2035 Revelation

by Freddy Campbell

  “There are some things which are revealed,” said Michael slowly, “and there are some things which are a mystery, while we are in this life. When we get to heaven, we will know as we are known. That is going to be truly amazing. It is way beyond what we can imagine here and now. God knows us completely: our thoughts, our fears, our hurt, what we love, what our talents are. We are going to know, to a similar level, who we are, who God is, and what life on earth was all about: what happened and why it happened. And we will relate to each other as we were created to relate: in total love and complete truth.”

  The four men sat in silence for some minutes while they pondered these words.

  Later that night, Sebastian arrived to lead them to the meeting. They filed out and made their way down the familiar route.

  They reached a bay in a service corridor, with a line of bins. Michael halted and put his hand up.

  “Something is not right,” he whispered.

  He gestured to them to hide in a recess behind the bins.

  They waited.

  Mark could hear his heart thumping in his ears.

  Then he heard footsteps coming towards them down the corridor.

  The footsteps stopped next to the bins.

  A stiff, lean figure was standing next to Michael.

  “What are you doing?”

  The strange voice was abrupt; it cut the silence like a knife.

  In the shadows, they held their breath.

  Sebastian motioned to them to pray.

  Mark found himself praying very simply: “help us.”

  “Just using this bin, Sir, medical waste,” answered Michael.

  The figure inspected the bin.

  The head moved with jerky movements.

  There was a strange, gurgling sound.

  The figure suddenly doubled over.

  “Oh cripes!” gasped the man, in desperation.

  The weasel features of the face were contorted.

  The man turned and fled down the corridor with two hands at his backside.

  Michael stood by the bins until the sound of footsteps ended with a door slamming and silence.

  “Did you see that?” Michael came to them with a hand over his mouth to try to contain his laughter. “What were you praying?”

  “I just asked the Lord to make him go away!” replied Sanjay with a grin.

  “It sounded like he had an attack of Delhi belly! He had the runs so he had to run!” said Michael.

  They all laughed.

  They carried on to the tunnel, still chuckling.

  When they arrived at the meeting, the group was gathered in prayer.

  They took their places in the circle.

  After some time, John said, “We commit this meeting to you Lord. Come, Holy Spirit. Show us what you want to do tonight.”

  Mark heard different voices speaking.

  “Jesus is here in the room with us”

  “The Spirit is hovering over us.”

  “I see flames. The wind is fanning them so they burn stronger.”

  “He is saying, “Open your hearts to what I want to give.””

  John said, “Let’s respond in a time of worship. I believe tonight will be powerful.”

  They started with a song about inviting the Spirit to come as in days of old. Mark followed the words in the hologram. This song led into several more.

  They were lifting up their hands during one of the songs when a strange thing happened. One man started to shake. Another man beside him abruptly fell flat on the floor. More men began to shake and vibrate. One man looked like he was a human pogo stick, bouncing on the spot. Mark felt warmth in his arms, and then his hands began to quiver. Soon his arms were shaking outside of his control. He could reduce it if he wanted but if he relaxed it got stronger. He was not alarmed because he somehow felt prepared for it. His knees went like jelly and he fell to the floor and had spasms of shaking.

  Some of the men were struggling to stand up, some were chortling, some were hooting with laughter and more were catching it. The musicians had stopped playing and were slumped, heaving with spasms.

  Mark’s stomach muscles felt like they were doing cartwheels and a belly laugh started to bubble up from deep down. He closed his eyes, leant back his head and let it out. Laughter was filling the room. Many had tears of laughter in their eyes and seeing each other this way only seemed to make it stronger.

  Another wave hit them and the few who were still standing fell down like they were ninepins, bowled over by an invisible ball. More laughter and hilarity followed. They all looked like a cheery bunch of drunks. When one of them tried to get up, others would stretch out and lay hands on them and they would stagger and collapse back to the floor, convulsing. More mirth and merriment resulted.

  Eventually, it all calmed down and they sat in a circle, with a happy weariness and some chuckles.

  “Do you understand what happened?” asked Steve, looking towards Mark, Johnson and Sanjay.

  “I read that God gives joy, but I was not expecting it like that!” replied Sanjay with a wide grin.

  “When you get a chance, read The Acts of the Apostles, from the beginning,” said Steve, “you will find that when the Spirit came, the believers sometimes appeared like people drunk on wine.”

  Mark had never drunk anything alcoholic. Wine was never available to the units. He had heard about wine and drunkenness only at school, when they had been told about the ‘decadence’ of the times before the New Order. He had not properly laughed since he was a young child so it had been a strange yet wonderful experience.

  When they parted, they hugged many of the other men of the group. They padded back towards the Sick Bay together. Michael met them at the exit from the tunnel. All was quiet in the corridors. They were all ready for bed so they bid each other goodnight.

  Mark settled into bed. He felt happy, tired and ready for sleep in equal measures.

  That night, his dream took him to a strange landscape. Many people were gathering in one place. There was anticipation, like something special was going to happen. He saw people of all ages, men and women. He looked into their faces. Each one was unique. He was struck by their hunger - not just a physical hunger but also a spiritual hunger. Mark had the feeling that something they needed was about to be given to them.

  17th April 2035

  DAY 6

  Mark awoke with a feeling that something new was going to happen.

  There was so much to talk about over breakfast. They had all felt a wonderful sense of release in the laughter the night before.

  Sanjay told of how he was one of the last standing and how he thought he had felt a little brush of wind before keeling over. He admitted that he had had some fear at letting the Spirit have His way.

  Johnson said that he felt very safe. He felt so at home in this group. He felt like they were all like brothers. He loved this fellowship they were experiencing.

  Mark told them that he had been plagued with the fear of being sent back to the unit, but that fear had evaporated with the laughter.

  Michael said that they had had many meetings with similar events in the past. He could still remember what it felt like when it happened the first time for him. He felt that burdens were lifted off him. It was refreshing and liberating.

  “The amazing thing to me is that the Lord touches every individual in a particular way,” Michael added. “He knows our needs and what he wants to do in each one. For one person, it might be healing, for another it might be reassurance, for another it might be they are receiving a gifting. And he loves to do these things during our meetings, rather than when we are on our own. All of us are learning new things continually.”

  “What do you mean gifting?” asked Sanjay.

  “A gift of something,” replied Michael, “like a gift that enables you to do something - artistic work, writing, teaching, leading, caring for others, anything that the Lord might ask you to do.”

  They read together the section in The
Acts of the Apostles where the Holy Spirit came on a large group of disciples in Jerusalem like a loud, rushing wind. Some people who saw them accused them of being drunk even though it was nine o’clock in the morning.

  “That’s just what we experienced!” said Sanjay.

  They all agreed.

  They split up to work separately. Sanjay researched the work of the Holy Spirit while Johnson hunted for teaching on the brotherhood of believers and on what fellowship is. Mark was drawn to learn more about worship.

  Mark found that one of the first mentions of worship in the Bible was when Miriam, the sister of Moses, sang a song after the people crossed the Red Sea. He explored references to worship in the Law, at the time of King David, and the instruments they used in those days. He felt a yearning to understand at a deeper level why worship was given and what its purposes are.

  When he came to share later, Mark told them, “I feel really drawn to worship. I am not sure what it is going to be at the moment. The more we worship at the meetings, the more I love it. I love listening to all sorts of songs. Today, I found a song which told a story of Jesus dying on a green hill far away.”

  “That song is an old hymn,” said Michael, as he tapped on his screen, “it was written by an Irish lady in 1847, when she was sitting up late at night with her daughter who was sick. It says here that she wrote it for children.”

  “There were lots of different versions of it,” said Mark.

  He played the beginning of a song for them. It had an up-tempo drumbeat.

  “Before the War of Unification, music was huge,” said Michael, “there were thousands and thousands of bands. Britain and the United States had some of the most prolific songwriters. I think they led the way, with many others in places like Australia and South Africa. The church had a wide range of musicians in just about every style of music there was. The music industry was one of the many casualties of the war. The Executive only allows the type of music you heard in your units. You remember learning at school level how any independent music was against the Golden Rule?”

  The others all nodded.

  “In our meetings, everyone joins in the worship,” said Mark. “No one forces them. We are musical, all of us. If we are made in God’s image then I suppose God is musical. He must have created music.”

  Michael looked at him.

  “You have learnt so much since you came here. It’s marvelous to see. God works in a truly wonderful way,” he looked at the others, “he is drawing each of you down the paths he has for you to walk. I am so happy to witness it. I hope I will see you in the future, when God has had opportunities to use you.”

  “You have been very kind to us,” said Johnson. “I am not sure how we can thank you.”

  Mark and Sanjay agreed.

  When Sebastian came they were all ready to leave. They made their way down the route that was now becoming familiar. There were several times where they had to wait silently, listening for any sound of Hansford. They heard footsteps but they were moving away. They waited then continued.

  They reached the tunnel and pressed on, eager to reach the meeting.

  Michael came with them.

  When they entered the meeting room, they found the group of men in a huddle of prayer. The men stopped and looked up expectantly as they approached. They greeted them and their gazes were directed at Mark, Johnson and Sanjay.

  John spoke first.

  “Look you guys, we feel that this is a special night for you. We would like to direct our prayer to you tonight.”

  The three gestured to show that they were fine with the idea.

  They took their places where John indicated, in the centre of the circle.

  “Okay, let’s get this prayer time started,” said John, “come Lord by your Spirit. Show us what you want to do tonight. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see.”

  After a pause, some of the men took it in turns to speak:

  “The Lord is saying he wants to fill you up.”

  “He is going to equip you.”

  “He knows the plans he has for you, to raise you up.”

  “I see rushing water, like a river. It is powerful.”

  “Let’s lay hands on them. The Lord is going to work something important tonight.”

  Mark was kneeling with eyes closed. He felt many hands resting on his shoulders, arms and back. He could feel heat under the hands. He could hear voices but he could not make out the words. He felt something rising in his breast. It grew stronger. The feeling was a bit like bubbles and tingling. It was moving from his chest up towards his mouth.

  “Something is happening, I am not sure what it is,” he said frowning.

  “You are receiving the gift of tongues, try speaking some expression in the Spirit. Join us as we pray.”

  The sound of the strange words was all around him. He opened his mouth and some words he had never used before came out. It was like making a connection in his spirit. He chuckled and tried again. More words poured out of his mouth. He had no idea what they meant but it did not seem to matter.

  Similar things were happening to Sanjay and Johnson.

  The men finished praying for the three individually and John asked them to sit together in the middle of the large circle. John said they would ask for prophetic words for them. Silence fell on the group as they waited.

  Then Mark heard different men speak:

  “Sanjay, the Lord is going to anoint your mouth for teaching.”

  “Sanjay, God is giving you authority. He is going to help you to be responsible with this gift.”

  “Johnson, God has given you a heart for your brothers. You are a pastor. God is going to use you to help the wounded.”

  “Mark, the Lord is anointing you for worship. Make it your goal to worship him in spirit and in truth.”

  “Johnson, God sees your heart. He is going to reveal his care for you. He says, “trust me always.””

  “Mark, the Lord is going to give you songs for this time. Many people will see, many people will fear and many people will put their trust in the Lord.”

  “The Lord is reminding me of a picture I had before of you three as brothers. What he gives one of you will also bless the others. The more you share the more the Lord will bless you.”

  Then Mark heard John’s voice saying, “I believe it is time to ask the Lord what the next move is for you three - is that okay?”

  They opened their eyes and nodded. They bowed their heads and closed their eyes again.

  “Lord,” prayed John, “come and show us now, please reveal what you want these guys to do. What is the next move for them?”

  With little hesitation, Mark spoke, “I see a picture of us in a small room, we are on something that is moving. It is dark outside. We are going somewhere through the night.”

  “He wants to take us somewhere out of the city,” added Sanjay. “It’s a safe place far from here.”

  “There are warrior brothers and sisters there,” said Johnson. “I see them teaching us many things and equipping us.”

  They opened their eyes, intrigued.

  “Does that sound right?” ventured Johnson.

  There were grins on every face in the circle.

  “It’s what we expected,” said John, “he wants to ship you out of the city and move you to the safe haven in the North. We have all been there. It is a wonderful place. We will take care of the arrangements. This time tomorrow you will be on your way. Tonight, we will say our goodbyes, until we meet again.”

  The three wanted to know more but John said it was better if they got back to the Sick Bay and rested for the journey. Michael would answer their questions in the morning.

  “Before we go, let’s break bread together,” said John.

  He explained about the Lord’s last supper with his disciples while others went to fetch the bread and wine. They passed the cup and a tray of bread around the circle. Mark felt like the bond with the group was even stronger.

  Then th
e men did something that Mark found very touching: they stood and formed a line and asked the three of them to start at one end so that they each had a chance to give them a hug and say a farewell. When Mark looked into their eyes, he marveled at the care and love he saw.

  Sebastian and Michael led them back to the Sick Bay.

  Mark did not want to go to bed but Michael promised them that they would discuss everything over breakfast.

  That night, Mark had a dream where he was playing a strange game in the sunshine. He did not recognise the faces apart from Sanjay and Johnson. There was laughter. They were running on lush green grass, this way and that.

  18th April 2035

  DAY 7

  In the morning they were awoken by Michael bringing them breakfast.

  “Boy o boy, you guys slept well,” he chuckled. “Breakfast is an hour later than usual!”

  Mark rose, washed his face and joined the others at the table.

  “This morning, you can spend time in the ward,” explained Michael. “You will leave late this afternoon. I will scan you out and Sebastian will take you to a loading bay and introduce you to the brother who will transport you to the rail depot. He will take you to meet the one who will look after you on the train to the North. You will have berths - like little rooms - so you will be able to sleep. It’s a long journey and the train makes lots of stops throughout the night. When you get to your destination, someone from the safe haven will collect you.”

  A thought suddenly struck Mark: it was the mention of the loading bay. He recalled working in the observation rooms and watching people at work for hours at a time.

  “What about the cameras in here? Have we been observed by other units? Will they not put alerts on us after what we have been doing?”

  Michael smiled and shook his head. “That is all taken care of. When you first arrived, you were recorded over the first 24 hours. That footage has been manipulated and fed to the observation units.”

  “Who does that?” It was Johnson enquiring this time.