XX

“Alright strong man, tough guy, Mr. Macho,” Seven Sallie said to Brock. “Tell me the truth.”

“Well okay,” he replied with lighthearted mockery. “Even though I don’t know what you are about to ask, I was planning on lying. But since you told me to tell the truth, I will.”

Seven frowned with exasperation and then asked. “Were you scared last night?”

“I was terrified,” Brock admitted. “Yet on the other hand, I have never been more secure in fear than I was with Lexi’s demon possession ordeal.”

“How can that be?”

“The power of God,” Destiny interjected.

“Exactly,” Brock said as he reached out and gave Destiny’s hand an affectionate squeeze. “Plus the love of God that was flowing through everyone.”

“Everyone except me,” Seven Sallie said dejectedly.

“Good point,” Brock replied.

“Honey!” Destiny scolded.

“I’m kidding, Seven,” Brock said with a chuckle.

“I’m not,” Seven Sallie said. “Even Zella La Stella and Lexi’s boyfriend, what’s his name, you know, Dirk’s brother.”

“Devin,” Destiny said.

“Yeah, Devin,” Seven Sallie said as he pointed a confirming finger at Destiny. “With his tattoos of demons and demented clowns. Even he was more composed than me.”

“Yeah, but he wasn’t threatened with death by Lexi either,” Brock replied. “At least I don’t think he ever was.”

“Brock’s right, Seven,” Destiny said. “It took a lot of courage for you to just show up. Let alone sticking out the whole demon possession episode.”

“I don’t see clawing at the door in absolute panic and then whimpering in Brock’s arms as courageous,” Seven Sallie said with a sigh.

“Listen, little buddy,” Brock said as he put a reassuring hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I guarantee you that everyone witnessing that deliverance last night has nothing but admiration for you sticking it out. Everyone there heard Lexi say one of the last things she remembered was being on a mission to kill you.”

“Another thing, Seven,” Destiny added. “You and Amy were the only ones Lexi and or the demons directly focused on.”

“I wonder if Amy would mind talking with me about last night?” Seven wondered.

“Of course she’d talk to you, Seven. She’d be glad to,” Destiny said.

“Actually, I want to talk to everyone that was there, especially Lexi,” Seven declared. Then he looked at Brock with raised eyebrows. “Would you mind, um, being with me if and when I talk to Lexi?”

“What for?” Brock asked with a sly grin.

Seven glanced at Destiny and then back to Brock. “Oh nevermind.”

“No, of course I will,” Brock said. “I’m supposed to be watching your back anyway, remember?”

Seven ran his hands through his long dark hair and mumbled. “It’s real. It’s truly real.”

“What’s real, Seven?” Destiny asked.

“God and the devil,” Seven Sallie said with awe. “Angels and demons. And I’m ashamed that it took a demon infested, supernatural experience to wake me up. If I am truly awake. I don’t know if I should even claim to be.”

“God works in mysterious ways,” Brock told him.

Seven looked at Brock with intense eyes. “Sorry if I’m barking up the same tree, but what exactly made it real for you? I mean, I never would have dreamed you would one day be this super spiritual guy I saw taking part in casting out demons.”

“For me, it was a long process,” Brock replied and then looked at his wife. “But if I had to point to one thing above others, it was witnessing Dee’s conversion and talking to her about it that led me to commit myself. Her experience was a seemingly much shorter process than mine, and I couldn’t understand why.”

“So what about you then, Dee?” Seven asked. “What caused you to see the light so much quicker than Mr. Storm?”

“I don’t know about all that,” she laughed. “I guess it was that my soul had been so tormented with emptiness and ugliness, I almost ended my life. By the grace of God He led me to my Aunt Belle. Then through her influence, my emptiness was filled up with Jesus.”

“But no matter how empty or sinful and lost you were, you still had to believe,” Seven Sallie said. “What made you trust the Bible and the God of the Bible? I mean with all of its contradictions, codes and mysteries?”

“Well,” she began and then cleared her throat. “First of all, I think that people who think the Bible contradicts itself have only studied it superficially and without heart searching prayer. As for what you call codes and mysteries, I believe all prophecy should be studied prayerfully and diligently. Then gems of truth will appear like nuggets of gold for the soul. You see, the Bible is simply the tool God gave us to find truth. And as you might already know, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light.”

“Matthew chapter 7 and verses 7 and 8 says to knock and it will be opened. Ask and you’ll receive. Seek and you’ll find. Notice that in the first couple of chapters of the Bible, you know Genesis, God creates a world of paradise. Then humanity sins and falls. Then in the pages that follow are stories and examples of a world in sin and rebellion. But most importantly are stories and examples of God’s mercy and His plan of redemption for fallen man. This climaxes with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then in the last couple of chapters of the Bible, found in the book of Revelation, God creates a new heaven and a new earth and wipes away pain and tears forever.”

“Well put, lovely wife,” Brock said with a warm smile. “What a perfect example of God’s all encompassing love. Even the first and last pages of the Holy Bible seem to give the other pages a hug with God’s desire to give His children perfect peace and heavenly bliss.”

“Yet even in this dark world of sin and misery, we can have the kingdom of God within us by following the lead of the Holy Spirit,” Destiny added. Seven marveled at the heavenly gleam that seemed to shine from her eyes and countenance.

“We’re so deceived by time,” Brock said as he shook his head.

“I know,” Destiny replied. “Even if we live to be ninety or into our hundreds, what is that compared to eternity?”

“Even comparing the blink of an eye to one hundred years in an inadequate comparison to time without end,” Brock said.

“Did you have something you wanted to say about Revelation, sweetie?” Destiny asked Brock. “I noticed your mouth opened after I mentioned it.”

“I did,” Brock said. “But it was a little off the subject you were talking about. I was just thinking how much confusion and false teaching has come from the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation. Probably due to all of the symbolism and most peoples unwillingness to dig deep.”

“Right. Then they end up trusting man made theories like the rapture,” Destiny said.

“Wait a minute,” Seven Sallie said. “Are you saying that you guys don’t believe in the rapture?”

“No, we don’t,” Brock said. “Revelation 1:7 says He comes with clouds and every eye shall see him. Not just righteous eyes, but all eyes.”

“And Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 24:27,” Destiny added. “For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines to the west, so also shall the Son of man be. That indicates that it will be very noticeable to everyone.”

“The word rapture isn’t even found in the Bible,” Brock said.

“I can’t figure you guys out,” Seven Said.

“What do you mean?” Destiny asked.

“I can’t decide if you guys are nut job cult wackos, or if you’re tapping into primitive Godliness.”

“Hopefully the latter,” Brock said, then grinned and slapped a friendly hand on Seven’s shoulder. “Then again, the book of Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?”

“I remember that verse, because it applies directly to me,” Seven said with a snort and shook his head. “Man, I think I’m ready for more Bible studies.”

“Good,” Destiny and Brock said in unison.

“So, you guys think you understand Daniel and Revelation?” Seven asked.

“We don’t think, we know,” Brock replied with a shrug.

“Honey,” Destiny scolded with a smirk. “How about a little humility?”

“Seven knows I’m teasing.”

“Do I?” Seven asked with an arched eyebrow.

“I believe we do have a good grasp on prophecy, Seven,” Destiny said meekly. “But there’s always more to learn. Especially when it comes to spiritual truths.”

“So you guys will study it with me, and show me what you’ve discovered?” Seven asked.

“Of course,” Brock said. “When?”

“Do you want to get started now?” Destiny inquired.

“Actually, I think I’m ready for some shut eye,” Seven Sallie said. “Then I want to contact one or two of the people present at the exorcism. How about maybe tonight or tomorrow night?”

“Okay,” Destiny and Brock replied at the same time.

“But first I need to get to the bottom of what we witnessed last night.”