Fiction - Week 18 - 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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The noise of the gunshot in the interrogation room vibrated through the entire police station. Emily shrieked, knowing full well that the autistic marine biology student, with a special fascination for coral reefs, was no longer with us. He was shot dead. Shot dead for refusing to take the Mark of Gaius Caligula. All the remaining saints envied the deceased Robert Jones. He is now in Heaven, receiving special glory from the Lord enthroned, and reunited with his family in a place too glorious to imagine. For a while, Emily wept, tears rolling down her cheeks and dripping off her chin. 

Robert, oh Robert, our poor beloved brother! Rest in peace!  Emily muttered as she dried her cheeks.

While Emily continued her grief, everyone in the holding cells knew their fate. A choice between walking out of here into freedom or facing execution. Robert's execution was by gunshot, although we don't know where he was shot. Yet, in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, a prophecy foretelling that the saints in this time of human history will be beheaded. In modern language, it means decapitated. I turned to Peter.

Where does it say we are likely to face decapitation? I asked.

While still at the church in Egham, Peter packed the group's Bible into his shoulder bag as he was led out to the waiting military van. As such, he turned to it as he sat in our cell.

It's in Revelation 20:4, which reads, "Then I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

Emily, after her sobbing had subsided and she had regained control, asked, This glory which you described so well, do you think Robert is now enjoying it? And do you believe that we too will partake in it?

Yes, most certainly, on both questions. Peter answered. It doesn't matter how we die, as long as we persist in our refusal to take the Mark. We could die as Robert did, or we could face a firing squad, or even a literal guillotine installed. The last two would most likely happen in the central courtyard found in many of these public facilities.  

A guillotine like this one may be erected in London.

I began to feel anger build. My attention turned from Robert to Phil, my former college mate. I then realised that I hadn't seen him anywhere around the police station. Then I remembered him walking away as we were all led into the station cells. I thought that he might head straight back to Egham. But I later learned that he spent a couple of nights at a hotel before arriving at Waterloo, after hearing of a sudden disruption on the railways caused by the two meteorites. 

However, when he left, he didn't look that happy either. Rather, I wondered whether he was reluctant to betray us. Emily became dear to him because her motherly attitude led him to question the divinity of Gaius Caligula and wonder whether the Gospel was true, as he remained with the rest of the group in Egham.

While I was thinking of Phil, he was already making his way on foot across London. However, because of the judgments falling on the planet, he found the city deserted. The streets were quiet, with little traffic flow. He passed a grocery store which had closed down. Looters had already smashed the front window and raided the shelves. However, there was a crate of bottled water that was left untouched. At first, he wondered why the bottles remained intact. Then he remembered hearing about the meteorite smashing into the Euphrates River and turning all freshwater bitter. As Peter, Emily and I were aware, many had died after drinking to quench their thirst.

Phil held a full bottle in his gloved hand and opened it. Surely, a meteorite falling thousands of miles away couldn't affect water in a sealed bottle, where no contamination could reach it. He lifted it to his mouth and took a small sip. It tasted normal. Relieved, he drank the whole bottle empty. Was the UK exempt from the judgment? He wasn't sure.

There was some food left behind by previous looters, and he helped himself with what he could find. He looked at the scanner and the closed barrier just inside the door. He smirked. So this was Caligula's method of exerting world control! At the end of the day, his bright idea couldn't keep the looters out, and even if his own Clover's Leaf activated the scanner and opened the barriers. The mechanism had lost its purpose.

He remained in the derelict shop for a while. He took off his glove and looked at the intertwining three sixes on the back of his hand. This world leader who promised world peace and prosperity! How successful was his global program? True, he performed a fascinating miracle while he was in Rome by coming back to life after he was assassinated. Most of the world wondered about the miracle. But bringing world peace? Indeed, he had success for the first three years. Then Russia's President, along with his Arab allies, shattered the peace program with his attempted invasion of Jerusalem. One reason was to rebuild Russia's failing economy. The other was to avenge the Jews for approving the destruction of their sacred Dome of the Rock.

Afterwards, Caligula couldn't restore world peace. His "fishbone in his throat" was the 860,000 Jews who fled Jerusalem and its surrounding Judean towns to seek refuge in the area of Petra in southern Jordan. Furthermore, the earth literally opened up to swallow the entire army as they drew close to executing those Jews. Now, this world leader is pacing around his Jerusalem headquarters like a headless chicken. 

As Phil sat in the shop and meditated, he saw that both the Jews, who, according to Peter's studies, could be as many as eight million, a third of world Jewry, refused to believe in Caligula or accept his Mark. Then there were "the Haters". The mission carried out by the 144,000 Jews across the globe has produced millions of converts. All these people, both Jews and non-Jews, are a bane to Gaius Caligula. See how catastrophic a failure he already is; he has set his armies to hunt down and execute anyone who isn't bearing his Mark. So much for his peace program!

Hence, his own betrayal of his new friends. The motherly Emily, the knowledgeable Peter, and his college mate George. He also remembered the brilliant but autistic marine life student, Robert Jones. Phil wondered how he was doing at that police station.

Phil raided and sat, meditating in a derelict London shop.

With his devotion to Gaius Caligula already wavering, and more doubt about his divinity growing, Phil arrived at Waterloo Station. It was quiet and almost deserted, except for a couple of looters smashing the front window of the Tesco Express grocery store and entering to pillage anything of value from the shelves.

He kept himself distant from the looters. However, he quickly saw why the station was otherwise so quiet. A few days earlier, trains were still running. But since the devastation, no trains were running. Indeed, trains were standing at some platforms. But all looked abandoned, with no sign of any departure announcements. The entrance to the underground was partly open, as if the gate was suddenly abandoned while in the process of opening or closing. Access to the underground could be advantageous. Phil knew that he was stranded in London. He couldn't return to Egham to collect his laptop from the abandoned church, nor return to his college apartment. He didn't trust anyone at the police station to drive him home either.

Phil approached the entrance to the underground, or "the tube", as affectionately known. There were three tube lines: the Northern, the Bakerloo, and the Jubilee. He remembered Peter during one of his Bible studies. The judgment on the oceans and freshwater had already occurred with devastating results. He remembered two more catastrophes still to come: searing heat and universal darkness. The searing heat from the sun was the more terrifying. It might be this disaster when people will cry to the caves and mountains, Fall on us and hide us from the wrath of the Lamb! Not that anyone would address God as a lamb, but its significance was enough. Jesus, the little lamb taught to the first-graders, meek and mild, has metamorphosed into a roaring lion.

Literally, everyone out and about who is caught in the searing heat will be roasted to death! This is where the underground platform would be useful. He has a better chance of survival several metres underground.

The escalator, which was no longer moving, became stairs into the ticket office below. Amazingly, the microchip in his right hand activated the barrier, giving him access to the platforms. When he saw that the Northern Line ran beneath the other two, he decided to make the northbound platform his temporary home.

He arrived at the platform. To his surprise, he saw other people squatting there. Phil looked at them casually without making any attempt to examine them too obviously. None of them had the Mark either on their foreheads or on their right hand, even if the latter was difficult to see, as some hid their hands in their pockets. Phil has stumbled upon another group of "Haters". With doubts about Caligula already festering in his mind, he greeted the group with friendliness rather than showing hostility. However, he made sure that his own Mark, which he was beginning to regret, was well hidden by the antiseptic glove.

Back at the police station, the prisoners rested in their cells. After the execution of Robert Jones, there was no more drama for now. In the staff lounge, one of the officers went to the kitchen to make tea for the rest of the crew. He turned on the tap and allowed a drop of water onto his palm. He then licked it, then immediately spat into the sink. The burning bitterness caused him to cough and spit in panic. There was no other source of water he could use to rinse his mouth. Instead, he had to bear the discomfort and warn the others.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 17 - 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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                                                                11

Robert Jones mulled through his thoughts as he, along with the rest of the group who hid away at St John the Baptist Church in Egham, settled in the military van that would escort them all to an interrogation unit somewhere in London.

He was the eldest of four siblings. The other two brothers and a sister were still at school when they vanished with their parents. To me, the whole family was similar to the Padula family. With them, both the parents and their only child, Roger, were taken to Heaven. But with the Joneses, Robert wasn't committed to believing in Jesus Christ by the time he entered Oxford University to study Marine Biology. Instead, he took a gap year after leaving school with a stack of A* Levels that made him eligible for a place at Oxford. Like the rest of us, Robert, whose family home was in the neighbouring town of Staines, was welcomed into our group a couple of weeks after the Rapture.

As I sat directly opposite him, I could almost read his thoughts. Most likely, he was reminiscing about his gap year. This was the topic of his testimony before he finally believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to take away his sins, after listening to the three Jewish witnesses of the 144,000 who stayed with us for a short while.

He always insisted on being addressed by his proper name, as he hated the name Bob. Apparently, he has Asperger's Syndrome, nowadays known as "on the spectrum". This high-end form of autism is often found among those with a high IQ and who hold high educational qualifications. I knew him to be a loner, and before joining us, he had very few friends, if any.

But he told us all about his travels as a lone backpacker long before the Rapture. He visited only one country, Australia, and volunteered on the Great Barrier Reef. This tied in well with his academic career at Oxford. He was enthusiastic about coral conservation, as ocean warming has caused many corals to bleach and die, and the Great Barrier Reef has been affected.

Robert Jones loved the Great Barrier Reef.

I tried to reassure him. Robert, hang on to your faith. We need to endure. But if we win the victory through faith in Christ, we will be in a much better place than even the healthiest coral reef. You will be reunited with the rest of your family. Their joy will be beyond words!

Robert looked up, but his eyes didn't meet mine. How did you know what I was thinking? He asked.

I know you well enough. I answered.

I looked around the van. I was among good people, all of them believers in Christ. Although we were all handcuffed, the army guards weren't. Instead, each displayed a clover-leaf-shaped mark on their foreheads. However, some were puffed up and sore, and I could see how uncomfortable they felt. This made me wonder whether they were really devoted to Gaius Caligula, or whether they took the Mark merely to save their own skins.

As for Robert Jones, I felt that it was unfair to lump Asperger's with Autism; many of the latter often have learning disabilities. During my studies of genetics, I have found that Asperger's is quite different to autism in the more severe sense. Asperger's affects mostly men; many are highly intelligent and well-educated. Some, like Robert here, know how to communicate to the outside world like any student with brains. But they tend to remain silent in a social setting, such as in a pub or restaurant, unless the group conversation turns to a subject of his special interest. In Robert's case, it's marine life, with coral reefs a speciality. If someone mentions coral reefs, he would talk for hours if left unchecked.

But as the van journeyed on, I saw that the most infuriating person on this trip was Phil Banks, a former college mate, and one with whom we shared many things. He was the modern-day Judas Iscariot who mixed freely with us at Egham, even letting us use his laptop, while all along, he was sucking up to his paymasters, Caligula's officials.

However, he didn't celebrate his betrayal. Instead, there was a level of reluctance. There was even a hint that his full-hearted devotion to the world leader was beginning to waver. But there was no turning back, and he knew it. The Mark on his right hand, covered by an antiseptic glove, sealed his fate.

Once in town, the van drew up outside a police station. The whole group was then assigned a cell. But to some relief, no single occupancy. Instead, in a row of eight, there were three remaining vacant cells, each ready to accommodate four inmates. I will be sharing ours with Peter, Emily, and Robert. However, the voices I was hearing indicated that our group weren't alone in the station. There were more prisoners, most likely Christian believers who also refused to take the Mark.

Robert's autism was confirmed not by any confession but by rocking back and forth while he was sitting on the bench. He began to recite, Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. Caligula is not God, over and over again. I was astonished at how this highly intelligent, well-educated person could be reduced to such a state when under distress. I felt my heart go out to him, and I watched Emily approach to sit next to him and try to calm him.

An official peered through the door's viewing slot and, seeing Robert in that state, walked away laughing to himself. Peter then pulled out a mobile phone tablet, which he had charged at the church shortly before his arrest. A text displayed the latest news. It read,

Two massive meteors, possibly asteroids, crashed onto our planet. One fell into the Indian Ocean, and it looks like all marine life was wiped out by the impact. The other fell into the River Euphrates, making all the freshwater across Asia undrinkable. This will cause a worldwide panic. Not only will people die of thirst but of hunger too. Without drinking water, cooking food will become an impossibility. Reports are coming in that the impact has caused the water to taste a burning bitterness. Furthermore, the bitter taste in our freshwater sources appears to spread outside Asia into Europe, and America is also concerned.

Peter read the news aloud, and when Robert heard about the destruction of all marine life, his face began to crumple as tears were shed.

Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, he recited as he rocked back and forth. Emily placed her arm around him, and he rested his head on her chest.

We weren't the only ones who read about the two judgments. The news spread like wildfire through the station. In the boardroom, panic was felt among the suited officers. One of them got up and began to pace back and forth along the length of the room.

These disasters are caused by those who refuse to bow to Caligula and take his mark! He said loudly.

All agreed. Then another said, Indeed, these are so-called 'Christians', better known as Haters for not accepting Caligula's world peace program. These haters must no longer impede progress! We will give each one here a choice. Take the Mark or be killed on the spot. There will be no middle ground. Look! The earth is being destroyed by one catastrophe after another. If these haters of World Peace survive, then the rest of us won't.

Who will be the first? Another asked.

Another replied, A short while ago, while I was checking each cell, in cell 8, there was this lad, rocking back and forth. I think he was weeping over the demise of marine life. I'm pretty sure he's autistic. He looks to be the easiest one to persuade. Let's do him first. If he accepts the Mark, he will go free. If not...

Three of the officers made their way to cell 8, where Robert, Peter, Emily and I were confined. The door opened, and Robert was seized. They led him into the interrogation room. In it was a table with some chairs. On the table, as if deliberately placed in full view, was a shotgun and a pair of pliers.

The group were led into police cells.

The officer then spoke. Mr Robert Jones, autistic but with a sound, intelligent mind and body. Will you now accept the Clover Leaf, the symbol of loyalty to our God and saviour, Gaius Caligula, who has promised world peace and prosperity, and who will deliver our planet from the catastrophes inflicting it?

NO, NEVER! Robert exclaimed. Jesus Christ, who was crucified for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day, is the only one who will give eternal life. Jesus Christ is the true God, the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity who created the heavens, the earth and all life. To Jesus I will believe. No! Caligula is not God, and I will never, never be loyal to him!

In a panic, Robert began to run around the room like a frightened domestic cat before one of the officers caught him and held him under restraint.

While Robert was held under restraint, the officer replied, Listen, if you take the Mark, either on your forehead or right hand, we will set you free. You will walk out of here, and every scanner at the door of every shop will pass you through, and you can buy and eat to your heart's content. What do you think? Be wise, take the Mark, and walk free. 

No, never! Robert insisted.

Are you sure you don't want the Mark and your freedom? The interrogator asked.

Absolutely sure! Robert answered as his face began to look angelic. This startled the officer, who picked up the pliers and crushed one of Robert's fingers.

AARGH! Robert yelled. 

Will you take the Mark of Gaius Caligula and go free?

(Gasp) No, not ever!

This is your last chance! Take the Mark! The officer ordered.

No, I won't!

Well, you've asked for it. The officer said. This is your final, last chance.

Jesus is my Saviour, Lord and King! He lives forever! Just wait and see. Caligula will get his comeuppance from the Lord himself when he returns. I'll never take Caligula's Mark.

The interrogator shook his head with some regret. He then turned to his companion and whispered something. His companion nodded. The interrogator picked up the shotgun and held it in front of Robert's eyes.

Will you take the Mark?

Shoot me dead if you want. I'll go to be with the Lord and my family. But you will never change my mind. The student stood firm.

The officer placed the barrel of the shotgun on Robert's temple and fired. His head exploded as the bullet passed through, and his body slumped.

Among the twelve who hid away at the Church of John the Baptist in Egham for the last 3.5 years, the system has claimed its first martyr.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 16 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

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

A story based on Biblical Truth.

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

In the boardroom of Portcullis House facing the Houses of Parliament in the heart of Westminster, Philip Banks felt himself tremble within, although he made every effort to hide it from his paymasters seated around the table. Playing a Judas Iscariot against a Christian group in their hideaway in Egham meant delivering his friends to the officials of Gaius Caligula.

He thought of George Bolton, a friend he made when they started a new life at Holloway College. Yes, they disagreed on matters to the point where they nearly fought in a crowded restaurant in Windsor. Yet, at all other times, George stood by him, along with Steve Wright, the student who suddenly vanished along with his friend, Roger Padula, a motor mechanic at a local garage.

Then there was Peter, the leader of the group, whose knowledge of theology had shone a light on his own unbelief. Through him, even Phil became more knowledgeable about the Bible. Indeed, they all tried to muster his faith in Christ, but he knew it was already too late to believe. The door of grace was already closed to all those who took the Mark. Hence, he must remain absolutely loyal to Gaius Caligula. Secretly, he began to see chinks of weakness in his idol, who claimed to be God. Yet he dared not even hint to the men in business suits seated at the boardroom table.

Then there was Emily, the black female in the group. She was like a mother to him. The very thought of betraying her to these men made him shudder, but there was no way out, no excuses. With a heavy heart, he beckoned the group to arrange transport.

Portcullis House with Westminster Bridge.

There are twelve of them. We need a vehicle with room to take them all. Where will you take them? Phil asked.

To an interrogation centre here in London. Its location will remain a secret.

Are any of you accompanying me? Phil asked.

No, you will all be escorted by the Army. But we will meet you at the interrogation centre.

Presently, an army vehicle was parked outside. A group of uniformed soldiers sat inside, beside the driver. Phil then signalled to them.

I asked the driver. Do you know where Egham is?

The driver, whom I sat next to in the cab, answered, It's on the A30 past Staines.

The Church of St John the Baptist is easily recognisable. Phil said. Keep an eye out for the clock tower.

The vehicle's satnav was still in use. The driver entered the postcode for the church, and the onboard computer suggested taking the M4, leaving at Exit 4b for the M25. Leave the M25 at Junction 13. The vehicle then began its hour-long journey.

Meanwhile, in Egham, we watched on Phil's laptop as a vast army raced towards Petra in southern Jordan. According to the news reports, Caligula commanded the armies from his base in Jerusalem, around 100 miles (160 km) away. The Jews assembled in and around the region were bowed in prayer. They had rejected the Antichrist as their Messiah, on the principle that he wasn't Jewish. Now, he was seeking revenge by eliminating them from the earth. It was a modern replay of the Holocaust, except that the execution would be much quicker and more efficient.

As we watched, our hearts were in our mouths. 860,000 Jews is a large number, and they occupied a large territory around the desert ruins. Yet, due to his studies, Peter knew that this group of believing Jews was only a portion of approximately eight million who would believe in their true Messiah, out of a total population of world Jewry of around 24,000,000.

As the leaders of the army raced towards their destination, carrying many weapons of destruction, the assembled crowd of Jews came into view. They were almost there. The armies began to fire their weapons.

Just then, something extraordinary happened. The ground on which the armies were advancing suddenly gave way, forming a huge fissure, a widening crack in the ground, which swallowed them up!

I cried out, THE JUDGMENT OF KORAH HAPPENING AGAIN, THIS TIME ON A MUCH LARGER SCALE!

From where we were watching, which was from a TV camera fixed onto the underside of a drone, we could see that the fissure was not an elongated shallow pit. Rather, it was deep, apparently bottomless, and impossible to climb back out. Further views into it from the overhead drone revealed that way, way down was incandescent lava. 

The armies continued to rush towards the crevice like lemmings leaping off a cliff edge. Only a small number at the rear managed to stop and draw back in time before falling in. They then fled in terror back to where they started.

A fissure began to open near Petra.

Caligula, along with Elijah, watched the whole scene on their office computer. He was furious! He knew perfectly well that the true God in Heaven intervened to protect the Jews gathered in Petra. In a rage, he shouted at the false prophet, spilling out his rage at the risen Jesus and the God of heaven. Elijah made every effort to calm his master down, with some effect. 

Caligula banged his fist on his desk, jarring the computer screen. He paced up and down the room like a lion kept in confinement. He then said, 

I want every single person not bearing my Mark rounded up and executed! He shouted at one of his generals who had just entered the room. GO! ROUND THEM UP AND KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM!

In Egham, Peter gazed wide-eyed at the screen. This is a miracle, a miracle! What John wrote in Revelation chapter 12 was fulfilled to the letter. Look! Look everyone! The fissure streaking across the landscape is slowly closing! The Jews targeted are now safe. People can now walk across the site of the fissure without realising what they had crossed.

And I bet that every soldier on that march had the Clover Leaf etched on their forehead or right hand. I said. I'm sure that when the camera zoomed in, I saw some with the Mark on their foreheads.

You are right, George. John responded. They all had the Mark, and all perished, except some at the rear. The Bible is explicit in what it says.

Suddenly, the floor shook beneath us. 

EARTHQUAKE! Someone shouted as crockery rolled off the kitchen worktop and smashed on the floor.

The quake lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to convince us that the Tribulation judgments were already underway. We looked around the church for any possible damage. Fortunately, there wasn't any serious damage; only some chairs had toppled. We gathered in a tight circle and bowed in prayer, acknowledging God's power, but also his protection during this hour of trial.

We sat still for a while, maybe up to thirty minutes. All was quiet. We clung to each other, edifying each other's faith and praying for the power of endurance. 

Until the main entrance doors flung open as if rammed. We saw Phil Banks stride in with a group of soldiers marching into the church behind him.

This is the group! Phil announced with a firmness he wasn't aware he possessed. We would have arrived here half an hour ago if the earthquake hadn't struck. It caused traffic chaos on the roads.

He then turned to me, his former college mate.

I'm sorry, George, and you too, Peter and Emily. But I must stay true to Gaius Caligula. After the loss of his military forces in Jordan, he has commanded that everyone not bearing the Mark must be arrested. And that includes all Christian believers.

What is going to happen to us now? Emily asked, her voice trembling.

We'll see. Phil answered, reluctant to answer what he already knew.

YOU TREACHEROUS SCUMBAG! I shouted aloud to Phil. I WISHED I SMACKED YOU ONE THAT NIGHT IN THE RESTAURANT! BLOODY TRAITOR!

I felt Peter's hand grasp my wrist. Remember Isaiah 53:7 we once discussed. "He was oppressed, he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth".

I recognised the wisdom in Peter's words. Thereafter, I said nothing further and allowed myself to be arrested with the entire group.

We were handcuffed and led to the waiting vehicle, a military van. I turned to look back at the church, knowing that I would never see it again, let alone enter.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 15 - A Fiasco in a Restaurant.

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

A story based on Biblical truth.

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

The group of Christian believers at their church hideout in Egham couldn't take their eyes off the laptop Phil Banks had installed for them. Footage showing the furious Gaius Caligula, with the help of his assistant, Elijah, mustering a huge army to round up the Jews who had taken refuge around the Petra area of Jordan, and beyond.

According to the endless chain of news bulletins aired around the world, around 860,000 Jews had fled Jerusalem in terror of the world leader and his golden statue miracle, which took place at the Temple Mount. 860,000 was a very large number, although still far fewer than the population of Greater London, which, after the Rapture, stands between nine and 9.2 million inhabitants. Hence, it was discovered that they occupied a mountain desert area in southern Jordan, in and around Petra, southeast of the Dead Sea, in the region of Biblical Edom.

In the days that followed, Caligula mustered a huge army, mainly from Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon.  As they assembled, along with all the necessary weaponry, they began to head towards the mountainous area of southern Jordan. Caligula's intention was to massacre all the Jews who rejected him as their Messiah, and to wipe Israel off the map.

Back in Egham, Peter exclaimed, He is mad! He is totally off his rocker! The Jews had rejected Caligula, and now he wants to flood the land with their blood.

I then asked, Do you think that all the Jews on this planet will be eliminated?

No! No! That can't be! Emily gasped, with the rest of the group expressing the same surprise.

Peter then answered, Before the Rapture, I studied theology at Loughborough University. This included the final destiny of Israel in human history.

Please explain. John Bates said.

Peter explained, In Zechariah 13:8, there is a prophecy that two-thirds of all the Jews in the land will perish, while the remaining third will face tribulation, and they will mourn for whom they have pierced when Christ sets foot on the Mount of Olives.

During my studies, I learned that world Jewry statistics were between 24 and 25 million. Around 9.5 million Jews lived in Israel, their Biblical homeland. By examining their beliefs, it was discovered that those living in Israel tended to be more faithful to God and their Scriptures. These thousands who had fled to Jordan are the ones most likely to turn to Christ for salvation and mourn for him whom their fathers have pierced, that is, had crucified.

Then the other 16-plus million still living around the world, would they accept Caligula's mark? I asked.

Peter's face dropped, and he looked at the floor in front of him for a moment. It looks that way. He admitted. All prophecy must be fulfilled, and since Scripture can't be broken, that's exactly how it looks. Either Caligula will kill them for being merely Jews, or they will die by divine judgment, leaving the Antichrist powerless to protect them.

I then said, According to Revelation 12, John sees a pregnant woman wearing a crown of twelve stars, dressed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet. I recall the words spoken first by Joseph, then by Jacob in Genesis 37, verses 9 and 10, revealing the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowing down to Joseph. Those symbols represent the nation of Israel. The sun is Jacob himself. The moon is Rachel, Jacob's wife and mother of Joseph. The twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel.

John's symbolic vision of Israel.

In John's vision, he sees a heavily pregnant woman chased by the serpent, the Devil himself, and waiting to devour the child as soon as he is born. The child, their Messiah, is born and taken up to heaven. Then the woman is airlifted to a safe place. The serpent then spills water from its mouth in an attempt to drown the woman, but instead, the earth itself opens, and all the water spills down into the fissure.

John then contributed, During one of our Bible studies here, we looked at how Korah, his mates and their families rebelled against Moses in the desert. That is found in Numbers 16, especially verses 26-34. We read that the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them all, along with their goods.

Emily then asked, How is this parallel to this Revelation vision?

Peter answered, The 'water' from the mouth of the serpent, or should I say, the dragon, must be a symbol representing an army of troops. Since the dragon is an invisible spirit, he must be represented by a human commanding these troops. Who is a more suitable candidate than Caligula himself? If all this is true, they too will be swallowed up by a fissure, just as Korah, his mates, and their families were. However, Caligula will survive the ordeal himself. This suggests that he will command the massacre from his base in Jerusalem.

He seems to get away with it all. John said.

Heh! Peter answered. Just wait until Jesus turns up and confronts him face to face! Caligula won't be laughing then! 

                                                                       10

Phil Bank's train journey from Egham to London Waterloo was uneventful. The train pulled into the terminus on time, and Phil alighted. He checked his right hand. He had replaced the glove with the antiseptic while still on the train. The station was almost deserted, with just a few people milling around. Phil rightly believed most of those who took the Clover Leaf were still recovering from the infection due to a plentiful supply of antibiotics administered in the same marquees where the Mark was tattooed on everyone who gave allegiance to Caligula. 

Phil didn't feel the need to hurry. Instead of boarding a tube train, he decided to walk to his destination over the Golden Jubilee Footbridge running parallel to Hungerford Railway Bridge carrying trains into Charing Cross Station. From the parapet, he would enjoy the view of the river flowing beneath him, its constant tidal flows unaware of any worldly troubles, at least for now. Further downstream, he saw the dome of St Paul's Cathedral, and he wondered whether a Christian group was using it as a hideaway.

Phil enjoyed a view of the Thames from the parapet.

But he wasn't concerned. Instead, he reached the North Bank, passing the entrance of Embankment Station below. He then passed through a brick tunnel leading to Charing Cross Station. He remembered an elderly neighbour telling him about that tunnel when he was a student. Back in those days it stank of urine, and homeless war veterans, drunk on meths, used to sleep in the wall recesses, which shielded them from the cold draft. Then the recesses were ramped with brickwork, preventing the vagrants from settling. It's been clean and odour-free ever since.

When Phil exited the station and found himself on the Strand, he thought, Damn! He realised that he should have crossed the River Thames at Westminster Bridge, not over Hungerford Bridge. Travel wasn't his forte. He knew how prone he was to take the wrong direction. However, he knew how to correct his error as he wasn't in a hurry.

From the terminus, he made his way to Whitehall, a wide street leading from the south side of Trafalgar Square. Briefly, he turned to look up Nelson's Column before proceeding towards the Cenotaph. He arrived at the crossroads with Bridge Street, and turned onto it without crossing any road. His destination was right there, Portcullis House, an imposing building facing the Elizabeth Tower and the Houses of Parliament.

Phil entered and passed through security; he took a lift to the upper floor. He entered a room with a group of men in business suits around a table. It was a secret boardroom only a few knew about.

The board's chairman rose and greeted Phil.

Good day, Mr Banks. What have you got to show us?

Phil opened his briefcase and took out a computer memory chip. Here, plug this in.

Once plugged in, the footage displayed the Church of John the Baptist in Egham and the daily lives of the twelve residents hiding from Caligula's presence. None of them displayed the Clover Leaf mark; they read and studied the Bible, they prayed, and they edified each other. The whole group was a commune of Christian believers who refused the Mark.

The Chairman then announced, You will direct us there. We will arrest and detain them all. Then we'll decide their fate.  

  

Phil gasped. You mean you want me to be another Judas Iscariot?

Yes! The chairman answered. That was why we sent you there to live with them for a while. We are your paymasters, and you report everything you know to us.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 14 - 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.

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

The whole group in their Egham hideaway reeled back in terror after watching on their laptop the gold-plated statue come to life in Jerusalem. Suddenly, all knew that any one of them could receive the death sentence if they refused to receive the Mark of the Beast, nicknamed the Clover Leaf.

But the miracle wasn't the end of it. On the Temple Mount, a crowd of Jews assembled to watch the miracle to verify its historicity. And like at the preceding fire miracle, the entire crowd fled in terror. But, as the group observed, from around West Jerusalem, along with Jews living in Israel's provincial towns, all fled from their homes to gather together in an area beyond the River Jordan.

Jews gather at the Temple area to see the miracle.

Peter knew why. These terrified Jews knew that Caligula was an impostor. Not being Jewish himself, he couldn't fit the credentials as their true Messiah. Furthermore, his brutality in enforcing worship would never replicate the Messiah's true character. 

Back in Egham, I watched Peter study the Bible for the relevant verses. To think that this very book was once owned by the Padula family, whose son, Roger, dined with us at Windsor the evening of his disappearance. And how close I became involved in a fight with Phil Banks. How I longed for the return of those days! Not for the fight, of course, but for the times I took for granted the easy availability of all resources. How I long for those days when I could walk into any shop without any security restraint. Now, I realise how shambolic this so-called World Peace is. Rather, it was nothing more than a spiritual, mental, and emotional enslavement to this egoistic monster who is proclaiming himself as God in Israel.

Peter spoke, shattering my deep thoughts and memories.

Yes, here it is. The Abomination of Desolation standing in the Holy Place, Matthew 24, verse 15 onwards. Jesus instructs all those witnessing it to flee to the Mountains. I assume these mountains are on the edge of the Rift Valley, on the other side of the Jordan River, possibly the Dead Sea. Maybe the site they are heading for is around Petra, in what was ancient Edom.

The computer TV screen was showing Jews by the thousands heading east, over the Mount of Olives, then down into the valley that would slope towards the west bank of the River Jordan and the Dead Sea.

This brought the reporter from Jerusalem back onto the screen.

Thousands of Jews are fleeing the Jerusalem region and heading east. But not all of them. Here in Israel, there are estimated to be between seven and eight million Jews permanently residing here. Outside Israel, especially in the States but also elsewhere around the world, there are a further 16 million. It has been noted that those living here tend to be more devoted to Judaism and have a better understanding of why they have rejected Gaius Caligula as their Messiah.

We don't have enough evidence to make sound statistics, but there is a rumour that those Jews living outside Israel may have a greater affinity for the world leader. If this proves to be the case, those living here in Israel have a more orthodox commitment to their ancient faith and their devotion to their Torah.

We shall keep an eye on those fleeing Jerusalem and from towns around Israel. According to our helicopter team, they look to be heading for the Allenby Bridge over the River Jordan.

During normal times, this crossing wasn't open to Israelites. However, the Jordanian Government are aware of why the Israelites are heading their way. They are fleeing from Caligula. This has resulted in very unusual circumstances. The majority of Muslims living in Jordan have an ongoing issue with Caligula. It was he who ordered the demolition of the Dome of the Rock that dominated their Haram el Sharif, or Temple Mount, a structure revered as the third holiest site of the Islamic faith after Mecca and Medina. The Jordanians also blame Caligula for the construction of the Jewish Temple for the glorification of himself rather than the Jewish God.

Keeping watch over this modern Exodus, the huge train of vehicles is crossing the international border. It runs along the river at the Allenby Bridge, then turns south along the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. The main road into Jordan leads to its capital, Amman, but it appears that the exodus has no desire to head there.

We will update you in due course. This is Jeremy Taske for the BBC in Jerusalem.

Peter stared at the laptop screen with his mouth gaping open, while Emily, along with a couple of other women in the group, headed for the church kitchen to prepare some refreshments for the whole group. Emily, who was still grieving over the loss of her son Richard, even after more than three years, was motherly towards the rest of the group. A strong bond had developed between Emily and Peter. Although she looked up to Peter as the group's leader and encourager in these challenging times, Peter saw her as a mother, finding comfort and encouragement to hold on to his faith and not let it fail.

While the women were in the kitchen, Peter, at last, gasped,

Oh my! What we are seeing is the exact fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy. We are seeing Jews fleeing in their vehicles to Jordan. And the Jordanians letting them all in. This is a miracle in itself, a Divine one. It's incredible how long-standing prejudices between Israel and the Arabs are quickly resolved by one man rising to power! Mind you, though, before the Rapture, the Arabs were benefiting from Israel's prosperity; hence, enmity was dulled, even by then.

I suddenly realised that Phil has been absent for quite a while. He was supposed to borrow my car, or rather, Steve's car, to buy more food. So, I went outside. Steve's car was still there, parked in its normal spot. I needed to tell the rest of the group.

Can anyone tell me where Phil is? He's been gone a long while, and furthermore, my car, which he normally uses, is parked outside, as if he's gone without it.

One in the group, John Bates, replied, I overheard Phil talking to Peter and Emily. He told them that he would take longer than normal, as he had to do business with this pro-Christian group about food distribution, as supplies were getting scarce.

But why didn't he take the car? I asked.

John merely shrugged his shoulders. Maybe the risk is too high out in the streets. If Caligula's agents catch him in a car loaded with foodstuffs, he might get arrested. Perhaps the food will be delivered more officially, although I can't think what that means. But I heard Phil as he was talking to Peter.

As the rest of the group accepted the explanation, I had my doubts. I knew Phil Banks much longer than any of the others. I knew him when we were both college freshers. We became friends, but I also saw a dark side to him, especially his hostility towards Christianity. Then, on the day after the Rapture, he opened up his heart and revealed his family's cruelty and hypocrisy.

Despite his hostility towards anything spiritual, along with his racist bias, he was calm and respected the group, although he showed no signs of a proper conversion to Christ. Yet, I couldn't see the Clover Leaf mark either on his forehead or right hand. To me, this was a mystery, as he had always warmed up to Caligula, even during college days when the future world leader was a mere candidate whose name was in the hat.

And now, with the statue miracle proving to be a devastating failure, and the Jews fleeing from Jerusalem in large droves, without a doubt, Caligula will try to pursue those Jews and probably have them massacred. Furthermore, he will strengthen his determination for everyone to have the Mark or suffer death. No way would the name of Jesus Christ be spoken in his presence. That is enough for the death penalty.

Petra, Jordan. A refuge for the exiled Jews?

Furthermore, according to the latest news bulletins, in his rage, Caligula will muster a large army to track down all the Jews who have fled. At the same time, the Clover Leaf mark will be enforced on all citizens worldwide, on pain of death.

However, while we were all keeping up with the latest news. At that time, I was totally unaware of Phil's whereabouts. While we were eating what Emily had prepared, Phil was well out of our sight. He was sitting on board a train as it made its journey from Reading to London Waterloo. Indeed, despite the growing troubles around the world, our Southwest Railways was still able to lay on normal services, including a stop at Egham Station, where Phil boarded.

On board the train, Phil grinned as he looked at his hands. Then, he began to peel the glove off his right hand to expose the Clover Leaf mark, consisting of three sixes intertwined. The glove was made of a thin fabric tailor-made to look exactly like the skin it covered, including any hair growth and skin texture. The gloves were treated with antiseptic before packing; hence, Phil escaped the infection that had brought a pandemic to all who had the Mark. These gloves were very expensive, and only government officials had access to them. Philip Banks was probably the only student in the country to own and wear them.

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To be Continued.

Fiction - Week 13 - 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.

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

                                                                 9

The twelve of us watched as the Jews fled the Temple Mount after the "fire from heaven" miracle, turning an altar with a sacrifice into a pile of smouldering ashes. We watched the fury of Gaius Caligula, despite the prophet's attempts to calm him.

The two left the Temple and disappeared into a building overlooking the Western Wall. A few days passed, then weeks, and there was no further activity in Jerusalem. 

At our hideout in Egham, Phil returned with more food. I looked over him to see whether he had the Mark, affectionately known as the Clover Leaf. His forehead was free from the blemish. I also took a peek at his right hand as he placed the food packages on the floor in the church kitchen. With some surprise, I couldn't see any blemish there either. Has Phil's loyalty to the Antichrist begun to wane? Could he be seeking conversion to Christ, and even become one of our group?

The Mark resembled a clover leaf. Hence the name.

Throughout the time with us, Phil showed no hostile emotion towards our faith. And despite the racist attitude he displayed at college, he remained friendly to Emily, the only black female in the group. But where he got the food packages from was a mystery to all of us. He doesn't have the Mark, so it seems, so no grocery store would allow him in. Those scanners are sensitive, designed to detect the miniature chip buried under the skin at the site of the Mark.

When one of us raised concern, Phil was quick to calm us. He informed us of a pro-Christian group that was sympathetic towards Phil and had decided to share their resources. But he promised not to reveal the group due to the potential dangers involved.

Given the scarcity of food stocks, his explanation was hard to swallow, but the rest of us agreed to believe in God's supernatural power. After all, by now we had all read and understood how Elijah, that is, the true Elijah in the Old Testament, was sustained for a time by birds bringing in food and water. It was a supernatural provision.

As the days passed without too many incidents, the entire global population loyal to Caligula had their Clover Leaf tattooed either on their foreheads or on their right hands. Reports of earthquakes rumbled around the planet, with city skyscrapers crumbling into piles of rubble and many lives lost. Fortunately, the UK wasn't affected, at least not yet.

Peter and I discussed whether the "Abomination of Desolation" was already past. I then said,

Jesus himself prophesied that the Jews would flee from the site. It happened, didn't it?

Peter then answered, Yes, that happened. But I'm beginning to have second thoughts about whether the "fire from heaven" miracle marked the Desolation. I have spent the morning reading Revelation 13. In it, John wrote that shortly after the "fire miracle", the false Elijah will have a statue made on Caligula's behalf, and this statue will come to life. Not some computer or electronic wizardry, but actual life itself. THAT'S what I believe to be the Abomination of Desolation, to get Israel to believe in him.

The whole group kept watch on the laptop, which was constantly running, except during the small hours. Fortunately, there was only a two-hour time difference between London and Jerusalem. The group was able to keep up with the news as it happened, unlike in the Americas or Australasia, unless its population is up early in the morning or late in the evening, respectively. During this intervening period, people with the Mark were able to buy food, as the scanners opened the barrier for them. However, even for them, food rationing, like the post-War years, had to be enforced.

However, according to the news bulletins we were watching, an unforeseen crisis began to affect everyone who had the Mark. The tiny chip under the skin caused the flesh to become infected where the tattoo is. The site was painful and bled ugly pus, and the infection disabled the chip from being read by the scanner; despite the presence of the Mark, the scanner emitted a loud parp and the barrier remained shut.

We saw that panic began to spread. People cringed in fear as the infection turned septic in some of the population. Quarrels erupted and developed into fist-fights in the streets. Much of the anger turned towards Gaius Caligula for delivering what looks to be a false promise. Instead of peace and prosperity, along with full stomachs, the world was drifting rapidly towards hunger, pain and illness. It was just like a rubber dinghy floating out of control down the rapids of a fast-flowing river. As the sepsis spread, many died of the disease. The hospitals and doctors' surgeries became inaccessible due to the disablement of the chip at the entrance scanner.

In the Church of John the Baptist in Egham, Phil looked very worried. So far, he was okay and had suffered no symptoms. Thus, the rest of the group rested in his assurance that he didn't have the Mark. The rest huddled together in prayer and thanksgiving, even praising God for sending his beloved Son to die on a cross to atone for their sins. This was an act of love, God's love, which Caligula would never be able to replicate. The more they thought about and meditated on Jesus Christ, the more empathy they felt towards him. He hung on the cross for six hours before he died. They saw that he was crucified at around nine in the morning after a sham trial. 

He hung there for the first three hours, enduring insults thrown at him, the teasing, and the mockery. Even the two thieves at first threw insults at him until one of them realised who he was and asked him to remember him when he goes to his Kingdom. Even in his agonising pain, he had enough love for the penitent thief to promise paradise to him. Then, from noon to three in the afternoon, there was total darkness as the sins of all mankind were poured onto him. Then, soon after three, he cried out, IT IS FINISHED, and gave up the ghost.

What love! At this, Emily began to weep, tears rolling down her cheeks. But under her tears, there was a strong determination never to bow to Caligula. She was ready to die rather than to take the Mark. I watched with emotion as Peter approached her and, placing his arm over her shoulder, she lay her head on his chest. Phil didn't take part in the group meditation. Instead, he kept his eyes on his laptop screen. He then gasped as a reporter stood in front of the TV camera.

Good day to you all. The reporter began. There has been a widespread epidemic of infections among those who have taken the Clover Leaf mark. So widespread is the infection that it is now classed as a worldwide pandemic. Many have already died of sepsis. There is widespread panic and anarchy. 

In Jerusalem, the prophet Elijah has had a statue of Gaius Caligula carved out of wood and gold-plated. It stands one metre tall. Arrangements were made for it to be placed in front of the Jewish Temple. However, what is so special is that Elijah will bring the statue to life. Yes, this is so unbelievable, right to the point of being ridiculous. But Elijah is convinced that this miracle will take place. Bringing an inanimate object to life will take a much greater miracle than the fire miracle they performed a few weeks ago.

We will now go over to Jerusalem, and there, Jeremy Taske is waiting.

The picture switched to the Temple with the reporter standing in front of it.

Good day. Right here we see a 1.5-metre-high gold-plated statue standing at the Temple. It is actually a carved block of wood. Elijah insisted that an X-Ray pass through it to demonstrate that no cheating was done by using a computer or any other electronic device fitted inside the statue.

Here is the X-Ray image. Jeremy declared as he held the image to the TV cameras. This is proof that this statue is just a solid block of wood plated with gold. We now go to the Prophet Elijah.

The statue of Caligula was 1.5 metres tall.

As with the "fire miracle", there was a host of TV cameras in front of the statue. Peter and I worked out the different time zones around the globe. Every television, every computer screen around the world will show the miracle in action. The timing was when the night side of the Earth was facing the Pacific Ocean. That means Australia and New Zealand were late in the evening, with most staying up to watch. In turn, it was pre-sunrise in California and breakfast time in New York and the Midwest, so they too were up early enough to watch. It was approaching midday in the UK. In short, practically the whole world was tuned in to watch the event taking place in Israel. Furthermore, every channel was focused on Jerusalem, with all ads eradicated to make way for the show.

Elijah, whom we refer to as the false prophet, stepped forward to the cluster of TV cameras.

Ladies and gentlemen of the world, and followers of Gaius Caligula. Within the last few weeks, after the Clover Leaf was tattooed for all who showed loyalty to our world leader, we understand that a world pandemic has developed due to an infection at the site of the Mark, which led to many cases of sepsis and the deaths of some.

We understand the delusion many of you are presently feeling. Has our peace leader offered a false promise? No, not at all. Rather, it was unfortunate that the chance of a resulting infection has hampered our progress for world peace, with many of you having chips which were disabled by the disease, making buying and selling impossible. Along with hospital visits for treatment. We are aware that in our top laboratories, under Caligula's orders, scientists are working around the clock to develop a suitable antibiotic or vaccine. We'll soon have this disease under control.

However, today, I will perform a miracle to prove to you that Gaius Caligula is Lord of all, who has created all things, and has the whole world in his hands. He has promised to take control of the sepsis situation so you can all live normal lives of buying, selling, and eating.

Will all TV cameras please zoom in on the statue, and in particular, his face?

The golden face of the statue filled every screen around the world.

Elijah then shouted, GAIUS CALIGULA, I COMMAND THIS IMAGE TO COME TO LIFE AND TALK TO THE CAMERAS! GAIUS, I COMMAND YOU TO LIVE!

There was a pause lasting between thirty seconds and a minute as the cameras zoomed in on its face.

Then the eyelids began to flutter. Its nostrils slightly widened as if taking in a breath. Its mouth opened, and with lip movement replicating real flesh, the statue began to speak:

I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, AND I HAVE THE KEYS TO DEATH AND HELL. WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL LIVE FOREVER!

Peter cringed as he watched.

The Abomination of Desolation has just taken place. It's no mistake this time.

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To be Continued.

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.

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

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.