Fiction - Week 12 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

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

A story based on Biblical truth.

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Several weeks elapsed before Dr Giacomo declared Gaius Caligula fit for discharge from his private ward at Gemelli Hospital. By then, the doctor's facial features had changed. On his forehead was a distinctive mark resembling a flower or three clover leaves. It was three sixes intertwined. The mark had already received an affectionate nickname, the Clover Leaf. It sounded much nicer than the Mark. Furthermore, the new name was more in touch with world peace rather than a mark of identification and loyalty.

Meanwhile, in Egham, the scanner and station-type barriers at the store where the group bought their food were activated, as I found out when it was my turn to buy food for the group. The barrier remained shut after passing through the scanner, which sounded a loud parp. The time has arrived. Everyone without the Mark was barred from buying or selling. Nearby, a crowd had formed a queue at the doors of a marquee that was set up on the High Street, near the grocery store. 

Queues formed outside the marquee to receive the Mark.

I hesitated and turned away. I knew that the marquee was a marking station, and each citizen received the Mark of the Beast right there. Yet, Caligula was supposed to be dead. We had heard nothing about him since his assassination. After studying the Bible as a group, we believe that the marking stations across the country and worldwide were established and put into operation under the orders of Elijah, the false prophet.

As I walked along the shopping precinct, I noticed that every shop entrance had a scanner and a closed barrier. I even wondered whether there were barriers at the doors of Holloway College, even though it had remained shut since the Rapture. I began to feel despair. If all grocery stores, whether a corner shop or a hypermarket, had these barriers, we would literally go hungry. I wondered how the rest of the group was feeling about all this. Three-plus years of sheer hell awaited us. Would we survive? How would Emily take it? As for Phil, he didn't seem that bothered. We saw that he took everything at board with calmness.

By the time I arrived empty-handed at the Church of St John, I shared the disappointing news. We all bowed in prayer. That was when we noticed that Phil was absent. I asked where Phil might have gone.

Phil has access to some food. Peter replied. He should be back soon.

Where does he stock up? I asked. Unless he has the Mark.

Shortly, Phil appeared with some packing cases and placed them on the floor in front of the rest of the group. When opened, the boxes revealed a variety of items that would feed the entire group for a few days. By secretly keeping in touch with his paymasters in London, they made sure that the whole group was adequately fed.

One day, the whole group were watching the latest bulletins on Phil's laptop. The focus was on Jerusalem. A vast crowd had assembled on the Temple Mount, now occupied by the Jewish Temple. From the altar in front of it, a dead bull lay. There was no fire, and its flesh was still intact. Several priests, dressed in Levitical garments, attended the sacrifice. The altar and the Temple itself were almost obscured by many TV cameras, as if preparing for something big to happen.

We all watched as the camera panned on the altar. For a moment, nothing happened until a figure in a cloak approached the altar, his back to the cameras. As he turned around to face the audience, his long hood obscured his face. Next to him, Elijah stepped up. Taking a microphone, he began to address the watching world. All of us in Egham watched.

Elijah then said, Good day, Israel and all men and women around the world, even nations in the middle of the night. This is Prophet Elijah speaking on behalf of our world leader of peace, Gaius Caligula.

We all know that Gaius was assassinated by a manic Arab Muslim a few weeks ago. In his absence, the Russian and Arab military forces attempted to invade Jerusalem for both plunder and retribution for demolishing the Dome of the Rock that stood here at the very site of this Temple.

However, an intense earthquake halted their advance while they crossed the Vale of Jezreel, and infighting broke out, which led to their slaughter. Many of you may say that this was Divine intervention. Well, it was. Only, not who you think.

A few weeks ago. Gaius Caligula was slain by a gunshot. He died as a result. But to prove his divinity. I have great pleasure in presenting you with...THE RESURRECTED GAIUS CALIGULA!

The audience standing in front of the Temple gasped. There was even a scream as the hooded figure stepped forward and removed his hood. He stood in all his glory.

There was no mistake, no identity mixup. He was definitely Caligula, the world leader of peace who was assassinated by a gunshot. And there he was, standing straight and looking to be in good health.

Elijah then continued with his speech.

Many refuse to believe that Caligula is the long-awaited Messiah. Especially among the Jews. Therefore, I'm going to perform a miracle to convince you otherwise. This miracle was performed around 2,800 years ago by the prophet Elijah to a crowd of Israelites who couldn't decide who to worship, God or Baal. After pouring water on an altar, Elijah called upon God and from heaven, fire came down, consumed the sacrifice and the altar, and evaporated the water. The Israelites then worshipped God, and the prophets of Baal were executed.

Today, this same miracle will be performed as proof that Gaius Caligula is God and your Messiah.

Elijah then ordered a hose to be aimed at the altar. Then one assistant asked, Is this water? Is this not petrol or gasoline?

Elijah poured the liquid into a glass and ordered the assistant to drink from the glass as the cameras zoomed in. He then tasted and drank the glass empty.

It is water. The assistant concluded.

Back in Egham, Peter remarked, That was deliberate, to prove that no cheating was taking place. Dowse anything in petrol in that hot sunshine, and flames would shoot up straight away.

The false prophet then stood a short distance from the altar and shouted aloud to the watching world.

GAIUS CALIGULA, WILL YOU NOW PROVE TO THE WORLD WHO YOU ARE SO ALL WILL BELIEVE IN YOU?

Gaius Caligula replied, TO PROVE TO YOU THAT I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, I WILL CALL DOWN FIRE FROM MY FATHER IN HEAVEN, AND IF I AM WHO I SAY I AM, THEN ALL THIS HERE WILL BE BURNED UP!

Caligula raised both his arms high to heaven, and with his eyes wide open and looking up to the sky, he called out.

FATHER, IN THE NAME OF GAIUS CALIGULA, SEND THE FIRE!

All of a sudden, fire fell from the sky and took hold of the sacrifice. The bull was burnt to cinders, the stones grew hot and exploded, and the water evaporated. After a while, nothing was left but a pile of ashes.

Elijah calls fire from Heaven.

Caligula shook Elijah's hand and the two, arm in arm, walked to the Temple entrance and proclaimed himself as God. The cameras then zoomed in on the smouldering ashes. 

The group in Egham watched in fascination and horror the event on Phil's laptop. Each of them knew that the Abomination of Desolation, spoken by the prophet Daniel, had just occurred. As the cameras panned the whole area, as predicted, nearly the whole crowd of frightened Jews were fleeing towards the Mount of Olives. As Peter commented, for the Jew to receive his Messiah, he must arise from his own Jewish heritage. As a Roman and a Gentile, Caligula didn't fit the criteria. Hence their fright and their compulsion to flee. 

Caligula was infuriated by their flight. He called Elijah over and issued some instructions. The false prophet then announced, 

We are witnessing the majority of Jews refusing to believe in Caligula as their Messiah. Hence, it is now mandatory for every citizen worldwide to have a mark of loyalty tattooed on his forehead or right hand. No one can buy or sell unless he has this mark of loyalty. We have even named this mark the Clover Leaf, because that is what it resembles. It consists of three sixes intertwined, forming a flower-like image.

Loyalty to Caligula is absolutely vital for your survival as we strive to restore world peace. If anyone worships another god, another messiah, he will be executed. We have ready the French guillotine, or face a firing squad. In America, the electric chair will be ready for use. No matter which mode is used, not the slightest deviation from the rightful worship of Caligula would be tolerated.

Caligula was handed a seat by Elijah, and he placed it just inside the Holy Place of the Temple and sat as enthroned. Meanwhile, most of the Jews in Jerusalem had fled the scene. Many other Jews were alarmed and refused to believe in Caligula. In the Church of St John, Peter was aware of the Jews' reaction.

In Zechariah chapter 13, there is a prophecy that two-thirds of Israel will perish, and the remaining third will survive but through much tribulation. History tells us of Roman persecution, hardships from the Catholic Church, from the Crusaders, and especially from the Holocaust. But what we are seeing here, I think, is the fulfilment of the prophecy.

Can you enlighten us? Emily asked.

Peter explained, The Jews you watched as they fled from the Temple Mount may be the proportion of the one-third who will survive. They refused to believe in the Antichrist. However, of the whole Jewish population around the world, the remaining two-thirds will be deceived by the miracle and accept the Antichrist and his Mark. They will be the ones who will perish. As Jesus once said to the unbelieving Pharisees, "I come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

The rest of the group was astonished by the Scripture quotation. They were amazed at how all Biblical prophecies fit so well together.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 11 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All the characters mentioned here are fictitious and bear no resemblance to any person, living or dead.

A story based on Biblical Truth.

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                                                                        8

At the Valley of Jezreel, millions of bodies lay, along with military equipment that had exploded or burnt to cinders. However, a few from the back of the march managed to escape, injured, having been caught in the infighting. The area was eerie and silent. Presently, vultures began to circle the slain, ready to feed on the bodies of the deceased regiment.

Russians lie dead.

Jerusalem was to have been their final destination. However, while these combined Russian and Arab forces were in the final thirty hours of marching to cover the remaining 80 miles (130 km), the majority of Israelites who prayed at the Western Wall saw the earthquake as Divine intervention and the answer to prayer. Many realised the reality of their Messiah, Yeshua, who died on a cross, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, and believed. Many non-Jews, or the Gentiles, got the point and were also converted to Christ.

Much to the disgust of Philip Banks, who was residing in a disused church with a group of believers. But rather than antagonise the others, he kept most of his thoughts to himself. Instead, he blended into the rest of the group. His link to his hostile paymasters in London was kept a secret, and he dared not mention them, not even in an off-hand remark.

In the mortuary of Augusto Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Dr Giacomo smiled as he saw his idol, Gaius Caligula, staring back at him from the body slab. Caligula rose and swung around until he sat upright with his legs dangling over the edge of the raised slab.

However, the world leader was still in a poor state and unfit to be discharged. Dr Giacomo led him to a wheelchair and escorted him to a private ward where he would receive the best attention from the hospital staff. However, Caligula instructed that no TV cameras were allowed in the ward. His explanation was that he was drawing plans for a surprise appearance at the Temple in Jerusalem, for Elijah to perform a great miracle in his presence. That will be the occasion when TV cameras will crowd around him, airing the miracle to every corner of the world.

Despite his recent recovery to life, Caligula already knew about the defeat of the Russian and Arab forces in the Jezreel Valley. And the millions of Jews who were turning to their Messiah, Caligula's most fearful enemy and rival.

Dr Giacomo entered the ward for a check-up.

Dr Giacomo, Caligula began, when I'm ready for discharge, I must fly to Jerusalem. Have a private jet ready at Fiumicino Airport. I want the world to know, and all of Israel to know that I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man can go to the Father except through me. Will you pass these instructions to Elijah the prophet?

However, to restore world peace, every citizen must receive a mark on their forehead or right hand. Every public venue, whether a small corner grocery store or a hypermarket, a doctor's surgery or a hospital, along with all banks and administration offices. The mark itself will be visible to all; however, beneath the skin, a miniature electronic device will signal to the security barrier whether to let the person through.

Dr Giacomo replied; Elijah is now at work with this project. In every shop or public venue, airport-style security scanners are already in place at each entrance. However, Elijah has ordered that behind each scanner, automatic barriers, like those at railway stations, are to be erected, thus saving expenses on staff hire.

Scientists have come up with a microelectronic device placed under the skin where the mark will be. If a person walks into the scanner with the mark, the scanner will beep a note and the barrier opens. If he doesn't have the mark, the scanner will emit a loud parp, and the barrier will remain shut.

Wow! Caligula exclaimed. Elijah has brains the size of a city! His devotion to my wishes remains unshakable.

Back at the Church of St John the Baptist, the group sat in silence after watching on Phil's laptop the defeat of the Russians. Only Phil was surprised at their downfall, as to him, earthquakes have always been with us since the dawn of history. The student in Politics saw the defeat as just a terrible coincidence, the worst kind of luck that could befall an active regiment on a march. But the others knew that that was not a blind coincidence. It was a Divine intervention, an answer to prayer, not only in Israel, but among believers worldwide.

But Peter, the group's appointed leader, looked worried as he gazed with anxiety at the floor in front of him. He bowed in silent prayer. I saw sweat gather around his eyebrows. When I looked back up, I couldn't help but ask, Pete, what's bothering you?

Peter answered, Earlier today, when I went to restock our groceries, the store we normally use now has a barrier behind the scanner. It was still open, and the scanner was still inoperative. Heavens! The barrier is very much like those at the London Underground or at any train station. Three days ago, Caligula was slain, killed by a mad Arab gunman. If my studies are correct, it's about now that he will come back to life. Heaven help us! This guy will insist that he is God and command everyone on Earth to receive a mark either on his forehead or right hand.

I then said, I am, or rather, was, a student of genetic science here at Royal Holloway. I don't believe the mark is merely a tattoo, although on the surface, that's how it would look. Rather, an electrical device, perhaps small enough to be almost invisible, will be implanted under the skin. Yet, despite its size, the scanner would read the signal the device emits and open the barrier. But without the mark, you will starve to death, or even face a death sentence if you refuse it under compulsion.

Emily rose and placed her arm around Peter's shoulders, allowing his head to rest on her chest. Her motherly attitude brought Peter a degree of comfort and strengthened his confidence in the faith. He then addressed the whole group.

We are about to enter into the second half of the Tribulation period. Disasters and worldwide catastrophes will sweep the whole planet. Caligula will reveal his true nature and force everyone to worship him as God. Both the prophet Daniel and the apostle Paul predicted that this would happen. In addition, John in Revelation added the Mark everyone would receive. This is the time of temptation for all believers. During the Church Age, before the Rapture, when a person believed, he was forever saved. We even had an acronym, OSAS, Once Saved Always Saved. Many believed in it; others didn't. However, now it is no longer applicable. If any believer in Christ yields to the temptation for his own survival and takes the Mark, he will forever be condemned. That is why this is called the Hour of Trial.

Emily allowed a tear to run down her cheek. Why, oh why didn't I listen to my son Richard? At least he's at home with the Lord, as joyful as he could be. While he was still here, he begged me to believe. I have wondered whether he is interceding for us now, especially for his mother. But I'm going to be strong. In NO WAY would I take the Mark of the Beast. And that is exactly who Caligula is: a beast, not God.

Although earlier in the day Peter went out to buy food to restock, the rest of the group remained in the church, too fearful to wander out without a proper reason. Throughout the day, Phil's computer constantly spewed out news after news. There were no other programmes normally put out by the BBC, no dramas, no quiz shows, no light entertainment, not even nature programmes.

Throughout the ramblings, which the group only paid casual attention to, a reporter stood outside what looked to be a marquee or a large tent. It was meant to be temporary, and we all asked ourselves, what now?

The reporter then began his monologue.

Good evening. Behind me is one of many marquees erected in towns, cities, and rural areas across the United Kingdom. These are temporary structures until more permanent structures are complete. What you're looking at is a Marking Station. In an average town, there will be one serving every few streets. Hence, the need to be given an identifying mark will spread across the population at a fast rate.

Marquees like this one began to appear.

So, what is a marking station? It is the order of the Government that every citizen must bear an identification mark either on his forehead or right hand. The mark will contain a microchip, which will be inserted under the skin at the site of the tattoo. The presence of the Mark will activate every scanner and open every barrier as you walk into a shop or other public venues, such as a doctor's surgery, a dentist's, or a hospital.

So, what is the purpose of all this?

The Mark shows complete loyalty to Gaius Caligula and his peace programme. Unfortunately, Gaius is dead, having received a gunshot from a hysterical Muslim Arab. This was a shooting in retaliation for Caligula's authority to allow the Islamic Dome of the Rock to be demolished to make way for the Jewish Temple, which is now complete and fully functional.

Therefore, in his memory, every citizen will be obliged to take the mark of loyalty. It also serves as an identity badge for Central Intelligence. Any deviation from wholehearted devotion to Caligula could face the death penalty. This is Mike Stance for the BBC.

We all looked at each other. Phil didn't look alarmed at all, but the rest of us did. Within was a resolve. Within each of us was our choice to choose death rather than to take the Mark.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 10 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

All characters are fictitious and have no bearing on any person, alive or dead.

A story based on Biblical truth.

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

At Gemelli Hospital in Rome, a terrified nurse let out a scream and threw a full cup of coffee onto the floor, shattering the crockery into small fragments amidst a puddle of spilt coffee, creating a star-like mess across the room. The nurse then rushed to a nearby surgeon's office. She entered without knocking, and he frowned at her sudden, unannounced entrance.

Dr Giacomo, you'd better come and take a look at Caligula's corpse and see whether he truly died. I swear that I saw his eyelids move.

The surgeon rose and accompanied the nurse to the mortuary where the body lay on a raised slab. The doctor examined his face and, with a stethoscope, listened to his chest. He then shook his head.

There is no sign of life! The doctor exclaimed as if irritated by the nurse's alarm call. Get a porter to clear up this mess. Then go home and rest. Another nurse will replace you for now. Don't worry, you will still be paid for a full shift. 

After phoning for a porter to attend to the mess in the mortuary, the nurse left the building, climbed into her car, and drove home.

No further news was received from the hospital. Dr Giacomo has instructed all relevant staff members to keep any rumours confined to the mortuary. So, a thousand miles away, in an abandoned church in the English town of Egham, the group remained unaware of anything taking place in Rome. Rather, they were far more concerned about Russia and its Arab allies invading Israel.

Augusto Gemelli Hospital, Rome. 

A new guest, Phil Banks, had arrived at the church and was pleased to see me, George Bolton, among the group. We both put our restaurant dispute well behind us, and each made an effort to get on despite our opposing opinions on Biblical and spiritual matters.

I watched as Phil gazed at the radio perched on a cupboard. 

Is that all you have to remain in touch with the world? 

Emily answered, Yes, sir. We do have TVs and laptops at home, but none of us thought to bring one here when we first settled, which was a day after the Rapture. Now, it's too dangerous to venture outside, except to buy food. Even then, it's a very risky venture.

Stay here, all of you. My college apartment is nearby. George, may I borrow Steve's car?

Can you drive? I asked.

Yes, I can drive. However, I might have got a little rusty, as I haven't owned a car since I passed the test.

Okay, borrow mine. But be careful. Phil then caught the car keys I threw to him, and he disappeared from the fellowship room.

About an hour later, Phil returned carrying a bulging executive briefcase. He looked happy as he handed the car keys back to me. From the briefcase, he pulled out a laptop, its modem, and some wiring. He set up the computer in front of us all, and with its accompanying modem, he had no need to type in any special password or code. The laptop booted in successfully after a few minutes.

With everyone agreeing, Phil logged into the BBC iplayer. Under World News, we all had direct contact, which included the screen picture. Like that, we could now watch as well as listen.

According to the bulletins, Russia and its allies resumed their movement towards Israel. But as they got closer to its northern border, there were signs of discord among the advancing forces. Through proper investigative journalism, we learned the cause of the infighting. The Russians are out for plunder, enough to revive a dying economy. The Arabs want revenge for the destruction of their sacred Dome of the Rock on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, better known to them as the Haram Al Sharif. So which of the two causes takes priority?

The introduction of the laptop into the group was a great advantage. We all crowded around the screen to watch the military forces cross Israel's northern border from Lebanon. As they progressed further south, suddenly, it looked like an earthquake had just struck.

Just then, a reporter came on the screen. 

Good afternoon. There has been a massive earthquake in northern Israel, centred on the Vale of Jezreel. Although still unconfirmed, this is a massive shake. The world's most severe so far was centred on Biobio, Chile, in 1960. It measured 9.5 on the Richter Scale. This one may be 9.6 or higher.

The most shocking thing about this 'quake was that it occurred at the exact moment the Russian forces were heading south towards Jerusalem. Astonishingly, all the towns and buildings around the site have remained intact. Even the ancient ruins of Megiddo, its tel overlooking the valley, remain undisturbed.

However, what I am seeing here is that the Russian and Arab forces have turned in upon themselves. There is infighting across the entire troop. To add to the fighting, many military transport vehicles, tanks, and other weaponry have exploded or caught fire. All progress has halted. However, why the two forces are fighting each other is yet unknown. We may not be certain, as it looks like they are not only fighting each other, but many are slain. 

Just then, a couple of Arab soldiers who fled the scene appeared, gasping for breath, as they were willing to be interviewed by the reporter.

You two look tired out. The reporter stated. You managed to escape from the chaos?

One of them answered, Yes. (gasp, gasp, gasp) Luckily, we were right on the edge of the (gasp) march. When the earthquake struck, (gasp) we slipped away and ran as fast as we could. (Gasp). We were already aware of the growing hostility between us and the Russian forces, (gasp) even before the earthquake.

After this, the reporter paused to allow the two to recover their breath before proceeding further.

Can you highlight this? The reporter then asked.

Yes, we can. The Arab replied. The Arab and Russian forces have joined to invade Israel, but our reasons for doing so are quite different. They wanted just to plunder. We were seeking revenge for our Dome.

You mean the Dome of the Rock at Haram Al Sharif? The reporter asked this for confirmation.

Yes, the one. The Arab answered. At first, we sent an embassy to Moscow to appeal for their help. But that wasn't merely pulling a rabbit out of the hat. We were aware of the prosperity Israel was enjoying, and the poverty the Russians were facing after their past defeat in Ukraine. Although the Russian troops were at first willing to partner with us, the long trek across Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon had already discouraged them, and they, driven by hunger, became touchy and short-tempered. Long before the earthquake, many Russian soldiers were insulting Islam. They wished that our Prophet Mohammad had never been born. That had angered us against them. By the time we entered Israel, tensions were on a knife-edge.

The earthquake was the final trigger. Tempers exploded, as did all the equipment. This was no mere in-fighting. This was wholesale slaughter.

The reporter then turned back to the TV camera. Well, there you have it. Confirmation of the seismic intensity of the earthquake has just come in. It was measured at 9.6 on the Richter Scale. This makes it the most intense 'quake in the history of mankind.

However, it was the timing of the 'quake which has aroused speculation. It occurred at the precise spot where the Russian forces and their allies were heading south towards Jerusalem. Some are already asking, was this 'quake divine intervention? Some believe that the slaughter of these forces is the fulfilment of a prophecy found in Ezekiel of the Biblical Old Testament. Further reports of a mass conversion to Yeshua, their Messiah, of many Jews here in Israel and those scattered abroad. Even many non-Jews saw all this as miraculous and were converted to their Christ.

This is Mike Hants of the BBC reporting from Tel Megiddo.

UTTER NONSENSE! Phil shouted spontaneously at the computer screen. Divine intervention indeed! For heaven's sake, how gullible could some be? A TV reporter coming out with that? Come on! Earthquakes have always been with us since the dawn of history. Those troops were merely unlucky! 

I watched as the rest of the group, especially Peter and Emily, cringed at Phil's outburst. During the three years we lived in this church, Bible study was ongoing. There was only one Bible among us, the one I took from the Padula's house the day after the Rapture. It became worth more than gold. We each took turns studying it, especially the prophetic section, from Isaiah to Malachi, and related these prophecies to both the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fulfilment of present events.

It was obvious that both Peter and Emily were troubled by Phil's outburst, and Peter also speculated whether the student was a secret spy for Caligula and here to report to his paymasters in London.  Yet, between his outbursts, he was gentle towards everyone in the group, and despite how he felt towards non-whites, he was courteous towards Emily among the rest of us. I wondered whether he too looked up at Emily as a mother rather than a sister. Her maternal feelings towards her missing son Richard were redirected towards us. Would Phil benefit too?

The Tel of Megiddo overlooks the Vale of Jezreel.

Meanwhile, back in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Dr Giacomo was alone in the mortuary. The nurse on duty had taken a lunch break at the staff restaurant, and the doctor was willing to sit in for her. Dr Giacomo was one of only two who knew that the body must not be buried. His associate was Elijah, whom Peter in the UK referred to as the false prophet. He and Dr Giacomo were the only two in the world who knew.

Dr Giacomo rose from his seat and went around to check on the other bodies stored away and awaiting burial or cremation. When he completed the tour, he turned to see Gaius Caligula fully awake, his head slightly turned and staring straight at Dr Giacomo.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 9 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

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

A story based on Biblical truth.

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

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.

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.

Fiction - Week 8 - 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.

A note before I go any further: The prophet Ezekiel in the Old Testament foretold an invasion of Israel by Gog, the land of Magog, the prince of Meshech and Tubal (Ezekiel 38 and 39).

Many scholars have identified Magog as Russia, with Gog, sometimes known as Rosh, as the prince of Meshech and Tubal. Many scholars have identified Meshech and Tubal as the cities of Moscow and Tobolsk, respectively.

Some scholars place the invasion either immediately before or after the Rapture; others around three years later; others still identify this invasion as the final Battle of Armageddon, seven years after the Rapture and immediately before the Second Advent of Christ.

This blog is a fictional story, but plausible enough to fulfil real history; therefore, I have placed this invasion roughly three years after the Rapture. However, I'm asking the reader to keep this in the realm of fiction and not to take this story as dogmatic Biblical prophecy, as the timing of this event remains uncertain.

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Among the original dozen occupying the Church of St John the Baptist in the Surrey town of Egham, three newcomers have joined the group after Peter invited them following a meeting at the grocery store.

They were Zadok, Joseph, and Zechariah. These were from the 144,000 Messianic Jews sent from Israel under divine guidance. Under Peter's invitation, they spent only nights in the church dormitory. During the day, they were out evangelising the town's population, pleading with them that it was Jesus Christ who atoned for all sins, and not to follow Gaius Caligula, who had sold them a lie. 

As the rest of the group remained huddled in the church, the radio continued to broadcast world events. Just then, the radio delivered a shocking report.

The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem is well on its way to completion after the demolition of the Dome of the Rock, which stood at the same site since AD 692. However, angry Muslims from Iran, Afghanistan, Libya, and Egypt have arrived at the Russian Kremlin to negotiate with the Premier to invade Israel, especially Jerusalem, in revenge for their destruction of one of Islam's sacred sites.

A deal has been struck between the Russian Premier and the Arabs. The latter will get their revenge while the Russian forces are promised plunder, enough to enrich its economy after a few last years of crop failure. The Premier had doubts whether he could muster a sufficient army after its defeat in Ukraine, but he was pleasantly surprised at the response. The promise of rich plunder will fill empty stomachs.

Caligula had the 3rd Temple built.

I then remarked, I recall a conversation we had while we were driving to Windsor. One of our friends who was taken up mentioned this Russian invasion. I have looked at those two chapters in Ezekiel. It looks as if this prophecy will be fulfilled to the letter - right before our eyes!

Emily then asked, But isn't the world supposed to have obeyed Caligula? To him, there shouldn't be any more wars.

Caligula is only human. I replied. If a world leader, or other world leaders, decide to prepare for war, there is not much he can do about it. Since he ordered the Dome to be razed, the whole of the Muslim community has turned against him. At the same time, Russia is hungry. This makes an ideal alliance for war.  

                                                                      7

As more weeks passed, reports of the completed Temple in Jerusalem were broadcast. It didn't take long for animal sacrifices to resume, after a long break since AD 70, when the Second Temple was razed to the ground by the army of the Roman General Titus.

One morning, I rose and turned on the radio while the others were still sleeping. We were by ourselves again. The three Jews who stayed with us had moved on to preach to the people elsewhere. They were remarkably successful. Many renounced their allegiance to Caligula and turned to Jesus. However, only those who weren't fully convinced of the world leader's truthfulness found faith in God. Those who were convinced of Caligula's faithfulness resisted and turned against the testimony of these Jews and embraced the world leader even further. Tragically, those who decided to stay with Gaius Caligula were the majority of the population.

Suddenly, the radio sent out an urgent message:

The Russian forces, along with their air force and drones, together with forces from Libya, Egypt, Afghanistan, and Iran, are making headway south towards the Middle East. They had already passed through Turkey, and the Turkish forces had joined them. They will be approaching Syria and Lebanon within hours.

The Premier himself remains at the Kremlin. The force, a huge one, is actually racing south as far as their vehicles allow. The rage among the Arabs for the loss of the Dome of the Rock, combined with the poverty-given greed of the Russians, has made this a formidable force moving at speed towards Israel. All the Jewish inhabitants are gathering at the Western Wall, praying in terror, as their defence cannot stand a chance against these hostile Russian and Muslim forces.

All of us had nothing to say or do as we sat in a tight group in one of the fellowship rooms. Instead, we all bowed our heads in prayer. Both Peter and I knew the fate of these troops as they headed towards Israel's northern border. Nothing will go well for them.

Eventually, someone in the group expressed his regret. If only we had believed in Jesus when we had the time! Now we have to face Caligula, and this on top! Yet, he seems powerless to stop the war. His ambition for world peace seems to have been shattered.

You know what that means? I said. 

What? Emily asked.

Peter replied, It means that if the Antichrist's confidence in world peace is shaken, many will turn to Jesus for salvation. Indeed, the 144,000 are making converts in numbers around the world. We need to keep an eye on Caligula. I think it's the time when he will stand at the Jewish Temple and demand to be recognised as the Messiah.

Suddenly, in Rome, a gunman approached Gaius Caligula as he was shaking hands with the crowd during his meeting with the Pope. The gunman aimed his weapon discreetly at Caligula's head and fired. Caligula immediately fell, with blood pouring from his temple.

A medical team rushed to where the world leader lay and examined him. Then the head doctor stood up and announced to the Pope,

Your Holiness, Gaius Caligula is dead.

The body was quickly taken to Gemelli Hospital in Rome. In the theatre, surgeons got to work removing the bullet and patching up the wound before burial. Then he was left lying on the slab in the mortuary. Somehow, the surgeon had a hunch not to bury him, at least not yet. As his body was lying there, the world received the news.

GAIUS CALIGULA IS DEAD! A shotgun wound in his head proved fatal for the leader and advocate for world peace. His body now lies at the mortuary at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

The radio kept on about Caligula's death. Who was the gunman? How did he get past security with a weapon? Questions were asked continuously, and no one seemed to come up with any answers.

Peter called for the attention of all in our group. 

Listen to me! He called out. Yes, Caligula is dead. However, this is a clever plot to let the world know of his passing. Indeed, he may be dead. But according to Revelation 13, he will live again after three days. It will be a counterfeit of Christ's death and Resurrection. Whether he really died or not, that's not for us to say. But, according to my studies, I think that this was a very clever plot. Russia and its allies are rushing to invade Israel. By some divine intervention, no one in that hostile force will make it to Jerusalem, but instead will all die en route.

After that, Caligula will "rise" from the dead and head for Jerusalem. In front of an astonished world, he will stand at the Temple and proclaim himself to be God after annihilating the Russians. That's when every citizen must receive his mark of loyalty to survive. Furthermore, the judgment of our natural environment will begin. The whole planet will be turned to Hell!

Meanwhile, Phil Banks was standing before Caligula's Government department for the UK in London. Standing in front of six men seated at a large desk, and dressed in their business suits, he announced,

I have some information that may interest you. It's about a church in Egham in Surrey. St John the Baptist. There is a group of haters living there. They refuse to bow down to Caligula.

Do you have any proof? One at the desk asked.

Yes, Phil replied. Take a look at my mobile footage.

Phil handed his phone, displaying footage of the conversation between Peter Wilkins and the three Jews. After the footage ended, one of the officers downloaded it to his laptop.

The officer then praised Phil. Well done! That's a good piece of work there. If you give us your address, we will make sure you receive a constant supply of free food and drink.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 7 - 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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As we sat together in a group of around a dozen people, I couldn't help commenting; How is it that the topic of ancient history has become so popular? In this group, at least three of us have studied it. A mere coincidence? Or is there something more?

No one answered. Instead, I heard something on the radio which caught my attention. I reached up to turn up the volume. The announcement came that Gaius Caligula was standing at the podium in front of the Basilica of St Peter, the same spot where he had stood earlier. From there, he began his speech.

A crowd gathers in Rome to hear Gaius Caligula.

Good evening, Italy and the world. As I have already ordered, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is ready for demolition, in readiness for the Jewish Temple, after the pattern of King Solomon, to be built on that precise site.

A delegation of angry Muslims has made a journey to Moscow for the Russians to intervene and halt the project. Fortunately, I have already contacted the Russian President about a peace deal. As far as I'm aware, the President, who respects me as a world leader, agreed to keep the peace. As for the dissatisfied Muslims, I have persuaded them to listen to me, as I'm preventing another cosmic abduction like the one which occurred last night. They are now on a Russian plane returning home.

My ambition is to usher in a world peace that is to last a thousand years. This New World Order will have its international capital in Jerusalem. In due course, I will be establishing my central office in the Middle East, preferably in Jerusalem itself. 

As I hold the position of a world leader, I must lay some rules which will be binding to every citizen globally. That is, to look to me for a fulfilled life. I will ensure that you will eat and not go hungry or suffer poverty. I will also establish the Universal Health Service to replace the NHS in the United Kingdom. The American private health insurance system will also be replaced by the UHS, headquartered in Jerusalem. With this new healthcare put into place, every citizen will have access to all institutions free at the point of use. Gone will be the need to sell one's own home to pay fees that the insurance company refuses to cover. 

Therefore, for our world peace to be established, all devotion should be focused on me. We cannot afford dissention, as the saying goes, a divided house cannot stand. Nor a divided kingdom. We must stand as one. This global standing together as one will deter any further cosmic abductions. I have spoken.

Gaius Caligula continued in his speech. Back in 1971, John Lennon released his single "Imagine". It contained the verse:

Imagine there are no countries

It isn't hard to do,

nothing to kill or die for,

and no religion too.

Imagine all the people

living life in peace.

Here, I make one slight change to the 4th line. Instead of "and no religion too", it is now "and one religion too."

Caligula then continued, Religion is a force which binds a society together. But this binding together only occurs if everyone lives and believes in harmony. No more different sects, denominations, or religions. Instead, just one faith. This one faith is to believe in me.

Although all this was coming from a radio perched on a cupboard and had no TV picture, we all could visualise exactly what was going on in Rome. As Caligula paused in his speech, the vast crowd in St Peter's Square raised their voices in a loud cheer. The cheer lasted a couple of minutes until Caligula raised his hand to quell the noise. 

Therefore, to worship Allah, Buddha, Shinto, or Hindu, and especially Jesus Christ, must be made illegal, so that we can build a peaceful, stable society as narrated in John Lennon's song, "Imagine".

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and may the peace of God be with you all.

We all looked at each other. Then all turned to Peter, who was sitting next to me. In my heart, I made a vow, a promise to God. Never would I bow the knee to Caligula. And, despite making it illegal, I will always worship and honour Jesus Christ. After all, it was he who suffered an agonising death on the cross, was buried, and it was he who rose from the dead on the third day. Caligula achieved none of this.

We sat together, and we all promised each other that we would never stray from our faith.

                                                                   6

The days turned to weeks, and weeks into months. I didn't spend all our time confined at St John's Church in Egham, although the rest of the group did. I returned to my college apartment. With a fully functional TV, I had a better reception of the world news than from the radio.

I also devoted myself to the Bible I took from Padula's house, with the Internet. Talking of which, that house didn't stay empty for long. A few days after the Rapture, it was invaded by squatters, and with the original homeowner forever absent, the squatters would never be evicted.

By studying, I slowly learned how to put together the end times foretold by prophecy. Fortunately, I had an academic mind and was able to grasp the complexity of the genome at a level many students would have struggled with. I slowly learned that the days of free grace are over, the Body of Christ, which was the Church, was taken to Heaven, and we are now in the first part of the Tribulation period, centred on Israel. This is the time when one has to have faith and endure severe trials to be saved.

The second half will be worse than the first half. It was then that the full force of judgment would fall on our natural environment, such as the sun becoming fiery hot, water turning to blood, famine, and massive earthquakes. In addition, the whole of humankind would gather together in the Valley of Megiddo for the final battle of all history.

However, as I watched on TV, a large crowd of Jews, believed to be as many as 144,000, had assembled around the Western Wall and beyond. These Jews were an irritation to Gaius Caligula, for each one stood in defiance of the leader's peace programme. They were all dispatched from Jerusalem to spread the message of Jesus Christ crucified. And report after report was broadcast on both my TV here in my apartment, and the radio I left at the church. Some of these Jews were heading across Europe and the UK.

I still managed to buy food for those at St John's Church and myself. However, lately I have begun to see those airport-type security scanners erected at the entrance to all shops and public venues, including doctors' surgeries, clinics, and hospitals. Indeed, this brilliant UHS is for those devoted to Gaius Caligula. Anyone who believes in Christ, in particular, was a sworn enemy of Caligula, according to the news broadcast, and he was termed by him as a Hater. That is, he hates the New World Peace Order. These people who have devoted themselves to Jesus Christ will be barred from using all these facilities.

However, at this moment, the scanners were non-functional, as it was not yet time to set them into operation. As it was, I could still buy food, but I also knew that supplies were running out on an international scale.

Airport-type scanners are being installed at every shop.

However, as the weeks elapsed, I had to spend more and more time with my friends at St John's Church. Not only was food brought in, but the main chapel was converted to a makeshift dormitory. It was decided that the men would sleep in the chapel. The women slept in one of the fellowship rooms. Each returned home to collect their bed mattress. Since these were heavy furniture, each was brought in one at a time by a team. The reason for this setup was that the world outside was becoming more dangerous. Caligula was becoming more hostile against all Christian believers, and the launching of the 144,000 added to his ire.

One day, it was Peter's turn to go and find some food. He had to keep a sharp eye for any of Caligula's agents prowling around. At the shop, he met three men. Each of these men had a special mark on their foreheads.

Who are you? Peter asked, startled. And what is that mark you have on your forehead?

Are you devoted to Christ or to Caligula? One of them responded by asking with a serious tone.

Peter mustered up the courage to answer the truth. As far as he knew, these men could be sporting the Mark of the Beast, that is, the Mark of devotion to Caligula. If that was true, Peter could face arrest on the spot.

I'm devoted to Christ. It was Christ, not Caligula, who atoned for my sins by his shed blood. Peter answered.

All three men smiled warmly, and each held out his hand to shake Peter's. I am Zadok. This is Joseph, and Zechariah. We are Jews devoted to the Lamb of God wherever he goes. We are of the 144,000 sent out from Israel by God to evangelise the world before the judgments begin. The Mark you see on our foreheads is the Mark of God, divinely stamped on us without human hands. Every one of the 144,000 has one. It sets us apart from the rest of the world.

Peter then exclaimed, The 144,000! I'm Peter Wilkins, a post-graduate in Theology at Cambridge University. My studies included Eschatology, and I learned about people like you. That was before the Rapture. Peter shook his head sadly. I have learned that academic knowledge and faith aren't the same. Great men of theological knowledge included Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens. All three knew the Bible well, and their writings filled the shelves in many bookshops. Yet, they were the world's most famed atheists.

Peter then asked, Have you a place to stay?

We have just arrived here, a few days after crossing the Channel from France. We are part of a larger unit that arrived here a few days ago. The unit then split into small groups like ours to reach as many people as we can. To answer your question, no, we have nowhere to stay.

Then come back with me. Peter said. A group of twelve is staying at the Church of St John here in Egham. Don't be afraid. We are all believers in Jesus Christ, and we will never bow to Caligula. Do come. We have food and bedding for all of us.

Around the corner, just out of sight from the four believers, Phil Banks recorded the whole conversation on his mobile phone before disappearing.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 6 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

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

A story based on Biblical truth.

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                                                                        5

The dozen of us huddled together in St John's Church in Egham. I was standing arm-in-arm with Peter Wilkins, who looked to be the self-appointed leader of this group. Others included a black lady in her forties, and other men and women from different walks of life. We were all bound by a common fear, but amidst this emotion, a sapling of hope had germinated.

We all moved from the main chapel to one of the meeting rooms. This one had a TV, but it was installed for video shows only, as the church had never paid for a TV licence. With communication cut off from the outside world, I suggested returning to my college apartment to bring in some food and a radio. Peter agreed, and I set off.

At my apartment, I collected the radio and gathered the groceries, both my own and the items I took from the Padula's house earlier that day. Like this, everyone in our group will have something to eat, and hunger will be kept at bay, at least for now. However, as I passed a grocery store, it was open for business, and there was no airport-style scanner at the door. At least not yet. I entered and bought more food items, especially tinned food, which keeps much longer than uncooked or unprocessed items. Furthermore, while I was out, someone discovered food in the church kitchen, adding to our stock.

Back at the church, the load I carried in brought cheers from the entire group, which encouraged them to keep on trusting God for his provisions. Once we all settled, having placed the radio in a prominent position, I turned it on for any news updates.

Gaius Caligula ordered the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to be demolished. Last night's catastrophe of so many people vanishing as if suddenly atomised has kept the Arab world locked in fear and submissive to the world leader for protection against a second abduction. Hence, so far, there have been no protests from the Arab world.

Caligula ordered the Dome to be demolished.

There are speculations on Caligula's motive for a Jewish Temple to be built on that site. But does he have a genuine concern for Israel, its history, and the Jews in general? Although, at this stage, most Jews don't see Caligula as their Messiah, as he is a Gentile, and all Jews insist that their Messiah must arise from their own people and nation. There are some, both Jews and non-Jews, who think that the ultimate motive for the Temple to be built is for Caligula himself to stand in it and receive worship as divine. However, the World President strenuously deny this.

But whatever the speculation might be, a barrier now surrounds the octagonal structure, awaiting the bulldozers to raze it to the ground after standing on that specific site since AD 692.

However, not all Arabs have acquiesced. Many are angry. And a delegate has arrived in Moscow for talks of an invasion into Israel. Speculation of a Russian invasion was present in Moscow before the catastrophe, but what some had called the Rapture has set back any thoughts of invading Israel until the dust has settled.

I turned the radio volume down to ask Peter,

I heard a rumour of the Antichrist receiving worship in the Temple of God. Some members of our college Christian Union had mentioned it a few months ago. Do you think there's any truth to all this?

Indeed! Peter exclaimed, as others in the group drew close to hear what the post-graduate had to say. Don't think for a second that Caligula has a benevolent heart. His whole project to rebuild the Jewish Temple is entirely self-motivated. Like the Roman Emperors of old, he too wants worship and above all, deification.

The black member of the group, known only as Emily to the rest of them, said, My son, Richard, was studying ancient Greek and Roman empires at Loughborough University. He attended a Christian Union at his college. Since then, I hadn't heard from him at all. As for his father, he walked out on us to live with his new lover when Richard was ten years old. At college, so he said, he was converted to Christ, and he tried to persuade me to believe too. I was a fool to think that he was merely suffering from trauma caused by our separation. I now believe he was taken up to Heaven with the others.

She broke into fresh tears and wept aloud as Peter approached her in a hug. For several minutes the two were locked in an embrace as she cried copiously. Then she managed to compose herself as she resumed the conversation.

Richard explained about the Roman Empire whenever he arrived home between terms. Its first Emperor, Augustus, I think, brought in the Pax Romana, a lasting peace and freedom from war across the whole of his empire. The inhabitants were so relieved that they wanted to worship a deity. Rather than worship Jupiter or whatever Roman god they had, they decided to worship the emperor himself. He was visible, alive, and conscious. By the time of Nero, emperor worship was already mandatory for every Roman citizen on pain of death.

And now this Gaius Caligula, another in the group, added. Wants to revive this emperor worship. Wow! I can't help but think that this is the old Roman Empire revived.

A young woman in her twenties, standing nearby, known to the others as Jane, made her contribution to the discussion. In my spare time, I too have studied ancient history, especially that related to the Bible. There were four empires - Babylonian, Mede/Persian, Greek, and Roman. All of them had dominion over the Jews and Jerusalem in particular. So I'm not surprised that this Caligula guy has his eyes set on Jerusalem.

Jane, Peter responded, What you just said, you are right. That is the reason why the Church was removed. For Israel to take centre stage. And just as Israel was centre stage in Biblical times, so there is no surprise that while Israel returns to its former glory, a fierce oppressor is rising too. This is the Tribulation period, a time of testing before their true Messiah returns to set up his Kingdom with his throne in Jerusalem.

Peter continued, Gaius Caligula will not only be Israel's chief enemy and oppressor, but ours too. If he wants universal worship, then anyone who refuses to give allegiance to him but has faith in God through Jesus Christ, he will hate and persecute. This is our time of testing. Listen to me! All of you must refuse the Mark Caligula will impose on all citizens worldwide. Yes, we will starve unless we receive food by a miraculous channel. And some of us might. But in this time of testing, we must prove faithful to the One who was crucified, suffered and died for us. 

When Peter had finished, we all bowed in prayer, mainly in thanksgiving for each other's company, for the food we had, and for our safekeeping in a very uncertain world. Furthermore, we prayed that our faith would be made strong enough to endure what might be coming. After prayer, I went to the kitchen to prepare some food for all of us. Emily then arrived to lend a helping hand.

I regarded all those in the church. Each had suffered a terrible shock. Rivers of tears, mostly of regret for not believing in the first place, but also due to the loss of a loved one, like Emily losing her son Richard. As she helped with the preparation, I regarded her, along with the others. The contrast between these people and my former student friends couldn't be wider than the Grand Canyon! No white shirt and tie among any of them, no arrogance or self-assurance. There was no sense of superiority from holding a degree, having plenty of money, or holding a professional career.

In the church kitchen, I reflected on myself. I grew up in Portsmouth, home of the British Navy. Yet, I never had any desire for a career at sea; I shone at school. Even as a boy, I was interested in Biology, and by the time I took my A Levels, I specialised in Genetics.

I could have gone to Oxford or Cambridge to study Medicine, but I chose Royal Holloway instead. A degree in genetics was available at this branch of the University of London. Of all branches of Biology, I preferred genetic research, a career aligned with the NHS to not only find cures for specific diseases, but also to gain knowledge of genetics to discover how these diseases could be prevented in the first place.

Genetic Research was to be my life's career.

Due to my religious upbringing, although I called myself an atheist, in reality, I was more of an agnostic. I wasn't hostile to religion as Phil Banks was. I was already open to a discussion, as I had with both Steve and Roger. I also had discussions with members of the Christian Union at our University. So, what led me to unbelief as a student?

Mainly this: their belief in Divine Creation versus Darwinian Evolution. One of their most pathetic explanations for discrediting evolution was the one about a tornado turning a scrapyard into a fully functional jet plane. Such an explanation was so pathetic and inane! Hence, I developed an attitude against the Christian faith as something to be teased and mocked rather than outright hostility.

And I watched two of my friends, Steve and Roger, taken up to Heaven while I remained behind. Because of my mocking, my unbelief, and my trust in Darwin's theories, I'm still here. And now I have to face Caligula, the Antichrist, whom God rescued his Church from.

Now, there is no future. My future prospects of a career in genetic research were shattered. I have no idea where I will be going, which direction to take. 

Emily and I eventually carried our dinners into the church meeting room. Everyone looked more hopeful at the sight of food. As we ate, I thought I heard something on the radio. I turned the volume up so all could hear. Gaius Caligula was about to say something...

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To be Continued.