Arrived (49 page)

47

JUDD
and Vicki took Lionel to Jamal and Lina's apartment and were surprised to find them preparing a huge meal. The two had escaped the Unity Army and had hidden near the Siloam Pool. They had fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat from a nearby market.

When they prayed for the meal, thanking God, Jesus answered. In fact, each time Judd spoke with the Lord, he spoke to Judd personally.

Their talk over the meal centered on Jesus and how his presence had changed things. Wild animals seemed tame and walked through the streets without attacking other animals. And the fruits and vegetables were said to ripen on the vine right in front of those who picked it.

Lina and Jamal said they couldn't wait to see their children who had died, but they understood it might be some time before that happened.

“Why's that?” Lionel said.

“You know how there was a gap between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation?” Vicki said, taking a bite of steak. “It's the same with the Glorious Appearing and the beginning of the Millennium.”

“How do you figure that?” Judd said.

“It's in Daniel's prophecy,” Vicki said. “Something like seventy-five days. I can show you after dinner.”

Jamal and Lina seemed impressed with Vicki's knowledge and wanted to know more. Vicki explained what she knew of prophecies from Daniel 12 and Ezekiel 40.

“So you're saying this seventy-five days is preparation time for Jesus?” Jamal said.

“Yes, at least that's what Tsion Ben-Judah taught,” Vicki said.

“It only took six days for God to create the world,” Lionel said. “Think of what this world is going to look like after seventy-five.”

“So much has been destroyed through the judgments,” Vicki said. “Tsion said God wants the earth to be like it was back in the Garden of Eden.”

The conversation turned to when they would see those who had died during the Tribulation, and Lionel raised a hand. “I've been studying this one. From what Tsion wrote and what I read in the Scriptures, we'll be seeing people like your kids—” he nodded to Jamal and Lina—“at the same time the Old Testament saints are resurrected. Old Testament people like Moses and David and Daniel will rule with Christ during the next one thousand years along with martyrs who died during the Tribulation.”

“What about Christians who died before the Rapture?” Lina said.

“They were resurrected at the time of the Rapture,” Lionel said. “They were part of the heavenly army behind Jesus.”

Vicki looked away. “Which means my mom and dad were there. It all seems so unbelievable, and yet we saw it today.”

“But my son and daughter, Kasim and Nada, they will be resurrected when?” Jamal said.

“Soon,” Lionel said.

Conrad was so curious about what had happened to Global Community workers that he drove to a GC police station a few miles from Enoch's house. What he saw amazed him. All employees of Carpathia had died— presumably at the time Jesus spoke. Enoch taught that all unbelievers still alive would die soon.

Conrad, Shelly, and other members of the Young Trib Force had decided they would head toward Mount Prospect rather than toward Chicago with Enoch, but that changed when Enoch stood before the young people. He had just returned from a drive through Chicago.

“I know you've heard Jesus' voice just like I have,” Enoch began. “I've been asking him what we should do, especially since prophecy seems to ignore America. I thought we might try to rebuild this as a Christian nation, but the Lord made it clear he wants us with him.”

“What did he say?” Darrion said.

“He said, ‘Fear not, Enoch, for you have rightly deduced that you and your flock are to be with me.' He said he would transport us, that we shouldn't be worried.”

“When?” Janie said.

“That's what I asked.” Enoch chuckled. “And Jesus said, ‘Enoch, if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day. So don't worry about tomorrow.”

Enoch's eyes twinkled. “So we're going to Israel. I don't know how. I don't know exactly when, but I do know God is going to make a way.”

When Vicki awoke the next morning one thought sprung to her mind. She was to go to the Valley of Jehoshaphat— the one created when Jesus set foot on the Mount of Olives. She nudged Judd awake and they dressed.

“I don't think we—”

“—should eat,” Judd finished. “We should just go right to the valley. That's what the Lord seems to be saying to me too.”

Jamal, Lina, and Lionel felt the same way.

Incredible
, Vicki thought.
Jesus is speaking to us, leading us, and showing us exactly what to do. And he's doing it for everyone!

Conrad and Shelly had taken a walk with Phoenix and now sat on a stone bench in the courtyard of the nearby mall. They had talked about Jesus the whole day, and when they weren't talking about him, they were talking with him or he was talking to them.

Shelly held Phoenix on her lap, scratching under his collar. The dog's eyes closed with contentment, and Shelly leaned over to Conrad. “He's asleep now. You can kiss me if you'd like.”

Conrad smiled. Since Jesus had come, everyone had worked together, and no one argued or squabbled over petty things. He and Shelly had discussed their problems and worked things out, but now there seemed to be a new depth to their love.

Conrad leaned forward, closed his eyes, and kissed Shelly. When he opened his eyes, he saw that things were different. Instead of sitting on a stone bench in Palos Hills, Illinois, they were sitting on the sand in Israel in some kind of valley. And there were millions of people passing by them. Phoenix, still on Shelly's lap, opened his eyes, wagged his tail, and leaped to the ground.

The sky above filled with angels and the heavenly army. Conrad shielded his eyes—the light was so intense.

“Do you believe this?” Shelly gasped.

Conrad shook his head and smiled. “That was a great kiss.”

They both laughed and stood.

Then the voice of Jesus spoke to Conrad's heart, and from the look on Shelly's face, he was speaking to her too. “Conrad, when you see my throne, join those on my right, your left.”

“Okay, Lord,” Conrad said.

Jesus sat upon a throne on a platform before all the people. The sight of millions of people moving to the left and the right of Jesus made Lionel gasp. When Jesus told Lionel where to go, he obeyed and moved toward a smaller group. Most were headed to Jesus' left, and people there looked frightened.

“Worship the King of kings and Lord of lords!” Gabriel shouted, and everyone fell to their knees.

“Jesus Christ is Lord!” Lionel said along with millions of others.

Gabriel motioned for everyone to stand. “John the revelator wrote: ‘I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their witness.

“ ‘They called loudly to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?”

“ ‘Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of the servants of Jesus had been martyred.'

“People of the earth, hearken your ears to me! The time has been accomplished to avenge the blood of the martyrs against those living on the earth! For the Son of Man has come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and he will now reward each according to his works! As it is written, ‘ “At that time, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, for scattering my inheritance among the nations, and for dividing up my land.

“ ‘“They cast lots to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded young boys for prostitutes and little girls for enough wine to get drunk.” ' ”

A commotion rose from Jesus' left, and the group fell down and wailed, “Jesus Christ is Lord! Jesus Christ is Lord!” A man dressed in black with long hair tried to stand.
Z-Van!

Calmly, the Lord spoke. “Lionel, come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

“Lord, when did I see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink?” Lionel said. “Or see you as a stranger or see you in prison?”

“I assure you, Lionel,” Jesus said, “when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Lionel nodded. “Thank you.”

Jesus walked to the edge of the platform. With emotion in his voice he said, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.”

Millions protested. “When did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked … ?” The noise of their pleadings reached a crescendo.

Then Jesus said, “I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me. And you will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

After a time, Gabriel stepped forward and silenced the crowd. “Your time has come!”

Jesus lifted a hand, and a huge hole opened in the earth to his left and swallowed the millions who had never received Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Then the earth closed again.