Alaska……………………………………March
Chris Junior exclaimed, “Where does twenty feet of snow go when it’s 80 degrees in the spring?”
Jose answered almost immediately, “Where ever it wants at this point. The water is everywhere…At least there is no blood. According to my calculations we could have nearly 100 degrees by next month.”
“The scripture says this is the fourth bowl of the Tribulation. No water and now drying up all the water very quickly. We need to get into that cool cave as soon as possible. Let’s tell dad that it is time and we are ready.”
The new location was located on a cliff overlooking the Tanana Valley where the Nenana River joined the Tanana River. Chris Junior, Jose and their team prepared the large hole in the cliff for semi comfortable living including good communication with other Force members. This would become the new home for the team, and their plan was to finish the Tribulation here, the Lord willing.
Chris Senior’s immediate challenge was to evacuate the Force members as quickly as possible and without being seen. Usually they would do this at night. This time the team developed a different strategy.
Because of the heat and the incredible snowfall that winter, water was running everywhere. Jose and Junior decided to retrieve the watercrafts that they left at the edge of Healy Lake. Then ten at a time, the one hundred people would be transported by water down Clear Creek to a designate, isolated spot near the Nenana River. They would wait there until all team members arrived, then the whole Force would be escorted by the leadership team up a narrow path to the large cave.
Everything went as plan until it got dark. Even though the leaders wore large head lamps, the trail was treacherous and steep. Some of the very old Force members, the pregnant, and those carrying children had to stay back at the meeting place so they could get assistance from the younger the next morning. Junior and Jose stayed with this part of the team. They set up camp for the evening.
Most of the older slept comfortably, but Janise, Izzy, and the little ones were restless and couldn’t sleep. Jose and Junior kept watch all night.
The sun came up early that hot spring morning. Junior wanted to get an early start with those still at the creek, but he had an uneasy feeling.
Chris Junior mused to himself, “I don’t like this. I don’t know why but…..”
Jose walked by and heard Chris and asked, “What’s wrong, big guy?....We leaving soon?”
Junior scanned the valley from one end to the other, then again and again. He inserted, “Something is …is….I’m not sure but I think we need to find more cover for the ladies, children, and elderly…..Jose, do you hear that?”
Junior grabbed Jose and they led the remaining Force members a couple hundred feet away into the brush near the fast running creek. They all hunkered down. The children’s muffles cries could still be heard. Junior continued to scan the valley.
Jose whispered in Junior’s ear, “There!” He pointed north up the swollen Nenana River. The friends could see a group of a dozen people, men, women and children, trekking up the opposite side of the river. “Refugees?”
Junior studied the scene with his binoculars, then he answered, “I think so…but I don’t want them to see us. I bet Dad is watching this like we are. I’m surprised ….That river is so full….They are taking a chance ….Jose, they have guns…rifles. I’ll bet they haven’t taken the mark if they have guns. This group looks like they survived like we did….Maybe Christians?
“Could be…Let’s let them get a mile down then we will lead these people up the hill. Look, here comes your Dad. I hope they don’t see him.”
Chris Senior quietly walked toward Jose and Junior. He waved as he got closer.
The elder Meyers walked up to Chris and Jose then spoke in a soft voice, “Hey, boys, was worried about you all. Is everything OK?”
“Down at the river, Dad, refugees I guess.” Junior pointed toward the river.
“Yea, I’ve been watching them…I also spotted a lone man walking down Clear Creek. Did you see him?”
“Junior looked at Jose and then spoke, “Jose, the guy…we saw that day at Clear? We didn’t tell Dad about that….” He turned to his dad and continued, “Is he close by? I’m not really worried about this guy… At least not yet. We need to get this people up to safety….Dad, you want to lead then up….Jose is Janise going to be OK?”
Jose shrugged his shoulders and said, “Don’t know but I’ve been praying…Yea, she will be alright. You and I will stay here for now….Chris…and talk to that guy.”
Chris senior walked up to Izzy and Janise and gave them both a hug. He kissed little Lizzie and Julie. Then he asked, “You ladies ready to head up to our new home with those two youngsters?”
Izzy smiled and said, “Janise, my good friend, and I are ready…The girls are, too. Let’s go!!”
North of Fairbanks, Alaska……..two hours later
Nick, Margaret, and Penelope are ministering to a group of people just north of the city. They worship deep in the forest, first of all due to the heat, but also for security purposes. God is present in this gathering as Nick speaks.
“Dear, friends, we are in the waning years of what the Bible calls the Tribulation. This is seven years of trouble, He…yes, He has prepared for those …like us who denied him and turned their back on Him. Just a few months from now….Jesus himself will return and step His foot on the Mount of Olives…He will destroy the devil and his Servant, Gutierrez…..who we call the anti-Christ…….”
Nick was interrupted by a skeptic in the crowd crying, “You think our world leader….you call him the antic-Christ? How dare you? I heard rumors…He will proclaim himself god here soon.”
Nick continued, “Dear, son. It’s not the time or place to debate you on this…The Bible says, today is the day of salvation. If any man come to me, I will in no way cast him out. Saints, we need a victory right now…continue to pray…..We need His salvation …Come, those who would like to accept Jesus, today.”
The skeptic looked around and watched as forty or more people came forward for salvation in the wet and muddy forest. He raised his hand and started to speak again when several of those going forward escorted him with them. The power of God swept over the converts, and everyone, including the skeptic, publicly repented of their sins.
Nick and Margaret personally welcomed to the body of Christ all who came forward. The one who had called out, greeted Pastor Nick with tears in his eyes and they hugged for several seconds.
When the crowd had dispersed and everyone had left for their own homes, Margaret came to Nick with a frantic look on her face.
“Nick, Penelope is gone. I can’t find her anywhere. I saw that friend of hers hanging around in the back of the crowd, today. I should have kept closer track of her.”
“Dear, don’t blame yourself…We’ll find her…she’ll come home. We’ve trained her right.”
“I know we have…..but that kid has the mark….We shouldn’t have allowed him out here with us….We don’t need that kind of trouble at this stage of the game.”
“I know…I’ll take the blame for that…I shouldn’t have trusted him…Let’s go back to the cabin and pray…Then in the morning we will look for her. Is that, OK?”
“Nick, you are very wise…Yes, that is good. Let’s go home and pray.”
Tanana Valley, Alaska……………….….A week later
Jason Meyers stood near the entrance to the large cave looking over the Tanana Valley. He stood there waiting for his dad who wanted to have a serious talk with his son. The youngest son knew what is dad had in mind.
Chris Senior walked up the hill toward the entrance and spotted Jason standing there. He called for him to come down to where he was. Jason responded immediately.
Chris spoke, “Jason, let’s go for a walk.”
Jason responded, “Can’t we just talk here? I mean….”
“Son, I’m concerned about your relationship with Joyce. I think you know this already,”
Jason nodded his head to affirm.
“Well, I’m being careful to say the right thing. Joyce is a very nice girl and very attractive. She is a little older than you, but that doesn’t bother me too much. What bothers me….is…that at times your work is not done…Let’s put it this way….she distracts you from your work and the things God had called you to do.”
Chris continued, “Your sister isn’t a complainer but I can see she feels stressed in her ministry without a lot of help from you. I’m not trying to tell you how you should be ministering but you committed to this work a long time ago.”
“Dad, you are absolutely right. I guess I’ve let my emotions and love for Joyce…well, take control of me. I will do better. I know what else you are going to tell me…We don’t have much time until Christ returns. While I was waiting for you I ran all these things through my head.”
“Son, you are a very wise young man. Joyce’s parents feel like I do. They came to me first. Jason, I want you to pray about this, but you are of age. I discussed this with her parents as well. I wouldn’t be objective if you two wanted to….this is hard for me after your mom…I wish she was here.”
“Me to dad..go on..”
“Have you asked her to marry you, yet?”
“Yes, I have…She is talking to her parents right now.”
“OK, that settles it. We will arrange for you two to be married in the near future. Will this get rid of most of the distractions, for now?”
“I hope so…..I’m not sure…We thought..maybe sooner than later….Is that all right?”
“I think so…Like I said..I’ll talk to her mom and dad, tonight.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
Tanana Valley, Alaska……….the following Sunday
Christina read from the Bible, “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire….The unusual heat we have here in Alaska today comes from the fourth bowl as it is poured out onto the world. The Scriptures go on to say that mankind will curse God for the heat for they know He has control over it.”
“If we were with any refugees in the area they would be cursing our God, right now. I know they’ve done this in the past..but the Bible says it will get worse before it gets better. Be strong, today”
“The Word also lets us know in Revelation 16 verse 10, that soon the fifth bowl will be poured out on throne of the beast, and his kingdom. I believe we will feel some effects of this plague of darkness. We could possibly go from intense heat to extreme cold just like we experience every winter. My dad verifies my opinion.”
Christina continues, “I tell you all this just so you might understand that we need to be prepared. We still have many souls out there that we can touch. He has set us free so it is our responsibility to help free them.”
“Let’s pray….Jason can you close us in prayer?”
Jason led the congregation in a rousing prayer. Jose sang a hymn and the Force dispersed to worship with their families.
Chris Senior walked up to Christina and gave her a hug, and then he spoke, “My sweet grown-up daughter. You and Jason handled that service like Geo or Nick would have if they were here….The Word doesn’t give us much more time, does it?”
“Dad, I have a burden for these last few months…We have so much to do…but…do you think…we will be protected from the UW like the chosen ones are?”
Chris gently led Christina to some chairs nearby, and they both sat down. The elder Meyers began, “I’m not sure exactly…We have seen death even in our group….but the Word says we can pick up a serpent and not die. Some of the things that have happened to us these last six years were due to Satan’s strategy to defeat us….but he won’t. I believe we will go on and be stronger. I miss your mom, but this whole ordeal has made me more determined to make it to the end in power.”
Chris grabbed his daughter’s hand and held it tightly, and then he looked into her eyes and continued, “We will be alright no matter what. You do exactly what God calls you to do. You and Jason will touch hundreds before the Lord comes….I’m really excited about your brother getting married.”
“I don’t know if I am…I guess it’s only because he’s my brother….I’m OK with Joyce….She’s sweet and loves God.”
“You don’t sound too convincing.”
“I’ll be OK with it….You wait and see.”
The two laughed and hugged one more time and then Jason walked up to them. The second son spoke, “Hi, guys, what you talking about?
Christina quipped, “About you, of course.”
Chris spoke, “We were just saying how pleased we were with you and Joyce getting married. So have you decided where and when?”
Jason scratched his head and looked around. Then he began, “I…I…this is a tall task….Remember…I know you remember where Chris and Izzy….I know it may be tough,..but we have the water-crafts to go across Healy Lake….Please, Dad.”
“Oh, son, it’s a security question….One hundred people might all want to come….How?”
“Junior and I have worked out a plan. Can we run it by you later?”
“Should have known Chris was in on this idea….I’ll talk to you and Chris later tonight or tomorrow..Is that, OK?”
“Great, Dad…Talk to you later.”
Tanana Valley……………………two hours later
“Jose, come quickly.” Dr. Silva hollered out in the open room in the Force’s large cave home.
Jose immediately ran to catch up with the doc as he headed back to the little clinic room they had built deep within the cave. It was very near the due date for the baby (or babies.) Both the doctor and the family suspected there would be twins instead of one because of her great size.
When the two gentlemen arrived at the room, Izzy was using a wet cloth to wipe the perspiration from Janise’s forehead. She was in great pain when Dr. Silva checked Janise’s dilation. According to his nod, she was ready. Izzy and the doc prepared for birth while Jose stood nearby praying for his wife.
