CHAPTER 5
Randy whirled around to find Tess gazing at him, near the couch. Monica, Gloria, and Andrew stood in a row next to her; Andrew now wore a beige shirt and pair of blue jeans. “Uh, pardon me! I didn’t hear you come in.“ Randy stared at the tree, then back at them. “That can’t be!” He shook his head. “It takes several hours to put all this up, and you’ve been at the church or the jail most of the time.”
“Nevertheless, it’s true.” Monica clasped her hands in front of her waist. “We did, indeed, put them up for you. Angels can do many things people can’t.”
An unearthly light poured over her, and over the other three. Randy couldn’t believe his eyes, or his ears! How could they have managed to decorate the house in his absence in such a short time? Could they really be angels?
“Angels?” he squeaked. “Come on! You’re putting me on.” He gaped at the Heavenly light illuminating them. “On second thought--you’re not putting me on!”
“That’s right, Randy. We’re not.” Andrew stepped forward. “God sent us here, because He sees the pain in your heart and in Kristen’s. He wants to heal your pain, and make you whole again.”
Monica nodded agreement. She propped her fingers together as she spoke. “Throwing out the Christmas decorations will not heal your heart, Randy. But giving your life, your heart, over to the Child, in Whose honor this holiday is celebrated, will. Your wife is safe in Heaven, enjoying a new body that God gave her. She’s being spared the time you and your daughter are now going through.”
Randy rubbed his forehead. “Well, except for the way the pope’s oppressing the churches, this time really isn’t so bad. We haven’t had any wars whatsoever since Antonio Puccini started his new world government and signed that treaty with Israel, and it’s been really prosperous. For just about everyone.” He smiled ruefully. “And it’s rather a relief not to have to worry about carrying cash anymore. With the new system, when I’m shopping, all I have to do is have the cashier swipe my card through the machine, and the amount I’m paying is deducted from my bank account.”
“That’s true.” Andrew touched Randy’s arm. “But only for a time. Only for the next two years will this peace and prosperity continue. Then absolute chaos and terror will break out.” He paused. “Death and destruction will sweep the globe for the next three-and-a-half years.”
Gloria nodded agreement. “And you won’t always be allowed to use that card when you shop, Randy. The day is coming when you and everyone else will be required to accept an implant under the skin, on the right hand or the forehead. Puccini will make everyone who accepts it worship him as God, when that time comes. Everyone who refuses will be forbidden to buy or sell. Or hold jobs.” She fingered her glasses as she spoke, then wiped some glistening snowflakes off her cheek.
Randy winced. “How do you know that?”
“We know God’s Word.” Monica gazed at him. “The same Word that predicted the disappearance of millions of people, and this world government. And the new world religion.”
Andrew nodded. “Using that card hasn’t harmed you spiritually, Randy, but accepting that implant, when the time comes, will. The Bible calls it the Mark of the Beast. Anyone who accepts it will be denied all chance of knowing God. They will spend eternity in Hell.”
Randy gulped. He and Kristen exchanged troubled glances. “And those who refuse it--what will happen to them?” Fingering his watch, Randy frowned. He rubbed his fingers over its smooth plastic face.
Sadness welled up in Andrew’s eyes. “The vast majority will be arrested and executed. A minority of the Tribulation believers will survive to see the return of Jesus to set up His kingdom, five-and-a-half years from now.”
Kristen gulped. “Will--will we die?” Her father put an arm around her shoulder.
Smiling compassionately, Monica touched her cheek. “Not now, Kristen, and not in the near future, either. Whether you will during the terrible times that are coming, only God--who loves you and your father so much--only He knows.”
She turned to Randy. “God wants to give you His peace, Randy, if you’ll take it. He wants to live with you and with Kristen, to be the head of your lives. To fill you with His love and His contentment. The next few years will indeed be extremely difficult, as Andrew and Gloria said, but God will send angels to you whenever you need them. You won’t always see them, but they will be there.” She raised a warning finger. “Whatever you do, do not accept that implant, when the time comes. The Father wants you to depend on Him instead, not on the Antichrist’s financial system. Antonio Puccini is the Antichrist--or, as the Book of Revelation calls him, the beast.”
Randy looked at Kristen, biting his lower lip. “God doesn’t want me being part of the new religion, either, does He?”
Tess shook her head. The brooch on her chest glistened in the lamplight. “No, Randy, He doesn’t. Because the new religion isn’t His. It’s a man-made religion, inspired by the devil to keep people from knowing God instead of coming to Him. That’s why it’s working overtime to keep the church from being effective now.” She touched Randy’s shoulder. “Give your life to Jesus, Randy. Give it to Him now.”
Randy and Kristen exchanged glances, then nodded. Silently, as they bowed their heads, they prayed. As Randy raised his head, a feeling of peace flooded his heart. He smiled at Kristen, who grinned, her face glowing. The angels beamed.
“Dad--?” Kristen paused, a questioning look on her face. Chuckling, Randy hugged her against his side.
“All right, honey. You can take part in the pageant. In fact, I’ll come and watch it when it’s held.”
Tess beamed. “God is pleased with you, Randy Oates, and He welcomes you into His family.” She looked at Kristen. “Meet me at the church tomorrow evening, and we’ll rehearse some more. And I have it on God’s authority that we will not be raided again. Sam is an angel, too, and he’s going to substitute for the regular police captain until after the pageant.”
She smiled at Randy. “You’ll be amazed at the level of support you can receive from our support group. God has used it to bless and minister to everyone who’s joined. This upcoming pageant is only the beginning.” A broad smile spread across Kristen’s face. Randy chuckled, then embraced her in a hug.
END OF CHAPTER 5