The End of Days, Part 9

I hunch over in an attempt to keep warm. I’m sure they keep the building uncomfortably cool on purpose, being naked certainly isn’t helping my efforts. My hands are prevented from moving too much by shackles chained to the grey metal table in front of me. The sturdy metal chair I’m strapped to only makes the cold worse.

“Did you know that tomorrow makes it three years since our lord returned?” an older man with receding grey hair and a thick mustache says. I look up at him. He is heavy, with a plump face and potbelly that is visible even under his voluminous robes.

“Three years.” He repeats, folding his hands and resting them on his gut. Members of the ‘True and Holy Church’ are always well fed, even as those who refuse to join waste away from hunger. The time doesn’t make sense to me. It’s hard to believe that three years could pass so quickly but at the same time it’s hard to believe it was only three years ago that I was happily living an ordinary life with my wife and children, going to work and having fun and eating enough every day.

Brother Luke sighs and leans forward. “David, why do you resist?” he says as he places his still-folded hands on the table. “For three years our lord has spoke his teaching to the world, we’ve seen the fruit it bears in those who obey it, and we’ve all witnessed his signs and wonder. But you still don’t believe in him.”

I shake my head slowly. I glance up at the older man, my eyes drawn to the three golden Hebrew letters painted on his forehead before quickly looking back down to the table. The sight of those symbols always filled me with disgust.

“You were a Christian before, weren’t you? You believed in the lord as best you could and before he came back that was good enough. Now he’s here once again to put away all of the misteachings and falsehoods and faulty opinions that people have put into the gospel over the centuries.”

I say nothing, my face is blank and emotionless. For three years I endured having everything and everyone taken from me, did he really think that a couple of days of sitting naked in a cold prison and hearing the same message I’ve heard countless times would get me to recant now?

“You’re running out of time, you know.” Brother Luke says quietly. “You have until tomorrow. At dawn, everyone here will be given the choice. Abandon their rebellious ways and submit to our lord, who have been far more patient with us than we deserve, or die.”

I smile gently and lock eyes with the older man. “I lost my job, my home, my wife, my children, and my friends because of your lord.” I say. I sit up straighter, now oblivious to the cold. “I’ve spent two years living in squalor, even homeless, because of your lord. I’ve gone cold and hungry for so long I don’t even remember what it’s like to be warm and fed. I’ve been spat on and kicked by your lord’s followers. We were nowhere near you people, just trying to scrape by, and you drag us here, strip us naked, and cram us into a jail cell.” My eyes narrow as I focus my gaze on Brother Luke. He seems unphased by my words. I suspect he’s done this with many before me. “After all that, you think I’ll roll over for your lord? No, I choose death. Then I’ll see my lord.”

Brother Luke sighs again and shakes his head gently. He looks at me with eyes full of pity. “It sounds like you’ve had an interesting life these past few years.” He says. I say nothing.

“Why don’t you tell me about it?” he continues.

“Why? I’m not going to convert. My mind is made up.”

“Call it curiosity. I’m genuinely interested in what happened to you.”

“Shouldn’t you try your luck with one of the other prisoners instead of wasting your time with a lost cause like me?”

Brother Luke chuckles. “David, the Church has many eager to do our lord’s will. Each heretic has their own evangelist assigned to them. We will be with you all day today, trying one last time to save you.” He reaches over and pats my hand. I frown.

“Do you know what the name ‘Luke’ means?” he asks, withdrawing his hand. “It means ‘light-giving. I was given this name because my lord has given me the task of bringing his light to those in the darkness. Some of my brothers get a little, shall we say, overzealous in their efforts.”

I snort in response. “You mean they torture non-believers.”

“Perhaps. Better to enter life with one eye and one hand than to enter death with your whole body. Our lord has permitted us to use any means necessary to win the souls of the perishing. But just because we are permitted to use those methods doesn’t mean we have to. I believe I can shine the light of God to you, but it’s up to you to open your eyes to see it.”

“Then I guess I’ll die blind.” I say quietly.

“I suppose you shall.” Brother Luke says, leaning back and rubbing his chin. “Tell me what happened until now. Tell me what you saw and did since our lord returned.”

“Why? It won’t change anything.”

“It’ll pass the time.” He responds with a chuckle, his great belly bouncing up and down. “Besides, I’m a people person. I like knowing about people’s past, what makes them tick.” He leans forward again and smiles. “Plus, maybe you’ll show me the error of my ways and win me over.” He says with a wink.

I turn my eyes to the table. So much had happened in the past three years, I could easily fill the day recounting my experiences since the antichrist appeared and turned the world upside down. I glance around the room. No windows, no clock, no way to tell what time it is. It was dark when I was woken by the prison guards and dragged into this tiny interrogation room so I have no way of knowing how long I could be stuck here, freezing. Maybe I should tell him what I’ve been through.

The End of Days, Part 8

The End of Days, Part 8:
Days passed. David was surprised by how quickly the world returned to normal. Mere days ago, tens of thousands of people were killed in an instant and a man claiming to be the Son of God appeared with miracles. He then tells everyone to go about their daily lives and most people just did. A crowd of zealous individuals swarmed around the church where ’Jesus’ chose as his residence. They slept on the ground and eagerly awaited any chance to catch even a glimpse of their lord. News cameras were ever present as well. There was not a time of day that you couldn’t see the church and the surrounding crowd on TV. At least once a day the robed man would exit the church and issue some proclamation, encouraging people to continue working or condemning some violence done in his name. Always he was surrounded by the four police officers who had first met him, still in their uniforms but without their badges.

 The internet was ablaze with rumours. People claiming that touching their TV or computer screens when the robed man was shown resulted in miraculous healing from all manner of diseases and ailments. Many events were attributed to his power as well. Violent criminals being struck down by lightning when people invoked the name of Jesus, the weather changing suddenly at the sound of his name, and things of that nature. David wasn’t sure whether or not to believe most of these stories as they were conveniently lacking any sort of corroboration. 
Some enterprising individuals had even collected jars of the dust from the explosion and were selling it online, claiming that it was infused with divine power. The same day the jars started selling, the robed man strongly condemned them for making money by fraud and deceiving the gullible. 

 While people in many places settled back into their monotonous routines, it was not the case everywhere. Religious violence broke out in places. Self-proclaimed disciples of Jesus were usually the instigators, attacking atheists, members of other religions, and even other Christians who refused to declare the robed man to truly be Jesus. Almost daily he would appear on TV condemning this violence, stating that the time for judgement and punishment would come later and now is the time for all to be called to repentance.  

 David fell into a new routine. He spent his mornings in quiet prayer and scripture reading before going to work. Every evening that week he would meet with members of his church. They would all bring some food and eat together. There was little structure to their time together, alternating between singing hymns both old and modern, taking turns reading sections of the Bible, and praying. Laying in bed one evening, David was amazed to see how different his life had become in so short a time. He used to take every chance he could get to indulge in his hobbies but since that church service a week ago he hadn’t watched any TV, played games, or scoured the internet for useless trivia. Strangest of all, he didn’t miss those things. There were times in the past when he would attempt to cut down on his leisures to make more time for reading his Bible and praying. Religious fervor might grip him few a few days or weeks but he had always slipped gradually back into his old habits. What was different this time was he had cut his entertainment completely out of his life instead of simply reducing how much time he spent on leisure.

 Religious leaders from around the world had begin arriving in Toronto and staying at hotels near the church. The robed man had forbidden them from meeting with him until Saturday when they would all be invited into the church to learn his will. Pastors and priests from churches of all sizes and denominations were arriving along with theologians, seminary professors, and authors of popular Christian books. Some members of the clergy of other religions arrived as well, eager to see if this man was a fraud or if their entire lives had been serving a lie. 

 David spent much of his Saturday tidying the house. He was preparing for Leah and the children to return home. The unrest and violence that had sprung up in this messiah’s name around the world did not make an appearance in Canada. Assuming that whatever came of the meeting did not incite riots, Leah would come home the next day.

 Hours dragged on slowly. David did his best to occupy himself productively. He was eager to know what new teachings would be announced after this meeting. The morning went by without word from the church, then the afternoon. The sun was low in the sky and David was beginning to wonder if he would have to wait until the morning to learn what went on when the great double doors opened and people began pouring out. 

 Reportes swarmed them immediately. Famous authors and megachurch pastors were surrounded by crowds shoving microphones in their faces. A few reporters sought out the lesser known individuals on the outskirts. Some had beaming grins on their faces, others had frowns and scowls. David sat on his couch and turned the volume up.

The End of Days, Part 7

                The drive home flew by. David felt a deep sense of peace as he left church and it continued as he pulled into the driveway of his small house at the edge of the city. He wasn’t sure what the future held for him, but David felt that no matter what happened things would turn out alright in the end.

                The house was quiet and dark. David placed his keys on the dining room table and walked into his living room. Normally this would be when he would sit down to play games until bed like he did every time he had the house to himself. After his experience at church he had no desire to indulge in escapist fantasies. He checked his messages on his phone, half a dozen from Leah had come in throughout the day. David explained to her how the meeting at church had gone long but found it hard to describe what had happened.

                David checked the news on his phone. Thousands of churches across the country had held celebrations of Christ’s return. The man calling himself Jesus issued a call for all the leaders of the church to come and meet with him so that he could instruct them in the truth. He also invited clergy from other religions to join him and learn his better way. David was curious what this man would have to say and what he would change in the Church.

                The sound of an e-mail notification broke David’s train of thought. It was a message from his employer’s human resources department. Despite the events of the previous day everyone wass expected to be at work tomorrow, anyone who lost family in the Toronto explosion could tell HR to book time off for bereavement.

                A yawn took David by surprise. He felt good, like weight he didn’t even know he was carrying had been lifted from him, but the experience at church that day had left him feeling exhausted. David rushed to get ready for bed and lay down under the covers. He fell into a deep, peaceful sleep almost instantly.

                David woke before his alarm went off. He climbed out of bed and made his way downstairs, plopping himself down on the couch. He reached for his controller out of habit but stopped himself. This had been his morning routine for years: Wake up before everyone else and spend the time he had to himself before work or the kids got up playing games. The experience at church the day before still burned brightly in his mind. He pushed the controller away and picked up his bible instead and began to read. He paused every few chapters to pray for God to give him wisdom to know what he should do in the days and weeks ahead and to know how to discern if this Jesus was truly His son.

                The parking lot at the office had fewer cars that it normally did when David pulled in to work. He set his bag down and turned his computer on. He had not yet sorted through the e-mails that had come in over the weekend when the first of his co-workers came up and knocked on the cubicle wall.

                “knock knock.” The tall young man said, a mug of tea in his hand.

                “Hey Robert, how was your weekend?” David asked out of habit.

                “Uhhh, pretty crazy.” Robert replied with a laugh.

                “Yeah, sorry, force of habit.”

                “no worries, man. That was nuts what happened though, right? I was supposed to go to a concert with some friends in Toronto but we couldn’t go on account of the hall being vaporized.”

                “That would hinder things a tad, I imagine.” David replied. It felt strange talking so casually with Robert given everything that happened.

                “But I bet you’re pretty excited, eh?”

                “Why’s that?”

                “Well, the whole ‘Jesus is definitely real and came back to the earth’ thing?” Robert replied, raising one eyebrow.

                “Oh, yeah. I mean, it’s exciting if it’s true but… I’m not so sure.” David said, looking down at the ground and fidgeting. “I’m not sure he really is Jesus.”

                “What do you mean? He shows up out of nowhere, right in the middle of a big-ass explosion, causes earthquakes and lightning and fire and can read people’s minds. Who else would he be?” Robert said with a laugh.

                “It’s hard to explain. If it really is Jesus, then everything Christianity has taught and believed, even with all the different denominations and interpretations, is wrong. Like, no theologian has taught that Jesus would make His triumphant return and tell His disciples to go to work and have fun and stuff.”

                Robert nodded his head and rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Yeah, I dunno, it’s crazy, man. He’s asking for all the priests and stuff to come meet with him this coming Saturday to learn what he wants so I guess we’ll learn more then, eh? Just gotta wait and see.”

                David returned to his e-mails but barely had time to read through one before another co-worker came by his cubicle. He was known around the office as the religious guy because he attended church and went to Bible college. In the eyes of some people just attending there made him some sort of pseudo-pastor even though he only minored in religious studies. He received visits from many of his coworkers that day, all asking what he thought about Jesus coming back and wondering what he might want, if David thought it was really the son of God, if they should start attending church now, and many other questions. David did his best to answer them but found himself saying “I don’t know” and “I’m not sure” more often than not.

                When quitting time came around David realized he accomplished very little actual work. Most of the day had been taken up by theological discussions with his friends and coworkers. He checked his e-mails and saw a message from Darryl. It was sent to many people from the church.

                “Hey everyone, Mary and I have decided 2 host dinner at our house 2nite.” It read. David rolled his eyes and smiled to himself. Darryl was in his sixties but typed like a teenager from 2001 in a chatroom. “any1 who wants 2 come can. If u have food u want 2 bring u can but we will have enough 4 ever1. I will have my guitar. God bless us all.”

                Normally, David would have replied thanking them for the offer and turned him down with some excuse so he could go home and have the evening to himself. After his experience at church the previous day the thought of spending more time with his fellow believers seemed far more appealing to him than going back to his empty house to sit in front of a screen. “I’ll be there! I’ll swing by the store on the way and pick something up.” David wrote before getting in his car and driving off the parking lot.

The End of Days, Part 6

The End of Days, Part 6:

Morning light was beginning to shine through the windows when David awoke. He wasn’t sure how long he had been praying the night before but it must have been several hours. He stood up and stretched. He was a little stiff from sleeping on the floor but still felt rested. He grabbed his phone and plugged it in to charge before moving to the kitchen to brew his cup of coffee for the day. As he stood looking out his kitchen window he remembered when he could have multiple cups of it every day. Now, production of coffee beans was becoming harder and rather than being a cheap, common beverage coffee was a luxury only the wealthy could afford to drink more than sparingly.
David returned to his couch, mug in hand, and began reading the news on his phone. People were beginning to flock to Toronto to see the man claiming to be Jesus. The Canada-US border was overwhelmed with pilgrims desperately trying to cross over to meet their lord. Some travelers had even become violent with border security agents for not letting thing through fast enough. The robed man, who had not left his post in front of the church, issued a command through the news cameras that any who wish to come to him must continue to obey the laws of the land and behave themselves in an honorable fashion.

Several religious leaders around the world had already issued statements regarding the alleged second coming of Christ. Some were joyous and celebrated that God is making Himself known even in unexpected ways. Others were more hesitant and urged followers to wait and see if this man truly is Jesus. Noticeably absent from the list of leaders issuing statements was the Pope. A spokesperson for the Vatican said that the Pope and those closest to him were going into isolation to pray for guidance and recommended all members of the church do likewise.
An e-mail notification dinged on David’s phone. It was a message from his pastor stating that due to the events of the previous day no regular service would be held today but that the doors to the church would be open at 8am and anyone who wishes to meet together could feel free to do so. That was less than an hour away. David quickly finished his coffee and ate a cereal bar before rushing off to shower and change. He sent a text to his wife telling her that the church was getting together early and his phone battery was low so he might not get her messages for a while.
David hopped into his car and pulled out of his driveway. He was actually going to be early for once even though he was arriving two hours earlier than usual. Somehow, no matter how quickly he tried to get Gordon and Nadine ready to go out the door, something would always come up and they’d be walking through the church doors at least five minutes late. As he drove through the mostly empty streets he felt a twinge of guilt. He thought of all the times over the years he felt going to church was a chore, something he had to get through before he could enjoy the rest of his Sunday. After the events of the day before and his marathon of scripture reading and praying all he wanted was to be with his fellow believers.

The parking lots was more full than usual when David arrived at the two story former elementary school his church called home. He found an empty spot, grabbed his bible from the back seat, and made his way inside. The foyer was filled with groups of people talking, their voices combining into a dull roar with few distinguishable words. David walked through the crowd as he slowly made his way towards the sanctuary. Several people greeted him and asked about his family. He explained to each how Leah had taken the kids on Friday to visit her mother for weekend and David had stayed behind to work on Saturday but his extra shift ended up being cancelled. As he shook hands and made small talk with the other members of the congregation he felt another brief wave of guilt over how few faces he could attach names to. These were people he attended church with for years. The church was supposed to be a family, brothers and sisters adopted by God, yet there were hundreds here who he had worshipped beside and listened to sermons with but he had never even learned their names.

David made his way to a group with a few people he knew better than the rest. He had talked to a few of the men there at men’s breakfasts over the years and he felt comfortable enough around them. The group was discussing news and rumours about what was going on around the world. One tall, heavy set bald man heard that the US military had been mobilizing to invade Canada because the President had been killed there but that earthquakes disrupted their invasion. A middle-aged woman with short blonde hair said that her cousin was in the Canadian army and he told her that Canada had asked for the Americans to help control the border due to the massive number of pilgrims flooding the border to see Jesus. The conversation then began to get heated, with members arguing over whether this man truly was Jesus or merely an imposter. David stood quietly listening, unsure where he even stood on the matter. He heard one man state that the miracles this man did proved he had to be Jesus. A woman next to him nodded and said that the police who first met him told reporters that Jesus told them all of their darkest secrets and sins. Darryl, one of the men David regularly sat with at men’s events, responded by saying that the magicians in Pharoah’s court were able to perform ‘miracles’ but that wasn’t proof their sorcery was legitimate.

Feedback rang out from the speakers in the sanctuary. “Hello, is this better?” David heard pastor Jon say. “Ok, it seems to be working now.” He continued. “Could everyone join me in the sanctuary?”

A throng of parishioners slowly made its way into the room and David found a seat near the back. He looked around at the crowd filling the grey cushioned chairs until nearly every seat was full. He couldn’t recall the church ever being this packed outside of Christmas and Easter services. The muffled sound of conversations continued outside of the sanctuary.

“I’m glad so many people have decided to be here today.” Pastor Jon began. “I am sure everyone here feels the same way I do. Confused, uncertain, maybe even a little afraid.” Several heads in the congregation nodded and agreeing noises were murmured. “Here’s what we know: yesterday, there was apparently an explosion of some sort in downtown Toronto. Afterwards, a man claiming to be Jesus walked out of the middle of the blast zone. He was confronted by some cops and was shot at a dozen or so times without injury. There was an earthquake, lightning struck a church near him, and the cross on the roof was lit on fire even though it was stone, allegedly at his command.”

More murmurs throughout the sanctuary. “I know, it seems pretty astonishing, right? To be honest I woke up this morning thinking yesterday was just a dream. I’ve spoken to many people who are jumping with excitement that Jesus came back even if he didn’t come back quite the way we were expecting.” Pastor Jon paused and looked around at his congregation. “But the bible commands us to practice discernment, to test every spirit, and warns us the Satan masquerades as an angel of light. I’ve never claimed to know how the end times are actually supposed to be, I’ve listened to too many debates in the lounge in seminary about pre-trib versus post-trib rapture and pre-millenialism versus amillennialism to say I know anything for sure. However, this is different from what any denomination has taught throughout history. I mean, Jesus blows up the downtown of a major city, uses the news to announce his return, and then tells people to go about their days as usual?” Pastor Jon shook his head. “I think today we should dedicate ourselves to prayer and ask God for guidance in this matter. If this man really is Jesus, then he’ll forgive us for wanting to be sure it’s really him. If it’s not, then the last thing we wanna do is follow after a false prophet or imposter.”

Pastor Jon closed his eyes and bowed his head and the congregation followed. He began to pray, asking God for wisdom to discern the truth about this man claiming to be His son. David could hear the sound of people muttering words of agreement. He tried to keep his mind quiet and focused on Jon’s words, fighting the urge to drift off into idle daydreams and fantasies. Soon he heard someone crying somewhere to his left. Quietly at first, then growing into heavy sobs. They cried out “Oh Father, have mercy on me, a sinful man! Forgive me for my selfishness and greed and anger!”

Another voice yelled out across the room. “I’m sorry God, I’m so sorry. I knew I shouldn’t look-“ and was cut off as he was overcome with a choked cry. Soon more crying could be heard throughout the sanctuary and a chorus of voices rose up, crying out their sins. Violence, anger, hatred, racism, greed, lust, pornography, fornication, adultery, and more were shouted out, mingled with calls for mercy and forgiveness. David heard the sound of his pastor beginning to weep on the speakers before the guy in the soundbooth switched off his microphone. David, too, felt tears streaming down his face. He began to remember things he had done and felt a burning shame over them. Mostly, he saw all the time he had spent ignoring God. Days and weeks and even months without ever reading his bible or praying, time he spent on his hobbies and TV. He felt now that all that time and effort and money he had poured into his own amusement was utterly wasted. He slid off his chair onto his knees, bowing forward until his forehead rested on the ground. He covered his head with his hands and wept.

After what felt like an eternity, David noticed the tears had stopped coming and the wailing around the sanctuary had lessened. Suddenly, from the center of the room, an elderly woman began to sing Amazing Grace. At first only her raspy voice could be heard but soon others joined in. David felt a tingle throughout his body and goosebumps appeared on his arms as he joined in. The entire congregation was singing now and when it was finished, a man at the edge began another hymn. The joyous singing continued until one finished and no one started a new one. Pastor Jon began to speak but couldn’t be heard for a few second until the sound tech switched his mic back on.

“-ink a beautiful thing happened here today. Can you hear me now? Ok, good. I think a beautiful thing happened here today. But it might be time to go as I’m sure you’re all getting hungry now too.”

“There’s food in the kitchen here!” an older woman cried out. “We were supposed to have the lady’s prayer meeting yesterday but it was cancelled for obvious reasons.”

“Is there enough for everyone?” Jon asked.

“We can make it enough. I don’t want to leave yet.”

Jon looked around at the congregation. “Ok, we’ll go to the kitchen to eat. If anyone feels the need to leave, by all means please go. We’ll understand if you have to go home, if you have family or pets you need to get back to. Anyone who wants to stay is free to.”

David followed the crowd as they made their way into the gymnasium where tables and chairs were still set up from the previous day’s planned activities. Day-old sandwiches were brought out from the kitchen and passed around. A few times the meal was interrupted as the congregation broke out into spontaneous song, joyous hymns of thanksgiving and praise. When people finally began to leave the church the sun was already low in the sky. David turned his phone on and was surprised to see that he had been in the church for nearly ten hours.

The End of Days, Part 5

The sound of his phone ringing pulled David’s attention from his TV screen. He looked down and saw it was his wife, Leah. He swiped the answer button.

“David?” Leah said with a tinge of anxiety in her voice.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“I don’t know what’s happening. People are saying that someone bombed Toronto and there’s a man claiming he’s Jesus?”

David quickly relayed everything he had learned that morning. Leah explained that she had forgotten to charge her phone and it had died while she was at the park with their two children, Gordon and Nadine. She only heard about the events that had transpired after she took them back to her mother’s house and found her parents watching the news. For a moment David felt a twinge of guilt that he hadn’t thought to try calling Leah. He had been so enthralled by the scenes on TV and the discussions on the internet that he completely forgot to contact his wife.

“What should we do?” Leah asked. David was silent for a moment, standing up and walking aimlessly through his house.

“I’m not sure.” He replied slowly. He opened his fridge door and looked inside. It was mostly empty, he would need to go shopping soon. Even though North America had not been hit as hard by the famine gripping the world as many other countries food was still more expensive and difficult to come by. His job paid well enough that his family could afford to eat but funds were much tighter than they had been in the past. This year the police strongly urged people not to keep more than a couple days’ worth of food in the house to reduce the reward burglars might receive for breaking in. There had been stories in the news of people being killed over a few cans of soup and boxes of macaroni and cheese. Still, things weren’t as bad as some countries where food riots raged. A town somewhere in eastern Europe had recently made the news when a mob of lower class people numbering in the thousands attacked a walled compound that housed wealthy families. Mercenaries had been hired to defend the residents and managed to kill several hundred of the attacking horde before the compound gates were broken through and everyone inside was slaughtered by the starvation maddened people and everything edible was looted. David had heard rumours that some had even resorted to cannibalism. Just a few short years past he would have brushed them off as likely false, slander meant to make the hungry mob seem even more detestable and less human. Now, though, he knew how hard things were in these places of the world. People could spend an entire day’s wages and not have enough to satisfy their own hunger let alone their families. A man starving alone could do desperate things, let alone a man who spends every waking minute struggling to scrape together food that would barely qualify as a snack and falls asleep to the sound of his children crying from hunger pains.

“I think you should stay with your parents for a while, keep the kids out of the city.” David continued. “We don’t know how people will react to the explosion and the man calling himself Jesus.”

“Will you come too?” Leah asked quietly. David was silent for a moment.

“I… don’t know.” He said. “I will if things start to get crazy. But if they don’t and I leave my job, well, you know how hard it is to find work these days, let alone work that pays anywhere near what I’m making now.”

At first Leah was opposed to the idea but relented when David explained how they’d lose the house and how hard it would be to find work in the current economy. He promised that once they got a better idea of how society would react to the alleged second coming of Jesus that she and the kids could come back home.

“Do you really think it’s him? You know, Jesus?” Leah asked.

“I’m not sure. It might be.” David replied, rubbing his bearded chin thoughtfully even though no one could see him. “I didn’t think it would be like this. I expected that when Jesus came back everything would be changed all at once and I wouldn’t have to worry about going to work and paying a mortgage and stuff.”

David and Leah talked for an hour about their plans for the immediate future, what to do if this man really was Jesus, and what it means if he’s not. Eventually Leah said she had to make lunch for the kids and they ended their call after David spoke to his children for a few minutes. After the call ended David sat in silence. Normally he would spend the rest of his day off playing games, breaking only to quickly eat. Today, however, escaping into a digital fantasy land felt inappropriate. He walked over to his bookshelf and picked up his old, worn Bible and sat on his couch with it. He stared at the cover as the events of the day raced through his mind. He flipped the book open to Matthew and began to read. He read each of the gospels and Acts before skipping ahead to Revelations. The afternoon passed him by in what felt like an instant. He started to read the epistles in order, only stopping when the sun had begun to set and it became too dark to continue reading.

Rather than get up to turn on lights, David placed his bible on the coffee table gently and began to pray. He prayed aloud, begging God to give him wisdom to know how to care and provide for his family, to know if this man in Toronto was really His son. David found himself laying prostrate on the floor, his prayers became less formal and more sobs and vague declarations of his fear and confusion, begging God for mercy and guidance in the times ahead. Eventually David drifted off to sleep with the tear-soaked carpet as his pillow.

The End of Days, Part 4

David felt nauseous. He had grown up in a Christian household, minored in religious studies in university, read his Bible almost daily, and read through a few commentaries and books of theology. If this man claiming to be Jesus was telling the truth it would be quite different from everything he had been taught or read on his own. David learned the various theories about the end times in his classes and was never fully set on any one interpretation but this didn’t seem to line up with any of them. Jesus, by himself, simply walking through the dust of a city obliterated by an explosion and then asking for a press conference felt so surreal David kept thinking he was having an odd dream.

The next few minutes were a flurry of activity. More police arrived and soon barricades were erected around the church. The robed man stood calmly watching as people scurried before him. News crews began to arrive outside of the barriers but were stopped by the police. There seemed to be some arguments between the police who had first arrived to confront the robed man and those who had arrived more recently. After a few moments of shouting and gesturing wildly at the dust-covered ground, themselves, and the still-burning stone cross atop the church the initial four officers seemed to prevail. News vans were allowed past the barricades and soon cameras were in place before the steps as a makeshift podium was erected and microphones were placed.

David’s screen switched to the feed from one of the cameras on the ground. The robed man stepped up to the podium and began to speak.

“I am the firstborn of all creation.” He said, his voice confident and assured. “I am he for whom the world and all therein was created. All things in heaven and on earth and under the earth belong to me. Throughout the ages humanity has followed my will as best they were able, following precepts and laws that were recorded, passed down, and interpreted by frail men and women. But now I am here to call all the nations, tribes, and tongues of the earth to submit to me as their rightful king. In ages past my father was patient and longsuffering, knowing well the weakness of flesh and blood. I have come to teach everyone how they ought to live and make clear my will and the will of my father. No more shall your teachers say ‘The lord says yes’ while others say ‘the lord says no’ but I myself shall speak plainly and clearly. My father has long overlooked the disobedience of them who were ignored of their ways, lead astray by teachers who were themselves deceived. Now, you will be without excuse. The father’s will stands before you, manifested in human form, to command you in perfect truth.”

The robed man paused and looked at the crowd before him. “I know your hearts. Many doubt my words. Many of you even now harden your hearts. Oh stiff-necked people, why do you scorn the words which are spoken to give you life? I would come to you as a loving father, arms outstretched to invite a wayward child into his embrace, pleading with tears of anguish to turn from your wicked ways and choose the path of righteousness.” The robed man paused and lowered his head for a moment. When he looked up his face was stern. “I do not wish to bear the rod of discipline against you, yet even know it is in my hands. A father whose child will not submit to kind encouragement, anguished pleading, and stern lectures will indeed resort to the road of discipline to save their child from a worse fate than mere striking of the flesh.” The robed man gestured around him. “See, this city. The buildings here had been built up over many years and at great expense yet were turned to dust in the twinkling of an eye. You yourselves have felt the earth quake at my command. The lightning stood at attention and when it heard my command it leapt to heed my voice. Even now, the stone symbol of my obedience to the father’s will burns with the same fire that burns within my chest for you.”

The robed man pointed up at the flames leaping and dancing on the stone cross above him and remained silent for a moment. “Allow my fire to illuminate you, to warm you, to purify you that you may be perfect. If you will not humbly sit at my fire and let it be the light by which you see the world and warm your bodies and cook your food then it will surely rage and consume you utterly. I wish you to be warmed, but if you remain cold you shall be burned by it.”

David still felt as if he were in a dream. He kept expecting to wake up, wonder for a time about what his imagination can come up with when left to its own devices, and go about his day. Yet he did not wake up from this dream. The robed man claiming to be Jesus continued to speak, commanding everyone to obey him. When the man fell silent a few minutes a reporter worked up the courage to ask what had happened to the people in the city when the explosion happened. The robed man’s face softened, a weak smile on his lips.

“They are dead.” He spoke softly. “Even then, the father’s mercy is made manifest. They did not suffer but perished before they could even blink.” The man’s face hardened again. “But do not mourn much for the dead. As in Sodom and Gomorrah, if there were even ten righteous people living in the heart of this city, it would have been spared. The voices of priests and pastors and teachers and evangelists, flawed as they may be, still called them to repentance. They perished to demonstrate my might, that all who saw their end might escape such an end themselves. Better that a few should perish so many might live, than for many to perish by my wrath because they did not have a sign to convince them.”

Another reported spoke up. “What do you want us to do?” she asked. The reporter was trying to speak confidently but David could hear the hesitation, the fear, in her voice.

“Live. Go to your jobs and work and earn money there. Purchase the goods necessary for life at the markets. Not only the necessities but the good and enjoyable things the father has put upon his earth for humankind to enjoy. Play and sing and dance and make merry with one another. Rule according to the governments currently in place. Worship as you are accustomed. Only keep your ears open to hear my voice when it speaks. I am merciful and kind, I too know the frailty of flesh. I have taken on the form and appearance of a man and know your weakness. A newborn boy does not grow into a man in a day, nor does a single suckle from his mother’s breast nourish him to maturity. I shall feed you as I believe you can eat and will help you grow into the full stature of adulthood in steps. Some of you expect me to change the whole world in the twinkling of an eye, to cast aside all who have not yet called upon my name and exalt those who have. Have I not said I am merciful? I show you patience that I mean win many more of you to life. Go, live and work and play and govern and worship, but be ever vigilant for the sound of my voice to tell you the path you ought to take to remain with me and not fall into a deep and gloomy pit, from which there is no escape.”

The End of Days, Part 3

David watched as the robed man gestured to something off in the distance. The police nodded vigorously and entered their cruiser. The officer who had shot the robed man now opened the front passenger door for him before climbing into the back seat. The vehicle lurched forward, a cloud of dust rising up behind them. The helicopter began following them and after a couple of minutes the cruiser came to a stop in front of a stately church building just at the edge of the circle of destruction. All five individuals exited the vehicle and the robed man climbed the steps. He paused before the great double doors and nodded gently before turning around and speaking to the officers following him. Immediately they were talking excitedly on their radios as the robed man stood, head bowed and hands folded in front of him.

Additional police cruisers began driving into the circle of destruction, great clouds of dust filling the air behind them. Crossing the empty void where towering buildings once stood took only a few minutes. The police formed a semi-circle in front of the stately church, some with guns drawn. The four officers who stood by the robed man seemed to be shouting and gesturing excitedly, signaling for their comrades to lower their weapons. Half a dozen police began to advance towards them. One of the robed man’s companions raised his weapon. David held his breath, expecting a shootout to begin at any moment.

The robed man placed a hand on the officer’s shoulder, who then lowered his weapon slowly and placed it back in its holster. The robed man took a step forward and raised his hands slowly and began speaking to the assembly before him. He was speaking and raised his gaze towards the sky. The police began advancing on him again, the four officers on top of the staircase took a step back, hands raised and shaking their heads slowly.

The police stopped and began looking around wildly, some falling to their hands and knees. The dust began to rise into the air like a thick mist, enshrouding the police and their vehicles.

“We are receiving word from our crew on the ground that it appears as though there’s an earthquake.” The reporter said. A tall office building on the edge of the circle fell forward, sending a great plume of dust and smoke into the air. “The quake appears to be minor but some of the buildings weakened by the explosion have collapsed as a result.”

The dust was settling now. The police on the ground were visible once again, their officers’ uniforms coated with grey dust as they coughed and wiped their faces. The robed man began to speak again. David jumped as a brilliant flash of light filled his screen. The stone cross atop the steeple of the church was now wreathed in flames. The robed man lower his face and looked at the shocked police in front of him and spoke. David could see several nodding, others looking around nervously. He felt a growing sense of unease in the pit of his stomach.

“We are now receiving word from the police that this man is claiming to be Jesus, and he is asking for the press so he can address the world.”