The combined Friday service, turned out to be a success. Which really should have surprised no one. The few remnants of the two congregations, happened to be that rarest of unicorns, true believers. That one was Gentile, Christian and the other, Torah observant Messianic believers, made no difference. They both worshipped the same GOD, and held the same sacred scriptures as HIS Word. They shared common grounds, beliefs and loyalties.
Friday night was selected because, first, it is the Beginning of the Biblical Sabbath, which runs from sunset, Friday, until sunset Saturday, second, Friday night was not associated in the minds of the masses with Christian services, so, gatherings in private homes, were generally assumed to be like most of the non believers typical Friday night debauchery.
While being a Bible Believing Christian, or Messianic believer was not illegal per se, it was seriously frowned upon by the authorities. Law enforcement did nothing to protect them from the violence of the mob.
Media openly mocked them, blamed them for every real and imagined ill deed, they could conceive of. The mob,
A bizzare coalition of leftists and islamic radicals, burned churches, assaulted, even killed with impunity. While the official authorities did nothing other than often arresting the victims for daring to resist the mobs violence. The new world order was taking firm control of things now. The old order, must be blamed, targeted, and removed so that the new order could thrive.
Thus, Believers met secretly, in homes, basements, on boats, in wilderness regions. Places generally difficult for the mobs to access. The authorities worked diligently along with their media, to expose these dangerous malcontents that openly questioned their lies and dared to preach the Love and Grace of GOD. Still, bad as things had gotten in the United States, it was nowhere near the evils within the caliphate, with public executions, by beheading, of believers, infidels the mahdi had called them. In the U.S., The relief funds from the caliphate that filled the corrupt leaderships pockets, caused the authorities to look the other way when churches, and or synagogues were attacked. Of course no criticism of the progressives or radical islamists was allowed or tolerated. It was a brave new world indeed.
For most,
Life ,with all of it's distractions galore, essentially continued. People got married, gathered for parties, even went to church. A new normal had been established, one that had been strictly enforced. In the name of security, emergency, expediency, freedom of speech, movement, had been severely curtailed. Only officially approved public gatherings were tolerated or allowed. Those, were strictly monitored and managed.the population of the United States had been over Three hundred million when the calamities began. Now, a much easier to manage eighty million were what remained. No one knew how many remained, hidden in the wilds, and the ruins. A small remnant that held out, hid, refusing to go along or get along with the powerful corruption that now openly ruled the U.S.
The same pattern was repeated through out the world. A remnant, remained separate, among the mountains, islands, ruins of the past world.
Mike raised an eybrow, silently absorbing what John had been explaining. Ken, was not silent however, " Ok , what about the rapture? Why didn't that happen? Why are you still here if this were the last days? Nothing you're saying adds up! I saw the left behind movies, I saw the years of the beast and seven last years movies as a teen in church, nothing matches the last days stuff! " John sighed audibly. " Ken, those were movies. Fantasies. Not what the text literally says. " Ken interjected " yeah yeah, but doesn't it say believers are not appointed to wrath? Doesn't that mean that believers won't be on earth during the last days? " Ken shook his head, " Yes it says GOD will not pour his wrath onto believers. No it doesn't say that the believers won't go through tribulation. In fact it says that believers will face great tribulation, be imprisoned, killed, tortured, all kinds of horrible things. GODs wrath, is GODs response, to the tribulations of the the saints. "
Ken was obviously confused, " Thats not what they taught us in sunday school! "
" Did you know, Yeshua, the Messiah said, that they were already in the last days, during his ministry on earth? That the last days began with his birth? That He warned repeatedly, that believers would face great persecution, that the world would hate them, and reject them just as the world hates and rejects HIM! He warned over and over again! None of the Apostles died of natural causes, without exception, every single one of them was arrested, tortured, killed, all of them died, persecuted just as the Messiah was. "
Ken shook his head , " Wait! What? Where does it say that? I never heard that! " Mike sat back thinking, thinking about what he had recently read. Thinking about the old testament prophets and the life of the Apostles in the new Testament. John had raised valid points. The implications were immense.
What if , a literal interpretation of the Bible, contradicted all those fantasies that had been believed and taught? Could that be why Jesus kept warning them not to be deceived?
Could that be why His return would be, unexpected?
Other questions roiled about and formed within Mikes mind. Why were no Biblical feasts remembered or kept by the church? Why did the church celebrate holy days not found in the Bible? Why were the days of the week called after ancient pagan gods? Why? These questions led to more questions, each question brought new revelations along with new fears.
Mike considered the history he had been taught, comparing it to what John had been explaining. That was a lot to take in. What John suggests, turns everything inside out and upside down!
Which, actually matched with a literal take, or understanding of the text.
The world, the church, believers, had all been decieved. Many abandoned their faith in the face of harsh reality exposing the charade of falsehood, the temple of lies for the deception it was. Just exactly like the Word warned.
Mike considered his grandfather in an entirely new light.
The world is what it is, the world is not nor ever has been the fantastic lies they had been fed, and believed to be.
Which meant what exactly?
The Apocalypse? Armegeddon? Zombies? The end of the world?
The birth of nightmares? Ragnarok?
Mike had the unsettling sense that the answer to all the above was an emphatic, YES!
What did that mean for him? For the group? Mike could not see how anything in terms of daily need had changed with the revelation.
One day at a time, one moment at a time, that is all they ever had to begin with, all they could ever actually experience or cope with.
The only difference was, now, the end game, the close of the story was known. The contents between, remained to be lived just as before.
Though, Mike had to admit, knowing the final outcome, and their final destiny was, is, more than an encouragement. Deeper than a comfort, and brought hope, into this world of cruelty, injustice, trial, tribulation, evil, and deception. It was a blessing to perceive, and a light within the darkness.
She was like something only Tolkein could have imagined. Ethereal, elegant, graceful, moving silently like some eldritch wonder, a wood elf that simply appeared amongst the trees.
A Forrest spirit that materialized out of some mystical other world. Michael blinked, rubbed his eyes, sure he must have nodded off and dreamed her. She was still there. Crouched at the base of an long dead, rotting oak, doing something, poking and sniffing at the orange colored chicken of the woods mushroom growths around the old tree base.
Of, course, Michael had no idea that the odd shaped tree fungus she was studying was called that at at the time. Nor that it was edible and tasted vaguely like, chicken. Those were facts he learned slightly later.
In the moment Michael was bespelled by the raven haired beauty that had materialized there, without even alerting the dogs scattered about the encampment. John had not noticed her as of yet either. Michael wondered if this were some sort of apparition, until she looked up directly at him, smiled and waved.
Bemused, Michael watched as she gathered parts of the odd fungus , then began moving towards their temporary observation post. Pausing here and there to pluck this handful of weeds, and pull that odd root, on her way towards the encampment.
Michael cleared his throat, to gather Johns attention. John had been focused upon the sterno stove, and fry pan he had some rainbow trout fillets sizzling in. John only looked up from his task as she approached and peered down into the copse they had set up in. The look of surprise and dismay on Johns face was priceless. Michael couldn't help but laugh,
"Hello" a soft contralto voice called, scarcely above a whisper. Michael leaned back , waving towards the two man set up, " Hi there! Would you join us? "
The situation was a bit surreal. John stared in confused astonishment. She smiled, a sort of, Mona lisa smirk, and scrambled rather elegantly over the fallen hickory tree that had formed the small open copse they had so thoughtfully hidden their observation post within.
Obviously they had not been as unobserved as they had intended. Michael wondered where the rest of her group was , surely this petite woman was not up here in this wilderness alone. On second thought, considering the state of the world, this would be the safest environment for a beautiful, petite woman to be in, compared to the dog eat dog, cannibalism the reality of the urban regions.
She slid into a sitting position, and held out the olive drab collection bag she had been carrying. " I smelled your fire and the fish , and brought veggies. "
John stammered a strangled hello and thank you, while eying Michaels relaxed position wondering if this was really happening. Neither man was sure if this was real or not.
Silence held reign for a few moments, She broke the tension with a soft laugh, " My name is Branwen pleased to meet you and whats for breakfast?"
Interestingly a crow called from amongst the trees. Branwen had spent a good deal of the previous evening rehearsing what and how she would break the ice so to speak. Johns confused, half strangled response took her by surprise.
She had noted his well practiced speech, from her covert observations. John, she knew already had been a well educated, well read well spoken youth pastor. His dismay was unexpected. Though, Branwen had always failed to notice the usual effect that she rendered on most men. "trout, I am tryout u, I mean, hi I am John, and this " he pointed at the sizzling trout, "is trout. "
Michael , was trying to study every direction at once while struggling to remain calm in the surreal situation. " Hello, I am Mike, and this is John, " he needlessly replied. " thank you, Where did you come from? Where is your group at, "
Branwen flashed a slight grimace, opting for truth from the outset " No group, I am camped at the trail post just a bit north of here. "
"You are up here alone?" John asked, rather incredulously eying her. Michael had noted her silent, careful movement, the dancer like grace, and how she had seemed to effortlessly avoid random branch and limb snags, leaving no trace of her presence as she had approached their position.
Clearly this woman was experienced, and more than competent in the wild. Everything about her spoke of confidence, competence, intelligence, and elegance.
From her clothing, her hiking boots, the sheathed fix bladed knife and tomahawk secured to her belt along with her quiet, calm and relaxed manner, Micheal deduced that only a complete idiot would underestimate this woman. Consequently, he assessed her rather highly in regards to the threat, danger level she represented.
There was clearly far more to this woman than meets the eye. Michael found himself intrigued. Simultaneously, Michael felt oddly familiar stirrings deep within those secreted, carefully buried, heavily scarred places within. Things he wanted nothing to do with.
Some wounds never mend, allowing those memories to awake, those thoughts, hopes, dreams, those needs, to be acknowledged in anyway, was too dangerous in this new world.
Michael felt the weight of leadership, he was fully aware of the consequences should he fail to be fully dedicated to the purpose. The way that he had chosen. In his chosen path, Michael had found purpose, duty, meaning once again. All of his focus, all of his attention must not be distracted. The group, the kids mostly, had become Michaels purpose, meaning, and reason to exist. Michael decided, he must stamp down these vague stirrings, he could not allow this bewitching wonder to affect him. Michael, was an utter fool. Those were not vague stirrings. Those unbidden thoughts, desires, emotions, were signs from God, of recognition, and Branwen, had been aware of them herself. She had already recognized what was there. She had already spent a week in contemplation, following, covertly observing, listening to campfire talk, watching, before She had chosen to say,
Hello.
The chemistry had been, physically immediate. The interest, had been intellectual at first, fed from curiosity, observation and discovery. Truthfully, the physical response was, surprising. She found herself completely unprepared for that. Seems God likes those type of surprises.
Neither Michael or Branwen, was prepared. Michael in fact, found himself, afraid.
Fear , is a thought blinder, a mindkiller,
Fear is a liar through and through.
Michael, found himself in an inner battle, of fear, fear of himself, fear of failure, fear of consequences, fear of his fear.
Fear, is the devils playground.
Branwen,
Had no idea of the inner battle, that tormented Michael. Rather, Branwen had no clear idea of the exact nature of the obvious conflict. Had she have known, she wouldn't have cared. Fate was apparently all too real, and here, they were. Call it destiny, Gods will, Lokis joke or whatever, it is as it is and here they were in it. Now, where it all leads remained to be seen. Alone, there had been no hope , merely existence. Now, not being alone brought more possibilities. These possibilities kindled hope, which in turn fueled other desires. Tiny sparks can, and do lead to raging flames. Flames can feed a forge, and fuel creation. Flames can also consume and destroy.
Branwen found herself hoping, determined, to forge something new, to create, in the ashes of the old, the tools that built the new.
Michael, was to be ...
Hammer?
Anvil?
Branwen was to be,
Hammer? Anvil?
She did not know , or care. What she did know was the fire had been lit.
The dark had been pierced by a spark,
And there was light, to show the way, until the dawn.
This is likely why,
Pagan Gaels had called the Goddess Brighid, whom the Brythons knew as, Brigantia, the Goddess of Smiths and fire, of home and hearth, of inspiration and poets, of healing, hope and victory
Christian Celts had called her, Saint Bride, St. Bridget,
Both , in so many ways true.
Avatars seem to find themselves in the ashes and ruins, manifesting,
hope,
Here,
Two Avatars had been found,
GOD always provides.