The Wrath of God
Page 17
After waiting long hours for the assault that never materialized, Matt and George told the rest of the family they were safe and to wait for them there while they explored the cave. The first thing they noticed was the ambient light. The ceilings and walls were coated with natural phosphorus that came to life while the cave door was open, allowing daylight to penetrate for the first time in years. Matt remembered hearing that Iron Mountain was an old mining site that had been closed decades ago when the demand for quartz diminished. Off to the side lay a rusted rail car. Old, faded signs hung on the cave’s wall prohibiting smoking or fires of any kind due to the risk of explosions by the collecting gases.
Matt and George walked deeper, still in silence, each of them trying to assess their predicament. The cave opened up into a larger cavern, almost forty feet square, that then tapered off into tunnels that ran deeper into the earth. There were warning signs posted near the entrance to the tunnels that advised all who entered to wear hard hats and carry safety rope. Off to one side, a pool of water had formed in a rock fissure, being fed by an unseen underground stream.
George leaned over and cupped the water, then brought it up to his nose. “Smells okay.” Then he dripped a few drops on his tongue. “As sweet as any water I’ve ever tasted.” Both men gave exhausted smiles, knowing the lifesaving importance of their discovery.
“God provides,” Matt said tiredly. “Let’s get the rest of the group and move them in here.”
They walked upwards back to the front of the cavern where the rest of the group sat huddled by the still-shut iron door. Faces were filled with questions and apprehension. “We found fresh water deeper in the mine, and a larger cavern where we can spread out,” George announced.
“How long will we be here, and what if the Chinese come back?” someone asked.
“They won’t,” Matt answered. “We’re safe now. God gave us His promise. We are about to witness the second coming of Christ. His angel told me we are to remain here for forty days and forty nights. I fear and pray for the sinners and unbelievers who have brought down His wrath. It is prophesied that the Second Coming will be by fire. God will cleanse His earth of wickedness by scorching it, but we will remain safe here.”
“Will there be other survivors?”
“I don’t know, but I must believe that other true believers such as ourselves will also be saved.”
“Matt, what if you’re wrong? What if we’re trapped in here just waiting for the Chinese to come back, or we run out of food and water?” a panicked man asked.
“We are the new children of Abraham. And like Abraham we were tested time and time again. Just as Joseph and Mary were chosen to bear Jesus, we and people like us were chosen to reaffirm the relationship between man and God. Who created the earth, the sea, and the skies? God did. Yes, it’s scary. The angel of death is coming, swooping down on the sinners and nonbelievers with the Lord’s fury, but God will protect us in this darkest hour.”
Matt walked over to one of the large duffle bags and pulled out two loaves of bread. He asked the group to gather around. He broke a piece of the crusted loaf and passed the remaining piece. Each person knew the significance of this act, as old as when Jesus broke bread with His disciples. When each had a piece, with heads bowed, Matt led them in prayer.
The cave grew brighter, and their faith in God’s love replaced the fear in their hearts.
End of Days
God’s Final Judgment
When the End of Days arrives, and man sits in final judgment,
With it comes eternal life for those who are saved.
Xi Chang sat at his desk, waiting anxiously for a report from General Pengyou. Although Xi had demanded radio silence throughout the operation, he was apprehensive about the general’s failure to contact him. The suspense of finally capturing the White Ghost gave him a bout of nervous excitement and would signal the end of the militia opposition.
He was looking out of the open french doors that led to the balcony when he was startled by the sound of clamorous trumpets blaring from the heavens above—so loud and all encompassing, the sound completely enveloped the White House. Chang instinctively put his hands over his ears to prevent his eardrums from bursting. He tilted his head trying to comprehend the origin of the most unusual, unrelenting sound. He leaped from his chair and sprinted outside. In the sky before him, a mass of clouds both majestic and menacing blotted out the daytime sky and rolled toward him. He stood breathless, unable to move as he witnessed this celestial event. The forward movement of the clouds stopped, and from the center of the white mass, God, surrounded by His angels, revealed His wrathful face to Chang. The voice of God spoke directly to Chang:
“It is so written that if any man worshipped the beast he shall drink of the wine of My wrath, and he shall be tormented by the fires of hell in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment shall ascend up forever and ever to the heavens, and they shall have no rest day or night, for that is the eternal punishment for those who worship the beast.”
With those words, God pointed His hand and extended His finger downward to the depths of hell, and pulled the earth open and unleashed an unholy fireball and thrust it toward Chang.
A horrific ball of fire rose in the sky, growing larger with its ascension. It appeared to be moving, growing larger even still, as it was heading directly for him. He was mesmerized by the sight, unable to look away from the incandescent yellow orb increasing in size right before his eyes. Giant flames violently erupted from its center. As it flew toward him, traveling miles in just moments, the intense heat set his hair ablaze and blistered his skin. Closer now, he could see hundreds—no, thousands—of writhing bodies, twisting and turning in intense anguish, their silent screams shrouded in the liquid fire. The inferno almost upon him, he could see the devil clearly now, his obscene, long, red-forked tongue flickering in and out of his serpent’s mouth. As Chang’s skin cracked and melted, exposing naked muscles and ligaments, he could now see the devil’s tail, comprised of a hundred or more terrifying snakes intertwined, fangs extended. The large, curled horns of a ram sprouted from the devil’s skull, blood oozing from its base. In a second, it was on him. Just before hell opened to consume him, he was aware of his screams.
On that day, as foretold in the Bible, God turned man’s sins into a holy fire, burning away all the evil that man had brought into His Garden of Eden. His weapons of war—devastating nuclear bombs, with the sole purpose to kill—exploded in their bunkers and in the military vehicles that housed them. A terrifying, massive flood of flames and molten lava flowed over the earth’s surface, killing sinners and nonbelievers alike, and purifying everything in its path. Plumes of fire reached out to the heavens, blackening the skies and plunging the earth into terrifying darkness. Fish died in the seas, and the birds fell from the sky. Violent earthquakes split open the land, swallowing everything that lay before it. Winds unleashed from the four corners of the world accelerated a great cleansing fire that swept and purified the Earth.
God called to His angels as He fulfilled His prophecy of divine judgment.
Epilogue
Iron Mountain
The days passed slowly for the Christians locked in Iron Mountain. It was quiet inside save the sounds of a terrible storm which raged outside their door. They prayed every day and gave thanks to God for allowing them to flee the Chinese in safety, and for the brave souls of Lawrence and his men who laid down their lives in sacrifice. When someone asked why God would exact such a high price from these good men, Matt simply said it was all in God’s plan, but he had no doubt that each of the men was now basking in the Lord’s light free from the earthly pain and suffering. Now they were in heaven with their loved ones who had passed before them.
The family ate sparingly, both from a diminished lack of appetite and also to make their rations last the forty days Matt said they would have to remain locked away from the rest of the world. The children, being children, quickly adapted to their new env
ironment, playing games of catch when not exploring the cave under the watchful eyes of their parents. On one such outing, one of the young men discovered ancient cave paintings of men hunting and praying. This cave art raised the family’s spirits, seeing how even prehistoric man knew that there was a higher power than themselves.
At dinner time, Matt began every meal by gathering everyone around in a circle. From God’s endless bounty, the sack holding the bread was always replenished no matter how much was eaten. After breaking off a piece of bread, he passed it around in remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice taking away the sins of the world. Then Matt offered a prayer before supper began. When they finished eating, the children clamored for the adults to sing songs to them. Of course, the children’s favorites were Christmas carols. Not one person complained of any hardship.
When Tom, who was given the job of recording the days passed by scratching a line with a sharp stone on the cave walls, indicated that in just two days they would have been there for the forty Matt predicted, a collective nervous emotion arose. Would the heavy iron door open? What would remain outside? Would the storm they heard end? Were there any other survivors? Matt remained calm, reminding them of their bond with God and not to worry.
In the early morning of the fortieth day, when most were still sleeping, the door opened.
After Matt and his family spent forty days and forty nights locked deep within the earth’s bosom, praying by candlelight, praising God with all His blessings, they were suddenly startled by the sound of the heavy iron door at the mouth of Iron Mountain, its massive rusty hinges creaking open.
One by one, led by Matt, they shielded their eyes against the brilliant sunlight that now filled the mine. Temporarily blinded by the light, they stepped out into a barren, desolate landscape. Everywhere as far as their eyes could see, the landscape was charred and blackened. Smoke arose from numerous small fires still burning. No sign of life existed, not flora nor fauna. Clouds of black dust swirled high over their heads. No sounds of life could be heard. Only silence.
The settlers, firm in their faith and love of God, instead of cursing their new predicament or wringing their hands and crying, gave thanks for sparing them His Wrath. The Wrath of God. As they looked out into the barren, blackened crusted fields, a single flower began to grow, then another and another. Sprouts of grass rapidly spread across the once-barren fields, now painting it shades of green. A spring with clear blue water sprung out of the ground, filling a basin with a new lake. Fish began to jump in the water, splashing and making their presence known. Massive trees erupted out of the ground, forming a new forest. The sky was filled with golden sunshine. A robin began its song. Animals of the forest began to appear. Deer, bears, moose, foxes, and squirrels began their new beginnings. The black swirls of dust turned into white, puffy clouds, sprinkling blue-green water drops here and there. Life began anew.
The world was reborn.
Someone pointed and said, “Look.” Off in the near distance, there appeared an apple orchard, filled with bounty but also with a man with a loving smile surrounded by a white shimmering light. Someone asked Matt to go to him, thinking it must be another vision meant for him, but Matt said, “No, we shall all go together.”
They walked together holding hands and entered the orchard. Matt knew immediately that this time, this was not his father before him—perhaps it never was. Every member of the family, from the very old to the very young, knew they were in the presence of Jesus, yet no one was afraid. One small boy went forward and touched His white robe. Jesus smiled and, touching the boy on his head, said, “Do not be afraid. This is the Second Coming that was foretold in the Bible. My Father in heaven unleashed a great fire that swept away all of man’s wickedness. Your faith saved you and other people scattered across the Earth as well. He gave you a new life, free from corruption and evil.” Turning to Matt, He said, “In your hand you hold your family’s Bible, My Holy Book. Follow its teachings; it will be the only guide you need to enter the kingdom of heaven which My Father has prepared for you, where life is eternal. He has restored life on Earth as it was meant to be. Fill your hearts with love, as My Father loves you. Go forth and multiply the Earth. Live in peace. You have a new beginning.”
Jesus smiled and said, “I must go now, but I will always be with you in your song and in your prayers. Keep Holy the Sabbath and you will enter the kingdom of heaven, and eternal life will be yours.”
With that, Jesus turned and walked away through the orchard until He was out of sight.
Matt dropped to his knees and, looking upward, thanked God.
The End
Acknowledgments
My immense gratitude to my two dear friends Alexis Nakos and Donna Buendo, who edited, and edited, and edited this book. Both are brilliant and accomplished women.
To my college friend Christopher White Webster, recently retired from the State Department, who gave me insight into the potential dangers of America’s economic dependence on China and elsewhere.
Thank you, Allen Quain of Creation House, for your guidance and encouragement.
Jim Balzotti
About the Author
Jim Balzotti has written more than twenty books on horseback riding and dude ranches. He’s appeared on Good Morning America and Horseman’s Radio Weekly, and written for Western Horseman. Born and raised in East Boston and a graduate of Amherst College, Jim today travels between the Florida’s Treasure Coast and Maine, accompanied by Chopper, his German Shepherd.
Contact the Author
jim@wrathofgod.com