A Abba's Apocalypse

by Charles E. Butler

  to leave the fate of women and children in the hands of this evil Living Damned. This surely would be evil.

  Pastor Paul notifies us that the answers we need will only be made known through prayer. We return to the chapel and join hands. Each of us quietly takes time to offer our individual request up to the Lord. After several minutes the pastor leads us in a corporate prayer. “Dear Father of all creation; grant us your knowledge and wisdom. Show us what you will have us do. Give us the power to discern and defeat the evil snares ahead of us. Please instill in us the strength to follow your every command. Remind us we do not walk alone. March with us oh Lord in our army of faith. Amen.”

  The pastor’s words made me realize: it was my faith that allowed me to find Katie. It was my faith that gave us Moses. It was my faith that defeated the Demons. It is by my faith that I’m here today. I also recognize that a man without faith is the weakest of men. He can only try and do what he can imagine. But, a man with faith can do the unimaginable. For only God knows what that is. Faith is the only way we will defeat evil. And surely; faith is the only way we ever please God. For only a fool will say in his heart that faith is foolish. Yes, I will have faith!

  Time is of the essence. Urgency tugs at me to act in faith. The things that will happen to those innocent captives cannot be allowed to happen. I need to hurry and drop these supplies off at home, and then, somehow, rescue those women and children. I overhear Paul tell the congregation, “Stay here at least till tomorrow. This will give us more time to

  understand what we should do. It will be safer for everyone

  understand what we should do. It will be safer for everyone too. The LD and Demons are running ramped. There is a good chance of them finding us on our way home, or by living in them after we return home.” The brothers all agree. I turn to walk up the steps as the pastor runs to me. “Where are you going?” he asks. “I got to drop supplies off at home, and go do something after. These things can’t wait.” I don’t dare tell him

  what the something after is. It’s too dangerous to ask any of the brothers to come along. “Joey, in my spirit I know you are going to do God’s work. Therefore, I’m going with you.” I try and think of a single reason he can’t come, but who am I to tell him he can’t do God’s work. Scotty overhears the conversation and tells us he’s going too. “Joshua could be with them. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try and help.” Amanda comes over and says, “I know what you’re up to. I’m going too. I know exactly where the accesses are into the store.” Randy is right by her side and says, “I’m not afraid anymore. I’m going to help whether you say yes or not.” I shake my head side to side and tell them, “What a motley crew. Do you all realize the cruel things these guys will do to you if you’re caught?” No one says a word. “I’m going to have to move fast, make quick decisions, and take chances. Do you think you can handle that?” Again, no one says anything. They just silently nod, “Yes.” I say, “Aren’t you a find bunch of soldier.” Scotty tells the pastor he knows where some supplies and equipment are stored that may help us. Paul tells Randy, Kenny, and Amanda to go help Scotty get it. They dash off while he calls another brother over and gives him instruction on what he should do if something happens to him. Then, Paul asks me if I know where the old “Gardener Floral Mill” is? I tell him, “Yes, it’s not far from the department store.” “Do you think you can meet us there in, say, one hour?” I check and sync my watch, and then reply, “That’s affirmative. One hour then.”

  He follows me up the main entrance; then helps me tighten my rucksack. He pushes the light switch turning the chamber lights off, and then slides the entrance stone open. He pops his

  head out slowly as I move up in position. I see its dark out. I

  tell Paul, “Thanks.” I pop my head up for quick look around. I then whisper down the dark entrance way, “I’ll see you in one hour.” I rush out and hear him whisper back, “God watch

  over you brother,” as I dash to the tree line.

  I hear the almost silent click and locking of the stone

  door while observing from in the bushes for signs of LD

  activity. I say a silent prayer asking for divine protection and guidance for all of us this night. All seems clear, so I move out towards home as fast as I can. My haste forces me to remember along the way, that I have to rendezvous in less than an hour. I hear some distant activity banging and smashing. The sounds ring out through the damp cool night air. It’s far enough away for it not to be of immediate concern. I maneuver along my normal route of alleyways and back streets as fast as I can. There is evidence the LD have been this way. They left a lot of trash and debris in the alleys, and in the backyards of abandoned homes. I wonder how many more souls they might have captured, and hope Dave and Moses are still safe.

  I make it to my backyard fence and squat to see if I’ve been noticed or followed. Everything seems clear. Slowly and quietly, I remove my heavy sack and drop it over the fence. The slight thump of it hitting the ground is followed by the creaking of my backdoor. “Joey?” is whispered repeatedly as I jump the fence. “Yes buddy,” I whisper back to the dark figure peeking halfway out the rear door. Dave opens the door fully as I grab my sack and dash to porch, and then inside. He shut’s and secures the door as I sit against the inside wall trying to catch my breath.

  “You won’t believe everything that’s happened,” is Dave’s news alert. This is quickly followed by, “Where have you been all this time?” I point my index finger up, suggesting to Dave, give me a second to finish catching my breath. “I’m glad you made it back okay. I was scared you got caught.” He continues explaining the reason for his excitement. “LD came

  here last night. It was like a living hell. I could hear them all around the house. The only thing I could do was pray and keep Moses quiet. I closed my eyes and prayed like never before; expecting them to come in.” Dave nervously recounts the occurrence as I attentively listen in. I empty my rucksack

  filled with supplies as Dave’s bulging eyes delight. He seems to want to comment about the goods, but his desire to finish

  his accounting won’t let him stop reporting the prior activity. “I knew we were ‘dead meat’. I put my arms up in surrender, and gave myself up to our Lord. That’s when the miracle happened.” Dave starts bawling his eyes out. “Thank you God,” he repeats several times, and then goes on. “There was this light flashing all through the house. It was the brightest and most wonderful light I’ve ever seen.” Dave stops and swallows hard through his excited restricted throat. “Every flash caused the LD to scream, like it was killing them. Then, they ran off. They all ran off. I peeked through the crack in the plywood over the window to see the flashing was coming from the direction you went. I started to pray real hard God would keep you safe. I was so worried about you buddy.” I realize at this moment how much Dave really cares for me, and how much I care for him. “You’ll never guess what happen next? It’s a miracle because Moses was healed-totally healed!” I look over to where he was, just to realize the lump on the floor is just a balled up blanket. “Yep, I believe it was those flashes of light that did it. They were holy lightning. Yep, it was holy lightning.” I shake my head in amazement towards heaven as my heart screams, “You’re surely wonderful God.” I also realize those flashes came during the war for the martyrs. “Where is Moses now?” I ask Dave. “He left around noon today. He said he had to go check on his babies, and his Katie. But, he said to tell you he owes you his life. And, he’d see you again soon.” A warm feeling fills my soul. I know I have received another true treasures waiting for me in Heaven. One is eternal friendship with Moses, and the other is with my buddy Dave. For, these are the only kinds of

  treasure we bring with us into eternity.

  I rip back my watch cover and see I’m running behind my time schedule. “I got to go again,” I tell Dave. “Wait!” he exclaims. “I don’t even know what happened to you, or why you were gone so long.” I stand and strap
on my empty rucksack as Dave commands, “I’m going too!” I freeze at the possibility of him even suggesting his wiliness to face danger.

  I tell him “Where I’m going is evil. What I’m going to do will take a miracle. I’m sorry Dave, but you can’t come.” I’m worried Dave just doesn’t want to be alone tonight. I can’t blame him after all that’s happened. “I’m going with you!” demands Dave. “I don’t care anymore what happens to me. I want to help, and I’m going to help. If you leave me, I swear I’ll just follow you. Do you want that on your conscience?” I again shake my head side to side in amazement. I have this epiphany in my spirit. I know in my heart I got to take Dave along. I tell my buddy, “Okay, you can come. Just make sure you stay close to me and do exactly what I say.” Dave’s facial expression seems puzzled at my acceptance of his demand. “You mean you’re not going to argue about me coming?” I reply, “No.” “Why?” he asks. I tell him, “Because, it’s a God thing.” Dave grabs his jacket, and we’re out the back door.

  After making it to the backyard fence Dave whispers, “Where’re we going?” I pop my head over for a look around, and then return saying, “The old ‘Gardener Floral Mill’ at the edge of town; and we got about 30 minutes to get there.” I pull myself over, jumping down to a squatting position. The area seems clear, so I stand and offer my hand of assistance over the top of the fence to Dave. I feel his right hand fingers join mine. I grab and pull his hand helping him climb over. We squat for a final look around before taking off. Dave speaks softly, “Can you tell me why we are going there?” I advise him, “It’s to free some Irreverent prisoners. Let’s move out.” Dave’s mouth forms an oval that’s ready to speak. But, I put my index finger to my mouth signifying a “shhh” sound.

  We move along in 40 feet intervals towards our

  objective. We advance in turns, with one leading and the other observing. Neither advances unless the forward position gives

  the silent “okay, all clear” sign. I see Dave’s hand bend forward telling me, “It’s okay to advance.” We repeat this procedure for close to a mile and a half. We’re not far from the old floral mill as we hear the bushes ahead make a rustling

  and snapping sound. We freeze instantly and observe for

  what may be causing it. Dave looks back at me, waiting for my command on what to do next. I jerk my left hand towards Dave, and begin pushing air downward with it. This is the symbol for him to stay put, even if I move out. I advance and run past him moving closer to the bushes that the sound came from. About fifty feet away, I see a person stand and run out of it to another bush further away. I see another person repeat the same maneuver joining the first person in that same bush. I can sense these armatures are Irreverent. I have this feeling these are my brothers and sister.

  I wave Dave to advance to my hiding spot. It’s taking time for him to catch up, as I am about three maneuvers ahead. I wave him on to my hiding location behind some trash cans. After Dave arrives I murmur, “I think it’s the group from ‘T’ that’s going to meet us.” We begin to move while staying just behind them-just in case I’m wrong. I see the old mill’s silhouette emerge above the tree tops. I know we’re real close now. I hear some commotion off in the distance. Again, I hear something. This time it is a bunch of sounds that seem like faint squeals. My heart cringes thinking it could be the sound of a child being tormented. I through all “caution to the wind” and wave Dave to move fast alongside me. I forgo the time consuming maneuvering procedure and start running to the rendezvous point. My spirit speaks, “Time is of the essence!”

  I approach the back of the old floral mill and see the group ahead entering its back door. I know it’s my brothers as we maintain our rapid pace. We are about a minute behind the group as we close in. I can hear Dave just behind me panting between my huffing breaths. I’m praying that our

  stamping feet, gasping, and the swishing of my sack doesn’t alert a Demon.

  We make it to the mill and run right in the dark open backdoor. I run into the darken figure I think is Randy, startling him, as he stops my forward progress. Randy analyzes my face in the dark. He double checks it to

  make sure it’s really me. My body wants to bend forward and

  just suck up all the air my lungs will hold, but Randy’s long grasping arms and body won’t let me. Five seconds later, Dave runs right into my back. This action pushes the bunch of us about three feet further ahead. A distant shadow speaks, “I brought some things that can possibly help us.” This voice sounds like Scotty’s, but the darkness hides his true identity. I’m too exhausted to inquire “who said that?” I just listen as Dave and I gasp. Someone snaps something, as a green glow grows out of the dark. It reveals my comrades’ friendly faces. We form a huddle formation so we can discuss more quietly our plan of action. Pastor Paul leads the gallery of green floating faces and asks, “Did you hear the screams coming from the abandon department store?” I answer, “Dave and me heard it a few minutes ago.” Amanda whispers, “We need to hurry. I heard children screaming!” We are in a dilemma on what to do. Paul proposes we pray together for guidance and a solution. We bow our faces and firmly grasp hands as he directs us in prayer.

  “Oh Lord of lords and God of all, please hear our prayer. We need your supernatural help this night. Please Jesus, show us what we need to do this night to defeat this evil enemy. Please lead us Lord along the path we must take. Dear God, please give us a revelation right now. Be with us this night and supernaturally protect us. We stand tonight on faith to our Most High and mighty God. Amen.” We lift our heads to see the glistening green glow that glitters in every teary eye. Each face is full of them.

  A pounding sound approaches our position through the “old mill’s” doorway. We see one hefty shadow

  stampeding towards us as our hearts swell with anticipation. It looks like a torpedo bouncing in the night sea, while it constantly readjusts its aim. The thumping of its feet becomes fearfully deafening. We know we have no time to defend against its pursuit. The only thing we can do is just watch it “zero in” on our destruction. And, pray!

  A deep loud voice precedes this fairly large man saying

  “Is there anyone in there?” We don’t dare respond to its question and give our presence and position away. “Moses; it’s me Moses,” this dark figure bellows. I recognize in an instant the owner of this voice. “Don’t fret fellows, it’s my friend Moses.” His huffing and puffing is leaving a contrail of small white misty clouds. He rushes through the doorway revealing his anxious face. We stretch out our arms to stop Moses from crashing through us. He runs right in to me knocking me back several feet. I hug him and hold him up as his body begins to buckle. He urgently tries to say something, but his exhausted body requires all the air it will take to talk. “Catch your breath buddy,” I say, while keeping him propped up. I advise the others that Moses is a recent friend and new Christian Brother. Great relief comes over them as they pat the large guy; corporately congratulating him in friendship. “Joshua and Jericho,” Moses spews. “I..., I..., I was told!” Moses pauses for his next breath, “...to tell you Joey, these words, ‘Joshua and Jericho’.” He pauses again as a majestic smile appears. “I had a vision or something,” Moses proclaims! New life comes over him as his breathing returns. “It was wonderful. It was from a big beautiful Angel.” Moses strongly warns us that he’s not crazy. “I just know it was real. The Angel told me to hurry and go tell Joey these words. He told me he would guide me to you. And, he did. He also told me to say, ‘Trust in the Lord’.” Moses turns his head looking at every face. It’s like he desperately desires for us to believe him, but he seems surprised that we accept his message without doubt. Suddenly, it hits me like a ton of bricks. I command the group, “These words are how we will win

  tonight.”

  I know what those words mean now, and I know what we are supposed to do. “We’re going to do what Joshua did in the Bible.” I think back to my Sunday school days that my momma made me attend.
I vividly remember the story of “Jericho.” God gives Joshua a game plan to conquer his enemy, but it will involve extreme faith. The plan requires

  Joshua and the Israelites to march once a day around the impenetrable fortified kingdom of Jericho. The victory comes on the seventh day. During the preceding six days they are ridiculed by Jericho’s soldiers. On the seventh day they shout and blow horns while the procession completes seven trips around the city. Finally, Jericho’s walls crumble and victory is theirs. I suddenly realize how they defeated their foes. They acted in great faith believing God would do the impossible.

  “We will walk around Jericho and God will give us the victory,” I exclaim! My spirit authenticates my decision. It gives me a peace surpassing all understanding. I know this is the right choice as surely as I know God is with us tonight. “Here’s what we are going to do.”

  I explain each of our tasks for this night. Our group files out the old “Gardener Mill,” as fear and doubt immediately attacks us. We move quietly and steadily toward the LD headquarter and prison. Pastor Paul begins praying mildly “Psalms” 23. This is the cadence we march to this night. It will be our battle cry throughout the rest of the fight.

  Paul speaks parts of these verses while our feet keep to its rhythm. Each of our voices softly recants this section of the divine prayer. “Even though I walk,” our pastor sings. “Through the valley of,” we reply. “The shadow of death,” we resonate. “We will fear not.” This verse suffocates the fire of fear and kindles the flame of faith. There is order in our steps and unity in our hearts. “For, you are with me!” Paul loudly proclaims; and each soldier robustly confirms. We have forgone all our stealth as we arrive at the department store

  property. Proudly we sing our praises towards heaven. A

  great rumble begins shaking this unholy ground as we proceed to step on it. The sand is soaked with martyr’s blood screaming to be sanctified. Their blood begs for vengeance with each reverent step we take. I can feel the martyred returning with each closer step. The war is about to begin as we file boldly onto the battlefield.