Fiction - Week 23 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

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Deep in the makeshift bunker at an archaeological site beneath the Old City of Jerusalem, Gaius Caligula was pacing up and down while Elijah, the false prophet, sat at the head of the table, accompanied by a group of top generals. His anger and frustration were obvious to everyone in the room. The roasting heat outside, the rest of the population loyal to him were suffering pain and death, and the helplessness he felt. Elijah did his best to calm him and to keep him informed. However, his distress was not compassion or pity for those suffering. Rather, his anger stemmed from his lack of power to stem the scorching heat; hence his fear that those who claimed to be devoted to him would question, or even deny, his divinity.

Meanwhile, the radio delivered more news. The scorching heat was beginning to dry up the two rivers: the Euphrates and the Tigris. Rumours, and so far, just rumours, are that the Chinese Chairman Lok Kin Mao has his beady eyes on the Middle East, and Jerusalem in particular. If he could dislodge Caligula from his throne, he could snatch the title as World Leader.

The Euphrates River began to dry up.

Elijah advised Caligula, who took his place at the other end of the table.

Gaius, we have no idea how long this stifling heat will continue, but sooner or later it must end. Once it is safe to step outside, we must be prepared should any threat arise from the Far East. I advise you, when it's safe, to muster troops from Europe and the Middle East. Also, have troops from the Americas transported here.

You are right, of course. Caligula agreed. But at this moment, we must wait. The Euphrates isn't dry yet. Only its water level is falling. However, will we have enough? Considering the large proportion of Haters still alive. Lately, there were two men at the Western Wall turning their listeners away from me. 

Are they turning the population to believe in the Biblical God? One of the generals asked.

I AM GOD! Caligula shouted, as if the officer was still unclear of his master's identity. The same officer then thought to himself, Then why can't he control the environment if he's the Omnipotent God? However, he was too frightened to ask him.

Caligula then banged his fist hard on the table. At the right moment, I will kill those two myself! And you, General Jenkins, don't you dare question my divinity, ever! Next time I'll send you to the gallows!

Jenkins stood there, shocked. Can this man read his deepest thoughts, too? Not even his silence could protect his privacy.

                                                                        14.

Two thousand miles away, at the London police station, Peter, the two officers Bill and Gregory, and I couldn't see outside. A plywood panel covered the only opening to the outside: a barred prison window. Voices stirred within another cell. It was ten in the morning. Gus, the third officer, emerged from Cell 7 and went to the lounge. It was getting dark outside. He rushed to Cell 8 to inform his two colleagues.

It's only ten in the morning, and it's getting dark! Could it be a solar eclipse? Normally, an eclipse, especially a full one, is announced days in advance, or even weeks. But this is unexpected.

Peter opened his Bible to Revelation 16:10. 

Yes, it says here that the fifth angel poured out his bowl, and darkness fell on Antichrist's kingdom. If it's ten here, then, in Jerusalem, it's already midday. We believe that the Beast has his throne in Jerusalem.

Gus then leapt forward towards Peter. Is that a Bible? Give me that! Cali would kill us all if he saw this!  But Bill intervened.

Hey! Gus, let him keep it. With this heat, neither he nor any of his officers would reach us.

Did the sun switch off like a lightbulb? Gregory asked.

No. Peter answered. It's more likely that a dense dust cloud has been travelling through space for thousands of years. Yet, at this instance, I believe it is passing between the orbits of Venus and ours, blocking out the sunlight. If the Sun were to "turn itself off", as we understand it, all the planets would fly off into space on their own tangents, since the Sun's gravity would fade with the light.

Then I chipped in. If there is universal darkness, then the air will cool. I believe it's God's way of restoring this planet in readiness for Christ's Kingdom...

ENOUGH! Bill shouted. Or I'll tear that book into shreds!

We both remained silent. Any further provocation would lead us into trouble. And more than having our Bible confiscated and destroyed, we most likely face execution. At least for now, the three officers are reluctant to carry out more killings, but that could change in an instant. We submit without compromising our faith.

Across town, all those sheltering on the platforms of Waterloo Underground station were unaware of the darkness outside. Tom noticed a slight drop in temperature. He read his thermometer. The reading dropped from 40 to 35 degrees Celsius. But that didn't stop the sweat from soaking their clothes.

After Phil's anger suddenly erupted upon hearing the words, Let us pray, Tom reminded his friend of the horrific pain felt by Jesus Christ while nailed to the cross. Phil realised that the pain of his childhood memories didn't hold a candle to the agony Christ suffered. Phil agreed to pray, and the two became devoted, calling on God for mercy and to spare this planet and all life on it.

Outside, it was approaching midday, according to the clock, but it was totally dark. The sky was pitch black with not a single star shining. The moon was also invisible. And it was in the gibbous phase, which is short of full. The air was rapidly cooling. Anyone out on the streets not only began to feel cold, but their exposed skin was scorched by the heat, causing intense pain. Without any light, those without a battery-powered torch groped along, feeling for anything in their way, as all the street lights were off.

All the buildings were still warm to the touch, but this deterred anyone shivering from seeking warmth. Rather, the heat radiating from the masonry intensified the burning pain on their tenderised skin.

Even those who sheltered in cellars barely underground didn't escape the heat entirely. True, they weren't as severely burnt as those fully exposed, but they still suffered some discomfort. Panic gripped the affected population. Many realised that this was the wrath of God. But instead of humbling themselves and falling on his mercy, they swore at him and cursed. On the Continent, especially around the Alpine area of Europe, they cried to the mountains to protect them from the heat.

At the police station, no daylight streamed through the lounge windows. There was also no power to keep the lights on. Fortunately, some candles were stored away in the stockroom. They were useful during previous power cuts. Bill groped his way to the closet and found some candles. He used two or three to illuminate Cell 8, where Peter and I were confined.

Only candles kept the station lit.

It's been dark for a while. Greg said. Solar eclipses only last a few minutes. This is weird. What could possibly be causing this darkness?

As I said already, I believe it's a dust cloud blocking the sun. Peter answered.

Suddenly, the main entrance doors burst open, and several officers marched into the station. One of them called out, Any staff members here?

Oh heck! Bill exclaimed. The senior officers. They are Cali's Special Agents. We have neglected our duty to execute the Haters under our custody. Now, they are seeking us out!

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 22 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

The atmospheric heat continued for some hours. Many died, literally roasted to death. Others found shelter in underground cellars, especially in London, where most Victorian townhouses had a cellar. Many had more than one cellar. Off the tiny kitchen, once in the basement servants' quarters, was a coal bunker. At the rear of the house, a row of basement wine cellars lay below street level. All these provided adequate shelter from the heat. A typical London residential street, such as St Georges Square in Pimlico, accommodated many people. Thousands more crammed the underground platforms in tube stations sprinkled around the capital, including the Bakerloo and Jubilee Line platforms at Waterloo.

The blistering heat wasn't confined to the UK, but was global, with the daylight half of the planet bearing the brunt. This included Europe, most of Asia, and also the Americas. However, in the Middle East, the heat was less intense, especially around Petra. Here, Jewish believers in Christ who refused to take the Mark hid in the Treasury itself, along with many caves and catacombs in sandstone cliffs and crags, dug by the Nabataeans around the time of Christ.

The Treasury, Petra. A place to shelter inside.

In Jerusalem, Gaius Caligula and his officials sheltered in a war bunker. Despite his claims to divinity, he was completely helpless. He had no power to deal with the heat or attempt to save the lives of those caught in it. Even the famous Hezekiah's Tunnel, a water channel dug through solid limestone around 700 BC and located in the Kidron Valley south of the Temple Mount, was crowded with people sheltering from the heat. Meanwhile, vast areas of forests and fields with crops were also scorched, and all marine life and wildlife died.

And so, all this was in the news report Peter and I heard on the radio, which crackled back to life. We were safe in our cell, with the window opening sealed with a plywood panel. Police officers Bill and Greg were with us, and they had a radio. We listened to the latest news. Yet, the broadcast wasn't pristine. With the transmitter placed under a temporary shelter, the voice was accompanied by a whistling hum and crackling interference. But we still understood the message.

With the ongoing natural crisis, we had to move away from the outer-facing wall, as it was heating up. Worse, masonry retained its heat far longer than air. The Romans took advantage of this and built their walls with an underground hypocaust heating chamber, from which heat rose in flues built into the walls and heated the surrounding brickwork. Hence, the Laconicum, the dry sauna featured in many ancient bathhouses, was the source of the warmth.

I then asked Peter, Is it true that after this heat crisis, there will be universal darkness?

Peter took out the Bible we had with us, the same one I took from Padula's bedroom the day after the Rapture. I looked up to the officers. With the Clover-Leaf mark on their hands, I was expecting hostility and the book to be confiscated. But the two just sat there, as if they couldn't care less to take any action. Perhaps they didn't want Caligula to rule over every moment of their lives. However, were they aware that the tiny chip implanted under their skin sent a signal to Central Intelligence? That means senior officials could arrive at any time.

Peter opened the Bible to Revelation.

Yes, it says in Revelation 16:8-11 that the fourth angel pours out his bowl and the Earth is scorched. Then the fifth angel pours out his bowl, and darkness covers the Antichrist's kingdom. I try to explain it from a scientific angle. A solar gas cloud has hit us, and many were scorched alive by the heat. Everything, including all masonry and streets, is warming up. Rivers are beginning to dry up too, except at the estuaries where the sea flows in.

The Bible says that after this heating up, a darkness will follow. This is necessary to cool all the elements. But I don't believe that the sun will switch off like a light bulb, as some imagined. If that were to happen, then its gravitational force, which keeps all its planets in their orbits, would fade with the light, and all the planets would fly along their tangents into space.

To our surprise, it was Officer Gregory's curiosity that was aroused, and he asked, How could this be? The only cause for darkness to fall during the daytime is a solar eclipse, a very rare occasion around here. Besides, the moon is either full or gibbous. A solar eclipse can't happen now.

That is a good point. Peter answered. He was thinking about how he could answer in a scientific vein rather than quote Bible verses. Then he said, This is only a guess, but the possibility of a dense gas or particle cloud could pass between Venus and Earth. The cloud would have a very low gravitational pull, but dense enough to temporarily block out the Sun. As for Antichrist's kingdom, it is worldwide. However, the text indicates that the darkness will occur around midday. That's when the Sun is closest to being directly overhead over Jerusalem.

It's a good theory. Greg responded without showing any hostility. Bill sat next to him and said nothing. Could he too begin to see the light of the Scriptures?

But neither he nor Greg suggested executing us. The sadness over the recent death of Emily affected even the officers, even though Bill, Clive, and Ted were preparing to execute her. As I was thinking, Ted is now dead, shot by Clive for defending Emily. Clive is suspended. Now we have these two: Gregory, who was sitting next to Bill, and Gus, who is in another cell nearby, protected from the heat outside.

Across town, at Waterloo Underground station, Phil and Tom watched as more people, all in a state of panic, arrived and began to fill the platform. Phil wondered whether some would step off the platform to sit on the tracks. But nobody did. Although there were no trains running, the central rail could still be live. Even a slight touch would not only electrocute the victim, but fry him too. Even if the line was shut down, it could be turned back on without notice.

This is getting serious! Tom exclaimed. It wouldn't surprise me that not only are all the other platforms filling up, but the same is happening on all stations underground across the city. Even in this heat.

Tom checked his thermometer. The temperature was hovering around 40 degrees Celsius. Less than half the strength of a sauna, but hot enough to soak our clothing with sweat. Both Tom and Phil watched as others poured in and took up any space left on the long platform. He looked at the crowd. The vast majority were adults of both genders. The few children who were younger than five didn't have the Mark, as it was agreed among the medical world that carrying the chip under their tender skin would make them ill. However, Phil noticed a complete absence of young people averaging between six and sixteen years of age.

However, among the newcomers, some fell unconscious, and a few even died. All those who passed on had the Mark, as if their immune systems and bodily resistance were weakened by the presence of the microchip under their skin. Others, both alive and those who died, had a festering sore around the Clover Leaf mark, with pus leaking from the wound. The sight was quite horrendous. Yet, their deaths brought distress among all, believers and non-believers alike.

It wasn't long before teams were formed to carry the bodies out of the platform area. Not knowing where to put them, they piled them in the connecting corridors and near the escalators. Perhaps they thought that the sight of these bodies would deter others from coming in and overcrowding the platforms. Everyone was soaked with their own sweat as they worked, but each managed to pour some water over themselves. But even this tapered off, as the warm air was heating the bottled water.

How long will this go on? Phil asked in a panicking tone.

Come, let's pray. God is on our side if we believe in Jesus. Tom reassured.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE I AM SAVED! Phil shouted, attracting attention from those who were near. And you want to pray? Look at us. The world is on fire; we are stifling; the water is running out, and I have this mark. People are dying, left, right, and centre, and you ask me to PRAY? Phil emphasised the last word.

He felt an urge of anger pass through his emotions as he remembered his cruel uncle. He too had this "Let us pray" mantra, especially at the dinner table.

Tom turned to his friend with compassion and understanding. He remembered hearing Phil's story of his youth. He tightened his hand around Phil's wrist and spoke in a pleading tone.

Philip, please. Tom begged. I understand what you went through in your younger days. Your Uncle will stand before God and give an account. But for his eternal destiny, it's not for us to say or judge. But remember, Christ hung on that cross for six hours, from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon, according to Mark's Gospel.

Imagine being nailed to a wooden cross, your hands and feet screaming in pain. Yet you can't soothe your wounds, as you are immobile. Below, there is hardly a word of sympathy or consolation. Instead, the crowd looks up at you, shouting, mocking, teasing. Six hours! And you can't move a muscle to bring relief from the intense pain.

The Agony of the Cross.

That was the sacrifice Jesus made for you. On the cross, he took all your sins upon himself and was punished as if HE committed those sins. In return, he gave you a receipt: eternal life. 

At three in the afternoon, he cried his final word: TETELESTAI! It is finished. The payment for your sin is complete. We can now go free. No more condemnation!

Phil sat for a moment in silence, looking at the ground in front of him while Tom sat still and waited. Eventually, Phil said, Tom, you are right. Our sufferings are mild compared to Christ's. We'll pray together.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 21 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters in this story are fictitious and have no bearing on any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

=================================================================

In Cell 8 at an unspecified London police station, both Peter and I jumped in surprise when we saw Emily escorted back to our cell. She didn't look relieved. But we were. After she was escorted out by the three officers, we heard a gunshot echo through the building. Like the previous victim, autistic Robert Jones, we thought that Emily, too, faced the same fate.

I then asked, We heard a gunshot. We both believed that you were the victim, as Robert was. We are so relieved that you're still with us. What happened? Who was shot?

One of the officers, the one they called Ted, was shot. He was killed by Clive as revenge for defending me. Emily answered, brushing a tear from her cheek.

Can you explain? Peter asked, drying his own eyes after weeping intensely.

Emily answered, I was meant to be executed. And it would have gone ahead had not Clive behaved appallingly.

Go on. I urged.

Emily continued, When the four of us arrived in that room, the officer named Clive began making monkey noises and mimicked its gesticulation. He then explained that black people like me should be sent to the African jungle to rejoin my family of apes.

Ted was furious with Clive and punched him. He went sprawling across the floor. But he got up and would have gone for Ted had the third one not intervened. After Clive relented, he crept to a drawer, took out a handgun, aimed at Ted and fired. It was Ted who died instead of me.

As Ted lay on the floor, lifeless, the third one, Bill, suspended Clive, pending an investigation. I believe Clive's career as a police officer is over, and possibly Bill's too.

A weapon such as this was used to kill Ted.

Peter shook his head. His university studies in theology included the debate about Creationism and Evolution. He offers a possible explanation for Clive's bad attitude.

The idea of a gradual evolutionary process predates Charles Darwin. Even the ancient Greeks believed in something very similar. But Darwin made the concept official. However, Darwin had a disciple, his cousin Francis Dalton, the father of eugenics. It was the work of Dalton that inspired Hitler to launch the Holocaust, using Dalton's philosophy that the white man is of a superior race, and all dark-skinned people should be eugenised to halt population growth. Clive was simply expounding Dalton's worldview.

The three then sat in silence in their holding cell, each thinking. Then Emily looked up towards the ceiling, then lifted her finger to point to something she could see but we couldn't.

I could see the Lord Jesus rising from his throne and smiling, as if he were about to receive me! Emily exclaimed. His throne is next to his Father's. Oh! How glorious! She then slumped, her body falling face down on the floor.

Our glance was to the grim ceiling. We knew. Emily's passing was very similar to that of the first martyr, Stephen, in Acts 7, but without the stoning. I called for the officers, and soon, Bill and a couple of others we hadn't seen before opened the door, saw Emily's lifeless body, and ordered a stretcher. One was brought in, and she was taken to a mortuary to lie next to Ted's and Robert's bodies, awaiting the Coroner, followed by cremation.

The reality of Emily's passing hit Peter hard. After the body was carried out and the cell door closed, Peter burst into fresh tears. He wept so hard that all I could do was put my arms around him and allow his head to rest on my chest. My own tears rolled down my cheeks. So much for the "British stiff upper lip"! There is always a right time for a grown man to cry.

                                                                      13.

The fiery solar gas hurtled through space towards Earth. Fortunately for Mercury and Venus, the two planets inside Earth's orbit were elsewhere; hence the cloud travelled towards us without obstruction. Even the Moon was full, or nearly so, thus on the far side of our planet from the Sun.

When the cloud reached our atmosphere, the Ozone layer, which protected the Earth from harmful solar rays, rolled back, forming a hole that let the cloud into the air. Instantly, the air around us heated up. Screams of panic were heard outside as people ran for shelter.

Heat from the small barred window began to fill the cell. I called the officers. All three appeared to be panicking. With the screams, the window glass panes shattered, many of them explosively, throwing shards across the street and into the rooms.

Quick! I shouted at the officers. Find sheets of plywood, cardboard or anything to cover these openings! Make sure that each cell has one. These walls are thick. They will keep the heat out.

Bill returned with a sheet of plywood. He reached up and placed the panel over the opening. He secured it with duct tape. The other two officers dealt with the other cells along the corridor until the interior temperature was under control. The three officers then took shelter in our cell, as Bill, who was in charge, knew us better than the rest of the prisoners.

Bill then asked, I believe you're going to say this is another form of Divine retribution. You will never convince us of this "Christ" you profess. Gaius Caligula will find a way to solve this NATURAL PHENOMENON! Bill emphasised the last two words. 

Another officer, Gregory, pointed to the panel fixed over the small window opening. He then said, I once read about the sole survivor of an entire city destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Although I don't remember the name of the person, he was the sole prisoner at San Pierre in Martinique when Mt. Pelée erupted and destroyed a city of 30,000 people.

His name was Ludger Sylbaris. Peter replied. And the eruption took place in 1902. Yes, this was one of the subjects we learned at school.

It looks like a specialised subject. Greg replied. Were you a public schoolboy?

Not a public schoolboy. I attended a grammar school. Peter said.

Another area where the air stayed at a reasonable temperature while many were scorched to death outside was at the northbound platform of the Northern Underground Line under Waterloo Station. Here, Phil Banks sat next to Tom Lawrence. Both had eaten, since Tom shared his food with his new friend.

Phil was no longer a sworn atheist but a believer, thanks to Tom's testimony and a lesson in theology, which impacted Phil's worldview on salvation. When Phil admitted to Tom that he felt like a wedding guest but had no idea what it was about, Tom explained.

The Church was the Body of Christ. This was the most intimate relationship. For example, you are born with your arms and legs already attached. You don't ask them to marry you!

Phil laughed. What's your point?

The Bible talks about the Bride of Christ. Tom answered. The Bride is the restored nation of Israel after his return. In the Old Testament, especially in the Prophets, God is often referred to as Israel's husband. However, at his return, which will be very soon, an elaborate wedding will take place in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ, as the Bridegroom, and the Jews, all of them redeemed believers, will be the glorious Bride. You and I, among thousands of other non-Jews, will be guests at the wedding, and we will live forever, death having been defeated when Christ rose from the dead that Easter morning.

Would all this be in Heaven? Phil asked.

No, this will be an earthly Kingdom, with Christ reigning on the throne of his ancient father, David.  Glorious as this will be, it will still be short of heavenly glory. However, this earthly Kingdom will last only for a thousand years. After that, Heaven will merge with Earth, and everyone will have glorious bodies. We will never suffer from sin, pain, hunger, thirst, boredom or tiredness, but live forever in God's glorious presence.

Christ the Groom, Israel will be the Bride.

A while elapsed. Then Phil said, Listen! Doesn't this sound like people screaming?

Yes, I can hear it too. Tom answered as the rest in the underground station began to murmur.

It's getting warmer. Phil said, wiping his brow. 

The scorching heat, judgment! Tom exclaimed. I hope we will be safe here. He reached into his bag and took out a thermometer. He looked; he saw the temperature was creeping up towards 40 degrees Celsius. Yet the people out on the streets were roasting to death!

We are several metres below ground. Tom said. It shouldn't get too hot here. I believe the heat is coming from the air vents leading to street level. I pray we will see through this without much harm.

Fortunately, there was plenty of bottled water available for the taking. Phil and Tom each took a bottle, drank some, and poured some water over their heads.

The temperature reading on Tom's thermometer slowly reached 45 degrees Celsius, about half the strength of a sauna, and hovered at that level. It was a while before a gradual drop was noticed. Meanwhile, Phil, Tom, and the others at the station kept themselves cool by drenching themselves with cool, refreshing water.

Outside, the ground was getting hot. So were the buildings. Window panes shattered. People who were out on the streets were screaming as the heat scorched their bodies. Many jumped into the River Thames, although the water was warming up. The walls of the buildings were also warming up, including the walls housing the police station. Everyone was terrified, both believers and unbelievers alike. Many were roasted alive; others made their way downstairs into the cellars, a feature in most Victorian townhouses. Underground, there is a greater chance of survival.

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To be Continued.