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 Judean 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 Israel 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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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 a metre 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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be Continued.