by Samuel David
John spoke up and said, “Thank you Mr. South and Reverend Marks. We appreciate your comments. Next, we have Rabbi Akavia Ben Tabbai. Reverend Tabbai, do you have a question for Mr. South?”
“Yes John I do.”
I looked at the Rabbi and what I saw was an Orthodox Jew, whom I was going to assume would discredit me and Jesus and yet hold on to his God and Messiah. I was eagerly waiting for his questions. For now at least, I would have the other Christians on my side, I thought almost humorously, as I smiled.
“Mr. Jack.”
I found it interesting that he called me Mr. Jack now, also as the Reverend did.
“I would assume that you know we do not look on your Jesus as being the Messiah, but a prophet and that the entire New Testament is not of our teachings.”
“Yes I know that Rabbi. I am aware that you and your religious beliefs are very stringent about this.”
“Good. Then I assume you have read some of our Jewish teachings?”
“If you mean the Torah or the Pentateuch, also known to the Gentiles, as the first five books of the Bible, yes I have read your books.”
“Then you know we have our own laws and regulations in those pages, handed down by our Hebrew God?”
“Yes, I am aware of that, Mosaic Law if I am correct.”
“Then let me ask you. If we are looking for a messiah, and the Christians are looking for the return of Jesus Christ, neither of whom is here today, then who would you really be? Are you possibly Elijah, or Ezekiel, whom we understand never died, but was taken to heaven by God?”
“I am none of the above Rabbi. However, let me tell you about something I know about your religion and what is happening today. There is another witness, whom will confront the Jewish people all over the world. He is not yet, named to you, but you will hear from him very, very soon. This witness, Rabbi, is better equipped to answer any and all questions about God, Jesus and the Messiah and who he really is. But no, I am not any of those people you suggested.”
“I don’t quite understand about this other witness.”
“Rabbi, I am the witness for the Gentiles, as your religion named us. You refer to us as the non-believers. You will soon hear from a witness whose primary concerns are the gathering of not only the tribe of Judah to Israel, but also all the other tribes dispersed in the world. They are, known by us Gentiles as the lost tribes of Israel, which were, dispersed in 720 BCE or before the Common Era by the ancient Assyrians as was prophesied by your Prophet Jeremiah. This witness can answer your questions as you have presented them to me. I cannot.”
The rabbi sat back in his chair and was quiet for a second, then said, “I see. Then we must wait.”
“You are correct Rabbi, very correct.”
John then said, “We really need to take a break for our sponsors and also get our viewers updated on the day’s events, especially in California. We will be back soon.”
Chapter 37
11:35 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - Bear News Interview Studio
I was glad for the break. I was becoming very weary of the questioning and having difficulty concentrating. It had been over six hours since this day started and I knew that it was only beginning. It was going to get worse. Now I had to deal with the eastern religions of Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
I got up and motioned for Mark to come with me. We walked off into another corner alone.
“Mark,” I said, “the Jewish question was the easy one. Now I have to deal with questions from the eastern religions and I have no idea how to answer them. I do not want to start riots in the world with my answers, but I think no matter what I say or how I say it, that is going to be what will occur. Do you have any ideas?”
Mark stroked his overweight double chin, he seemed to be concentrating and then said, “Tell them the truth, and let the chips fall where they may.”
“But Mark, I really do not know the truth.”
“Yes you do. Gabriel told you the truth and it is up to you to tell it like it is. Once again, it is your destiny to preach the gospel these last few years. Also, remember you can always close your eyes and see God’s will.”
I thought this over for a few seconds, and I said to Mark, “Please tell them I need some time alone, maybe ten or fifteen minutes please.”
“Sure Jack, I will tell them. Without you, there is no show, so I am sure they will wait.”
I then started to walk away from the studio and find a quite place to pray.
Chapter 38
11:40 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - Bear News Studios, Private Office off from Studio
I wandered down the hall from the studio and noticed an enclosed room with the door ajar. I pushed the door open some and realized there was no one in it. The only thing there was a desk and a couple of chairs. I felt I could probably use it without a problem. I entered, closed the door, and sat in one of the chairs, bowed my head, and closed my eyes. I wanted my thoughts to wander wherever they wanted to go. As my eyes were, closed, my mind was processing all the events of the past few weeks and then focusing on what was occurring today.
I made an effort to keep them closed then mouthed the following prayer: Dear God in heaven, and your son Jesus, you have selected me to do your will and I am your willing servant. However, God, I am remorseful for I feel I am killing many people by my words and I am in sorrow. Yet I know that battles are not, won without pain, fear, and loss. However, dear God, I feel for these people and I fear for them as well as my own family that is, dispersed throughout my country. I am about to be questioned yet once again by leaders whom proclaim themselves men of God, but with whom I feel it is an occupation, not love of their God. I believe they are out to crucify me. Maybe not on a cross, but in opinion, and that will cause me to fail the mission you have entrusted me to. Please give me the wisdom to carry on, to be able to answer the questions and withstand the temptation of running away. I thought Tribulation would come, to pass someday, but I did not think I would be a primary player in its outcome. Your humble servant Lord, through your son Jesus Christ, I ask from you strength in these next few hours. These things I ask and pray for through Jesus Christ your son whom will live forever and ever. Amen.
My eyes were, still closed and I heard a knock at the door.
Chapter 39
6:40 PM CEST Day one of 1260 Brussels - The Waldger Group Corporate Headquarters, 42nd Floor
David and his other contemporaries in the room had been watching with fascination the interview with Jack South. So far, Jack had held his own and was able to not only handle the questions, but put questions right back to the questioners. My thoughts were interrupted by, Aafre who was speaking again. The talk was about the position of the Reverend Marks, whom seemed very irate with Jack.
Aafre was saying, “…this Marks guy may be someone we can use in the very near future. Someone figure out who he is and what his angle is. In addition, for those of you who do not know yet, we have placed one of our people on the panel, and he is still yet to come. I will hold back on whom he is to see if any of you can figure out which panelist it is. This is a game of words and we need to sharpen our abilities to fight back with our resources and discredit Jack and his other partner, whoever he is. It does not seem that we are going to find out this time that this other person might be other than Jewish, as Jack told the Rabbi. Even though Jack has said he does not know who he is, but I think he does any comments?”
Baroness Rachel Wimberley of the Netherlands spoke up and said, “I personally do not think this guy is the Witness, but a clairvoyant person trying to, make a name for himself. There has to be a rational explanation for his predictions. Maybe he is a genius, and figured all this out and is predicting what Mother Nature would do anyway. It may well be he is a fraud and there is no substance to his claims.”
“Very well put,” Aafre said, “but I caution, his predictions have always been correct and have zero probability of occurring exactly as he said. If what he said is going to happen with
the new predictions and it does, then your theory will hold no water, but what you just said is the basis for our plan to discredit him.”
The President of the U.S. then spoke via satellite link. “Aafre, what if he is right in his predictions? If he is, California will pale in comparison with the destruction of these hurricanes. Our entire infrastructure cannot contain two, let alone five, six, or seven disasters at one time. So if he is right, then what do we do?”
Aafre was silent, after a moment of thinking he said, “Let’s see what else this Jack has to say before we broach that subject Stevenson.”
They all looked at the monitors watching the news updates in California on Bear News and like most people in the world, waited for Jack to continue after the news updates.
Chapter 40
11:45 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - Bear News Studio, Room away from Studio Area
I sat up in the chair, heard a knock again, and went to the door. I cracked it and saw it was Reverend Marks. “Can I help you Reverend?”
“Uh Jack,” he had his head hung down very low; “can I speak with you for a minute privately?” He stood there not moving or looking at me just staring at the floor.
“Come in Reverend Marks and close the door please.” I was concerned that he came here to go off on me, but I let him in anyway. He walked through the door then closed it behind him. He then almost shocked me as he immediately got on his knees in front of me with his hands folded in prayer and bowed his head. He had tears coming out of his eyes.
He began mumbling, “Please forgive me master, and please forgive me.”
The tears and sobs were coming full force from this man that had just a few minutes ago tried to destroy me in front of the whole world. I looked down at him, grabbed a hold of his arm, and said, as I was gently trying to coax him up, “Reverend get up please. I am not the one you need to bow, down too. I am a man like you, not a God.”
I pulled harder on his arm, as he slowly started getting up. As he stood, I directed him to the chair I had been sitting in. He sat down quite heavily and sighed. I could see the streams of tears in his face and I waited to see if he would speak. He sighed very deeply and raised his head to look at me. “Jack or Mr. South, I am so sorry that I attacked you in that studio today in front of all those people. I thought you were a fraud and my anger boiled over.”
I took the spare chair from the wall, and placed it in front of Reverend Marks and sat down. “Reverend, under these circumstances, I also have a hard time believing most of this. I, like you, am a man, not a God and I am not the perfect selection to do what I have been, charged to do. However, I have accepted it, and to be honest with you, my acceptance is, based on my faith. I have not spoken to God or Jesus personally, and I am going on true gut feeling that I am doing what I was called to do, because God wants me to.”
Pausing, I wondered as to what happened to this man to change his feelings so quickly. Therefore, I decided to ask. “Reverend, what changed your mind from just a few minutes ago?”
“I am a man of God. I believe with all my heart in Jesus. I have spent my entire life trying to help people and save them from the fires of hell. I realized in talking to you today, that either you were from Satan himself, or you were from God. So I took out my Bible during the break and read some scriptures about the witnesses and after reading it,” the tears started again, “I knew that you really are who you say you are and I felt that I had betrayed my God and Jesus. I was helping the devils cause. I think God moved me to read those scriptures so I would understand. But now I am here to plead forgiveness for my transgression against you.”
“Reverend, I do not have the power to forgive you, only God does through Jesus Christ. Therefore, the forgiveness you seek is through him, not me. But let me ask you if you don’t mind Reverend, what is your first name?”
“Thomas and my middle name is Eugene.”
“Thomas, huh? That is interesting Reverend, very interesting. Let me ask you another question if I may. I just had a revelation. Would you be interested in helping me out this week on something that I am going to announce later today?”
“What would you want me to do?”
“On Thursday I am having a rally or service, as you might call it, in Kansas City at Liberty Memorial Park. It will probably be broadcast worldwide and I have no idea how many people will be attending. It is an open air service.”
“I know where it is. I have been there. It sits up on a hill, I think above the train station, correct?”
“That’s the place.”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to plan the ceremony for me and work with my PR agency to arrange some singing, prayers, and all those things. I have never done one and I need someone to help. You are the one I would want. And so that you know, we will pay all your expenses and whatever else you deem necessary.”
The Reverend looked surprised and asked, “You really want me to help with your ministry, even after what I did today?”
“Yes, I really want you to help.”
With that he said, “Let’s pray Jack.” We both then got down on our knees in front of our chairs as he led us in a prayer. When he was finished, we then sat back up on our chairs and he said, as soon as he sat down, “I guess I am your Doubting Thomas!”
I smiled. “That is wonderful Reverend. Yes, I suppose you are my Doubting Thomas. You know Thomas, working with me is going to become very dangerous, and your life will be at stake. I am popular now, but that is because they are curious. That will change as more and more things happen to mankind in the first half of the seven weeks.”
“Jack, believe me, I know. However, like you, I know that this is my destiny. God just told me when we prayed.”
I looked at him and he said it so seriously that I began to think that God very well might have spoken to him. Then I wondered about his name Thomas, my own doubting Thomas, is now the third member of our little group. Therefore, I have a Mark, Luke, and a Thomas. There seemed to be a pattern here. I tucked that thought in the back of my mind to talk to Gabriel about it.
I saw a piece of paper on the desk and I pulled a pen from my shirt and wrote down the number Thomas needed to call. I handed him the paper and said to him, “Call this number as soon as you can. This entire sermon and setup are now in your capable hands. In addition, they will get your travel arrangements done for you and whatever, else you need. Reverend, I mean Thomas, be prepared, we are expecting a lot of people.”
“How many?”
“Millions and millions, in person and on TV.”
I heard another knock at the door. I got up from my chair and opened the door. A page was standing there and said, “Oh, there you are. We have been looking for you. They are about to start and we need to hurry.”
I motioned to Thomas, as I call him now, and said, “Its showtime again.” I smiled and then winked at him. We walked together through the door, towards the studio.”
Chapter 41
11:55 AM EST Day one of 1260 New York - Bear News Studios
As we were walking back to the studio, John Roddenburg caught up with me. I stopped, but Thomas kept following the page. John asked me, “Jack, how are you holding up?”
“Fine,” I said. “A bit tired, but I will be fine.”
“You know we still have the other four panelists yet to go and I wanted to talk about them to you.”
“What is it John? Do you have some concerns?”
“Yes we do. We are concerned especially about the Islamic panelist. If the wrong things are said, there may well be riots everywhere, including right here in New York City.”
“What do you think I am going to say that would cause that?”
“We know that Christianity and Islam do not mix. If your mission is to save the Gentiles, as you say, then the Islamics may fall under the Gentiles, that is, if I know my history. But if you say that they are evil, like so many have in the past, then coming from you, it could fuel a major crisis.�
��
“Well, you don’t know your history. John listen, I am well aware of this and I am well prepared. Islam has the same founder, Abraham, as the Jews. I, am selected for the Gentiles, which includes Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, and others, but not Muslims or Jews. You are going to have to trust me on this.” I paused, and said, “By the way, this Thursday we are selecting only your network to carry a live broadcast from Kansas City’s Memorial Park that we are holding. It will be my first sermon to the people. The world is going to expect coverage and I want you there doing the commentary.”
“We already know Jack. Your agency told us about that this morning and we already have been working on it. We were not sure why, but they told us we had been selected to do this.”
“Did they also tell you during the entire sermon that you need to have a slow motion camera set up on me also?”
“Yes they did and I wondered about that. Do you know why we need that technology?”
“Yes I do, but I cannot discuss it yet. It will help your broadcast. Also John,” I said as we were still walking back towards the studio, “Reverend Marks is going to be my lead man in setup of the sermon in Kansas City. He is in charge of everything. Please have your people get with him. I think he is very well qualified and has done this before, using TV and large crowds.”
John looked at me with his mouth half open and said, “You’re kidding me! He was about to crucify you just a half hour ago. I mean, I don’t understand.”
“John, things just happen. In addition, if you want an interview after the sermon with me, I will be staying at the Crown Plaza. Be prepared for your broadcast. There are going to be some very famous people there. Our agency is confirming the list now and you will probably want to do some spots on that prior to the sermon, especially with this group.”
“You’re news Jack. We will be there and yes we will definitely want an interview after the sermon.”
We had reached the studio area, and John went off to talk to his producer and I walked toward the couch.
