Those who remain

By: Jimmy York

A Glimpse of the future.

I awoke this morning like any other day. I would roll to the side and lazily stroll to my closet, pick out something reasonable to wear to work, and retire to the bathroom to finish

my morning deeds, which I repeat each morning. However, this morning was different.

I arose out of bed to the sounds of thunder rumbling outside my bedroom windows. Flashes of light were dancing through my curtains making erratic patterns on the walls. The trees were fighting the ground as their roots pulled and tugged in a relentless effort to free themselves of their seeded prison.

The meteorologist on TV last night predicted this strange weather behavior. However, this was something else I would have to endeavor today, I decided to prepare for my busy day.

After fumbling around in the dark a bit I finally found the ball-studded string attached to my ceiling fan. After multiple tugs, I realized the power was out.

"Great, I thought, no coffee as I anticipated the bitter, yet warm taste of coffee I longed so much for.” I'll just get a cup from the store ."

This is December 21 "year unknown and although my clocks do not work, I can estimate the time. The sun always rise s around 6:50 am to 7:00 am but because it’s storming outside, it seems much darker

.

I remembered I had candles stashed in the cupboard beside the TV. So, after stumbling over Bibles and books on religion I had been reading, I finally found the candles I desired.

After striking the candles, I began to get dressed and in the process, I tried desperately to unravel my new pack of cigarettes. The power outage left me in a frustrated state, so

I needed a smoke. A few hits off my cigarette and then it’s time to get my suitcase and begin my day.

Now I will tell you a little about myself, My Name is John, I am a sales representative and I’m very good at what I do, I sell all types of items to many different kinds of church's.

Although you might not believe it, Bibles are the number one seller. I have read the Bible and I have even memorized verses so I can quote the scriptures word for word. We are living in perilous times, The signs of the times are everywhere, pestilence, diseases, food shortages ,famine and the number of earthquakes are growing every day.

Even though I’m a none believer, this Knowledge of scriptures really helps me make a sell.

I even attend church services on my route from time to time, and it’s really good for business. Today is going to be a good day, I can actually feel it.

The storm this morning will bring groups of people together, like always does. Whether it is an earthquake, flood, storm or any other major disaster, which all are becoming more common these days. One thing is for sure, people will gather and I will be there to comfort them with multiple sales of Bibles.

Enough about Bibles, if there is any money to be made, I’ll have to get on my way. There are people who need me.

So frantically, I shuffle to find where I had placed my car keys. Using the flicker off the candle I search for a gleam or shimmer as to reveal where my keys are located. The sliver of light deemed the task of finding my keys difficult, after finding them, I go to the door, and I continue on. I put my suitcase full of Bibles in the trunk; I get in my car and turn

the key to start my engine. It always starts after only a few seconds of turning over, and today proved that it needed a little more effort. So I keep trying to start the engine, and after patting the gas and uttering a few curse words, the car would not start.

I ask myself as I get out of my car and open the trunk to retrieve my suitcase, raincoat and umbrella.

"Why can't I have nice things?” Looks like I will have to walk.

So I began to put on the raincoat, and after doing so, I extend the shaft on the umbrella, grabbed my luggage. I start in the direction I needed to go.

The rain is beating down like needles and it is making it hard to see, not to mention the force of the winds are even making it difficult to walk, But I must move on, I've got a busy day.

As I am walking, I notice that there are no cars mobilized on the road. I shrugged it off thinking that the weather might have discouraged people to begin their morning commutes. Nonetheless, it was eerie to see the streets so abandoned.

I started to smell something burning. Something drove me to go

farther to see what fueled the foul stench that filled my

nostrils.

Curiosity drove my legs farther on and, after seeing a gratuitous amount of littered paper and empty clothes, I see buildings on fire, dead bodies, and one car wreck in particular . There was a man entangled in his seatbelt on the passenger side of the car. There was no driver. The airbag deployed on both

sides, and only a bundle of loosely strung clothes existed in the driver's seat.

My body began to tremor in shock to what my eyes uncovered. There was no question as to whether or not it was a car wreck.. The man was mangled, his face completely unrecognizable. No doubt lingered in my mind as to whether or not this man alive. My question resided, how did the car wreck happen in the first place? The airbag deployed on both sides, and only a bundle of loosely strung clothes existed in the driver's seat.

Completely baffled and disoriented at what I had seen, I rushed to the corner and ran inside the nearest convenient store. The lights were off, and no one was inside as if I was accustomed too.

"What's going on?" I ask myself worried. "Will someone call the police? There's been an accident!"I screamed.

No one responded. Just silence along with the howling winds. I rush back

outside. I think to myself, this is not at all what I had planned, where are all

the people. I continued to walk. I could hear a distant faint cry’s.

"Is anyone out there?” I desperately yell, trying to find some sort of reason as to what is going on.

"Can anyone hear me?” I dropped my luggage and run towards the direction of the crying.

I see an old man; he was sitting on the edge of the road in the rain crying and clinching yet to another bundle of clothing. It had been raining sporadically for some time now, and he was drenched from the rain. He held the bundle of clothing firmly, holding them close to his face. He was trembling, cold and all alone.

I go to him and try to shield some of the rain off him, and I ask, "Can I help you?”

He looked at me with fearful eyes, as his tears mingled with the rain that flowed down his face, He held up the clothing in his trembling hands and said;

"This is all I have left of my wife, she's just gone.”

He began to tell me of how his wife was such a good Christian woman, and how she had attended services every time the doors was open, how she constantly prayed for him to go to her place of worship, and to be saved. But he said his life was just too busy, and he didn't have time.

Again, holding the clothing nearer to him, he looked back at the ground and began to cry;

“He’s come, He's actually come!" The man replied after wiping his nose on his sleeve.

"Who's come?" I insist, trying not to sound too threatening.

"He's come, Jesus Christ has returned." before collapsing onto the sidewalk.

I tried to waken him, but to no avail. The discarded bottle of sleeping pills beside his feet proposed suicide. I dragged his unresponsive body back off the curb and mindlessly wandered onward to find resolve in this hectic situation.

After it seemed half an hour of walking, I finally come up to a group of people shuffling impatiently around what seemed to be an earthquake ridden back lot. I walk blindly towards it, and in the confusion, I try seeking for answers.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on?” I yell into the crowd.

"Can someone please tell me?” no one replied.

People were crying holding clothes of their love ones, they were wandering and confused. I even saw one woman holding her child’s clothing crying and

screaming why lord, why! She had placed a pistol to her brow, and in that instance she had taken her life.

However the crowd of people were undisturbed , they seemed to be almost in a trance. Everyone was involved with themselves it seemed. As frustrated as I was, I walked to the center of the crowd to see what caused the gathering.

The earth was trembling and a gash in the ground had opened up with what looked like steam hissing out of it. After a moment, the ground began to shake violently. Everyone backed up except one man. He seemed to be mesmerized in the moment.

I could not understand why he would not to move. Yet the ground continued to tremble, growing in strength every second. A feeling of dread filled my entire body as the gash opened up.

Smoke and fire was spewing from its mouth, then as the smoke was clearing, I noticed a pit and I saw a ghastly figure ascending out it .Still standing there, unwillingly paralyzed, I could only watch. His appearance showed something not of this world.

His skin complexion was unnatural; the shape of his head was demonic. His fingernails were long and black, which protruded out of his bony fingers.

He began to walk towards the man, but slowly. It was as if he had all the time in the world.

Finally arriving in front of him, he spoke "You, come. “

Hypnotized by his word the man obeyed. He walked towards him and the ghastly figure extended his arm signaling him to stop. Then he placed his grimy hand on His chest. He clinched the man skin and twisted his hand sideways;

“Stop” The young man screamed in agony. “What are you doing to

me?”

He laughed for a moment, and then with a smirk on his face he

spoke again. "You are going to change things."

" Change things" he said in fear. “Yes, you were chosen

to follow me,”

He said with a smirk still holding steadily on his grizzly face. “ You were chosen to lead the world.”

Shocked at what he had said, The man grabbed his hand that was still on his chest and tried to wrestle away. He must have had inhuman strength, because despite his best efforts, even with both hands; he was unable to relieve his hand from his chest.

“ Don’t fight it,” he announced, “I'm giving you the ability to deter chaos.”

The distressed man unwillingly ceased trying to free himself. The ghastly figure began to Chant under his breath and while holding his hand upon the young man’s chest. In doing so, the young man began to look pale. I thought

he was going to pass out. Then his chanting stopped.

“I have given you everything you need,” He stated after removing his hand off his chest.

The man had looked as if he was possessed. His eyes were darkened, his skin was pale, he looked very frightening.

“What did you do to me?” He asked, shaking uncontrollably.

He moved briskly in the man’s direction and shoved his face

directly into his. “ You, my son, are going to be the leader of the new world,” he said, still sustaining the smirk that, now up close, shows his yellow, horrific-shaped teeth.

In saying that, he turned and descended back into the pit.

I took a step back; I was finding it hard to comprehend what had happened. Still shocked, I turn around and look at the crowd of people which had doubled in size.

“Tell us what we should do!” One woman cried.

The Man at the pit turned and looked at us, He raised his arms in the air and, while looking across the crowd, and yelled, “All of you were left behind.”

I look around at everyone, and I began to understand. The empty streets, abandoned cars, stranded clothes; it all started to make sense. The old man was right, it actually happened! Jesus Christ had returned.

"Why am I still here?" I pondered, I was a good person. I provided bibles for churches. I went out of the way to assist others, I always did my best for the better good. I know I am not spiritual, but I always did what I could if I was needed. I am a good person.

The horrid man inhaled loudly, and said softly, “Gabriel has sounded his

trumpet, and you all were too caught up in your inferior lives to hear it.”

Many of these Men, Women and children who have left this world at this time have completed that which they came to do. They have fulfilled the prophecy, However, it is not too late for you, if you want to see them again, worship me, together we will build a new church in order to prepare those who remain to be rejoined with their loved ones. Do not fear. The time is now.

He then waved his hand into the air, and cleared a path. and said; “Go and gather food and water and return to me.”

Most of us were scared of what had happened. Others obeyed his command and began gathering the things he had asked for. but I knew from that moment on, that the world had changed.

Let me explain what is happening. Several days has passed now and although I was a sinner, I cannot deny that, Jesus Christ is my lord . I have created a safe haven for those who believe as I do.

These days We know the horrid man as the Antichrist. He has gained control of all currency, food, water, gas and all the resources. He has even established new rules and new laws. The Antichrist is making all his followers receive a mark of their loyalty and to worship only him. He has taken almost everything away from us.

We live in fear. He is constantly trying to seek and destroy Us. But at least for now we have our safe haven. We are finding it hard to get food and water but on occasion we receive help from old friends who had received the mark. Its

just disturbing that someone I knew could even receive this mark.

Times are hard for me and others like me, the other night I was out scavenging for food and other necessities and I saw a group of soldiers who was seeking Christians for persecution.

This happens all the time but this time was different , I thought that our safe house was the only one in our area but I was wrong, As I hid and watched I saw men and women, young and old , dragged to the street and placed on their knees, probably around twelve or so people, it was dark and hard to see . They were begging for their lives and praying.

While I watched, the soldiers gathered all the bibles they had and burned them. The soldiers gave each of the people the chance to receive the mark or to be put to death.

I saw a sword drawn and all that refused was beheaded. When he had came to an elderly man for his choice , he screamed “ Jesus is my Lord” until his last breath, as his head was swiftly removed .

I thought to myself I have got to do something. But I knew I couldn’t tonight.

That night had since past and I have told the others what I had seen and we chose to stay in our safe haven. After a while I had made several friends and one was named Gabriel. Gabriel has helped me as well as others to secure our safe haven and to help get the necessary supplies we need.

After a bit of discussion with him about food and supplies, we came to a decision that we should go see if we could find anything and if so bring it back.

As darkness approached we left the safe house and began our scavenging trip. After we had walked a block or so in the shadows of the darkness, we began to hear soldiers talking and laughing .

They were getting very close. Immediately We had hid ourselves in front of a abandoned store, after a few moments the soldiers gradually walked past us, shining flashes of light into almost every silhouette, we just laid there motionless .

Then one of the soldiers walked up closer to where we lay, almost four feet from where we was and began shining his light even closer . I was afraid, I thought he had seen us.

“ What is it .” One of the solders yelled,

“ Nothing I guess, maybe a rat or something. ” He replied.

After a few moments later the soldier and his patrol gradually moved farther away. Gabriel had noticed the window was shattered on the store front

that we were lying in front of and said ,“ we should go inside.”

We get to our feet and look around and we were all alone again. It was difficult moving around in the dark since we couldn’t use any light, but we managed to maneuver ourselves around through the broken glass without making any noises and had gained entry.

Once inside I noticed the place had been ransacked and almost everything was gone.

“ hey John,” Gabriel had softly spoke.

“ come here.”

I walked over to where he was and noticed he had found a bag of potatoes, flour and some can foods. This was a great find.

“ Good job,” I said to Gabriel.

I then found a box a placed the items in it, afterward s we found clothing, batteries, and many thing s we were in need of. After a while I tell Gabriel we have to get out here before the soldiers return. He had also agreed.

We grab what items we had found an proceed to exit the building the same

way we came in, Through the shattered store front. Gabriel was in front of me and as he passed through the window. I handed him the things we had collected. Potatoes first, then the box of items.

As I was exiting the building myself, my pants snagged a piece of broken glass and I fell thru the window and created a chain reaction of deafening glass falling everywhere. It was so loud I knew we had to be heard.

“ What have I done? “ I thought.”

“ Hurry” Gabriel screamed . “I see the lights of the soldiers coming in the distance.”

I got up as fast as I could and Gabriel and I grabbed everything we had and ran towards our safe haven. After minutes of running and carrying our supplies we were exhausted.

We made it, Luckily for us we were not caught. After we secured our home and caught our breath I noticed I was bleeding from my legs and blood was everywhere.

“I know this can’t be good,” I say To Gabriel,

“ Don’t worry it’s just a scratch he said “

I told Gabriel I’m not talking about how bad the cut is, I talking of the trail of blood I left from the store front to our haven. And now we are all in danger.

We were all worried and scared, But we decided to stay and pray. We had all held hands and said our prayers, in hope of course that Jesus would still hear us, and deliver us from this beast. The Antichrist.

Moments later the door was forced open ; we continued praying, One by one we were seized and delivered , as a sheep is humbled on his knees to be

slaughtered, I and many like me became martyrs for Christ.

Don’t let this happen to you or your loved ones.

The bible tells us in Revelation that after the first three and a half years of the tribulation (the time after the rapture until the second coming of Christ) The Antichrist will gather the armies of the world in a futile effort to defeat Christ. The Antichrist will require everyone to take a mark in their right hand or their forehead. And without this mark, no one will be able to buy or sell. Worst of all, if anyone takes this mark they are in essence swearing allegiance to the Antichrist and are forever excluded from salvation. People will still become Christians, but many will lose their lives. For the last three and a half years of the tribulation (called the great tribulation) the only way for a Christian to survive will probably be on the run and outside the laws of that time. Many will be martyred. Revelation tells us, though, that a great multitude will come out of the great tribulation with their robes washed white and clean by the blood of the lamb (Jesus). It also indicates that most of these are martyrs.

Revelation 6:9-11 tells us, "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SLAIN BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HAD HELD. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' And white robes were given to every one of them; and they were told to rest for just a little while longer, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, SHOULD BE KILLED AS THEY WERE,

After the Rapture of the Church the world will begin to go through, what the Bible calls, “The Tribulation Period." A time of great catastrophe and disaster where millions upon millions of people will die:

(1) One third of the world's remaining population will die under the sixth trumpet judgment of Revelation 9:15. This event would kill about one billion people, if the Rapture were to occur within the next ten to fifteen years.

(2) There will be a great worldwide destruction of major cities in the world during the seventh judgment of Revelation 16:17-21, in which many millions more will die.

(3) There will be the war of Armageddon, in which many millions more will die, when the blood of the slain armies will run as deep as a horse's bridle (Rev 14:20).

(4) Large numbers of people from all around the world will die during the actual Second Advent of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, according to Jeremiah 25:33, "At that time those slain by the Lord will be everywhere, from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground."

The persecutions we are seeing in our world today, while horrifying, are but a foretaste of what is in store for “ Those who remain ” in the near future.

It is very simple; this day will come as in the beginning of this story I state, "Year unknown". This is because no one knows when Christ will return. As this story describes one day, if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior

Then you will be one of “ Those who remain.”

The old man in the story should have attended church as his wife had asked, but as often as she had asked, he always had better things to do She went to heaven and he was left.

Where will you go?

John 3:16

16.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

16. for the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17. Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. To meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord