The Remnant: On The Brink of Armageddon (2 page)

Chang Wong joined the other techies in his department as their boss, Aurelio Figueroa, led them to a huge television monitor. It showed the live feed from the cockpit of one of the fighter-bombers as it circled high above Petra, broadcast around the world via the Global Community News Network. Later Chang would check his recording of the bug in Carpathia’s office to monitor the reactions of Nicolae, his new secretary Krystall, Leon, Suhail, and Viv Ivins.

Mission accomplished, the pilot reported, scanning the target and showing square miles raging in flames. Suggest subsequent missile sequence abort. Unnecessary.  Chang clenched his teeth so tight his jaw ached. How could anyone survive that? The flames were thick, and the black smoke belched so high that the pilot had to avoid it to keep the picture clear. Negative, came the reply from GC Command. Initiate launch sequence, Amman. That’s overkill, the pilot muttered, but it’s your money. Returning to base. Repeat?

The voice sounded like Akbar himself. Roger that. Returning to base. That’s another negative. Remain in position for visual feed. With a missile coming, sir? Maintain sufficient clearance. Missile will find its target.  The second plane was cleared to return to New Babylon while the first, its camera continuing to show the world Petra burning in the noonday sun, circled southeast of the red rock city.

Chang wished he were in his room and able to communicate with Chicago. How could Dr. Ben-Judah have been so wrong about Petra? What would become of the Tribulation Force now? Who would rally what was left of the believers around the world? And where would Chang flee to when the time came? It was four in the morning in Chicago, and Buck sat before the television. Leah and Albie joined him, Zeke having gone to collect Enoch. Where’s Ming? Buck said.

With the baby, Leah said. What do you make of this? Albie said, staring at the screen. Buck shook his head.  I just wish I were there. Me too, Albie said. I feel like a coward, a traitor. We missed something, Buck said. We all missed something. He kept trying to call Chloe, only imagining what she was going through. No answer. Do you believe this guy? Leah said. It’s not enough to massacre a million people and destroy one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

 Buck thought Leah’s voice sounded tight. And why not? She had to be thinking what he was thinking that they had not only lost their leadership and seen a million people incinerated, but that everything they thought they knew was out the window. Get Ming, would you? he said. Tell her to let Kenny sleep. Leah hurried out as Zeke and Enoch walked in. Zeke plopped onto the floor, but Enoch stood fidgeting. I can’t stay long, Buck, he said. My people are pretty shaken. Buck nodded. Let’s all get together at daybreak. And-? Enoch said.

And I don’t know what. Pray, I guess. We’ve been praying, Albie said. It’s time to reload. Rayford could not keep from laughing. Tears poured from him and huge guffaws rose from deep in his belly as the people in Petra began shouting and singing and dancing. They spontaneously formed huge, revolving circles, arms around each other’s shoulders, hopping and kicking.

Abdullah was glued to Rayford’s side, giggling and shouting, Praise the Lord! They remained in the midst of fire so thick and deep and high that they could see only each other and the flames. No sky, no sun, nothing in the distance. All they knew was that they were kindling for the largest fire in history, and yet they were unharmed. Will we wake up, Captain? Abdullah shouted, cackling. This is my weirdest dream ever!

We are awake, my friend, Rayford yelled back, though Abdullah’s ear was inches from him. I pinched myself!  That made Abdullah laugh all the more, and as their circle spun and widened, Rayford wondered when the flame would die down and the world would find out that God had once again triumphed over the evil one. 

An older couple directly across from him gazed at each other as the circle turned, their smiles huge and wonder-filled. I’m on fire! the woman shouted. I am too! the man said, and hopped awkwardly, nearly pulling her and others down as he kept one foot in the air, showing her the fire engulfing his entire leg. Rayford glanced past them, aware of something strange and wondering what could be stranger than this.

Here and there within his range of vision, which extended only about thirty feet, was the occasional huddled bundle of clothes or a robe that evidenced a person still curled on the ground. Rayford pulled away from Abdullah and a young man on his other side and made his way to one of those on the ground. He knelt and put a hand on the man’s shoulder, trying to get him to rise or at least look up. The man wrenched away, wailing, quivering, crying out,  God, save me! You’re safe! Rayford said. Look! See! We are ablaze and yet we are unharmed! God is with us! The man shook his head and folded himself further within his arms and legs. Are you hurt? Rayford said.

Do the flames burn you? I am without God! the man wailed. That can’t be! You’re safe! You’re alive! Look around you! But the man would not be consoled, and Rayford found others, men and women, some teenagers, in the same wretched condition.  People! People! People! It was clearly the voice of Tsion Ben-Judah, and Rayford had the feeling it came from nearby, but he could not see the rabbi. There will be time to rejoice and to celebrate and to praise and thank the God of Israel!

For now, listen to me! The dancing and shouting and singing stopped, but much laughter continued. People still smiled and embraced and looked for the source of the voice. It was enough, they seemed to conclude, that they could hear him. The cries of the despairing continued as well. I do not know, Dr. Ben-Judah began, when God will lift the curtain of fire and we will be able to see the clear sky again. I do not know when or if the world will know that we have been protected.

For now it is enough that we know! The people cheered, but before they could begin singing and dancing again, Tsion continued. When the evil one and his counselors gather, they will see us on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of our heads was not singed, nor were our garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on us. They will interpret this in their own way, my brothers and sisters.

Perchance they will not allow the rest of the world to even know it. But God will reveal himself in his own way and in his own time, as he always does. And he has a word for you today, friends. He says, `Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it, for how should my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another.

 `Listen to me, U Israel,’ says the Lord God of hosts, `you are my called ones, you are my beloved, you I have chosen. I am he, I am the First, I am also the Last. Indeed, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has stretched out the heavens. When I call to them, they stand up together.

Assemble yourselves, and hear! `mho among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; he shall do his pleasure on Babylon. I, even I, have spoken.’ Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who leads you by the way you should go. Oh, that you had heeded my commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Declare, proclaim this, utter to the end of the earth that the Lord has redeemed his servants and they did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; he also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

As the Tribulation Force in Chicago watched, the fighter-bomber pilot acknowledged to GC Command that he had a visual on the missile originating from Amman. And from the right side of the screen came the thick, white plume trailing the winding projectile as it approached the flame and smoke rising from Petra. The missile dived out of sight into the blackness, and seconds later yet another explosion erupted, blowing even wider the fire that seemed to own the mountainous region. But immediately following came a colossal geyser, shooting water a mile into the sky. I’m-, the pilot began, I’m seeing  I don’t know what I’m seeing.

Water. Yes, water. Spraying. It’s, uh, it’s having some effect on the fire and smoke. Now clearing, the water still rising and drenching the area. It’s as if the missile struck some spring that, uh this is crazy, Command. I see -I can see . . . the flames dying now, smoke clearing. There are people alive down the’’  Buck leaped from his chair and knelt before the TV. His friends whooped and hollered. The TV feed died and GCNN was already into its apology .for the technical difficulties.

Did you see that? Buck shouted. They survived! They survived! Chang’s brows rose and his chin dropped. His coworkers swore and pointed and stared, groaning when the feed was interrupted. That can’t be! That looked like no, there’s not a chance! How long was that place burning? Two bombs and a missile? No!

Chang hurried back to his computer to make sure he was still recording from Carpathia’s office. He couldn’t wait to hear the back-and-forth between Akbar and the pilot.

Rayford had reunited with Abdullah and was standing, listening to Tsion, when the earth opened with a resounding crash and a gush of water at least ten feet in diameter burst from the ground, rocketing so high that it was a full minute before it began to rain down upon them.

The flames and smoke cleared so quickly, and the refreshing water felt so good, that Rayford noticed others doing what he was. They spread their palms toward heaven and turned their faces to the sky, letting it wash them. Soon Rayford realized he was about a hundred yards from Tsion and Chaim, who stood at the edge of the gigantic abyss from where the water had burst forth. It appeared Tsion was again trying to gain the attention of the masses, but it was futile.

They ran, they leaped, they embraced, singing, dancing, shaking hands, laughing, and soon hundreds of thousands were shouting their thanks to God. Still, here and there, Rayford saw people grieving, crying out. Were these unbelievers? How could they have survived? Had God protected them in spite of themselves, just because they were here? Rayford couldn’t make it make sense. Was it important to know who was protected and who was not and why? And would Tsion speak to that issue? After several minutes, Chaim and Tsion were able to call the people to order.

Somehow the miracle of Tsion making himself heard by a million people without amplification was multiplied in that they could hear him above the rushing sounds of the volcanic spewing water.

I have agreed to stay at least a few days, Tsion announced. To worship with you. To thank God together. To teach. To preach. Ah, look as the water subsides.  The noise began to diminish, and the top of the column of rushing water slowly came into view, now three hundred yards above them.

Slowly but steadily the spring shrank, in height though not apparently in width. Soon it was just a hundred feet high, then fifty, then ten. Finally it settled into the small lake caused by the initial eruption and crater, and in the middle of the pool the spring bubbled as if it were boiling, a ten-foot-wide, one-foot-high gurgling that looked cool and soothing and seemed capable of adding to the already miraculous water supply. Some of you weep and are ashamed, Tsion said.

And rightly so. Over the next few days I will minister to you as well. For while you have not taken. the mark of the evil one, neither have you taken your stand with the one true God. He has foreseen in his mercy to protect you, to give you yet one more chance to choose him.

Many of you will do that, even this day, even before I begin my teaching on the unsearchable riches of Messiah and his love and forgiveness. Yet many of you will remain in your sin, risking the hardening of your heart so that you may never change your mind.

But you will never be able to forget this day, this hour, this miracle, this unmistakable and irrefutable evidence that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remains in control. You may choose your own way, but you will never be able to disagree that faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

IN
CHICAGO
Buck tried calling Chloe, then Rayford, then Chang.

Nothing.

He tossed his phone away, but couldn’t sit.

Where’s Ming? he said.

She know any of this? She’s gone, Leah said.

Downstairs? Tell her to let Enoch’s people sleep and to get up here.

My people won’t be sleeping now, Enoch said.

She’s not downstairs, Leah said.

She left a note.

What?  Where’s Kenny? Sleeping, Buck.

He’s fine.

Now listen.

Her brother told her something about her parents, and she’s determined to get to them.

Oh, man! Zeke said.

She say something to you, Z? Buck said.

Nah, but I shoulda seen it comin’.

I just finished her stuff this morning.

Cut her hair, all that.

Her papers are the best I’ve ever done.

Made a guy out of her, you know.

I mean, not really, just made her look well, you know.

Buck knew all right.

Ming was tiny to begin with.

She was anything but boyish, but Zeke had cut her hair, showed her how to carry herself as a man, clipped her nails, removed the color from her face.

From his stash of clothes and alterations on her old GC uniform, he had turned her into a young, male GC Peacekeeper.

What name? Buck said.

Her brother’s, Z said.

Chang.

Last name Chow.

I didn’t know she was gonna be out of here as soon as I got her ready.

Not your fault.

How long has she been gone? Maybe we can catch her.

Buck! Leah said.