General Havid laughed. “I am happy to see you enjoying the food. Please, eat to your heart’s content, my friends.”
As the men ate, they shared stories of military valor in days gone by, but General Havid’s tone changed once the meal was finished.
“Gentlemen, I would ask we take our coffee and tea into my study, as there are a few pressing matters I wish to discuss with you in more seclusion.”
“Lead the way, sir,” Christopher said, standing.
“Excellent. Follow me. There is much to discuss tonight,” General Havid replied gravely.
* * *
Gabriella was glad that Draven Cross and Evan Mallory were going to be out of the office for the next week. She needed some time to resolve the battle between her mind and God and determined to accomplish that task before the weekend was over. She had invited Gemma out to dinner later that evening, assuming the secreatry-general’s assistant shared her feelings about Draven Cross and might want the opportunity to vent. However, Gabriella knew enough and had been trained well enough not to divulge too much too soon, so she would let Gemma take the lead in any conversation about their demanding employer. Glancing at her watch, Gabriella realized she’d have to hurry to keep from being late for dinner with Gemma. The disappearances had made getting a cab or rideshare harder and more expensive given the shortages of people, cars, and gas.
Gabriella left her apartment and headed toward U.E. plaza, as there was a cab stand in the square. As she approached the plaza, light snow began to dust the area beautifully, the first snow of the season. She saw the cab stand was empty and pulled out her phone to text Gemma she’d be late and to select a rideshare service when she was startled to hear a voice close behind her.
“Why do you still disbelieve in His presence?” Samuel asked quietly.
“My goodness, you scared me. That’s a super creepy way to approach someone. What did you say?” Gabriella asked.
“Was it not predicted, ‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever’?” Samuel continued, as if he didn’t hear her, nor cared about her reaction to him.
“What does that mean, Samuel? And why are you out here so late? Look, just stay away from me, okay?” Gabriella looked at her phone, hoping to see a notification that her rideshare was close.
“I am sent by the one you seek and who seeks you, the true and living God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…the God who so loved the world that He sent His only Son to die for its redemption. You need no further proof of whom you work for. You know in your heart that he is the son of perdition, the Antichrist. Gabriella, you must choose to accept the salvation Christ Jesus offers you before it’s too late.”
With those words, Samuel started walking away from Gabriella, heading to the subway. He seemed either driven by a higher purpose or mentally deranged. Gabriella was having a hard time deciding which at the moment.
“Where are you going?” Gabriella called after him.
“I have been called for a time like this with thousands of other brothers to proclaim the hope that Christ Jesus offers this fallen world, even now in the world’s darkest hours. I am being compelled by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel around the world. So I don’t know where I am going, but I do know who I am serving. It’s time you answer those questions for yourself, Gabriella. Where are you going? Who are you serving?” Samuel answered as he looked back over his shoulder at her while still moving forward.
Gabriella was watching him walk down into the subway station when a honking from her rideshare made her jump.
“You getting in or what, lady? I don’t have the gas or time to be messing around,” the rideshare driver shouted through his open window.
Gabriella climbed into the back seat. As the car sped off toward dinner with Gemma, she began to cry as she realized that God had answered the prayer she had prayed after her secret meeting with President Rodgers a week ago. I guess God is real, she admitted to herself. Now what?
* * *
Secretary-General Draven Cross’s arrival in Israel had been turned into a national holiday. He was met by the prime minister of Israel and his wife at the airport, at the head of a long red carpet lined with soldiers holding alternating Israeli and United Earth Organization flags, the latter being the same flag his predecessor had used for the U.N. With camera’s flashing and the TV news cycle entirely focused on this event, the secretary-general felt an incredible sense of pride in the future he was creating.
“Mr. Secretary-General, welcome to Israel on the eve of this historic moment,” the Israeli prime minister greeted warmly.
“Thank you for the kind welcome. It has been an honor to be able to secure a peaceful future for Israel.” Draven shook the prime minister’s hand, before turning to raise their joined hands aloft in a gesture of solidarity for the cameras.
Once they were in the car, Draven’s mind was abuzz with the possibilities this week held for him. As the convoy made its way from Ben Gurion to the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, he read sign after sign proclaiming him to be the king of the World, even a few as the Messiah of Israel. His pride told him nothing could stop him now—he had claimed the world.
* * *
As they entered General Havid’s study, Christopher looked around the room with admiration. The walls were adorned with photos, plaques, and citations that spanned many years—all the things you’d expect to find from a distinguished military career. But it was the framed undergraduate and graduate degrees in Jewish studies from Tel-Aviv University that caught his eye. It seemed that the famed “Israeli warrior” had once been on the path to becoming a rabbi.
General Havid’s pacing caught the major’s attention. He watched the seasoned special operations veteran moving around his office like a caged animal trying to escape.
“Sir, what’s wrong? You have seemed beside yourself all evening,” Christopher questioned.
“Please sit,” the general replied, directing Christopher and Jackson to a large leather sofa. “I think we all need to sit for this discussion.” General Havid sat behind his book-littered desk for only a moment before standing to pace again, stopping to peer between the wooden slats on the closed French doors securing the study.
“Tell me, gentlemen, what do you think of Draven Cross?” he asked, glancing around as if he were expecting to find someone standing behind him.
“Well, shoot, that’s pretty easy, sir. He’s the Antichrist of the Bible. I am not sure if y’all here in Israel are tracking that information, as it’s in the back of the Bible,” Jackson explained, somewhat apologetically.
“Really, Jackson. I swear I should just leave you at home more often. The Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible, consists of the Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim—so to break it down into country boy language, the Tanakh ends where the Christian New Testament begins,” Christopher chided.
“Outstanding, Christopher,” General Havid said sadly. “I thought for a moment there you were a Jewish studies student. But, Jackson, many of us here in Israel have studied the New Testament, including the end-time prophecies. In fact I have always felt in my heart that it was a distinct possibility that we Jews missed our Messiah, that Jesus Christ was the one we had been looking for all along.” Christopher gave a quick shake of his head toward Jackson, daring him to say a word, as it looked like Jackson was about to comment on General Havid’s observation regarding who Jesus was to the Jews.
“Alas, I buried these thoughts of the Messiah and Yahweh, and everything became just meaningless rituals until three and a half years ago. You remember what happened here during that time, don’t you, Christopher?”
“Yes, sir. It was when the Russian-led coalition of nations invaded Israel,” Christopher replied.
“Exactly. I remember what Rev told us as we looked out over the destruction of the enemy in the Valley of Jezreel. I believe he said that the invasion had been foretold in the book of Ezekiel and that it would take us seven years to clear the nation of the remnants of that invasion. Rev’s words shook me awake. I’ve spent the last three years researching the Messiah, Israel’s future, and what that invasion meant. Gentlemen, tonight I will share my conclusions with you,” General Havid announced.
“Well, lay it on us, sir,” Jackson encouraged, earning a longsuffering gaze from Christopher.
Laughing, the general replied, “You have an interesting way with words, Jackson.”
“You could say that again and still be correct, sir,” Christopher agreed.
“Yes, well, here are my conclusions and my biggest fear. First, I agree with Jackson’s assessment of Draven Cross. After evaluating the evidence presented since his emergence on the global political scene, he is my leading candidate to be the Antichrist. Next, I believe we, Israel, are on the brink of entering what the Tanakh called Daniel’s 70th Week, or in common Christian terminology, the tribulation. I believe this ‘spirtual week’ begins with next week’s signing of the covenant of peace between the world, represented by Draven and Israel. Finally, I have come to the undeniable decision that the man named Jesus Christ was the Messiah Israel had long awaited and missed. On this topic of the Messiah, I have read the New Testament over and over again. Finally yielding to the tug on my soul, I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior last week,” General Havid confessed, finally sitting down behind his desk.
“That is awesome news!” Jackson blurted out. “Well, at least the part about accepting Jesus as your Savior.”
“I am glad you’ve been able to confide what’s obviously been bottled up for a while, and I am honored to hear it first, but what was your fear?” Christopher asked.
Tears streaming down his plump cheeks, the general said, “I fear for what the Bible declares the next seven years will be like—a time about which Jesus said if it were not cut short, none would survive. Christopher, I am afraid of the horrors to come, knowing it could have been avoided. And I realize I am helpless to protect the nation and people I love so dearly. I am concerned about how long I will be able to serve Israel given my commitment to serve Christ Jesus. You both realize that the prime minister and many in Israel feel that Draven is our savior, the man who has finally secured peace for the Jews. But since I don’t believe that’s who he is, I am in an impossible situation.”
“Sir, there is much to discuss with you, and thankfully I brought the best guides for getting us through the days ahead.” Jackson pulled Rev’s journal and Bible from his backpack. “I say we have one of your staff brew some of that strong coffee you folks have in this part of the world, and then you and I have a talk tonight,” he offered comfortingly.
“Yes, I would like that. I would like that very much,” General Havid said.
* * *
Gabriella arrived at the restaurant in the Little Italy neighborhood frustrated but excited all at the same time. She was glad that Gemma was running late as well, so she would have a few moments to process her thoughts. I feel like I’ve at least been given clear guidance and the answer to my most significant question over the last few months. Is God real? I’m going with, yes, God is real. But I’m still not sure about Draven being the Antichrist. If he is the Antichrist, can I work for him and still believe in God and remain in God’s good graces? I just have so many questions. Suddenly a laugh erupted from deep within. She knew without a doubt what the one dependable spiritual advisor in her life would have to say about all of this. She’d be hearing a big I told you so from Jackson Williams.
She knew that no matter what she chose regarding working for Draven or leaving the U.E., her days, like so many others, were numbered.
“Would you like to order anything, or can I get you a drink?” the waiter asked.
“No, I’ll wait for my friend… Oh, here she is. We will need a few moments, thanks,” Gabriella answered, watching as the waiter returned to an empty booth in the nearly empty restaurant—a common sight since the disappearances.
“I am sorry for being late,” Gemma Sutherland apologized. “It took forever to catch a cab from my apartment.”
“No problem. I just got here myself. I hope this place is good. It’s one of the only restaurants in this area that’s still open. But by the looks of things tonight, I’m not sure how much longer they’ll survive,” Gabriella remarked sadly.
“I am sure it will be fine. I am just grateful to get out of my apartment and talk with someone.”
“Do you want to order a meal?”
“How about we just order some appetizers and wine?” Gemma replied. “I am not really hungry. I just want to nibble a bit and talk.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Gabriella agreed.
“Great. You order while I run to the loo.”
This could be an excellent opportunity to find out more about Draven Cross, if Gemma’s lips get loose with wine. There are a few things I need to know, Gabriella thought. She called the waiter and said, “Waiter, could you please bring us a bottle of Merlot?”
* * *
As the sun began to rise above the Judean hills surrounding Jerusalem, Christopher crept back into the study, only to find the general and the sergeant major still deep in conversation. Christopher had given up listening to the two talk about the rapture, the looming tribulation, and the Antichrist named Draven Cross around midnight last night.
“You two are still talking,” he remarked. “I am impressed by your stamina.”
“Oh, Christopher, I feel like a small boy again listening to my Abba recite the Scriptures,” General Havid replied enthusiastically. “There was always so much passion in my Abba’s voice that the messages seemed to come alive. Jackson’s description of the timeline of the events that lie ahead was the same. I feel energized. Rev lives through his journal and his disciple Jackson.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better about your decision regarding Christianity,” Christopher replied.
“Yes, I am, but more importantly, I can now envision a way to serve Yahweh for however long He allows me to remain in service of the defense of Israel. I believe what Jackson has told me, that a little more than three years from now Draven Cross will manifest himself as the Antichrist to the world and defile the sacred temple that will soon be completed.”
“And what will this vision of yours entail, sir?” Christopher asked as he poured a cup of coffee for himself.
“It will be guys like us who undermine Cross’s efforts to rule the world. We are going to take it to the man—literally,” Jackson explained.
“Now I wish I had stayed up last night. Are you two really serious? You think we are going to thwart the plans of a man that is potentially described in the Bible? Jackson, you know that if Draven Cross is who you claim he is that he will remain in power until Jesus’ second coming in seven years. Not to mention, Cross commanded that each nation contribute ten percent of its military capabilities to the U.E. We are outgunned and outmanned,” Christopher stated unequivocally, sitting down on the sofa as he sipped the overly sweet coffee.
“Oh, what a lack faith you have, Christopher,” the general said, eyes gleaming with zeal. “Yes, it is foolish to try to attack the enemies of God head-on. But, my friend, we are covert warriors, neurosurgeons on a battlefield, skilled in precision to achieve a maximum effect. We will aim for targets that glorify our new government, the Kingdom of God, and produce a thorn in the side of Draven Cross. If we can’t stop him, we can at least make his road bumpy.”
“I love it. When can we start?” Jackson asked enthusiastically.
“I don’t love it. This is not some movie where the good guys overcome evil and walk into the sunset having learned some profound lesson. No, plain and simple, the next seven years will be about survival. If what the Bible, Rev, Jackson, and every other Christian theologian who ever
studied this time says is even half correct, I would be shocked if any of us live seven more years. I am not even sure I want to do any fighting on God’s side. You know, God and I are not on the best terms right now,” Christopher replied.
“Have you not dedicated your life to helping countless others who don’t even know your name or care if you’ve served your country?” General Havid asked pointedly. “You have protected nameless people from the horrors of war and suffering. Yet now, knowing you will soon not have a nation to defend but will still have skills and abilities to protect the weak, you would selfishly only hide somewhere hoping for the best? That is not living for the purpose Yahweh has deemed for your life, Christopher—that purpose being your call to be a warrior. I told you this much upon our first meeting. God will use our rebellious and resentful hearts, which led to us being left behind from the rapture, to now serve Him during the final seven years of history as we know it. We must give all we have, even our lives, for Christ Jesus who died to provide us with eternal life. If I die, so be it, but I will not cower in hiding.
“Christopher, I cannot tell you anything that will heal your heart, that will make the pains of this world pass away. What I will say to you is your obsession—yes, obsession—with holding on to things that have long passed is a poison, a poison that has blinded you to the reality that Yahweh has continuously cared for you. Yahweh has relentlessly sought after you without growing weary, despite your rebuffs. There is little assurance that any of us in this room will live to see the moment when Christ Jesus’ foot strikes the nearby Mount of Olives in seven years. However, we can be assured that a decision to live for Him, to trust Him as our Savior, gives us eternal life, while a decision against Him provides eternal damnation. It’s your choice, my young friend, and it’s that simple.”
“Thanks, sir, for your candor. I am—” The older man cut him off. “Stop trying to explain your relationship with God to everyone but the person who matters, you. Enough. I will know your decision when you know, as well as everyone around you. Now, let’s eat and enjoy the remainder of this weekend since I feel next week will prove to be fateful.” General Havid buzzed for his staff to bring food and drinks.
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