Paradise World

by Dan Edmund

Chapter 22 - Jubilation, Although Not For All

  "Please, my good brethren," Carlos exclaimed above the jubilant cries. "I want to make a most wondrous announcement!" With only little or no response, Carlos again clamored for our attention, this time more vehemently, and adding the magic word of 'resurrection!'

  The effect was almost instantaneous, and now a great hush befell us all as we awaited the calling of the names.

  Carlos pushed back his tears. "Oh, what a night it has been! First the visions, and then the news of many more resurrections, with five here in Deer Park!" A cheer erupted that could have figuratively woken up the dead. Then, once more, there was silence, a silence pregnant with suspense. Then, one by one, Carlos announced the names, and each time a tremendous cheer arose. Then, one by one, Carlos announced five other names, those that were to go up to Anastasis to meet those who had arisen from the grave.

  Then the list of names had seemingly ended, and my spirit sank.

  "However, there's one extra name!" Carlos suddenly announced.

  I instantly prayed to God that it would be Jenny.

  "She is the mother of...."

  Mother! For a second or two I tuned out. It was not the word I wanted to hear. However, I forced myself to listen again.

  "This dear sister is not resurrected here on our Resurrection Sanctuary, but in a place that was once called Australia."

  I again became excited, no longer thinking of myself.

  "Her name is Mary Marston!"

  Another cheer erupted, genuine and sincere.

  I looked at Harry. He looked unmoved. "Harry, that's your mother, that's your mother!" I excitedly exclaimed.

  "I know," he muttered.

  "Now, you blessed five," Carlos announced, "go and meet your loved ones on Anastasis. As for the rest of us, let us all go tonight to our hall and there await and welcome those new dear friends who have been resurrected from the dead.

  Then, en masse, the still euphoric crowd did as Carlos said. Only Harry and I remained, momentarily silent, deep within our thoughts. Although I was disappointed that Jenny had not been resurrected tonight, I knew it was only a matter of time that she would. Meanwhile, the vision we had experienced tonight filled us with an ecstasy that would surely remain with us for a long, long time. However, looking at Harry, I was again surprised by his seeming lack of interest.

  "Harry, this is a joyous time!" I reminded him. "Even your own mother has been brought back to life!" I placed an arm around his shoulder. "Come on, friend, let's join the others and celebrate."

  He just looked at me in that unique, strange way of his.

  "What's wrong? I don't understand. I repeat, your mother has been brought back to life! And what about those visions? It was awesome! Nothing like this has ever happened before here in Paradise!" I now added with even more alacrity, "I mean, it was like we were the Apostle John that had gone up to heaven, and even had seen God Himself, along with Jesus and the angels!" Seeing that he was still unmoved, dumbfounded, I asked, "You did see the visions, didn't you?"

  There was a pronounced silence before he gravely replied, "I did. But they're only symbols. Don't you know that?"

  "Of course, I know that, but still they have great meaning to -"

  "But I saw other things!" Harry interrupted. "I was also told to meet someone that I knew, but had never actually met."

  "I don't understand." Then recalling that both he and Carlos were still deep within a trance after ours had already finished, I asked, "Harry, what else did you see?"

  He again shook his head and bluntly replied, "Go and join the others. I'll see you in the morning." He then turned his back and walked away.

  I was flabbergasted. Here was a man who had just witnessed the most wondrous of visions, then been told that his mother had been resurrected back to life. Yet, he had not shown the slightest interest. I thought of Jenny and how differently I would have reacted. However, her time would soon come. With this encouraging thought, I walked towards the Fellowship Hall.

  Upon arrival, a Love Feast celebration was already well underway. Normally our community did not hold Love Feasts on the same evenings as the Divine Light manifestation. However, due to the incredible visions, and the resurrection of five people, all fellow believers, and relatives from at least someone here in the community, this certainly was a night to celebrate.

  Then, there they were: five new faces, all beaming and radiating with joy. Cheers, hugs, kisses, laughter and music then filled our congregated throng.

  The festivities went well into the night, and it was only on our way home, gazing into the starry sky, that I again thought of Harry. Concern and dismay once more flooded over me. I simply could not understand.

  We stepped onto our front porch and Cory came to greet us. I patted him, then opened the front door and called out, "Hey, Harry!" However, he was not there. I was about to stride towards his bedroom, when suddenly my father stopped me.

  "We'd better not disturb him, son."

  I was momentarily disappointed, but the fire of tonight's excitement still kindled brightly within us all, and so we sat within our living room, talking softly yet excitedly into the small hours of the night.