Fire and Flood

by Dawn Morris

  “We have come to see this self-proclaimed king,” replied Shem, wryly. “You have defied the law of God by building these cities and the tower, which can never reach heaven. You both are like children play acting, but your actions have great consequences.”

  “You are an old man,” spat Nimrod. “Yet you dare come here to confront me in my own palace, before my own guards.” Nimrod stood up, his neck and face turning red with anger. “I refuse to adhere to the elders’ rules. They are inventions of the imagination of a foolish old man. By the power of my own might, I have built Babylon and other cities. My tower will stand against any so-called god who tries to destroy us. No flood can reach its height or drown us out.”

  “Pride has twisted your mind, Nimrod,” Japheth responded. “Only one so utterly foolish would contend with the Creator. Each of us before you saw the great Flood. We have seen what the end is for those who refuse to walk in the paths set by the Creator.”

  “I have lived long on the earth,” Nimrod boasted. “Yet, I have not seen your God. We are a great people, and together we have built this city and the great tower reaching to the heavens. We have made a name for ourselves, and our unity is our strength. There is nothing we cannot do, and there is no one who can oppose us.”

  Nimrod held out his left hand in the middle of his speech and grasped the hand of Semiramis. Her black hair glinted under a large golden headdress made to look like water lilies floating on a pond. She caught my eye just then and looked at me with studied contempt, from my uncovered head down to the simple sandals on my feet. Although I did not seek admiration for my looks, for the first time, I felt my lack of charm and my great age, in comparison to the youthful, alluring woman before me.

  Shem and Japheth tried to reason with Nimrod, but his convictions were clearly unalterable. We left the palace, resigned, and went back to the field where our tents and families waited.

  Tables had been set up in the field, and some of the daughters of Shem and Nua had made food over a fire by the riverside. We sat down to share a meal with our family and discuss what to do next. We had seen great evil in the city, but Nimrod, we now saw, was drunk on power and impervious to our warnings. Shem and Japheth decided to cry out to the Creator in prayer, asking Him to help our descendants see wisdom.

  Then, we heard a voice breaking through the noise of our prayers, and we turned.

  Three men approached us, walking across the field. The one in the middle spoke with the voice of authority. “I have come down to see this city and the tower, which the children of men have built.”

  It was the same One I’d encountered so long ago in the woods, the One who had brought joy and peace to my heart! He was larger and somehow brighter than any man I’d ever seen. There were two in attendance with him, lesser than he, but still more than human. While the Nephilim had a spirit of darkness around them, these men had a spirit of light. All of us fell to the ground in reverence before him. One of the two with him instructed us to look up and listen to the Word of the Creator.

  “They are united in their defiance and have traded in brick and mortar for devotion to the Most High, so we have come down to divide them. No longer will the children of men speak one language but now many.”

  Shem spoke up, “Lord, we have come here to speak to Nimrod, to make him see the truth.”

  The first man smiled approvingly at Shem. “You are a man of great renown. Because of your faith, out of you, I will make a nation to demonstrate My truth to the world of men.”

  He then spoke a blessing over all of us, and raised his hands up toward heaven. Then he and the men with him disappeared.

  No one moved or spoke for some time. After a while, people began to slowly get up and move around the camp. We were all silently trying to comprehend the wonder of the visit we had just received.

  I was in the tent with Japheth, fast asleep in the early morning hours, when shouts and screams woke me. Japheth was already up and moving out of the tent. “Stay here,” he ordered, but of course I followed him out. There were soldiers all over the field, torches in hand. The dragon symbol of Nimrod glittered in embroidered gold on their tunics.

  I watched in disbelief as soldiers grabbed Shem and Japheth. One of them struck Nua as she attempted to free her husband, and she fell to the ground. Our families tried to intervene, but Japheth commanded them to cease fighting. I went to Nua’s side, and one of the men shouted at us. His words were garbled and strange. I had no idea what he was saying, but Nua and I followed as they took our husbands toward Nimrod’s palace.

  It began to rain as we trudged barefoot behind them toward the palace, and although it was past dawn, heavy clouds darkened the sky. The grand building was foreboding in the dark, despite the torchlight the men carried. We made our way up the stairs, into the palace and through the maze of corridors to the great throne room. Nimrod stood alone on the dais; a simple white robe wrapped around him. Semiramis was not there.

  As soon as we entered the room, Nimrod began screaming at us. My husband answered him calmly, asking what the trouble was.

  Nimrod stood on his dais, flustered and angry. He continued to yell, but it was incomprehensible.

  “This is the will of the Creator in response to your defiance!” Shem responded angrily, yanking his arm out of the guard’s grasp and pulling Nua protectively to his side. I put my hand in Japheth’s as I stared at the man before us. Spittle foamed on the sides of his mouth as he continued his tirade of accusations.

  Nimrod babbled furiously at us, but not one word made any sense. He came down off the dais and stood face to face with Japheth, who tried to calm him down. Spit flew from Nimrod’s mouth onto Japheth’s face. Dropping my hand, Japheth tried to grab Nimrod’s shoulders, to push him away. Nimrod was uncontrollable; he rushed back at Japheth, who pushed him away harder. Nimrod fell back, hitting the ground hard. I screamed a warning to Japheth, but I was too late. One of the guards rushed toward us, spear raised. Before the scream left my mouth, the spear pierced Japheth, and he fell to the ground in anguish.

  The room was suddenly silent. Despite their rough handing of us, no one yet had dared to touch one of the Mothers and Fathers. I rushed to Japheth. I screamed as I fell next to him and pulled him into my arms. “No, God, please, no! Make it not true. Make it not true . . .”

  I screamed over and over as Japheth’s blood poured onto the floor. I pleaded for God to change what had happened, to turn back what had been done, but Japheth died in my arms.

  The world turned silent for a moment. Everything seemed to move slowly as I held my dead husband, my Japheth, in my arms. I saw his spirit leave his body, like smoke. Smiling tenderly at me, he turned away and disappeared. I think Nimrod saw it, too, for the moment Japheth’s spirit disappeared, he exploded in maniacal anger, barking orders out in guttural, slurring commands.

  At that moment, four guards grabbed Shem and Nua and hauled them out of the throne room. One of the other guards grabbed me up off the floor, tearing me away from Japheth’s body. Screaming, I stumbled along, trying to keep up. Each time I tripped, he yelled at me and shook me harshly, speaking in the same strange way Nimrod had. I was pushed into a small room and locked in.

  I turned and looked around numbly. A pile of cushions sat against one of the walls; there were no windows in the room. Sinking down on the cushions, I put my head on my knees and cried until I passed out. My Japheth was gone.

  FIRE

  Chapter 25

  These signs will accompany those who have believed: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues.

  Mark 16: 17

  We walked through the old streets of Jerusalem for almost an hour. The streets were filled with people celebrating the deaths of the two Witnesses, and we had to go around several checkpoints. Global Union soldiers were roaming the city, looking for dissenters. I was nervous to be outside the apartment, but Jannik was convinced this meeting would be worthwhile, and I trusted him.

  Never having be
en in a city as large and ancient as this before, I was overwhelmed by the number of people, the sounds, and the smells and clung to Jannik’s hand as he led the way. It was nearing sunset when we met Noam outside of a complex of buildings. He and Jannik greeted one another enthusiastically, hugging and talking at the same time in Hebrew. I waited awkwardly to be introduced.

  Jannik turned, gesturing to me, “This is my friend, Dani. Dani, this is, Noam.”

  Noam greeted me with a quick bow. “Tamas, one of the 144,000, will be here tonight!” I didn’t know what this meant, but I smiled at Noam, grateful that he spoke English.

  Noam turned, and we followed him up some cobble stone stairs and through an archway. The whole complex reminded me of an ancient palace. There were towers and walls everywhere. We came to an arched door. Over the doorway, there were words in Hebrew and English on a metal plaque that said, “King David’s Tomb.” I was stunned. The King David from Daphne’s book. This really was an ancient palace. All of those stories in Daphne’s book . . . must be real!

  As we entered the building, I noticed two signs: “Men” and “Women.” Jannik turned to me, motioned for me to follow him, and walked over to the “Women” sign.

  “You must go in there.”

  “What?”

  “Women and men must be separated. The women have this space in the tomb.”

  I’m not sure why, but that irritated me. I didn’t want to be separated from Jannik. “Why?” I whispered, not wanting the women streaming past me to hear me. “Where are you going to be?”

  “Really, it’s okay, Dani. I’ll be on the other side of that partition.” He patted my hand and then walked away. I stood still for a moment before reluctantly following the women who were moving into a small, crowded room. We were fenced in by stone walls and gold-paneled partitions. Each of the partitions had a white, rectangular panel centered on it with words written in Hebrew. I assumed it was some information about King David. I found an empty plastic chair and sat down.

  As I sat there, I fumed. I was angry and worried. What if something happens, and I can’t find Jannik? I imagined all kinds of scenarios that ended up with me being alone again. Then I noticed a few women standing in front of something that resembled a small house. It was covered with a black cloth, with patterns embroidered in gold across the top and golden words in Hebrew embroidered on the front.

  An older woman made her way through the crowd of women and sat next to me. Smiling, she asked me a question in Hebrew.

  “Oh, sorry, I only speak English,” I murmured. Jannik had taught me some phrases, but it was so hard to get them right, even though I had been practicing in bed at night.

  “I asked if you were here with someone, and if you mind if I sit here?” she replied in perfect English.

  I wasn’t sure what to say, If Jannik were here, he’d know what to say. “Kind of; he’s on the other side.” I felt so awkward and irritated. My feelings must have showed because she laughed and patted my shoulder.

  “Yes, there are still some places in Israel where the women are segregated like second-class citizens. King David’s Tomb is one of them.”

  Some of the women standing in front of us were rocking back and forth; one of them was touching the tomb, her eyes closed and lips moving silently. I could hear the men next to us. Some were chanting; others were clapping. Then there was silence from the men, and the women all sat down.

  I heard a man’s voice speaking in Hebrew. He spoke for a few minutes before his speech became emphatic. He repeated a phrase a couple of times, and then I saw hands grasping the partition between the men and the women. Within a few minutes, the golden partitions were moved away.

  A thin man dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans strode across the room and addressed the women, who all clapped and smiled at his words. I must have looked confused because he caught my eye and came toward me. Smiling, he placed a hand on my head and raised the other hand up in prayer. Suddenly, I could understand every word he was saying.

  As he continued to address the crowd in Hebrew, I was shocked that I could understand what he was saying as easily as English. I fell from the chair to my knees, my eyes riveted on the thin man, my arms wrapped around my body trying to hold it together because I was shaking so hard. I had never felt such power and brightness.

  “Lord God, I ask that You give each person here the ability to understand my words, so that they may hear the truth of Your gospel. I know that You hear me when I speak to You. By Your power, and for Your glory, let each one here know by this miracle that what I say is the truth. In the name of Yeshua, amen.” He moved back to the front of the newly expanded room and stood quietly for a moment.

  “What have you come to see tonight? Miraculous healings? A word of prophecy? I am Tamas, only one voice—one of a hundred and forty-four thousand voices from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, sent out into the world to proclaim the glorious truth that the Promised One, the Messiah, has come and is the way of salvation to everyone who will believe—to the Jew first and also to the Gentiles.”

  He stopped talking and looked around the room at each person. Many faces were bright and hopeful, while some were confused or even angry. He caught my eyes again in his gaze and smiled. I felt known somehow—and welcomed.

  “We stand at a critical time in Israel’s history,” he continued as he looked around the room, his eyes seeking. “Today, as many of you know, the evil one killed the two Witnesses. As we know from the Scriptures, they will lie in the street for three days; then the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and Earth, will raise them from the dead!”

  Many in the room began to shout out praises and cries of thanksgiving.

  “Do not rejoice, brethren!” the young man shouted, tears running down his face. “The evil one himself has entered President Bellomo. Cast out of heaven, he knows his time is coming to an end, and he is filled with fury.”

  One man stood up and yelled, “Blasphemy!” and stormed out. Others around me were talking, obviously upset. The feeling of fear in the room was palpable and strong. Many were crying. What hope was there when the devil himself was incarnate? Desperate, I spoke up.

  “Is there any reason to hope? I read the Bible a long time ago. I thought it was just stories, but it seems to me now, it was true. There really was a David. And the story of Jesus, who died here in Jerusalem and who rose again from the dead, is that real, too?”

  Tamas moved through the crowd and stood in front of me. “What is your name?”

  “Dani.”

  He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Do you believe this, Dani? Do you believe that Yeshua—Jesus—died and rose again to pay the penalty of your sins to save you?”

  It all fell into place at that moment. All I had read, all that had happened to bring me to this place, now made sense. It was true!

  “Yes,” I whispered, then more emphatically, “Yes, I believe!”

  Tamas grinned, shouting out, “Praise God!!”

  Some men, dressed in black suits, long curls on either sides of their faces and wearing black hats, stood up on the side that had been the men’s and began to shout at both Tamas and me. Raising their fists, they began screaming curses at us. I saw Jannik stand up across the room, looking panicked.

  Tamas raised his hand, and the men fell to the floor writhing in pain. Shaking his head in disgust, he turned his back to them, addressing the others in the room. “You stubborn people! This is why Gentiles like this young woman find the Messiah, while you continue—now, even now—to reject Him, despite all of the evidence, and then seek to harm those who find Him! Isaiah was right about you! You honor Him with your lips, but your hearts are still far from Him!”

  The people grew eerily quiet, I could see many were filled with fear, but incredibly, I was not afraid. Tamas spoke to me briefly and prayed for me before returning to the front of the room. He stood staring at the tomb of King David for a moment before turning back to the people in the room.

  “What was
David told? That one of his descendants would be the Promised One and reign on the throne of David forever, right?”

  The crowd murmured in agreement.

  “We missed His coming to us! We rejected Yeshua the Messiah when He came to us over two thousand years ago, just as the prophets foretold! Now the evil one seeks to kill every Jew before we can repent and call for His return. Will you continue to wait, or will you repent and turn to Yeshua in faith, as this young Gentile girl has done?”

  The room exploded in a great emotional response as many made the same choice I had just made. Tears ran down my face as I watched Jannik kneel on the floor and raise his hands toward heaven. The power and spirit of God was in that room. The singing and rejoicing went on for hours, as Tamas made his way through the crowd, praying over each person.

  It was some time before Tamas addressed the group again. Standing before us, he explained there was no time for us to go back to our homes, no time for us to gather any belongings or warn any of our loved ones. It was time to flee Jerusalem before the evil one, President Bellomo, the Antichrist, set up his troops around the city. Some of the older women began to cry.

  “Do not fear,” he said tenderly. “A place has been prepared for you. There, the Lord will keep you hidden. Though President Bellomo will seek to destroy you, he will not be able to do so. The Lord will be a shield to you and will shelter and deliver you!”

  Tamas prayed for our journey and our safety. As the people got up to leave, I made my way through the crowd to Jannik and his friend, Noam. I was delighted when Jannik gathered me into his arms in an enthusiastic embrace. Noam stood back, with his arms crossed, as Jannik and I spoke excitedly about our experience, our words spilled joyously over one another. Noam didn’t kneel. The thought flickered across my mind, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.

  Then we left the tomb of David and followed the small crowd making their way outside to the street where Tamas stood. Lifting his hand up, Tamas signaled someone in a car across the roadway. It pulled away from the curb and up next to him. Tamas opened the door and gestured for some of the people next to him to get in. The car left, and another pulled up to take its place; a caravan of automobiles had been mobilized to take us out of Jerusalem.