Wiley opened the back door and yelled at the intruders.
“You don’t need them,” a female voice said. Wiley looked for the source of the voice and saw two ladies standing in Dad’s veggie patch, thankfully not flattening any of the veggies. Dad would have screamed blue murder if they had. He had vague memories of seeing these people in the street.
The woman’s other companion wasn’t as harsh. “We’re sorry. We thought the house was empty, like some of the others in the street.” She dropped some carrots into her reusable shopping bag. “We knew your dad was one of those.” She pointed to the sky. “He tried to convert us once. Maybe we should’ve listened … and maybe you should’ve too.”
The men stopped chasing the chickens and looked at Wiley, then to their partners.
Wiley sensed their confusion. “Take what you have now and go.”
The men hesitated.
“You sure?” the quiet lady asked. “You may need them.”
The two ladies moved out of the veggie patch onto the grass. They didn’t offer to return the vegetables now in their bags. Wiley sensed their fear and uncertainty, and knew he needed to be careful with his words. The men concerned Wiley.
“It’s okay. I’m sure things will be okay. Take what you need.” He wanted the situation to remain calm. Uncertainty ruled at the moment, and he needed to keep it at bay. He was thankful for his street wisdom.
The quiet lady spoke again. “Okay. We’ll go now. As I said, we’re sorry. We didn’t know you were still here.”
Wiley sensed the men’s hesitation. The lady indicated with her head for the men to move on. They walked around to the side of the house. Wiley watched. This was only the start.
He grabbed a glass from the cupboard, walked over to the tap, and filled it up. His mouth was dry, so he took a large gulp and sat down at the kitchen table, taking in everything that had happened and why he now sat alone in his dad’s kitchen.
Why had he taken God on as an enemy? His membership in the secret society and their belief that the world would be better off without these arrogant Bible-bashing people added fuel to his internal war. Wiley’s views had changed but he knew his heart still wasn’t right. He wasn’t ready to accept God. Why? He didn’t fully understand, but he understood God would honour his decision and wouldn’t force him to change his mind. Sheila called it free will.
Wiley would miss his discussions with Sheila. They were both finding their way through their earthly existence. Dad even joined their in-depth conversations when Sheila visited. Sadness came over Wiley. He looked around the kitchen. He imagined his Dad and Sheila together now, chatting in their non-earth environment. He wanted to call it heaven, but they had both referred to it as the New Jerusalem—the new earth.
He wondered if they suffered survivors’ guilt for the loved ones they’d left behind. They spoke about that once, about feeling bad for those still on Earth. One thing he understood was that things were going to be a lot different now. He wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad. Going on what he’d just experienced with the neighbours, the latter was the road they would most probably travel.
The new earth? Was Adventus going to stop or keep orbiting?
An image of Robert Bruce appeared. He was standing near the cabinet, the one with the pistol. Wiley wanted that weapon. He doubted Bruce would lend it to him, as they weren’t on good terms now. Wiley would need to borrow it.
Dad’s tablet device and headphones sat on the kitchen table. The device was always open on a book from the Bible. Wiley moved the device towards him. The words on the screen made no sense—they were symbols, not words. But he knew how to find the play button. He put on the headphones and pressed play. Got it. A voice spoke.
Matthew 24:31- And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Yes, that was what had happened. Blood rushed to his head. He dragged the headphones off his head, picked up the tablet, and threw it against the kitchen wall. His eyes watered. Even after countless obvious and unmistakable signs and warnings, he still refused to acknowledge God, to acknowledge His Lordship. He still refused to be saved—as his dad would say.
He’d told his father there would be a second chance.
“I’m not sure, son,” Dad had said. “I’m just not sure.”
Wiley picked up the device, thankful no damage was done, gave the Lord a silent apology, sat, and placed the device back on the table. He remembered Sheila and his dad having a debate about randomly opening the Bible to hear a word from God. They agreed God may or may not reveal something. Wiley decided to give it a go.
He swiped the screen a few times, watched the shape of the pages change, paused, and pressed play.
Matthew 24:37-39 - But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
God had wiped out civilisation before. Why wouldn’t He do it again? There were many things Wiley didn’t understand about God, but he was starting to see God took evil seriously. God was happy to take millions of lives if required … or maybe He let them take their own lives through themselves and others.
What a mess Wiley had got himself into. What a mess the world had got itself into.
He needed that pistol.
* * *
Jack didn’t know how to react to what he was experiencing. He turned to look at Cath.
“Have a bit of a break,” Leo said. “It can be overwhelming. In earthly terms, it’s like watching a movie, but you’re also connected to internal thoughts and sensory details.”
The wall went blank.
“I am confused,” Cath said. “I thought Wiley was saved.”
“Being born again, or being saved, can be complex. But only God knows a person’s heart. Let Wiley’s story unfold and you will see.”
“God has communicated that people needed to be on watch, to be prepared,” Ollie said. “God gets pushed aside quite easily but if there is a tiny, miniscule, chance of someone being saved, God will act.”
“Wiley was not on watch,” Leo said. “But God will act.”
Part Five – Judgment and rule
I am aware of your thoughts, every one of them. I am aware of your words, every one of them. I am aware of your actions, every one of them. I am aware of your deeds, every one of them. They are stored in the vast memory of heaven. I will call them up soon.
I am a just God but also a loving God.
Let judgement begin.
