The North's Last 1200 Days
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Seven
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The Beast is Mad and Calls for War
Fall-September……59 months of Tribulation
Babylon………………………….…September
Gutierrez was pleased with himself. He had succeeded in uniting the world, at least for now. He had declared to the world that he was the almighty and his intentions were to rule with an iron hand.
But yet he was not satisfied. All over the world there were those Christians who refused to take his mark, and who were inciting uprisings from America to China. And then there were those pesky Jews who were hiding out with the evangelists somewhere in the desert.
At least the sun had come back after that long, cold summer. He was taking credit for the return of the warmth and making a big deal of it.
The Supreme Leader had formulated a plan to bring his allies together. He, in his divisiveness, knew he had a battle coming and was preparing. They would all meet in the Valley of Megiddo, just south of Haifa in northern Israel. He was waiting for just one more thing to happen. The great river, Euphrates, was to dry up. Then his millions would arrive from the east for the big battle.
But he was still angry. He wanted everything and he wanted it, now.
Petra……………………….a few minutes later
“Joseph,” Geo continues, “What do we do, now? I’m anxious…”
“Of course you are, Geo. My people as well as the Christians have been anticipating this for centuries. There isn’t really too much we can do but pray for our friends who are still in harm’s way. We evangelists can do our job of reaching those still in bondage who have not taken the mark. You and I will have a special calling between now and the Glorious Appearing.”
Suddenly very excited, Geo asked, “What is it, Joseph? Are you going to tell me now?”
“The time will come and you will know. You may even be aware of it already.”
“You know, my friend, I believe I do.”
Tanana Valley, Alaska………….two days later
The Northern Force leadership in Alaska was together in the meeting room plotting their plans for the final few months before the Lord’s return. Nick is viewing the meeting by satellite.
Junior begins, “Nick, how is your security right now? Has the UW discovered your location?”
Nick quickly answered, “We are in a precarious position. First of all, Margaret is very sick. She hasn’t been the same since Penelope left, and since we moved up here. She is bedridden. I need to get moving. I will probably have to leave her here, for now. The UW knows almost everything we do, somehow or other. The only place that is safe is this place… way up north. I hate to say this.. But I believe someone in our underground is a spy for the UW. My friend right here, Julius is working on that mole problem. He’s leaving any minute for Fairbanks.”
Chris Senior asked, “Nick, when do you leave for your next crusade?”
“I…I…I’m hesitant to leave but I need to for the safety of Margaret. If I stay here…I believe I’m putting this safe house in danger. I don't think I'll do a crusade right now, but I have to leave.”
Chris continued, “Do you need assistance to get away…and do you need to come here? We are way safer here than your are there.”
“For now, I’ll trust my security team up here, but I will consider it. Wait, I’m hearing….I need to go…We have problems outside…..UW or something. I’ll talk to you guys later. Out.”
Junior inserted, “I’m worried about Nick. He does need our assistance. Should we plan our own rescue for him just in case?”
Jose inserted, “I would say yes…. You and I will work out a plan just in case.”
Chris Senior bushed his busy hair from his eyes and stood up. Then he spoke, “I…I’m not saying you two are wrong, but I know Nick. If he needs to get away and back down here, he will find a way. Make the plan, but put it on hold. I think we need it for another rescue a little later.”
Junior responded, “OK, Dad…..will do.”
Jose and Junior left the table and Chris Senior continued to contemplate Nick’s ordeal. He then decided to get Geo’s take on this from Petra.
“Hey, Geo, how’s things?”
“I’m great. I’ve been kind of tired lately. Joseph has had me all over the place. We just got back from Megiddo. Remember? It was written about several times in the Bible…especially having to do with the end times? We were there. The troops are arriving. Preparing and…who knows what else.”
“I heard the Euphrates is drying up…the fifth bowl?”
“Yea, we flew over there, too. It’s just a trickle. Troops by the thousands are coming across the river as we speak. It won’t be long.”
“In a way, I kind of wish I was there….but maybe not. I wish you were here. Nick’s in a world of hurt. He has to leave his wife at the safe house and find a new location. He just got out of there minutes ago. They are after him.”
“I’ve been praying for our old friend and his wife. I think he’s a survivor, but I don’t know about Margaret.”
“Me either…We are…Well, we’ve been thinking and planning how we can rescue her…She is sick. I have also been praying for Nick…that he would find his way back here where we can protect him.”
“You might encourage him to do that.”
Chris smiled broadly and answered, “I was hoping you would say that. I’m going to tell him you said he should come home.”
“That’s OK with me…Hey, Chris, I need to go. Joseph wants me to…Well, we are going somewhere else. Talk to you soon.”
“OK, Geo…Soon!!”
Chris sat for a while longer going over memories of the last six and a half years. He sighed deeply then he laughed out loud. Junior walked in as he was laughing.”
Junior asked, “What’s so funny, Dad? Geo tell you a good joke from Petra?”
“No, but been thinking about him and the last six years… What a ride we’ve had. You grew up fast….and your brother and sis. I really miss your mom…but I don’t really have time for that…We got people to rescue and people to save. We need to rescue the perishing like the old sang says.”
“Dad, that is why I love you so much. You always have something great to say when we all need it. I just came to rescue you and to tell you that your dinner is getting cold. You’d better come and eat, now. Your family is waiting.”
Chris Senior stood and followed his son into the eating area and they both sat down with the rest of their growing family as they ate.
Northern Alaska…………………..two hours later
“Nick, I don’t like this….We have to get you a long way from here and soon. Margaret will be safe for a while. Let’s go.”
Nick and his friends from the northern underground moved swiftly through the forest. They were skilled in hiding in plane site, but the UW had plenty of officers out looking for Pastor Nick, so they were extremely cautious.
The rescue team continued moving south toward Fairbanks in better cold and dark. From time to time they came across a friendly face or a place to stop and rest, but mostly they hiked in a hurry. Their destination was a little settlement called Ester just east of the city.
A little while into the trek the rescue team stopped to take a breather from their walking. Pastor Nick asked the leader, “Why are we headed to Ester…Am I not seeing the obvious?”
Joe, the leader of the rescue team answered, “I’m sorry. We haven't had time to talk. There are contacts there and very little UW activity. I don’t think your daughter’s friend can find us right now.”
“Since we are going to Ester, if you have no objections….I can make my way back to my friends in the Tanana Valley…on my own if you think it is safe.”
Joe thought for a moment and whispered in the ear of another member of the team. Then he continued, “Nick, that sounds good to me. I’ll send my friend Wooster with you. He knows the area…but he will make sure you don’t get followed. He’s good at that. We’ll spend a few hours to rest in Ester then you and Wooster can begin your walk south. Is that acceptable to you?”
“Oh, rest sounds good. Yes, let’s get to Ester to rest and think about heading south tomorrow.”
Ester, Alaska…………………the next morning
Nick and Wooster started south early the next morning. Nick led the way and Wooster followed at a distance always observant of what was behind them.
The two friends had crossed a steep hill just outside of Nenena when Wooster noticed a group of strangers walking toward them from the south. There were men, woman, and children carrying supplies and walking swiftly. Wooster told Nick to hide and then he would stop and talk to these people and see what they were up to.
When the group of strangers saw Wooster they immediately stopped. The children hid behind their mothers or fathers.
The leader spoke, “What do you want form us….We are peaceful pilgrims just trying to find a place to …live or camp. Leave us alone…as you can see we have very little…Take it but leave us alone.”
“I’m…I’m not after your things or you. We...my friend and I are heading south. Pastor Nick, come meet these people.”
The leader of the strangers again asked, “Pastor Nick, the Pastor Nick?”
Nick walked out from the brush and greeted the strangers, and then he said, “I’m Pastor Nick and your name is?”
“Jerome Billows and this is my family. We are pilgrims….Dare I say, Christians. We came all this way because we heard of you and your ministry in the north. Where are you two headed?”
Wooster inserted, “I am escorting the good Pastor to the Tanana Valley where the Northern Force is ministering.”
Nick added, “We are believers as you are. The force members are my friends for a long time. There is refuge there. You can come with us. Can we trust you?”
Jerome answered, “I..I..Yes, we are servants of the most high God. Jesus is our savior. My family will be an asset to your team. Please, let us come with you.”
Nick looked at Wooster. Wooster nodded his head in the affirmative and then the Pastor spoke, “Jerome and your family, you will come with us. We will introduce you to Chris Meyers and his family and a hundred others who have survived this tribulation.”
Jerome thanked Nick profusely and then they prepared to finish their journey.
An hour later some of the younger family members of the newcomers were hungry, so the travelers all stopped to get a bite to eat. When the children completed their meal they began to play a game of hide and go seek.
One little three year old ran into the woods to hide and disappeared. Suddenly there was a scream from the direction in which he ran. Jerome and Nick sped quickly in that general direction.
Three hundred feet into the forest the little child stood face to face with a large female black bear who had two cubs. The child was crying and lying on the ground a few feet from one of the cubs. Nick pulled out his pistol and pointed it toward the mamma bear.
Jerome raised his hand toward Nick and motioned for him not to shoot. The tall stranger walked slowly toward his child as the bear watched the man’s every move. Jerome slowly picked the child up and held him close, and slowly began walking backwards away from the three bears. When he was even with Nick and his gun, he stopped. Wooster watched from a distance.
As they all observed, a little bear walked slowly toward the silent humans. He stopped and stood on two legs for a moment, as if to say hi, and then he quickly scampered back to his mother.
Within minutes the three bears had disappeared into the bush again and the travelers were walking toward their destination, the Tanana Valley.
Tanana Valley, Alaska………………five hours later
Jerome and his family were taken to a larger room that they could call their home at least for now. The whole Northern Force greeted the new comers with love. In addition everyone was excited that Pastor Nick had returned, but they were concerned about Margaret and her health.
Chris Senior told Nick of Jose and Junior’s plan to rescue his wife. “So what do you think, Nick? You want to stay here and rest while we rescue her?
“Can I tell you tomorrow? I’m of both opinions right now. And if understand life around here, it is almost bed time, and I’m very tired. Can I say goodnight?”
Chris answered, “Sure enough. We plan on getting started early. We will get you up when we are ready to head north. See you in the morning.”
Tanana Valley………………..the next morning early
“OK, Junior, are you packed and ready. Your dad talked about staying home just a minute ago. Is he OK?”
“He said he wasn’t feeling well and he thought the team here needed him, this time. I guess Nick will sleep in, too. We will bring a couple of guys from our team, Dave and Whit. Does that sound good?”
“Sounds fine to me. Have you filled Dave and Whit in on the plan?”
“Yep, I did…We’re set. We will drive two ATV’s. And bring some gas with us. The good stuff that gets good mileage. I plotted a direct trail north after we cross through Nenana. That big river is in the way. We will head toward the Elliot highway. Cross the Chatanika at night on the highway. It’s just a little ways up and in the sticks from there. I’ve got a map. But I have it memorized as well. Remember I was in the service up there for a while?”
“Yep, I do….Let’s get going…We are burning daylight.”
The team of four loaded their gear and fuel on to the four-wheelers and prepared to leave when Chris Senior came out to pray for them and wish them well.
Ten minutes later they were flying up Clear Creek up toward the old Parks Highway. Chris led them down a short cut through woods that would keep them from encountering any refugees or UW. In a hour they approaching Nenana. Chris stopped.
“We need to do this very carefully. We don’t want anyone to follow us or get suspicious. Stay in the tree line on the west side of town until we get to the river. We will cross the bridge one bike at a time.”
Jose inserted, “Can I make a suggestion?
“Anything, pal…What you got?”
“Remember, plan ‘b’ from few months ago?”
“Yes, perfect! It should work. We have to do it out here, don’t we?”
“We can do it. We still have explosives hidden near the airport…Let’s do it.”
The foursome hustled to the little airport just south of the Village. They found their sticks of TNT and picked a place near the edge of town to cause a diversion. The UW guys would have to check on a huge explosion. The Force members would set a long fuse, light it and then race to a spot near the bridge and wait for a loud bang.
There was only one problem. It was very windy. When they lit the fuse it went out several times. Finally after whispering a prayer and lighting it again, the fuse was going and the team hit the road.
Chris and company were waiting at the river in the trees when a loud explosion occurred south of town. Everyone in the UW station in the center of town jumped into their vehicles and headed toward the commotion. Fire trucks were seen racing south as well.
Jose, Chris and their team floor boarded it across the Tanana River Bridge and disappeared into the bush on the other side. They were traveling northeast into the river valley flats when darkness set in.
Junior decided the team would camp for the night and hit the safe house early the next morning. They also needed to devise a portable gurney that would be attached to the back of one of the ATV’s and dragged behind. Chris leaned this from his dad a few years earlier when Chris Senior and Geo rescued Nick south of Denali.
Before they slept they talked around the campfire. Jose began, “Chris, you have been a great friend to Janise and I over these last few tears. At first I envied you for the incredible ranch up at Bear Creek. You had all those vehicles and snow machines. Then you got Izzy.”
Chris interrupted, “First of all it wasn’t a ranch at Bear Creek and you could have had Izzy, I guess…not now.”
Whit began, “You guys have known each other for a life time?”
Jose spoke, “No, really only nearly six years. We didn’t even know each other until after the rapture.”
“Yea, didn’t we meet at the Jones’ when Margaret was married before?” Chris asked.
“I played guitar there until we moved the Force out to your cabin at the creek. Do you remember that sheriff? Holy terror. He almost disrupted our wedding the day of the earthquake.”
Dave politely inserted, “I knew that sheriff guy. We got drunk together downstairs in the Treetop. You wouldn’t believe all the evil stuff that went on down there.”
Jose relied, “I know, I remember seeing you down there. I can’t believe it either. And they were the cops.”
“Well,” Chris interjected. “We are here and the Lord got a hold of all of us after the rapture. Now we will be ready for the Second Coming of Christ in a little over a year. Praise God. Let’s get some sleep so we can be fresh in the morning. We need to be there before light sets in, grab her quietly and then get back down here as fast as possible. Hopefully she won’t be too sick.”
“We will pray for that. Good night, Dave and Whit…and my good buddy, Junior. God loves you all.”
North of Nenana, Alaska…..4 AM the next morning
Chris and his team packed up their sleeping gear, gassed up the vehicles and started on their way. Their goal was to rescue Margaret quietly and safely and get out of town alive. Off they went.
When they arrived at the Elliot Highway just a few miles from their goal, they notice a lot of traffic for so early in the morning. They had to adjust their travel course to stay near the tree line which is hard to do when there are very few trees in the tundra.
The team stopped a mile from the safe house and got off their ATV’s. The rest of the way had to be by foot, but Jose noticed something out of place. He could see a truck parked a few hundred feet from the cabin.
Chris whispered, “Jose, now what?”
“I know what we will do. First we need our sled. Whit and Dave can drag it around back of the cabin staying near the trees. You and I will check on the truck first, and then we will help get Margaret out. I’m sure someone is with her hopefully waiting for our hand signal.
Dave and Whit retrieved the sled and Joe and Chris walked nonchalantly toward the truck. Chris inadvertently gave the hand sign and the person in the truck got out.
He spoke softly to Chris, “Hi, I’m Sid. We thought you might come. She’s sleeping in the cabin. Peter is with here. I’ll let him know you are here.”
Junior asked, “Have to seen anything suspicious in the neighborhood? Like UW or Margaret’s daughter?”
“Well, I did see lots of traffic on the main highway. It seemed as if they were searching.. But could be troops gathering to go to Israel. Have you heard about that? The big battle?”
Jose inserted, “No, but I’m sure we will. Are you sure no UW looking for the safe house?”
“I’m not sure but get this done in a hurry and you won’t have to worry about it.”
Chris quipped, “Good point! …Let’s go!”
In minutes the team wrapped Margaret in covers and strapped her to the sled. Dave and Whit drug her to the location of the four wheelers, and Jose attached the carrier to his ATV.
Junior scout the area for strangers as the sun peaked over the horizon. He watched as several armed vehicles drove down the very same street where they just rescued their friend. Quickly he started his four by four and led the way back to the south.
As the team drove away with Margaret attached, they heard a massive explosion a mile or so behind them. Chris stopped for a second and looked back. All that was left of the safe house was a ball of fire. Quickly he throttled and again they were headed south to safety.
Babylon…………………………..a hour later
The supposed king of the world and officially, The Supreme Leader, stood overlooking the city of Babylon and began screaming at his advisers “You, incompetent group of….I don’t know how to describe you. The river is dry..Why aren’t those troops here? Where are they? And, why are the Jews still hiding in the desert. You are telling me…You can’t find a few lowly Jews? Where are those evangelists? They are still preaching about.. Chr….ist. You guys need to go to……Do you not know, that it is predicted that Jesus will be here soon and we aren’t ready to battle him? Bring me the Supreme Leader of the Armed Forces, immediately. I’ve got a plan.”
"Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared . . . For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty . . . And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, ARMAGEDDON." (Revelation 16:12, 14,16, NKJV)
