The Seventh Vial: A Novel of the Great Tribulation (The Days of Elijah Book 4)

by Mark Goodwin

  “After Nimrod’s death, Semiramis was impregnated by one of her priests, but she claimed that she had been divinely seeded by Nimrod himself. The child who was born, Tammuz, was worshiped as Nimrod reincarnated. Nimrod was the original false god who came to be known as the sun god Baal. His wife came to be known as the goddess of fertility and sexuality, Ashtoreth. Tammuz came to be associated with the cycle of death and rebirth. The three of them are represented by various names in every pagan culture on earth.

  “Going backward, Nimrod was the grandson of Noah’s disobedient son, Ham, who may have secretly brought forbidden esoteric wisdom onto the arc, preserving it through the flood. Ham may have passed down this secret knowledge of the Watchers to Nimrod. It could have been this hidden mystery of the fallen angels which Nimrod intended to use to open up a portal to the underworld.

  “I believe that is the reason God confused the languages of the Earth at Babel. There was little threat of a physical tower reaching the heavens. After all, God has allowed skyscrapers, air travel, and space exploration without consequence.”

  Courtney sat with her finger pressed against her lips as she listened. “And you think the Shinar Research Facility has opened some kind of portal?”

  “I believe it is the place where the CRISPR Cas9 gene-editing process was perfected to make it possible for the sons of god to breed with the daughters of men once again. I think this achieves the same goal as the Tower of Babel portal. It allows the Watchers to have a more-direct physical grasp of this realm.”

  Everett was growing tired of the Great Tribulation and hoped he could get through it without another battle. “So, Shinar—you think this is where Luz has his army of supersoldiers; the Nephilim?”

  “I do.” The rabbi drummed his fingers on the staff.

  Everett sighed as if resigning to a thing that was far from his circle of control.

  CHAPTER 24

  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

  Jude 14-15

  Friday afternoon, Everett pulled the batteries out of the charger, which was plugged directly into the inverter from the solar array. He walked outside and positioned the solar panels to the best angle in order to get the last remaining sunlight of the day. Afterwards, he returned to the first level, stuck the fully-charged batteries into his and Courtney’s flashlights and replaced the tail caps.

  “Aren’t you getting ready?” Courtney put on her best jeans and favorite sweater, which she’d hand-laundered the day before.

  “I don’t know if I’m going.” He inspected their walkie-talkies, both of which had freshly charged batteries.

  “It’s Rosh Hashanah! Rabbi Hertzog has been preparing his message for tonight’s service all week. And the women have been preparing the meal since this morning.”

  Even though it wasn’t turned on, Everett stared at the television as if he expected it to get up and walk away at any moment. “You better not let the rabbi hear you call it Rosh Hashanah.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yom Teruah, whatever. Everyone else down here calls it Rosh Hashanah.”

  Everett took a seat on the inverted bucket next to his sleeping bag. “I guess old habits die hard.”

  “Whatever you call it, you have to go. The service will be short, then the meal will be served, and you can be back in the room by nine o’clock to listen to the news.

  “Fifteen people spent the whole day yesterday scratching around in the ruins of the city on the surface just to scrape up enough firewood to make a hot meal for tonight. It’s been a month since we ate hot food, and it might be our last chance to have a warm meal on this planet.”

  “You go. Enjoy yourself.” He took her hand and kissed it.

  She interlaced her fingers with his. “It won’t be the same without you. Please come.”

  He sighed. “I really believe Messiah will return tonight. I’ve been waiting for this moment for seven long years. Seven very, very long years.”

  “Then what better place to be when he returns than worshiping Him in a congregation of fellow believers or awaiting his return at a huge celebration? Rabbi Hertzog has been teaching on the glorious appearance ever since we arrived in Kaymakli. Everyone there is hoping for the same thing you are. And we’ll be together.”

  She lowered her head giving an expression that begged for his consideration. “We don’t know how all of this is going to play out, Everett. But whatever happens, and whenever it happens, I want to be by your side for the entire thing. Please go with me tonight.”

  His heart melted and his resolve faded. Everett stood up and embraced his wife. “You’re right. I won’t miss anything by not listening to the GRBN broadcast. Besides, whatever they report will be a lie wrapped in deception and covered in falsehood.”

  Everett found his most presentable pair of pants and put on the shirt Courtney had washed for him the day before.

  Ali walked in the room. “I will see you at the service. I am helping some people with the food preparation.”

  “See you there.” Courtney waved.

  “Helping people with the food preparation?” Everett pursed his lips as he repeated the phrase.

  “What?” Courtney continued brushing her hair.

  “You were an NSA profiler. He’s going to help the ladies, not some people. That didn’t sound subversive to you?”

  “I was a sub-contracted profiler. His English isn’t perfect.”

  “He knows the word for lady, girl, and woman.”

  “Maybe he wants to be useful but because of his middle-eastern culture, he doesn’t want to point out that he is working with the women.”

  “You’re being naive. It’s a girl.”

  “So, what if it is a girl?”

  “We’ve got forty-five days until the clock runs out on time itself. Why bother trying to strike up a relationship?”

  “So, if you had just met me today, you wouldn’t try to talk to me because we only have six weeks left?”

  Everett had painted himself into a corner and there was only one way out. He kissed her tenderly and said, “You win. If we only had six hours left on the clock, I’d spend every second trying to win your heart.”

  She smiled like a cat with a mouse firmly under her paw, then finished getting ready.

  Everett checked his watch. “It’s five o’clock. The sun sets in Jerusalem an hour ahead of us. It should be setting in twenty minutes. The service doesn’t begin until 6:30. Maybe we can hear something from Jerusalem before we go.”

  He monitored his watch, not wanting to turn on the television until the seconds before the sun was to set in Jerusalem. The television was a significant drain on the battery bank, and Everett was unsure what the skies would look like after their Creator had split them wide open.

  At precisely 5:20, he turned on the television. All he saw was the CGI versions of Yates and Smith droning on with the same Global Republic propaganda, inviting survivors to come to the Shinar refugee center in southern Iraq, or as Everett liked to call it, Luz’s concentration camp.

  No additional news had been reported an hour later when Courtney tugged his hand. “Come on, I want to get a good seat up front. Your TV will still be there when we get back.”

  Everett wasn’t so sure about that, but he’d committed to go, so he went.

  When they arrived in the chapel on the second level, Courtney whisked Everett to the front, claiming three spots on the floor where they would sit. “We’ll save a spot for Ali.” She stood, facing the entrance to the chapel.

  Everett spotted the young Arab’s dark hair before Courtney did. He also noticed a girl about Ali’s age a few steps behind him. “You better save two.” Everett took three paces away from Courtney to make room for whoever the young
woman was since the chapel was beginning to fill up.

  Ali saw Courtney waving and instructed the girl to follow him down front. When they arrived, Ali held out his hand toward Everett. “This is my brother and sister, my family, Everett and Courtney.” He motioned to the girl with long black hair and olive skin. She had a strong nose, but she was very pretty. “This is Ilia.”

  “Pleasure to meet you.” Everett shook the girl's hand.

  “Likewise,” she said.

  “Just to clarify, we’re Ali’s brother and sister in Christ, not by blood.” Courtney shook Ilia’s hand. “Otherwise, it’d be kinda weird because I’m married to this one.” She motioned to Everett with her thumb.

  The choir came in and led the congregation in four acapella worship songs. Afterward, Rabbi Hertzog delivered his Yom Teruah message from Matthew chapter twenty-five, speaking on the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, and encouraging the congregation to persevere in their faith until the very last second.

  After the message, the rabbi prayed, then a man stepped forward to blow the shofar. A chill ran through Everett’s bones as he considered that the same sound would soon emanate from heaven, and Yeshua would return to claim His Kingdom.

  The man finished blowing the shofar and returned the way he’d come in. Before the congregation gathered in the chapel and had a chance to begin conversing amongst themselves, another sound was heard. Once again, it was the sound of the shofar, but off in the distance.

  Everett listened closely as a smile of anticipation grew across his face. “That’s it!” he whispered to Courtney. “Come on! Let’s go to the surface!”

  Everett quickly got ahead of the crowd and made it to the stairwell with Courtney in tow. Ali an Ilia followed close behind. The four of them charged up the stairs with everyone else behind them. Everett dashed out of the entryway and stared up at the sky. A brilliant, bright-white cross glowed in the heavens. It shined so bright, it drowned out the light of the stars so intensely, they were washed in pure white light as if the sun was shining.

  Everett recalled Matthew chapter twenty-four, verse thirty and recited it aloud. “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven.”

  “Now what?” Courtney asked.

  Everett waited, looking excitedly at the cross in the sky. “I don’t know, but whatever it is, it won’t be long now.”

  The sound of the shofar faded, and twenty minutes later everyone living in the underground city was outside looking up at the sky. Spontaneous worship broke out, with the entire group singing song after song and dancing for joy.

  Everett sang along with his eyes on the sign of the cross above, but no other momentous events occurred.

  An hour later, the food was brought up to the surface and the communal meal was enjoyed al fresco. Everett, Courtney, the rabbi, Ali, and Ilia shared a bed sheet spread out on the ground like a picnic cloth as they ate.

  Once they’d finished eating, Everett tapped the rabbi on the shoulder. “I’m anxious to know what’s going on. Would you like to come down and see if GRBN is reporting anything?”

  “Oh, yes.” The rabbi accepted Everett’s help in standing, then used the staff to assist in his walking.

  Everett then helped Courtney to her feet. “Ali, are you and Ilia coming?”

  “I have to help with the dishes. But thank you for the invitation,” Ilia declined politely.

  “And I will help Ilia.” Ali looked at her with the gaze of a man falling in love.

  Everett fought his grin. “You know where we’ll be. Come on by when you’re finished.”

  Once Everett, Courtney, and the rabbi arrived in their living quarters, Everett quickly powered on the television.

  The computer-generated image of Heather Smith had exaggeratedly large eyes and it was speaking entirely too loud. This was obviously the effect Dragon was trying to achieve with the broadcast, but Everett adjusted the volume lower.

  Smith’s bugged-eyed likeness said, “While the alien invasion is a cause for concern, by no means is this a time to panic. General Semyaza personally assured GRBN that the alien race which began their encroachment upon our planet shortly after 7:00 PM Jerusalem time is a sect of interplanetary menaces that he has dealt with and defeated before. While the extraterrestrial beings assaulting Earth may look human, General Semyaza’s top aide, Major Kokabiel, says they are actually closer genetically to the race of the Watchers. Major Kokabiel is a full-bloodied Watcher himself, and he said the inferior size of the Invaders is evidence of their lesser abilities.

  “Major Kokabiel said we can place full confidence in the Global Republic’s supersoldiers to defeat the Invaders. He promises that our weapons and troops are far more advanced than the Invaders, and that the war will be little more than a prolonged skirmish. Generals Semyaza, Azazael, and Amezarak have pledged to eradicate the universe of this plague known to our planet only as the Invaders. General Semyaza granted them generous and amicable terms when the Watchers won the last conflict, but the King of the Invaders has broken the treaty and proven that he is not to be trusted.”

  As the AI machine controlling the image of Harrison Yates caused him to show an expression of unbelief, Dragon tipped its hand that it did not fully grasp what it means to be human. Yates' mouth hung open, and his head bobbed around in a manner that the real Yates would never have acted in. Yates said, “Alien invasion? Heather, this sounds like something straight out of a science fiction novel. But I suppose that while we’ve expected it for centuries, it was only with the arrival of the Watchers that we learned definitively we are not alone in the cosmos. Still, it’s a lot to take in.”

  “That’s true, Harrison. We’re still adapting to that revelation, and it can be a lot to take in for some people. We have to be thankful to the father of His Majesty Angelo Luz for being the first extraterrestrial to make contact with our species, and to His Majesty himself for being the mediator. I don’t even want to think what would be happening right now if General Semyaza and the other Watchers hadn’t come and we were on our own to fight the Invaders.”

  “Heather, did Major Kokabiel give any indication as to why he thinks the Invaders came?”

  “Yes, Harrison. He said they abused their planet’s atmosphere and resources to the point where it was no longer able to support their race. Much like climate-change deniers of decades past, the Invaders had the scientific evidence that they needed to alter their behaviors, but were unwilling to make those changes.”

  Yates shook his head. “I hoped that was a problem that only we had to deal with, but I guess it’s the same story wherever you go.”

  Courtney sat with her arms crossed. “Like you said, lies wrapped in deception and covered in falsehood.”

  Everett expected no less. Satan had begun the grand drama in the garden with a set of lies. It would be quite uncharacteristic of him to not see his strategy through to the end.

  CHAPTER 25

  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and g
reat. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

  Revelation 19:11-21

  October passed, November came, and Everett continued to monitor the television. He heard only lies about how the Watchers would soon secure a victory over the Invaders. GRBN aired no footage of the ongoing final battle, and the fighting did not come near the Cappadocia region of Turkey where Everett and the rest of God’s people were staying.

  On occasion, Ali would intercept a transmission over the Ham radio of someone who’d left the conflict zone near southern Iraq and the Persian Gulf. They told stories of otherworldly soldiers riding on horseback, wearing armor made of a nearly-impenetrable, brilliant-white material. According to the Ham transmissions, the weapons of the Invaders were far superior to those of the Watchers and the Global Republic’s supersoldiers.

  Everett marked off his calendar on Monday morning. “Today is the day. It’s been 1335 days since Luz broke his treaty with the nations. According to the book of Daniel, we’ve reached the end of time.”

  Ali held Ilia’s hand tightly as they sat together on Everett’s sleeping bag. “I am ready to meet the King!”

  Courtney stood and embraced Everett, holding him tightly. “Me, too.”

  Everett ran his fingers through her hair and sighed, thankful that he’d made it to the end with no more conflict.