BLACK SABBATH

CHAPTER 30

SEVEN SALLIE

FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMPET OF GOD. AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. THEN THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. AND THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)

            “Hey everyone, I’d like you to meet Querida,” I said as I attempted to introduce the angel that caused the angry mob to flee.

            “Where’s your friend?” my wife asked.

            I had just stepped onto C. S. Lewis’s deck after negotiating about twenty steps. I had assumed that Querida was behind me. I turned to my right and kept turning until I did a three sixty. “Where’d he go?”

            “Who was that old guy with you?” Inga asked.

            “It was angel who went by the name Querida,” I replied, as I still looked all around.

            Everyone looked at me like I had two heads. “I’m not crazy, that truly was an angel with me.”

            “Now Seven, don’t bear false witness,” Inga said sternly.

            “I’m not, that truly was an angel!”

            “I’m referring to the part about not being crazy,” Inga said sympathetically as she placed a gentle hand on my forearm. To my chagrin, my wife placed a hand over her mouth to hide amusement.

            Inga continued, “Clearly there was angelic intervention. There’s no way you and an old man would cause two dozen angry guys to fall all over themselves fleeing from you. How did he do it?”

            It didn’t go beyond my notice that she credited Querida and not the two of us. Which was fine, since it was he that caused them to flee. “I don’t know how he did it. He just raised his hand, and they couldn’t get away fast enough.”

            “It looked like he was just giving them a friendly wave from back here,” C. S. Lewis  interjected.

            “What did you see?” Inga asked. “Was there like a laser coming off his hand or something like webbing, like Spiderman?”

            “No, I didn’t see anything like that. He just lifted his hand, like C. S. said, and poof, the mob fell over themselves trying to get away.”

            “Speaking of poof, where did he go?” Zella asked. “He was right behind you.”

            I opened my mouth to say what amounted to nothing, for I did not know. But before I could say anything, there was a noise like a trumpet. I noticed my wife and Inga looking at me with wide eyes and open mouths as if the sound of the supernatural horn was coming from me.

            For God’s people the majestic sound was beautiful. We had all been homesick for heaven for quite some time, and the noise was like pulling into your driveway after a long trip. For we all instinctively knew that it was I Thessalonians 4:16 beginning to be fulfilled.

            For those that rejected God, the sound was ominous. For them it was multiple times more eerie than an air raid siren. So much so it was a fulfilment of Revelation 6:15, 16 and they tried hiding from the noise and the atmosphere. Even to the point of wanting mountains and rocks to fall on them to hide them from the approaching wrath.

            “Look!” Inga declared, pointing to the east. “That small black cloud!”

            With one accord, we all gazed at the eastern sky. We all saw what Inga noticed first. It was indeed an unusual cloud like shape. It seemed to sparkle and twinkle, but not like an aircraft. Our eyes stayed glued to the heavenly vision. As students of the Bible we knew what it was, the long awaited second coming of Christ!

            In solemn silence we gazed upon it as it drew closer to the earth. As it did so it became lighter and more glorious until it was a bright white cloud. Its base was like a consuming fire, and above it was the rainbow of the covenant. And there was Jesus, riding like a mighty conqueror!

            No longer was He a ‘Man of Sorrows,’ to drink the cup of bitter shame and woe. He was coming, victor of heaven and earth to judge the living and the dead. Revelation chapter nineteen was happening right before our eyes!

            Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).

            His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns (Revelation 19:12).

            He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God (Revelation 19:13).

            In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).

            And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses (Revelation 19:14)

            And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).

            The sky seemed filled with radiant forms. They were countless angels! No human pen could describe this scene. No mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendor. As the living cloud came still nearer, every eye beheld the Prince of life. No crown of thorns now marred that sacred head. A diadem of glory rested on His holy brow. His countenance outshone the brightness of the noonday sun!

            Before we knew it, we were rising in the air to meet The Lord! My wife and I were hand in hand as we arose higher and still higher. Zella and I both didn’t like heights. But we had no fear whatsoever! No, we were filled with joy and excitement like we had never experienced before!

            Just as Querida reassured me, I would see my kids again soon. My daughter Sevenia held hands with her husband as they floated toward us. Somehow we instinctively knew how to make our way to each other. Her other hand was clasped with her half-brother, Zella’s and my son.

            Several of our church family joined us as well. Family and friends who had passed away too! Right there on our journey in the sky we were able to reunite and exchange hugs. We continued on our voyage with our Savior as we did so. True to His word in the first few verses of John chapter fourteen, Jesus led us to our heavenly homes!

 THE END.

ACTUALLY MORE LIKE THE BEGINNING!