All the characters are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.
A story based on Biblical truth.
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We all sat in the fellowship room of St John the Baptist Church in Egham, a town in Surrey. All we had was a radio perched on a cupboard for our connection with the outside world. The TV standing in the corner was useless except for playing videos. The church never held a TV License. But what we heard on the radio was enough to keep up to date on the latest news bulletins.
So, as I was thinking, two things have occurred simultaneously. One is Russia, with its Muslim allies, racing south through Turkey and Syria to Israel and Jerusalem in particular to rob, plunder and seek revenge for the demolition of the Dome of the Rock. The other was the sudden death of Gaius Caligula. He was shot by a gunman who evaded security.
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| Russians and Arabs march towards Jerusalem. |
The radio then delivered this report:
The gunman who assassinated our leader of world peace, Gaius Caligula, has just been identified. He is Mohammed Abdallah from Syria, whose motive for the killing was his revenge for the demolition of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. He was arrested and detained in Rome. How he evaded the heavy security gates at the entrance to St Peter's Square in Rome has remained a mystery.
Peter Wilkins, who studied Theology at Cambridge before the summer break and the vanishing of millions, didn't believe that security was lax in processing each individual. He had a hunch that all this was part of an elaborate plot. But from whom did the plot, if there was one, originate?
I then asked, Pete, do you think there was someone behind all this?
All eyes were fixed on Peter as he sat in deep thought, recalling a lecture he had attended during his Cambridge days.
Peter then answered, I recall studying Revelation chapter 13. According to the Scriptures, the Antichrist will have a helper. He is known as the false prophet. There is a candidate, not so frequently mentioned, named Elijah. According to my studies, this guy is a Jew from the Tribe of Dan.
Emily exclaimed before asking, Wow! How did you know his ethnicity and even his tribal origins?
To whom Peter answered, Read Revelation chapter seven. In it, all twelve tribes of Israel are listed in the 144,000. But one tribe is missing: the tribe of Dan. But the full twelve are made up by the substitution of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, in Dan's place.
This was substantiated by the set of blessings their father, Jacob, gave to each of his sons shortly before his death. In Genesis 49:17, Jacob calls his son Dan a snake in the grass who will bite the horse's heels, causing both it and the rider to fall backwards.
Finally, Elijah admitted his Jewish origin to a journalist.
Another in the group expressed his surprise. The name Elijah? Wasn't he one of the greatest prophets in the Bible, a man devoted to God and the welfare of the nation of Israel?
Yes, you are right. Peter answered. The true Elijah was not only a great prophet who ministered to Israel, but he, with Moses, appeared to Jesus and three of his disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. But this fellow, the false prophet, I believe he took the name Elijah as a stage name or pen name. You watch any movie, and no actor would use his own name for the character he is playing.
But this present Elijah, you call the false prophet. What is his role in all this? Emily asked.
Peter answered, The false prophet will assist Caligula in establishing him as the world's true Messiah. According to the book of Revelation, to convince the world that he is God, Elijah will perform some outstanding miracles in Caligula's presence. Most important of all, he will copy the original miracle performed by the real Elijah in the Old Testament by calling down fire from heaven. This will be an attempt to convince Israel that Caligula is the long-awaited Messiah despite his non-Jewish origin.
Suppose Caligula appears alive and well in Jerusalem. Peter added. Then many, especially the Jews, would not believe that he died at all, but passed through a state of being in a coma and has recovered naturally. In addition, the Russian invasion into Israel has shattered his global peace plan. Caligula will be standing on very shaky ground. Hence the important role the false prophet will play. He would literally lead the whole world to worship Caligula. That's when the judgements on our natural environment will begin.
Meanwhile, while the conversation in the church was taking place, Phil Banks sat in the train on the London Waterloo to Reading line. Not that he would remain on board until the train terminated at Reading; rather, he was to alight at Egham, roughly halfway on the line to Reading.
He had informed the Government ministers of Caligula of St John the Baptist church in that town, and one of the officials had downloaded the footage onto his laptop. The footage remained encrypted, thus making it unavailable to the public. He smirked as he looked out of the window. He was instructed by the officials not to let anyone know about the mobile phone recording, but to visit the church and reassure the inhabitants that he was their friend and, with Caligula dead, he was now on their side.
Phil alighted at Egham Station and walked the short distance to the church. When he approached it, he saw that the door was shut, but a few cars parked outside, including Steve's Ferrari, indicated that there were people therein. He knocked.
Everyone in the room looked up, startled. Each held each other's hands tightly, and we bowed in prayer. The knocking continued, but nobody moved. Gradually, I lifted my head and volunteered to peek around the door and see who was knocking.
I approached the door and opened it. Outside stood a recognisable face of my old college friend.
I gasped. Philip Banks! How did you know where to find us?
Please be calm! Phil responded as he raised his left arm to pacify any ensuing panic. Yes, it was true that I respected Gaius Caligula. I really believed that he was solving all the world's problems and ushering in world peace. But he made that vital mistake. He authorised the demolition of the Dome in Jerusalem. It was Islam's third holiest site after Mecca and Medina. I'm not surprised at all that he was taken by an angry Arab.
You all believe in Jesus. I'm aware of that. Don't panic. A few nights ago, I was walking back to my college apartment, and I happened to pass by a grocery store. As one of you talked, you gave this address, and I managed to overhear.
What is the purpose of this visit? I asked.
Phil answered. Please, I'm your college mate. I was aware of the fiasco we had at that Windsor restaurant. But with Steve gone, you are the only friend left. I'm feeling lonely and in need of some companionship.
Wait there. I told him, but not without a level of nostalgia. I went back inside and informed them of my former college friend. Peter then said, let him in. But we must be cautious of his presence.
I returned to the door and bid Phil in. He walked behind me as I led him into one of the fellowship rooms.
You are all sleeping here? Phil asked as we passed through the makeshift dormitory in the main chapel.
Yes, I replied. All the men sleep here. The women sleep in a separate room. The world outside is now far too dangerous for us to return to our homes, even our college apartments. Caligula has snipers roaming the streets. They are looking out for us, the so-called Haters, for not believing in Caligula's peace plan.
Phil entered the room housing the entire group. I turned to see if there would be any reaction. As Phil saw a black woman in her forties, Emily, as one of the group, I thought I saw him wince ever so slightly, but he made every effort to conceal his real feelings by breaking into a broad smile. Indeed, I knew Phil way better than anyone in the group.
He introduced himself. I'm Philip Banks, Phil for short. I'm a student at the nearby Holloway College of the University of London, and I'm, or rather was, studying Politics. I'm now having doubts about whether the college will ever reopen. It's been shut for over three years. My oh my! Hasn't the world changed beyond recognition? By the looks of it, we are on the brink of war. So much for Gaius' peace plan!
Well, Caligula was assassinated, and the Russians and their allies are heading to Jerusalem as we speak. Peter said.
Haven't you heard? Phil asked. The Russians have paused in their journey to Israel to honour the death of our leader. But by tomorrow, they should be back on the march. Poor Israel! They don't stand a chance!
Don't be too sure about that. Peter replied. If this event is a fulfilment of Biblical prophecy, Israel will be spared by divine intervention. Russia and its allies will suffer a massive loss.
Suddenly, Phil asked, Sorry, but is there a toilet here?
I escorted him to the church bathroom. Here, I watched my college mate retch. I had to be very careful to ensure the safety of our group. Phil was as hostile to any Biblical matters as he was before.
Listen, Phil. I whispered. I know you better than anyone else here. You are still hostile to the Christian faith, aren't you? We are all believers here. Yet you have found us. Be honest. Are you one of Caligula's spies looking for us?
THAT IS AN INSULT! Phil shouted, and was heard by the rest of the group. He lowered his voice. I indeed admired Gaius Caligula. His good looks, his wisdom, his lack of hypocrisy, and his dedication to world peace have won my heart. But now he's dead. DEAD! And I'm shattered. With my parents divorced and moved away, I'm suffering from loneliness and in need of company, especially you, whom I knew from our college years. Some tea and sympathy wouldn't go amiss!
You never told me that your parents were divorced and moved away. I said.
Phil replied, Not long after my father threw Mum's brother out of the house after his insult over Elaine's death, the marriage failed. As far as I'm aware, Mum has gone to live with her religious brother.
Meanwhile, in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, a nurse was keeping watch over Caligula's dead body. She rose up and left the room to make herself some coffee. After she returned with the beverage, she sat down. Suddenly, she screamed and threw the cup to the floor, creating a mess.
She would swear that he saw Caligula's closed eyelids flutter a little.
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To be Continued.
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