still couldn't make out what the blood was saying, but it was almost shouting.
The young man and the woman stepped back from the cross and the Man dropped His head forward. The three grotesque creatures seemed to be in a frenzy now. The were hissing and spitting. Their teeth snapped together and their nails clicked continuiously. The man in the dingy robe seemed almost desperate in his whispering to the Man.
The Man on the middle cross spoke again. "It is finished. Father into your hands I commit my spirit." His head dropped forward, and the three grotesque creatures and the man in the dingy white robe were thrown back. It was as of they had been picked up and thrown by an invisible hand. They tumbled down the side of the hill, screaming, and shrieking in rage and fear.
Kristen looked up to see the men in the sky pointing. She turned and saw a building in the distance. What caught her attention, was the piece of cloth that hung in the doorway of a smaller building. It seemed to grow in size until it reached into the heavens. The ground began to shake and she saw the cloth begin to tear from the top. She could hear voices singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The light was so bright that she covered her eyes. She heard the sound of tearing and peeked between her fingers to see that the cloth had been completely torn in two. The men in the air had joined in the chorus of Holy, Holy, Holy.
Kristen turned to look at the Man again, and saw that the three ugly little creatures were struggling their way back up the hill. She saw a man pick up a hammer and walk over to the man on the cross who had asked the Man to remember him, and smash it into his knees. The man screamed in pain as the same was done to the other man.
With both men on the other crosses screaming in pain, the man with the hammer approached the Man on the middle cross and looked up at Him. "He's already dead." He shouted. "Make sure." someone shouted back. He dropped the hammer and picked up a spear and thrust it into the Mans side. Water rushed from the Man's side. With a nod to one of the other men, he walked away.
The other two men's screams had faded and with one last breath, the man who had been promised paradise, was approached by one of the creatures. It opened it mouth wide, and stepped forward as if to consume him. It was immediately knocked back, and whimpering it scampered behind the man in the dingy white robe. "Lucifer, what has happened?" it asked in shrill voice.
Lucifer, with his face twisted in rage pointed at the Man, "He promised him that he would be with Him in paradise."
The other man was wheezing on his cross and all three creatures ran to the base of his. The mans breathed his last and the creatures all jumped up their mouths opened wide and passed over his lifeless body. One of the creatures disappeared for a moment and then reappeared.
Lucifer stood staring at the Man on the middle cross. "This isn't over." He shook his fist at the Man. "Death!!" he shouted. One of the ugly little creatures ran forward. Lucifer grabbed him. "You must hold Him!!! You cannot let Him escape your sting!!"
"Yes Lucifer. I will hold Him. He will not escape my grasp." Death promised. Death looked at the other two creatures. He saw that Hell was relishing his latest victim, and saw that Sin was still realing from his defeat.
"Come, there is still much work to be done. Victory will be ours." Lucifer spoke arrogantly. They all turned and walked away, with Sin spitting and hissing with rage.
Kristen turned and looked at the Man. Somehow she knew that the true victory had been His. She saw one last drop of blood fall and as it hit the ground, she heard it speak.
It said, "I love you."
Everyone looked up at Kristen's whimper. Maddie started to get up and go to the girl, and then something changed her mind. She felt a need to pray for Kristen. She looked at everyone. "We need to pray."
Kristen stood watching the scene in front of her. She saw the Man struggling to breath. He suddenly spoke, "I thirst." One of the men who had been playing some sort of game, stood up and placed a sponge on the end of a spear and dipped it into a bucket. He raised the soaked sponge to the Man and touched His lips.
The Man rested His head back against His cross as a young man and a women approached. They spoke, and it seemed as if the Man was giving the younger man orders. Kristen struggled to hear what was being said, but the drops of blood that were rolling down the cross and falling from the Mans hands drown out their voices. Kristen still couldn't make out what the blood was saying, but it was almost shouting.
The young man and the woman stepped back from the cross and the Man dropped His head forward. The three grotesque creatures seemed to be in a frenzy now. The were hissing and spitting. Their teeth snapped together and their nails clicked continuiously. The man in the dingy robe seemed almost desperate in his whispering to the Man.
The Man on the middle cross spoke again. "It is finished. Father into your hands I commit my spirit." His head dropped forward, and the three grotesque creatures and the man in the dingy white robe were thrown back. It was as of they had been picked up and thrown by an invisible hand. They tumbled down the side of the hill, screaming, and shrieking in rage and fear.
Kristen looked up to see the men in the sky pointing. She turned and saw a building in the distance. What caught her attention, was the piece of cloth that hung in the doorway of a smaller building. It seemed to grow in size until it reached into the heavens. The ground began to shake and she saw the cloth begin to tear from the top. She could hear voices singing, "Holy, Holy, Holy." The light was so bright that she covered her eyes. She heard the sound of tearing and peeked between her fingers to see that the cloth had been completely torn in two. The men in the air had joined in the chorus of Holy, Holy, Holy.
Kristen turned to look at the Man again, and saw that the three ugly little creatures were struggling their way back up the hill. She saw a man pick up a hammer and walk over to the man on the cross who had asked the Man to remember him, and smash it into his knees. The man screamed in pain as the same was done to the other man.
With both men on the other crosses screaming in pain, the man with the hammer approached the Man on the middle cross and looked up at Him. "He's already dead." He shouted. "Make sure." someone shouted back. He dropped the hammer and picked up a spear and thrust it into the Mans side. Water rushed from the Man's side. With a nod to one of the other men, he walked away.
The other two men's screams had faded and with one last breath, the man who had been promised paradise, was approached by one of the creatures. It opened it mouth wide, and stepped forward as if to consume him. It was immediately knocked back, and whimpering it scampered behind the man in the dingy white robe. "Lucifer, what has happened?" it asked in shrill voice.
Lucifer, with his face twisted in rage pointed at the Man, "He promised him that he would be with Him in paradise."
The other man was wheezing on his cross and all three creatures ran to the base of his. The mans breathed his last and the creatures all jumped up their mouths opened wide and passed over his lifeless body. One of the creatures disappeared for a moment and then reappeared.
Lucifer stood staring at the Man on the middle cross. "This isn't over." He shook his fist at the Man. "Death!!" he shouted. One of the ugly little creatures ran forward. Lucifer grabbed him. "You must hold Him!!! You cannot let Him escape your sting!!"
"Yes Lucifer. I will hold Him. He will not escape my grasp." Death promised. Death looked at the other two creatures. He saw that Hell was relishing his latest victim, and saw that Sin was still realing from his defeat.
"Come, there is still much work to be done. Victory will be ours." Lucifer spoke arrogantly. They all turned and walked away, with Sin spitting and hissing with rage.
Kristen turned and looked at the Man. Somehow she knew that the true victory had been His. She saw one last drop of blood fall and as it hit the ground, she heard it speak.
It said, "I love you."
Kristen opened her eyes and saw that Maddie, Shade, Matt, Nathan, Zoe, Trevor and Tori were all on their knees praying.
- Zags
____________________________________________________________________
Possum Hollow....recapping who is there
Dan Wright(newly born again)...and his 15 year old son Daryl(newly born again) ...own a farm in the Possum Hollow area..have been left behind...Priscilla Wright ..Dan's Wife and Daryl's mother was raptured
Anthony(newly born again) ...nephew and cousin ...grew up on adjacent property...was attending the University of Texas..both parents were raptured
enroute back home Anthony picked up Hank(newly born again)....a blue collared working man from Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area ...also left behind ..his wife raptured...born again
Pastor Tim...."former liberal pastor...now born again"
Grandpa Earl Boxberger(newly born again)....next door neighbor to Dan Wright
Stacy ....Earl's granddaughter (undecided) traveled from Boston to find her grandpa still here
Keisha...(born again)....abandoned by her fiancee for her newfaith...hitchhiked a ride to possum hollow with Stacy ...the chit chattiest girl you'll ever hear
Bart Jackson....(recent addition) rescued and born again after failed suicide attempt
soon to arrive....Jeremiah (newly born again)...living in Illinois...just hung up with his mom hours before the rapture..she had pleaded her case ..."Jeremiah please give your life to Jesus" but Jeremiah had rejected her plea...all alone in Illinois he had set out to drive back to the farm in Missouri
Dan Wright(newly born again)...and his 15 year old son Daryl(newly born again) ...own a farm in the Possum Hollow area..have been left behind...Priscilla Wright ..Dan's Wife and Daryl's mother was raptured
Anthony(newly born again) ...nephew and cousin ...grew up on adjacent property...was attending the University of Texas..both parents were raptured
enroute back home Anthony picked up Hank(newly born again)....a blue collared working man from Dallas/Ft Worth Texas area ...also left behind ..his wife raptured...born again
Pastor Tim...."former liberal pastor...now born again"
Grandpa Earl Boxberger(newly born again)....next door neighbor to Dan Wright
Stacy ....Earl's granddaughter (undecided) traveled from Boston to find her grandpa still here
Keisha...(born again)....abandoned by her fiancee for her newfaith...hitchhiked a ride to possum hollow with Stacy ...the chit chattiest girl you'll ever hear
Bart Jackson....(recent addition) rescued and born again after failed suicide attempt
soon to arrive....Jeremiah (newly born again)...living in Illinois...just hung up with his mom hours before the rapture..she had pleaded her case ..."Jeremiah please give your life to Jesus" but Jeremiah had rejected her plea...all alone in Illinois he had set out to drive back to the farm in Missouri
- STA
____________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch
Kristen had retreated to her room. Her latest dream had really shaken her. It had seemed so real. The smells and sounds echoed in her mind long after she had woken up.
Who was the Man? She knew that He was important. She knew that He was powerful. She knew that His blood spoke. It spoke of love. A love that was beyond her understanding. How could His blood speak?
She wondered what the Man had been thinking as He hung there. Had He been afraid? Angry?
He had promised one of the other men hanging with Him that he would be with Him in paradise. Where was paradise? What was paradise? Why had the men in the sky flashed brighter and cheered when that man had ask to be remembered? Why had the other man on the third cross seemed to hate Him?
The Man who hung on the middle tree had been beaten so badly that He had barely been recognizable as a human, yet something about Him had drawn her. What was it? He had been bloody and bruised, but there was something about the man that made Him more beautiful than even the men in the air. She knew she was missing something important about the Man. She tried to remember if anyone had said His name.
She could remember the name of the man in the dingy white robe, Lucifer. Who was he? She sensed that he hated the Man on the middle cross. She also sensed that he feared Him. Why? The Man had died. Why would he fear a dead Man? He had also been furious at the Man after He had died? He had shaken his fist and told the Man that it wasnt over. What wasn't over? He had grabbed one of the ugly little creatures and told it to hold Him, not to let Him escape his sting. What did that mean? He had called that creature Death. Was that it's name?
Kristen wanted badly to ask somebody her questions, but feared whoever she asked wouldn't have the answers.
Kristen had retreated to her room. Her latest dream had really shaken her. It had seemed so real. The smells and sounds echoed in her mind long after she had woken up.
Who was the Man? She knew that He was important. She knew that He was powerful. She knew that His blood spoke. It spoke of love. A love that was beyond her understanding. How could His blood speak?
She wondered what the Man had been thinking as He hung there. Had He been afraid? Angry?
He had promised one of the other men hanging with Him that he would be with Him in paradise. Where was paradise? What was paradise? Why had the men in the sky flashed brighter and cheered when that man had ask to be remembered? Why had the other man on the third cross seemed to hate Him?
The Man who hung on the middle tree had been beaten so badly that He had barely been recognizable as a human, yet something about Him had drawn her. What was it? He had been bloody and bruised, but there was something about the man that made Him more beautiful than even the men in the air. She knew she was missing something important about the Man. She tried to remember if anyone had said His name.
She could remember the name of the man in the dingy white robe, Lucifer. Who was he? She sensed that he hated the Man on the middle cross. She also sensed that he feared Him. Why? The Man had died. Why would he fear a dead Man? He had also been furious at the Man after He had died? He had shaken his fist and told the Man that it wasnt over. What wasn't over? He had grabbed one of the ugly little creatures and told it to hold Him, not to let Him escape his sting. What did that mean? He had called that creature Death. Was that it's name?
Kristen wanted badly to ask somebody her questions, but feared whoever she asked wouldn't have the answers.
- Zags
_____________________________________________________________________
In the Cave in the Missouri Ozarks
The satelitte feed had suddenly stopped and they could no longer see what was happening in Israel. Bud went outside to see if an animal had moved the dish or if he could fix the problem. He came back inside and told the group nothing was wrong so it had to be something else. The live feed was suddenly back and they could see people celebrating in the streets of Jerusalem then the screen went blank again. "I bet it's the government trying to stop the feed and they haven't quite figured out how to do it and that's why it keeps going in and out," said Sam. They looked at each other and knew he was probably right. The live feed of the wailing wall was probably still available so Shannon quickly switched over to it and yes, it was up and running as usual. They had prayed for the souls that were lost in this attack and praised God for saving Israel. Sam had read Eziekel 38 again then searched Pastor James' notes for what would happen next.
"I would like to return to town sometime tomorrow and check things out. I still have a duty to protect the citizens and there are still a few left," explained Steven.
"I'll go with you. You might run into some of those punks again and need help," offered Bud.
"Thank you, might need your expertise with a gun. We can't just drive up Main Street in sheriff's car and will need to go in the back way. Can you be ready first light?"
"I'll be ready," Bud said.
Shannon was going through the stacks of DVD's from the pastor's collection and found several she thought might help the group. A series called the Truth Project might be especially helpful then she found the Passion of the Christ the one she and Kerri had seen with a group from college. She remembered how she had cried and at times had turned away from the screen unable to watch what was happening to Christ. She would ask Sam about showing the video to the group tomorrow night. They all needed to revisit the horrors Christ had endured for us. There were other videos that would be interesting and informative.
Tom and Sam were sitting together discussing the passage of scripture they had just read. Jason had joined them and was asking them questions. "Why does everyone hate the Jews? What did they ever do to anyone? What's so important about a small piece of land? I don't understand any of this."
Sam was trying to explain and knew he would have to study the scriptures even more to answer the boy's questions. "Son, the best I can tell is everyone hates the Jews because they are the apple of God's eye. Satan deceives weak humans, those that don't know God's word and he has railed against God and wanted power over humans since God created Adam and Eve. Jewish people are God's chosen and that means Satan hates them above all others so it stands to reason that Satan would cause weak humans to follow his lead and also hate the Jews. I know God loves them and with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross all were given the free gift of salvation. We were in God's grace from that point on until He raptured His church. His hand of protection has been removed from this earth and now Satan is free to unleash his plans for those of us left behind. I may not have explained it correctly, but you and I can study God's word together and find the answers to your questions," Sam told him.
The satelitte feed had suddenly stopped and they could no longer see what was happening in Israel. Bud went outside to see if an animal had moved the dish or if he could fix the problem. He came back inside and told the group nothing was wrong so it had to be something else. The live feed was suddenly back and they could see people celebrating in the streets of Jerusalem then the screen went blank again. "I bet it's the government trying to stop the feed and they haven't quite figured out how to do it and that's why it keeps going in and out," said Sam. They looked at each other and knew he was probably right. The live feed of the wailing wall was probably still available so Shannon quickly switched over to it and yes, it was up and running as usual. They had prayed for the souls that were lost in this attack and praised God for saving Israel. Sam had read Eziekel 38 again then searched Pastor James' notes for what would happen next.
"I would like to return to town sometime tomorrow and check things out. I still have a duty to protect the citizens and there are still a few left," explained Steven.
"I'll go with you. You might run into some of those punks again and need help," offered Bud.
"Thank you, might need your expertise with a gun. We can't just drive up Main Street in sheriff's car and will need to go in the back way. Can you be ready first light?"
"I'll be ready," Bud said.
Shannon was going through the stacks of DVD's from the pastor's collection and found several she thought might help the group. A series called the Truth Project might be especially helpful then she found the Passion of the Christ the one she and Kerri had seen with a group from college. She remembered how she had cried and at times had turned away from the screen unable to watch what was happening to Christ. She would ask Sam about showing the video to the group tomorrow night. They all needed to revisit the horrors Christ had endured for us. There were other videos that would be interesting and informative.
Tom and Sam were sitting together discussing the passage of scripture they had just read. Jason had joined them and was asking them questions. "Why does everyone hate the Jews? What did they ever do to anyone? What's so important about a small piece of land? I don't understand any of this."
Sam was trying to explain and knew he would have to study the scriptures even more to answer the boy's questions. "Son, the best I can tell is everyone hates the Jews because they are the apple of God's eye. Satan deceives weak humans, those that don't know God's word and he has railed against God and wanted power over humans since God created Adam and Eve. Jewish people are God's chosen and that means Satan hates them above all others so it stands to reason that Satan would cause weak humans to follow his lead and also hate the Jews. I know God loves them and with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross all were given the free gift of salvation. We were in God's grace from that point on until He raptured His church. His hand of protection has been removed from this earth and now Satan is free to unleash his plans for those of us left behind. I may not have explained it correctly, but you and I can study God's word together and find the answers to your questions," Sam told him.
- P4H
____________________________________________________________________
Christina moved over to join the group and for a brief moment her eyes met Sam's and there was a connection. He seemed to notice the beautiful woman for the first time or maybe it was the light on her face or the smile she had given him. All at once he felt a change in his heart. He silently asked, "God what are you trying to show me?" He looked back at Christina and saw what he had been missing. She was interested in him and he wanted to get to know her better. He leaned over and said, "Would you like to take a walk later?" Christina smiled and quietly answered, "Yes."
- P4H
_____________________________________________________________________
"Hunkered down in front of TV's worldwide...people sit in awe as it has been announced that armies of the world have been defeated in their attack upon Israel." Military analyst break-down what is believed to have happened. " Unknown Advanced Weaponry" "Satellite Technology" but to those inside of Israel...few would deny that God had came down inn defense of Israel.
Meanwhile in closed session with adviser's UN Secretary General confers ..."It's time that Peace prevails sir...you have an opportunity such as has never been afforded. Israel's emboldened..... feeling untouchable ...they have agreed to meet with you in sincere earnest of attaining a sustained time of peace."
Secretary General walks over to a window looking out in deep thought "Yes...it is time"
Meanwhile in closed session with adviser's UN Secretary General confers ..."It's time that Peace prevails sir...you have an opportunity such as has never been afforded. Israel's emboldened..... feeling untouchable ...they have agreed to meet with you in sincere earnest of attaining a sustained time of peace."
Secretary General walks over to a window looking out in deep thought "Yes...it is time"
- STA
______________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch
It had been announced on tv that the attack on Israel had failed. Matt had jumped up off the couch and pumped his fists in the air. "YEAH!! Can you guys believe it?! We just saw God defend Israel, just like he promised!!" Matt'e eyes danced with excitement.
Everyone was talking over each other and hugging each other. Kristen sat on the arm of a chair, feeling excited herself, but she was stll thinking about her dreams. She had slept last night and had the same two dreams again. This time she had paid close attention and still no mention of the Man's name had been made. Who was He? She had been listening so hard for the Man's name, that the dream had almost been over when she realized that in the back of her mind she was seeing faces. Hundreds of them, possibly thousands. Faces of people she had never seen.
Then she had seen Maddie's face, just for a second, then Shade's, and everyone else in the house. She had seen her mothers face and her fathers. She had seen Mikey's, Antony's, Leon's, and Louis's.
Then she had seen her own. She had realized in that moment, the faces she was seeing, were faces in the Man's mind. As He was being beaten, as He hung on that cross, faces of people went through His mind. And every drop of blood that was spilt, was for those people.
Kristen lookled up as Trevor said something that made everyone in the room go quiet.
"What?" Kristen asked.
"It won't be long before the antichrist makes his move. He will sign a peace treaty with Israel, and then the tribulation will begin." Trevor repeated.
"But I thought..." Kristen trailed off.
Trevor picked up his Bible and an article that Tori had printed from the rapture ready site. "In this article it says that Daniel was give a vision. This is what it says in the Bible."
(Dan 9:24) Seventy weeks are decreed as to your people and as to your holy city, to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
(Dan 9:25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going out of the command to restore and to build Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in times of affliction.
(Dan 9:26) And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself. And the people of the ruler who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And the end of it shall be with the flood, and ruins are determined, until the end shall be war.
(Dan 9:27) And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease, and on a corner of the altar desolating abominations, even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured on the desolator.
Kristen looked confused.
"The covenant that Daniel was told about is the same peace agreement that the antichrist will sign. It will be for a period of seven years." Trevor explained. "Once the antichrist signs the coventant with Israel, there will be peace for about two years." Once again Trevor looked to his Bible.
(Rev 6:1) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures like a sound of thunder, saying, Come and see.
(Rev 6:2) And I saw. And behold a white horse! And he sitting on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
"The antichrist has a bow, but no arrow. This means he will conquer with peace. He also wears a crown, meaning that he has power, not unlike the kings and pharohs of the old days. But he will be king of the world. Everyone will look to him for the answers to all the worlds problems, and unlike any leader before him, he will be able to solve them. He will seem like the savior of the whole world." Trevor shook his head in disgust. "So many people will fall for this guy, thinking he is what the world has been waiting for."
Shade spoke up. "I think Trevors right. We need to get ready. We all need to study the word more, figure out what is coming next. We also need to find Patterson's cave."
With the Gog/Magog war on tv, everyone had put looking for the hideout on the back burner. But now it was obvious, they needed to find the caves and get supplies tranported there ASAP. That hideout would be the only safe place they would have after the antichrist declared war on Christians and Jews alike. Nobody had any idea how long the caves themselves would be safe, but everyone prayed they would remain hidden throughout the tribulation.
It had been announced on tv that the attack on Israel had failed. Matt had jumped up off the couch and pumped his fists in the air. "YEAH!! Can you guys believe it?! We just saw God defend Israel, just like he promised!!" Matt'e eyes danced with excitement.
Everyone was talking over each other and hugging each other. Kristen sat on the arm of a chair, feeling excited herself, but she was stll thinking about her dreams. She had slept last night and had the same two dreams again. This time she had paid close attention and still no mention of the Man's name had been made. Who was He? She had been listening so hard for the Man's name, that the dream had almost been over when she realized that in the back of her mind she was seeing faces. Hundreds of them, possibly thousands. Faces of people she had never seen.
Then she had seen Maddie's face, just for a second, then Shade's, and everyone else in the house. She had seen her mothers face and her fathers. She had seen Mikey's, Antony's, Leon's, and Louis's.
Then she had seen her own. She had realized in that moment, the faces she was seeing, were faces in the Man's mind. As He was being beaten, as He hung on that cross, faces of people went through His mind. And every drop of blood that was spilt, was for those people.
Kristen lookled up as Trevor said something that made everyone in the room go quiet.
"What?" Kristen asked.
"It won't be long before the antichrist makes his move. He will sign a peace treaty with Israel, and then the tribulation will begin." Trevor repeated.
"But I thought..." Kristen trailed off.
Trevor picked up his Bible and an article that Tori had printed from the rapture ready site. "In this article it says that Daniel was give a vision. This is what it says in the Bible."
(Dan 9:24) Seventy weeks are decreed as to your people and as to your holy city, to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.
(Dan 9:25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going out of the command to restore and to build Jerusalem, to Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in times of affliction.
(Dan 9:26) And after sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself. And the people of the ruler who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And the end of it shall be with the flood, and ruins are determined, until the end shall be war.
(Dan 9:27) And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease, and on a corner of the altar desolating abominations, even until the end. And that which was decreed shall be poured on the desolator.
Kristen looked confused.
"The covenant that Daniel was told about is the same peace agreement that the antichrist will sign. It will be for a period of seven years." Trevor explained. "Once the antichrist signs the coventant with Israel, there will be peace for about two years." Once again Trevor looked to his Bible.
(Rev 6:1) And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures like a sound of thunder, saying, Come and see.
(Rev 6:2) And I saw. And behold a white horse! And he sitting on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
"The antichrist has a bow, but no arrow. This means he will conquer with peace. He also wears a crown, meaning that he has power, not unlike the kings and pharohs of the old days. But he will be king of the world. Everyone will look to him for the answers to all the worlds problems, and unlike any leader before him, he will be able to solve them. He will seem like the savior of the whole world." Trevor shook his head in disgust. "So many people will fall for this guy, thinking he is what the world has been waiting for."
Shade spoke up. "I think Trevors right. We need to get ready. We all need to study the word more, figure out what is coming next. We also need to find Patterson's cave."
With the Gog/Magog war on tv, everyone had put looking for the hideout on the back burner. But now it was obvious, they needed to find the caves and get supplies tranported there ASAP. That hideout would be the only safe place they would have after the antichrist declared war on Christians and Jews alike. Nobody had any idea how long the caves themselves would be safe, but everyone prayed they would remain hidden throughout the tribulation.
- Zags
_____________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch
The men had left to go out searching for Pattersons hideout, leaving the women to sort through the rapture package that Zoe's parents had put together, and all the articles that Tori had printed out from the rapture ready site. Kristen had been given the job of unrolling the paper logs and gathering the money out of them, and Zoe, Tori, and Maddie were sorting throught the trunk that Zoe had brought when Zoe's eyes filled with tears. She sat on the floor and held the framed photo to her chest. Maddie and Tori stopped what they were doing. Tori looked at Maddie, unsure what had brought on Zoe's tears.
Kristen sat at the table and looked up at the sound of Zoe's crying. She looked at Maddie as the older woman sat on the floor next to Zoe. She put her arms around the crying woman.
"Zoe, what's wrong."
Zoe looked down at the photo she held in her hands, and Maddie saw it was of Zoe and Jade. They had their arms wrapped around each other and had huge smiles on their faces.
"Mom and Dad took that picture of us the day I moved back home." Zoe said.
"Oh Zoe. I can't imagine the pain you must feel." was all Maddie could say. She knew that the sisters had been close. They had shared a special bond, and Maddie just realized, for the first time in her life, Zoe was alone.
Kristen got up and joined Maddie and Zoe on the floor. Maddie handed her the photo, and Kristen gasped. "You both look exactly the same."
Tori had looked at the photo over Kristen's shoulder. "Zoe, I'm so sorry. I had forgotten about Jade."
"Who's Jade?" Kristen asked, as she handed the photo back to Zoe.
"My twin sister. She was taken in the rapture." Zoe ran her finger over the photo. "We are identical. That's why we look so much alike." Zoe explained.
"Oh." was all Kristen could think to say.
"I grew up going to church", Zoe said. "My whole life my parents would take me and my sister Jade. Our grandparents, our parents friends, me and my sisters friends, everybody went to church on Sundays. Jade and I went to youth group on Wednesday afternoons after school. Our whole lives seemed to revolve around church. When Jade and I got into high school, we were leaders is our group Teens for Christ. After we graduated we went to college and were part of Campus Crusade for Christ. Our freshman year we met Steffi and Gabe at a fundraiser to send them on a mission trip to help build a church in El Salvador. I dropped out of college after my sophmore year, but Jade stayed to finish. I moved back to the Springs and just went wild. I started drinking, tried drugs a couple of times, slept around. I was enjoying my life. This went on for a few years, until about three years ago. I started to settle down. I stopped partying all the time, stopped dating, and just focused on my job. I would go to Mom and Dad's every Christmas to see my parents and sister, go to church, be 'good'..." Zoe trailed off. She stood up and walked over to the kitchen window, wrapping her arms around herself. She began speaking again her voice quivering. "Then two years ago I was home for Christmas, we went to the Christmas Eve service like always. At the end of the service, Pastor Mathis gave the alter call. My sister Jade got up and practically ran up to the front of the church. See, this is something we had done when we were little, probably seven or so. We had been baptised. I couldn't understand why Jade was doing this. I was embarrased. Jade was up there crying, and telling everyone that she had just been 'playing Christian' her whole life. She said she wanted to be baptised again, this time knowing that she really belonged to Christ. She confessed to all the things she had done during high school and college. Drinking, sex, experimenting with drugs. I was so angry, because people knew that Jade and I did everything together. We were inseperable. For the first time in my life I wanted nothing to do with my twin. I actually hated her. After the service was over everybody went up front hugging Jade and welcoming her to the family of Christ. After we got home, Jade tried to catch me alone, but I avoided her. I spent the next three days not talking to her, ignoring her when she spoke to me. Jade and I had been sharing an apartment, but when I got back to our place I packed up my stuff and moved in with a friend. Then next year, right after Christmas my dad was layed off, when the economy first started to tank. Jade moved back in with Mom and Dad right away. I waited almost a year and moved back in Mom and Dad's couple of days before this past Christmas. We had Christmas, and things were strained between me and Jade. I could tell she was different. I could feel it the same way I could feel when she was really upset. We had this kind of mental connection. We always knew things about each other. Sometimes we even felt each others pain. Like once when we were in high school, I was home working on a project for school, and I started screaming that my arm hurt. My mom rushed me to the hospital, and they started to take me down to x-ray, when Dad came rushing in with Jade. She was cradling her arm. She had broken it playing powder puff football." Zoe stopped for a moment and walked back over to the table and sat down. "We had a huge fight. Jade told me she knew that I wasn't saved. We both knew I had never really asked Jesus into my heart. I got angry and told her that I was fine. She kept at me, begging me to listen. I told her to leave me alone. She just kept at me, so I grabbed my gym bag and took off. I almost knocked my dad over trying to get away. I worked out, thinking about how nutty Jade was acting. I got in my car and as driving home talking out loud, complaining about how I wanted to live my life my way, when I felt this tearing inside. Not actually pain, but like a huge part of me went.... I don't know how to explain." Maddie got up off the floor, sat in the chair next to her and reached over and began rubbing Zoe's back. "Zoe swallowed, "I knew she was gone. I knew." her voice breaking. Everyone was silent, waiting , giving Zoe time. "I felt like a part of me died. I don't know what happened next. I must have wrecked because I woke up in the hospital. I watched the news and asked people in the hospital what had happened. I kept waffeling back and forth, between knowing what had happened, and denying. I got out of the hospital and Trevor gave me a ride to mom and dads house, and of course they were gone. They knew. I found my mom's prayer list and my name was on the top with the word salvation written next to it, but it was the letter from Jade that made me understand. She loved me so much. I gave my life to Christ there in her room. And someday I will be with her again. I will see my twin again."
The men had left to go out searching for Pattersons hideout, leaving the women to sort through the rapture package that Zoe's parents had put together, and all the articles that Tori had printed out from the rapture ready site. Kristen had been given the job of unrolling the paper logs and gathering the money out of them, and Zoe, Tori, and Maddie were sorting throught the trunk that Zoe had brought when Zoe's eyes filled with tears. She sat on the floor and held the framed photo to her chest. Maddie and Tori stopped what they were doing. Tori looked at Maddie, unsure what had brought on Zoe's tears.
Kristen sat at the table and looked up at the sound of Zoe's crying. She looked at Maddie as the older woman sat on the floor next to Zoe. She put her arms around the crying woman.
"Zoe, what's wrong."
Zoe looked down at the photo she held in her hands, and Maddie saw it was of Zoe and Jade. They had their arms wrapped around each other and had huge smiles on their faces.
"Mom and Dad took that picture of us the day I moved back home." Zoe said.
"Oh Zoe. I can't imagine the pain you must feel." was all Maddie could say. She knew that the sisters had been close. They had shared a special bond, and Maddie just realized, for the first time in her life, Zoe was alone.
Kristen got up and joined Maddie and Zoe on the floor. Maddie handed her the photo, and Kristen gasped. "You both look exactly the same."
Tori had looked at the photo over Kristen's shoulder. "Zoe, I'm so sorry. I had forgotten about Jade."
"Who's Jade?" Kristen asked, as she handed the photo back to Zoe.
"My twin sister. She was taken in the rapture." Zoe ran her finger over the photo. "We are identical. That's why we look so much alike." Zoe explained.
"Oh." was all Kristen could think to say.
"I grew up going to church", Zoe said. "My whole life my parents would take me and my sister Jade. Our grandparents, our parents friends, me and my sisters friends, everybody went to church on Sundays. Jade and I went to youth group on Wednesday afternoons after school. Our whole lives seemed to revolve around church. When Jade and I got into high school, we were leaders is our group Teens for Christ. After we graduated we went to college and were part of Campus Crusade for Christ. Our freshman year we met Steffi and Gabe at a fundraiser to send them on a mission trip to help build a church in El Salvador. I dropped out of college after my sophmore year, but Jade stayed to finish. I moved back to the Springs and just went wild. I started drinking, tried drugs a couple of times, slept around. I was enjoying my life. This went on for a few years, until about three years ago. I started to settle down. I stopped partying all the time, stopped dating, and just focused on my job. I would go to Mom and Dad's every Christmas to see my parents and sister, go to church, be 'good'..." Zoe trailed off. She stood up and walked over to the kitchen window, wrapping her arms around herself. She began speaking again her voice quivering. "Then two years ago I was home for Christmas, we went to the Christmas Eve service like always. At the end of the service, Pastor Mathis gave the alter call. My sister Jade got up and practically ran up to the front of the church. See, this is something we had done when we were little, probably seven or so. We had been baptised. I couldn't understand why Jade was doing this. I was embarrased. Jade was up there crying, and telling everyone that she had just been 'playing Christian' her whole life. She said she wanted to be baptised again, this time knowing that she really belonged to Christ. She confessed to all the things she had done during high school and college. Drinking, sex, experimenting with drugs. I was so angry, because people knew that Jade and I did everything together. We were inseperable. For the first time in my life I wanted nothing to do with my twin. I actually hated her. After the service was over everybody went up front hugging Jade and welcoming her to the family of Christ. After we got home, Jade tried to catch me alone, but I avoided her. I spent the next three days not talking to her, ignoring her when she spoke to me. Jade and I had been sharing an apartment, but when I got back to our place I packed up my stuff and moved in with a friend. Then next year, right after Christmas my dad was layed off, when the economy first started to tank. Jade moved back in with Mom and Dad right away. I waited almost a year and moved back in Mom and Dad's couple of days before this past Christmas. We had Christmas, and things were strained between me and Jade. I could tell she was different. I could feel it the same way I could feel when she was really upset. We had this kind of mental connection. We always knew things about each other. Sometimes we even felt each others pain. Like once when we were in high school, I was home working on a project for school, and I started screaming that my arm hurt. My mom rushed me to the hospital, and they started to take me down to x-ray, when Dad came rushing in with Jade. She was cradling her arm. She had broken it playing powder puff football." Zoe stopped for a moment and walked back over to the table and sat down. "We had a huge fight. Jade told me she knew that I wasn't saved. We both knew I had never really asked Jesus into my heart. I got angry and told her that I was fine. She kept at me, begging me to listen. I told her to leave me alone. She just kept at me, so I grabbed my gym bag and took off. I almost knocked my dad over trying to get away. I worked out, thinking about how nutty Jade was acting. I got in my car and as driving home talking out loud, complaining about how I wanted to live my life my way, when I felt this tearing inside. Not actually pain, but like a huge part of me went.... I don't know how to explain." Maddie got up off the floor, sat in the chair next to her and reached over and began rubbing Zoe's back. "Zoe swallowed, "I knew she was gone. I knew." her voice breaking. Everyone was silent, waiting , giving Zoe time. "I felt like a part of me died. I don't know what happened next. I must have wrecked because I woke up in the hospital. I watched the news and asked people in the hospital what had happened. I kept waffeling back and forth, between knowing what had happened, and denying. I got out of the hospital and Trevor gave me a ride to mom and dads house, and of course they were gone. They knew. I found my mom's prayer list and my name was on the top with the word salvation written next to it, but it was the letter from Jade that made me understand. She loved me so much. I gave my life to Christ there in her room. And someday I will be with her again. I will see my twin again."
- Zags
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