Chapter 8

     The sky had started to glow like a furnace from late afternoon and within an hour the eerie glow had spread throughout the whole state. Many people regarded it fearfully and saw it as a bad omen and others saw it as due to global warming and agreed among themselves that it was just some sort of super aurora.

     The guru was scheduled to speak to the United Nations General Assembly at around five in the afternoon. Many people were now convinced that the guru was indeed the anti-Christ. He had a charismatic manner and seemed to have solutions to all of the world's problems. His eyes were so compelling and his voice was strange that he seemed almost to put the watchers and the listeners into a type of hypnotic condition.

     This enigmatic figure had declared on many occasions that he was the new messiah and the only God that humankind needed and many were wowed by his charisma. They thought him wonderful and superbly dynamic.

     The Christians of Fort Wayne at least knew different and were getting ready to flee into hiding as the rise of the man of perdition came to be established.

     As Sue drove towards Sam's ranch everything seemed to be coming under an even deeper eerie red glow. It was barely midday and yet it was dark. Sue watched all of this in growing trepidation. What was this? She had never seen anything like this in her life. She could see that all the other drivers and pedestrians were wondering the same. Sue wondered if this was connected with the weather, with the hurricane that had been raging in the coastal areas or if it was something else. She wondered why the sun appeared to be darkened. In her heart she knew that it was nothing to do with the weather. Sue came off the highway and headed for the back roads that would take her to Sam's ranch. When she got onto the back road to the ranch she got a better look at the sky and could not believe what she was seeing. The kids stared in total awe.

     "Gee mom! The sky is on fire and the sun has gone to sleep!" Said Nathan.

     "What is it mom?" Asked Emma fearfully.

     "Oh, it's likely some kind of weather warning probably. We'll ask daddy or Uncle Sam. They will know." Sue said.

     They turned onto the ranch road and were soon driving up Sam's driveway to the courtyard in front of his work buildings. Sam and the others were out staring up at the sky as totally perplexed as Sue was. The kids ran to their daddy and he hugged and embraced each in turn.

     "What is it?" Sue asked quietly trying not to show her alarm in front of the children.

     "We don't know honey but it has spread all over." Charley answered.

     "It's connected with that sound that we heard yesterday." Sam told them.

     "Of that I am sure."

     Just them Wesley one of Sam's twin sons drove into the courtyard with the younger boys. They ran to their dad and hugged him. Young Zack was more concerned about telling his dad something important about school, than worrying about the ever-spreading red glow in the sky.

     "Dad. You might get a call from the school about me." Zack said looking really worried.

     "What about? What happened?" Sam asked.

     "We... uh ... I... took some things to the school and they got out and ran all over the hall floor and frightened some teachers."

     "What ran over the hall floor?" Sam inquired warily but really beginning to wonder if he really wanted to find out.

     "Mice." Zack said his head bowed.

     "Mice?" Sam asked, his voice slightly raised.

     "Uh dad, we,.... Nathan and me took them to the school to show Mrs. Washington and they got out when Mrs. Willard tripped over me and Nathan's legs."

     "You took mice to school young man?"

     "Uh Sam, I wouldn't worry too much about it." Sue said grabbing Sam by the arm.

     She took Sam and Charley away to the inside of the shift room and explained it all to them.

     She told them all about Cynthia and her brave stance. They had a laugh at the mice incident and Myra Willard screaming and jumping the skies of Europe on January the 25th 1938. It could be seen over most of Europe from the North Sea to the Adriatic. It lasted from nine at night till early morning.

     The Blessed Virgin at Fatima had foretold it.

     "When you see an unknown light in the skies know that this is the sign that God is going to punish the world." Our Lady had told Sister Lucia and the two other visionaries at Fatima.

     When the sign occurred the Anschluss took place forty-seven days later.

     This glow had started earlier after midday. The sky looked aflame as if it were on fire.

     Lieutenant Mike Douglas was on his way out to Sam's ranch when the glow first appeared in the sky. He had answered quite a few radio inquiries from people back at the precinct who thought at first there was a forest fire.

     'It's no forest fire." Mike said calling in to his watch commander at the precinct.

     "The whole sky is like a furnace. I haven't a clue what it is!" Declared Mike.

     "I'll continue to call in and keep you informed."

     He put the receiver back and continued driving out to Sam's. The eerie glow was reflecting on the lake and it made the water appear to be blood red also.

     Back at the ranch Sam decided to phone Sister Mary -Jo. Charley and Sue had headed for home so as to be there when their son Charley Junior came home. Charley said that he would be back later to finish the tractor that he was working on.

     Sam didn't know why he phoned Mary-Jo rather than an elder or deacon of the Baptist church to which he belonged. Mary- Jo answered immediately.

     "Do you see it Sister?"

     "Yes I do Sam."

     "Is it all connected do you think?"

     "It has happened before Sam. Well something similar anyway."

     When?"

     Mary- Jo found herself telling Sam about the strange aurora like sign that had been seen in Europe many years ago. It had been recorded in many newspapers in Europe. She explained how Sister Lucia was told that if the world did not improve that there would be a night illumined with an unknown light and this would be a sign that God was about to punish the world for its many sins. Shortly after that great, unknown light the Anschluss occurred and German troops marched into Austria.

     Sam listened as she told him about the Blessed Virgin at Fatima. "No Sam there are documented records about it. The glow in the sky was mentioned in the London Times and in other newspapers through out Europe at the time. It really did happen and these records really do exist." Mary- Jo explained.

     Sam asked her to tell him more and Mary- Jo agreed to do so. At the public park Old Ron was holding an open Bible in his hands and was calling peoples attention to the Book Of Revelations Chapter Sixteen, verses 8 and 9.

     "The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun. It was given the power to burn people with fire. People were burned by the scorching heat and blasphemed the name of God who had power over these plagues, but they did not repent or give Him glory."

     He berated the passers by quoting more of the Holy Scriptures and laughing at those who glared at him. He quoted from Isaiah chapter two verses 17 to 19.

     "Human pride will be abased, the arrogance of men brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The idols will perish forever.

     Men will go into caves in the rocks and into holes in the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he arises to overawe the earth." His words rang out striking fear into many.

     Ron shouted loudly and clearly in a strong resounding voice. He appeared to be putting the wind up more than a few people that heard him in the street.

     "Yeah you are all scared aren't you? Eh? There might just be a God after all. You're are thinking to yourselves that you maybe better do something about looking into this religion business just in case it is all true. Strange things have been happening recently in the last few weeks. Bet your guru couldn't come up with a glow like that no matter how he tried." Ron berated everyone.

     In an old abandoned shack in the forest Lee Mitchell was in hiding. He and a buddy were quite well on and didn't appear to be to be worried about the color of the sky.

     "It's the weather or something." Lee said in a slurred voice as his buddy Vern pointed it out.

     "Oh it's nothing!" Just forget it and let's open that other pint of whiskey." Lee suggested. "And then I'm going to make Old Sam and his smarmy boys rue the day they tangled with me and that doggone Carl also. Gee will they be sorry! Go get it Vern." He urged his buddy.

     "Hey! I am supposed to be working on a fence and I got to drive home." Vernon protested.

     "Old Sam will throw me off the ranch also if he finds out that I'm here."

     "Yeah so what? Get the whiskey and then drive into town and get me some more." Ordered Lee flashing a thick wad of twenty-dollar bills.

     Lee started to sound off about Sam's sons and then launched into a tirade about Sam and Carl and Charley Jackson. Someday he'd shoot Old Sam and that would fix out his boys.

     They lay in the hay giggling and telling of their exploits. Jackson was going to get it also. Lee was going to make sure of that. Vern went off to town to get more liquor.

     Charley drove Sue and his children home. They stared in disbelief at the red sky. It seemed to be on fire. Everywhere many people were silent and greatly perplexed at this latest phenomenon. Some people put it down to weather and didn't seem concerned.

     Still Old Ron shouted telling those who would listen of the coming tribulation.

     He was in fine form as Charley drove past with his family. Sue rolled down the car window to hear what he was saying. They noticed that a lot of people were listening to Ron and they also noticed a strange car parked near him with blackened windows.

     "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth from the rest of the trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to blow." Old Ron thundered.

     "Gee Old Ron never wearies does he? He has an answer and a Biblical text for everything." Sue said.

     "He sure is something Honey!" Answered Charley thinking deeply.

     Charley had been rather quiet on this trip and seeing Ron reminded him of what the old man had said to him.

     He dropped Sue and the children off and then went back to Sam's. He decided to go back a little used and little known route to Sam's and get there quicker. He decided that he would stop off up at his still and dump some more supplies there whilst he had the chance. Charley thought it would be prudent to take the old man's words seriously and had already been stocking some of the places he owned with the things Ron suggested. Sam, Will and Brent and Father Ben, and his own brothers along with Barry and Kevin, had been giving him a hand and they'd been getting really organized.

     The red sky looked threatening and Charley noticed heavy gray red clouds. A storm was brewing. The red gray clouds looked menacingly sinister in the already aflame sky.

     Charley swore under his breath as the rain started. It would be slippery at his still and he needed to watch out. The rain turned to hail and it came down like a torrent. Charley quickly pulled into an underpass so as his windshield would not be damaged.

     At the ranch Sam and the others dived to get the horses, foals and other livestock under cover and out of the hail. They were hard pressed and Sam's youngsters joined in the effort to calm the frightened animals.

     "Where the heck is Vern?" Demanded Sam as he struggled to keep hold of a mare.

     "Could do with Mary- Jo's help now." He laughed.

     Carl and the other hands worked hard to get the animals to safety and then spent some time calming them down.

     Meanwhile Gene Washington had just gotten two calls regarding his wife. The first one was from the education offices asking to speak to her urgently, and the second one was from Myra Willard telling him that his wife had broken the law and had pushed her religious beliefs onto the children. Gene worked up a rage and paced the floor, planning in his mind what he was going to say to Cynthia.

     Eventually Cynthia and their two sons Ryan and Kyle came in. They had all been to the supermarket. Gene met them at the door.

     "Hey dad. Come and look at the sky!" Shouted Ryan.

     "Boys! Go over to Lindy and Al's house right now and ask them if you can stay for a half an hour. Mom and I have something to discuss." He said seriously.

     "But Dad. I want to..." Kyle began.

     "Kyle! Do as I say!" He roared at the child.

     "Sure dad."

     "Now!" He shouted again.

     The two boys looked at their mother. Cynthia nodded silently.

     At this the two boys ran off to their neighbors. Cynthia looked at Gene in bewilderment. He held the door open for her as she entered, his face like thunder. He slammed the door behind her.

     "Have you gone off your head? That phone hasn't stopped ringing for the last twenty or so minutes." He demanded heatedly.

     "I have had the department of education on demanding to know where you were. I covered for you saying that you were seeing to our own kids and would be back any minute!" Gene told her.

     "I have had Myra Willard on the phone telling me that my wife had broken the law and that she has personally put in a report to the education authorities detailing your religious speech to the children of -• Fort Wayne Elementary, and that you will be lucky to get off with suspension! I get enough flack from her old man without her bothering me at home.

     A member of the school board phoned also requesting an urgent talk with you.

     Are you out of your mind Cynthia? What in hell were you thinking off preaching to children knowing full well that it is not allowed?" He demanded angrily.

     "Now before you go on any further Gene Washington I am not out of my mind and I am fully aware that Myra Willard has been reporting me. This wasn't the first time that she has been on the phone to the education department reporting me and other staff members. I also know that she has been in to see them and it doesn't worry me one bit Gene! I am not in the slightest bit worried about the consequences of my actions and I am glad that I did what I did. Maybe I have put at least one child and maybe his or her family members on the right track! Old Mrs. Willard is after my job and her sidekick Mrs. Merton wants to be deputy. The gruesome twosome the staff calls them. Both are a pair of dragons and the parents won't tolerate them for long! Myra likes the gin too much and is too old and Mrs. Merton is just as bad!" Yelled Cynthia.

     "You have contravened the terms of your contract and they will come down on you like a ton of bricks. You have let your personal feelings and beliefs interfere with your position as principal." Gene screamed at her.

     "You are beginning to sound like Myra Willard!" Cynthia accused.

     "Sometimes I wonder Cynthia if you haven't gone loopy!"

     "Don't you come that with me Gene Washington! Have a look at that sky out there and tell me that it isn't a sign of the Lord God's displeasure!" Cynthia said.

     "That is nonsense. It is all due to global warming and is nothing more that an unusual aurora borealis!" Gene told her.

     "The Northern Lights? Here in the south?" Cynthia asked him amusedly.

     "Look Cynthia there has been tornadoes and earthquakes and other unusual happenings in places where they don't usually happen, like that earthquake a few weeks ago but that doesn't mean that the Lord God or His adversary Satan are at work."

     "Gene! I think your mother must have brought the wrong baby home from the hospital after you were born! She is so religious and God fearing and you are a big Godless nerd! I don't know how Bobby, Mike and Joe, Mark and Zack put up with you!"

     "Cynthia I am going down to my den! I don't want to hear any more. Please contact the education authorities at least before they contact you. Tonight I have a lodge meeting and I won't be back till late."

     Yes go to your lodge and stay there. You are all a bunch of silly men playing at dressing up and pretending to appear logical."

     "We are not silly men and the lodge is more defined than your church!"

     "Then why is it so secret and why don't they let women in? It is just a big boys gang that is why! And by the way you talk about it constantly in your sleep and I get to hear all your secrets. I know more about the lodge than you think!" Cynthia said with a laugh.

     At this Gene raised his hand and spoke in a most offended voice.

     "Cynthia I don't want to hear anymore!" Gene replied indignantly.

     "No! Because you know I am right and you are too stubborn to admit it!" She accused.

     "Charley Jackson has more guts than you do!" With this said Cynthia threw Gene's football magazine at him.

     "Take your darned magazine by the way!"

     With this said Cynthia went into the kitchen closed the door and poured herself a glass of sherry. They could contact her if they wanted, she decided confidently for there was no way that she was going to apologetically phone them. With that said she started to prepare the lunch.

     Outside the hail was clattering down on everything like golf balls. The sun appeared darkened and Cynthia watched it through her kitchen patio doors with rising alarm.

     The gray clouds loomed dark red and everything was bathed in an eerie crimson hue. The crimson sky gave the hail on the ground a blood red appearance.

     At the Park Old Ron was standing in the open and it looked to everyone that the hail wasn't even touching him.

     "It will come to pass in the last days. God says, that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Indeed upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord, and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord." Ron yelled.

     The same car that had been shadowing him recently was parked in a side street its windows blacked out.

     Mike was driving out to Sam's ranch when the weather deteriorated. He needed to see Sam before he went back to town. He parked his patrol car under a bridge and switched off the engine.

     Mike was a lay preacher and a football coach and was involved in the church youth group. He always worked with young people and presented an excellent image to them. He was a good all round role model and worker for the Lord.

     Mike suddenly became aware of a chink of light in his mirror that seemed to be getting more and more intense. He looked into his mirror intently and blinked at a persistent light that was reflecting back at him. The glow from the light grew in its intensity and in size. Something compelled him to look further into that light. In an instant Mike was enlightened. Time and space seemed to change for the lieutenant in the twinkling of an eye.

     Mike was a good guy he was sincere and well liked. There had been difficulties and there had been bad times. He saw all of them before him in an instant. It had seemed as if he was watching not a video but something even more real. He saw all his mistakes in clear detail and all his faults and good points. Mike knew this was no hallucination. He had repented of his sins many times and had kept himself in God's grace as much as he could. Now Mike saw how he stood in the eyes of the Lord and was filled with joy.

     A beautiful light more radiant that Mike could describe penetrated his whole being. In that instant he felt this most amazing feeling of love and being loved, that he had ever felt in his life. It was so mind blowing and wonderful that Mike wanted to go and be with the Lord right there and then. The Lord also showed Mike his task and he knew what he must do.

     Charley Jackson had got out of his truck and gone into the trunk for his flask of coffee. He knew that it would still be hot and a cup would pass the time until the storm passed.

     The sky was still flaming red and Charley wondered just how long this thing was going to last. He wondered if he should just go on up to the still complex and check on his hooch and make sure that the place was secure and that there was no storm damage. He wanted to make sure that everything was locked up and safe. He'd have a coffee first and then decide.

     He laughed to himself when he thought of Gene Washington and a bunch of cops from the precinct chasing him through the hills to a 'decoy' still a few weeks past. Washington had been over the moon with joy as he was convinced that he had at last found Charley Jackson's still.

     Charley laughed to himself as he thought of the scenario that had unfolded, with Sergeants Willard and Dixon led by Detective Washington along with a few other cops. They had pursued Charley and Nathan through the hills only to find that what they thought was Charley's still was just another send up.

     Charley chortled at the thought of the merry dance he had led them all. He and Nathan his brother had watched the whole thing from a hidden vantage point.

     Washington had been stung by some insect and sank up to his knees in mud. All of them had been nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes. Willard had fallen face first into a hidden swampy pond and it took big Mike Douglas and Bobby MacDonald and two other cops all the strength they could muster to haul him out.

     "Should have left the old coot in there!" Muttered Charley.

     "Best place for him among all those swamp critters at the lake side. Feed him to the gators. Likely make the gators throw up!" He added chortling.

     "Big Mike should have held him under." He added.

     Charley remembered how Mike Douglas had laughed at Charley when he told him that he thought there were gators in the Sherman Lake. Nobody would believe him.

     "Guess you've bin sampling too much of that hooch Charley!" Mike had said.

     Charley liked Mike and Bobby and he knew that both guys and some other cops had turned a blind eye to a lot of his activities. He was sorry that the big nerd Washington had dragged them through the hills. Mike Douglas knew fine that Charley's still wasn't there.

     Charley noticed that the storm had abated suddenly and he could see that the red sky was starting to clear. The sun was high over the Ozarks and was starting to break through the clouds. He decided that he would head to the ranch, fix up Sam's tractor and get into town, as he needed to visit an auto store on the edge of town for some parts he had to pick up. He would also need to look around and find something for Sue's birthday that was coming up in another few days.

     Charley utterly adored his wife and wondered what she ever saw in a guy like him. He knew his shortcomings all too well and was first to acknowledge his faults.

     Sue was sweet and gentle and religious and a wonderful wife and mother.

     Before he had met Sue he had been into a life of petty crime and even violence.

     He was far from the Lord and a very different guy.

     Charley had a rap sheet as long as his arm and had also been involved in race hate groups but that was until he had met Sue. He often wondered what she did to get landed with a guy like him. She had changed him so much and turned him into a loving husband and father. She was a wonderful wife and mother he thought.

     Sue had been nagging Charley recently to come to the Lord and he had gone along to church whenever Sue caught him on a Sunday. He was still annoyed with the Lord over the death of his mother when he was a child.

     Charley grinned, as he had been brought up to believe in the rapture and that the church would not see the man of perdition but now he wasn't so sure and he knew that Sam was also having misgivings about the rapture also.

     Charley got out of the car and emptied what was left of his coffee onto the ground. There was total silence and Charley thought this was rather strange. He could not hear any crickets or locusts or birds or any other sounds. There was only silence and a bright light was before him. He wondered what this might be and at first thought that the sunlight was reflecting off Sherman Lake and that this was what he was seeing, but the light grew brighter and more intense.

     Suddenly, a strange sensation came over Charley. A strange intense trembling seized his whole body and he became filled with a terrible feeling of dread and unease. Some how though, the light seemed to take this feeling of dread and unease and replace it with a feeling of security and joy. He felt that something in the light was reassuring him in some way. His eyes became transfixed to a very strange almost luminous glow. What was this?

     Was he having a seizure? He suddenly found himself very light and being drawn forward into the light. The tin mug he was holding dropped from his hand and he became aware of being enveloped with some kind of light that seemed to be all around him but in him also. Charley knew that he was suspended in time and in space at that moment and he knew that the most wonderful being that you could ever in your wildest dreams imagine was in that light. He felt loved as never before and he wanted to cry.

     In front of him unfolded a tableau of events from his life, Charley saw every detail of his life stretched out before him like a video movie but more precise and graphic.

     He saw himself as a baby and was being held by his mother whilst his father dangled a toy in front of him. He could hear his mother singing hymns. He saw himself walking with his mom and his brother Nathan as she pushed the pram with Baby Wade in it.

     Charley stared intently as he saw the accident that had claimed his pregnant mother's life when he was six. A drunk driver had careered into his mother, his two brothers and himself injuring them and fatally wounding his mother. She had thrown herself in front of them to protect them from the vehicle's impact. He saw the mangled buggy and the emergency services and he also saw the shock and the grief on his Father's face as he came with their grandparents to get him and his brothers from the hospital. His dad had never gotten over this terrible loss and used to sit silently on his own holding his wife's picture.

     This whole incident had haunted Charley all his life and remained with him causing him much bitterness and anger through out his life.

     Next he saw himself at elementary school and high school and he could see his grandmother waiting for him to take him home. He could even smell his grandmother's meat loaf and taste her apple pie. He and his brothers had played in their grandmother's yard as they awaited their father coming home from work. Things were hard and it was then that he became aware of his father's sideline in moonshining.

     Next he saw himself in the army and then he witnessed the drift into a life of petty crime. He could see and hear his grandmother pleading with him to change his ways.

     He saw himself joining a race hate group and could feel the hurt that he inflicted on his fellow human beings with his hatred. Charley could feel everything that he did to others in every way. He felt terror, hurt, shock and bewilderment and he felt shocked at his actions. At that moment he knew just how much Jesus loved him and he could also feel the horror of his sins and he knew exactly how they appeared in the eyes of the Lord. Charley felt shock and shame and terrible remorse.

     He could see his first meeting with Sue and witnessed the events that followed. He had got married and then the first baby came a year later. He saw him self in a panic taking Sue to the hospital when she had gone into premature labor with Sammy- Will. The tableau of events continued and he saw the events of the previous week and how Gene Washington had gotten into a lot of bother for using police officers for this sort of thing. He also saw Mike Douglas trying to stand up for Charley and getting a whole lot of flack from Joe Willard over the escapade in the hills. He saw the row that it caused between Gene and Cynthia and how his twin babies had been teething and how distressed Cynthia was over Gene's absence.

     This supernatural happening transfixed Charley. It all seemed normal and natural to him and he knew immediately where it was coming from and that this was an extraordinary chance that the Lord God had given him to see the error of his ways. This was another chance and he needed to repent, amend his life and come to Jesus without delay. There was absolutely no question in Charley's mind about this. Everything seemed to fall into place for him and he knew what he must do. He saw why certain things had happened and was shown the way that he must go. He had a specific task to do and Almighty God had ordained this. How loved he had felt at that moment. He was uniquely special to his heavenly Father.

     Charley would never again be the same Charley as he had been.

     He had been given the grace of seeing what was waiting for mankind as they accepted the guru into their lives and got further away from God and His plan for their salvation.

     Charley's own sinfulness shook him to his innermost being and he was ashamed and knew that he was undeserving of the Lord's love and of the sacrifice that Jesus had made for him on Calvary. He was filled with remorse and sank to his knees tears welling up in his eyes but before he could reach the ground a very strange thing happened to him and he felt someone bearing him up and helping him to his feet.

     Charley looked up into the light even further and he knew. He knew that the Lord Jesus loved him and had died for him and he saw how he needed to go. Around himself he could see dark shadows and he knew what they were. He became aware of the consequences if he continued on his present path and was overwhelmed and shocked to the utmost core of his being.

     "Jesus! I accept You as my Lord My God and my Savior. Heal me change me. I repent of all my sins of my whole life. Forgive me Jesus. I am yours from this moment onwards."

     He remembered some of the words that Sister Mary -Jo had told him to say at the commitment course. He said 'yes' and suddenly he became aware that the Lord needed his 'yes', as there was particular work for him to do.

     "Charley" A sweet wonderful melodious voice said.

     "I am with you! Remain in me. Your sins are forgiven. I forgave you from the cross. I love you and I have work that you need to do for me. Don't delay. Go in My Name and do My work!"

     "Yes Lord!"

     Charley could not see who was speaking to him but he felt His presence. He could only make out a wonderful indescribable light and he had no doubt who it was that was in this light.

     "Go in my peace child. Receive you the Holy Spirit." A wonderful melodious voice said.

     Charley felt as if he'd been hit heavily and remembered falling back.

     He felt a sensation of warmth and tingling and he was aware of a feeling of being empowered with some kind of supernatural wonderful strength. It was something akin to fire or electricity but more powerful. He was enlightened to many truths and had an understanding that he had never had before in his life. It was so intense that Charley thought he was going to pass out. He stood up and stared ahead.

     The light started to fade and suddenly Charley saw a lady before him. She was smiling and was holding a baby girl in her arms. Charley knew her and the child looked familiar but both were bathed in a most wonderful light. The woman was smiling and holding the baby girl up to him and both were waving their hands. Charley stared totally dumbstruck.

     If he hadn't known better he would have said that the baby was his own daughter Emma as a baby. Then it struck him. The Lord had given him a most wonderful grace. He knew exactly who the woman and baby were. He stared in total mind blowing wonder.

     "Mom!" He managed.

     Before him was his mother and his unborn baby sister whom they had tried to save by caesarian section. She had been given the name of Emily for funeral purposes and was buried beside his mother. Charley was filled with joy and stared at all of this enthralled beyond words. He waved back.

     His mother smiled and although no words were spoken Charley could feel some sort of locution from her.

     "I love you and watch over you. My prayers are with you."

     He could hear the little girl giggling and watched in absolute wonder, as her golden curls seemed to blow in a gentle breeze. The last he saw was both waving to him.

     Suddenly everything seemed to change and he found everything returned to normal but Charley knew that he could never be normal again. He found himself face down in the grass but where all around him was wet and rain soaked, the part where he was lying was dry and warm. Charley became filled with unspeakable joy that transcended all description and understanding and he felt words of praise and Prayer coming thick and fast. He picked himself up and started moving towards his truck.

     "Here I come Lord Jesus. You sure better believe it Lord. I'm on my way!"

     With that he ran to his truck slipping and sliding in the wet grass and mud, crying and laughing at the same time.

     Meanwhile Sam Elliott had taken off after a spooked mare and had cornered it in a cornfield. He got off his horse and moved towards the frightened mare speaking gently.

     He whispered words of comfort and reassurance to the animal. He tried to soothe her and held out a sugar cube to her as he moved closer to her.

     "Now Jasmine what is the matter with y'all today. Come here baby." He said to the wide-eyed mare.

     "Y'all know that I ain't going to hurt you now come on gal." Sam edged closer and closer to the mare.

     "Here gal Here gal. C'mon, C'mon. Come to daddy. Here we go. Want a nice bit of sugar? C'mon. That's a girl." He said calmly and soothingly to the animal.

     He was an expert in this type of thing arid had, had years of experience in working with all sorts of animals but especially horses.

     The horse stopped struggling and Sam edged closer catching her by the bridle. He fed her the sugar and patted her stroking her mane and neck.

     He would take her back along side his own horse and put her in a stall on her own till she calmed down. Sam was so good with his horses and knew everyone by name.

     Sam was a hard working rancher and according to his sons usually overdid it and did not take enough breaks and days off.

     As he grabbed and soothed Jasmine, George his African- American stable foreman came riding toward him.

     "Hey Sam. Want me to take her back?" George asked him.

     "Yeah George and put her in a stall on her own till she calms down. She got a bit spooked with the hail back there."

     "There are a few strays up here boss and I was going to round them up."

     "You take Jasmine and I will go see if I can get them. If I need any help I'll call you."

     "Boss do you ever take a break? You never seem to stop." George declared.

     "You sound like Sam and Will now."

     "Time someone got onto you. C'mon Jasmine." George said as he caught hold of the mare.

     "Gee boss I guess that the Lord is making his presence apparent throughout the world. Huh?"

     "Looks that way George. Why can't they see it? I have been listening to the news and discussions they have been having and they have all different excuses for these things that have been happening in the last few weeks. Nobody seems to say that these things are from God and that mankind is erring." Sam said.

     There was a distant rumble of thunder and George took the mare and went on back.

     Sam went off into the range to look for some more strays and try to round them up.

     Suddenly a feeling of unease and dread overtook him. Sam could not place this and thought he might be getting sick. He was alone out here and vulnerable.

     "Gee! What is this?" He asked himself.

     Maybe he was having a heart attack or stroke, as he had never felt like this in his life. His doctor had warned him to slow down a bit. Sam's thoughts went back to the guru. Sam was sure that this man was the anti-Christ. He had been thinking over Old Ron's words and also been considering the things that had happened in recent weeks. Sam was convinced they were entering the tribulation times.

     He wondered if the rapture would come, as he had always believed or if everyone would have to endure the tribulation of three and a half years. Sam started to believe that there would be no rapture after all.

     He was deeply upset that the guru was now in his country and to make matters worse was about to address the General Assembly of the United Nations. The guru was in America and this bothered Sam immensely. How dare they replace the US flag with this disgusting emblem!

     Just then he saw some strays grazing in a place where they shouldn't be. He dismounted from his horse and tied the reins to a nearby fence.

     It suddenly became very bright and Sam put up his arm to shield himself from the light but to his amazement he felt that he was being drawn into that light and in an instant he was inside the light.

     His surroundings seemed to change and he felt that he was in the presence of something awesome and wonderful. The warmth and love seemed to radiate from this presence and envelope and enclose Sam. He felt totally loved and contented. Sam wanted to throw himself down but a compelling force would not let him do this.

     He seemed to be watching some sort of three -dimensional video program. He looked further into the light and could see himself as a baby. He could even see details of the toys that he had played with and the clothes that he had worn. There was Suzy the first puppy that he ever had. Sam felt the same excitement that he had felt when his father had handed it to him. Next he saw Champ his first pony that his father had given him for his fifth birthday. He could feel the same thrill that he felt as he trotted around proudly for his beaming mom and dad with Dad's laughter ringing out as he did this. And there was his grandmother scolding his dad and telling him that the child was too young to be on a pony on his own.

     Sam could even feel the warmth from the pony and sense its every movement.

     He could see the small scar on his mother's nose that used to fascinate him as a baby.

     She had got it when she slipped as she was climbing a tree when she was ten and the scar had stayed with her. He could even smell his mother's perfume and feel her touch. Sam watched all of this unfold and was not afraid. The events of his life changed after his mother left them and went off with another guy when their dad was in Korea.

     Here he could feel the same shock and distress and bewilderment as his grandmother told them that their mother wasn't coming home. He again heard her explain that they would need to go live with relatives in Alabama. Their lives would change dramatically here and they would live in Alabama on their grandparent's farm for the next few years.

     Events in his life were shown to him and he saw himself as a child at school and then as a high school student. Things had been very different in those days and Sam had belonged to a very racist family. Even his grandparents on both sides were racist and did not want any kind of integration. When his town had been ordered to allow African-American students to enroll in the high school he and many others joined in the protest. Sam's Uncle Ray had ordered him to harass and agitate the African- American students.

     Sam saw before him Cindy-Lou Matheson and he felt her pain and hurt as she was taunted and teased when she joined his homeroom and English lit class. He had joined in this escapade willingly, and also prompted along by his adult relatives especially his Uncle Ray. His Uncle Ray had beat Sam and his brothers frequently until Sam on reaching seventeen beat him black and blue.

     He felt terrible remorse for everything he had ever done wrong in his life. How he had wasted those times as a young man that he should have been giving to serving God and his fellow human being. Sam wished he could have changed all of this.

     Everything changed and he was a marine again and was back in Vietnam. He could see himself in boot camp and on leave before he was sent to into combat.

     Suddenly he was in the jungle and he could feel the overwhelming heat. The sounds of the jungle were all around him as he did point duty for his platoon. Mosquitoes were around him and so were the flies and all the other bugs that were plentiful in the jungles of South- East Asia. There were also leeches and various snakes to avoid as well as trip wires and other booby traps to add to the misery. These he remembered so well and all the hidden dangers. He again felt the same apprehension that he felt then as he tried to avoid any booby traps that might be waiting for him and he could see himself looking around cautiously for enemy troops or any sort of ambush. Fear was paramount.

     He felt the bullet as it tore through his body and could see himself lying there as the medics tended to him putting I.V.s into his arm. They fought to stem the blood flow and stabilize him trying to keep him alive till the 'Medivac' helicopter could get him out of there. He again heard a medic telling him that he was going to be ok, as they didn't let country boys like him into Heaven. The medic was telling Sam to stay with him and not to die on him.

     Sam watched all of this and felt every sensation and pain. As more details of his life unfolded he was made aware of his shortcomings, indifferences and wrong doings. He felt the pain that he had inflicted on others by his actions and deeds and felt their terror and pain and shock. Sam felt all distress that he had ever caused to another human being no matter how slight. He felt an intense grief at this illumination and wanted to shout out his sins to all who would listen. It was then that he became aware of the personal connection between himself and the Lord Jesus. Sam had absolutely no doubt that his sins had helped to crucify the Lord at Calvary.

     A sweet voice came to him interiorly.

     "Sam I died for all of these sins of yours. Amend your life and stay in Me. I love you and I need you."

     Sam felt elated but also filled with anguish at the pain his sins had caused the precious Lamb of God.

     "I love You too Lord and I repent of all of these sins with all my heart. Heal me.

     I give my life and my will over to you!" Shouted Sam.

     "Receive you the Holy Spirit and go in my peace. I need you to do my work."

     "Yes Lord. I will do as you ask me."

     Sam felt an 'inpouring' of the Holy Spirit. It surged through him as never before teaching him and healing him and renewing him. He would also receive various gifts from the Holy Spirit that he would need in the months to come.

     The last thing Sam saw before the light faded was the image of a man that he seemed to know. The man was enveloped in light and Sam knew that he was not of this world but was with the Lord. He looked again and there was his dad smiling at him and laughing.

     Sam stared in absolute disbelief. He hadn't been given the chance to say goodbye to his dad. Here he was in front of him giving him the old familiar 'thumbs up' sign that he always gave Sam. Sam stared and stared until the image of his dad faded into the light.

He knew that the Lord Jesus had given him a great grace by giving him this review of his life and that he was being drawn to the Lord that he had always searched for. He knew that from this day forward his life was going to be totally changed.

     Sam threw himself on the grass and cried like a baby. He remained there for sometime until he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He looked up to see the shining face of Mike Douglas. Mike looked literally stunning and radiant. A light seemed to be emanating from him and Sam stared in total awe at him.

     "Mike! You are shining! What is this?" Sam asked.

     Mike helped Sam to his feet.

     "Are you alright?" He asked gently.

     "Yeah. You are radiant." Stuttered Sam.

     "So are you." Laughed Mike.

     "We have both been sealed with the Mark Of the Lord's Cohorts." Explained Mike.

     "I ... Did... ? Did it happen to you also?" Sam managed.

     Mike nodded.

     "I think it has happened to everyone." Mike told him.

     "But it was not all favorable and for some ... well. You'll soon see Sam."

     "Really?" Sam said slightly disorientated.

     "This was our last chance to decide for Jesus. For some people it would have been too late." Mike declared.

     "Look!" Mike said softly as he pointed to the sky.

     Sam looked up to see a huge luminous cross right across the sky. He stared in wonder. Where the HANDS AND FEET of the Lord would have been were rays of a wonderful light. Sam could not believe what he was seeing but did not doubt it for a moment. There was a fifth ray of light that corresponded to where the WOUND ON THE LORD'S SIDE would have been and from that there seemed to come rays of red and white.

     Sam was very overcome with emotion at this sight and Mike put his arms around him and hugged him. Silently they both stood staring up in awe and wonder.

     Meanwhile, Sister Mary-Jo had just finished saying the Chaplet Of Divine Mercy again. She looked in the mirror and decided that when she had time she would cut that annoying bit of hair that had been bothering her. She had so much to do. She was worried about a young mother that had approached her for help and advice. The young woman was four months pregnant and her husband had ordered her to have an abortion. He had taken her to the abortion clinic and left her there but once he left, she had gone out of another door and went to her friend's house.

     The young mom to be was so frightened of this violent young man that she had told him that she had already had the abortion. Mary-Jo would contact Steve Tyier as the lady was one of his parishioners and perhaps either he or Sue Jackson could help also. They could get the young woman a place in a mother and baby refuge if it came to that.

     Oh how tired she was. She was so looking forward to the pro-life rosary rally with Father Ben and Father Brendan and some of the pro-life ladies from other churches were going to come along also. She gazed at the pictures on her dresser they were of her brothers and sisters and her nephews, nieces and cousins. Oh how she loved children. Wasn't she a big sister herself and had always been surrounded by them?

     She looked up at a strange chink of light in the mirror and everything changed. She saw herself as a child playing in the streets of the little Northern Irish town that she had been born in. She saw herself at school. Mary-Jo protected her little brothers and sisters to the point of obsession. She even mothered her older brothers and sisters and anyone else that would let her.

     From this a tableau of her life unfolded before her and she was shown how pleasing her good works were to the Lord. She also saw her own sins and faults and felt deep shame and remorse. How they had hurt her Jesus.

     More of Mary-Jo's life unfolded before her. She saw a picture of herself way back home in the small town in the North of Ireland where she was born and raised. She had been out at Mass one evening and was on her way back to her 'Mother' house. Suddenly she was aware that the street was unusually empty. It was a lovely summer's night and Mary-Jo wondered where all the kids were that usually played in the streets. By rule, one of the young parishioners would usually have spotted her a mile away and would have been running toward her yelling 'Sister Mary-Jo' at the top of her or his voice. She looked around and then she saw that something was very much amiss. She spotted a man lying across the sidewalk in front of her.

     She went closer and in the next minute she was kneeling beside a wounded man as he lay dying at the edge of the road. A sinister silence permeated the whole street. She knew immediately that she was being watched and that people were watching all around in secret. These people were governed by the paramilitaries and the secret societies. Most of them did what they were told to do and behaved as they were told to behave on all sides of the divide.

     Mary-Jo had taken some stuff from her bag and had started to have a go at stemming the bleeding for a head wound that the young man had. He was moaning and crying and Mary-Jo was doing her best to comfort him. She looked up to see a curtain being slightly pulled back and she knew someone was behind the curtain.

     "Call an ambulance!" She yelled.

     "Now!"

     But the curtain had been quickly closed again. Mary-Jo knew that she was on her own. Her 'Motherhouse' was quite a good bit away from where she was and she did not want to leave this critically wounded young man. She called again for someone to get an ambulance but nobody did and nobody came forward to help her. She continued helping the young man as much as her nursing skills would allow. Suddenly she heard a rasping voice.

     "You! Nun! This is nothing to do with you! Leave him he's a 'police grass'! Move away from him now!" Came the order.

     "He's a child of God and I won't leave him!" Mary-Jo yelled defiantly.

     "You want a bit of what he got?" The voice continued.

     "There's a gun pointed right at you nun!" Rasped the male voice.

     "Go ahead if you must! Shoot me if you want but I am staying with him!" She shouted.

     "I know everyone of you and you know me and you know that I won't leave him. Oh yes and you might have forgotten, now that you have a gun in your hand, and you control people with fear and all the rest, but there was a time when I could have beaten the living daylights out of each and everyone of you boys! Oh and I often did! It is time you all took some scrubbing brushes to your souls and got yourselves back to confession and into the Lord's light. 'Thou Shall Not Kill' is still a commandment of God!" She shouted as she worked over the wounded young man.

     In this whole thing Mary-Jo could even feel the cool evening air and she shivered then just as she had on the night of this incident. She could even feel the clamminess of the wounded man's skin and could feel and touch the blood that flowed from his wound,

     Mary-Jo was aware that many people had been murdered in the past for aiding the enemy. She waited for a bullet knowing that being a nun would not save her from their wrath. She asked Jesus to be with her and receive her into his arms along with the poor young man if that was to be. She started to say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

     Suddenly a door opened and an elderly woman that Mary-Jo knew came running out. She was carrying a blanket and some towels. "Shoot me too if you like but I can't stand this anymore. 1 am a mother and a Christian. Why are we standing back and permitting these things?" She yelled loudly.

     "Sister I have called for an ambulance!" She shouted.

     Then she had put a blanket over the young man and handed Mary-Jo the towels.

     "Sister these were all I had."

     "Great stuff Theresa. Thanks!" She said winking at the woman.

     More people started to stream out of their houses and very soon the ambulance and the police had arrived. The young man had lived and Mary-Jo gave thanks to God.

     After seeing all this she saw other incidents of her life. She saw herself and her best friend Sandra Johnson going off to Glasgow in Scotland to train as nurses in a huge teaching hospital. She and Sandra were always best of pals even though Sandra came from an 'Orange' family at the other side of the divide.

     Both girls vowed to be nurses and train together and they both chose a strict teaching hospital in Glasgow, Scotland.

     Mary-Jo smiled to herself as she was shown an incident that happened when both girls were in the same ward under a very strict nursing sister. Both had got into trouble for wearing too much makeup and coming on duty without wearing black stockings. The sister had noticed that poor Sandra had shortened her dress and that was against the rules. Mary-Jo was hoping and praying that the ward sister wouldn't notice that she had done the same thing also.

     They had really enjoyed every minute of the training and were both born nurses.

     She was shown another incident from her life. This time she was back home again had suddenly found that she was on the wrong side of the divide. She had taken a wrong turning and was in a hostile area. She stopped in a small side street and got out to ask the way. A group of women crossing the street spotted her right away.

     "We don't want your kind here." One had snarled.

     "Go back to your own area and see to your own Fenian brats!" Another had rasped.

     Another couple of the residents, men and women came to see what was going on and they also joined in the haranguing of Mary-Jo. They started to pelt her with whatever they could find. Vicious and vile insults were hurled at Mary-Jo and she was sure that this mob was about to beat her up or worse.

     In this flashback Mary-Jo could feel the tension in the air and she could hear all the same sounds, and smell all the same smells that had surrounded her on that evening.

     Mary-Jo couldn't get to her car and she could see that a group of teenage boys had started to vandalize the vehicle. She called on the Lord Jesus to help her. Then out of nowhere a tall burly man appeared and let out one roar.

     "What do you think you are all doing?" He asked heatedly. "It's a Fenian nun Bobby! She's been around here before and we were just showing her that she wasn't wanted here." A woman told him.

     The big man turned to Mary-Jo.

     "Mary-Josephine O'Connell?" He inquired.

     "Yes I am."

     "Don't you remember me?" He asked her.

     Mary-Jo smiled.

     "Wee Bobby Johnson? Sandra's wee cousin? Is that you?"

     "It is indeed."

     "I loved bandaging you up when Sandra and I played at nurses." She said.

     "Yes and I used to play at hurls down the all the slopes and hills in your dolls pram while you played with my guns and roller skates. It was both a good laugh and a terror you were Mary-Josephine!" He declared with a laugh.

     He turned to the others.

     "Eh this lady is to come and go here as she pleases and be allowed to do her work as she needs without any trouble from anyone whatsoever! Leave her and leave her car. She is not to be touched in anyway!"

     "But Bobby! She's a Fenian trouble maker!" One of the men started to say.

     "My word is final Thomas! She is no more Fenian troublemaker than the Pope is the head of the Orange Order! Didn't she help a soldier a few weeks ago and one of our own as he lay dying? She openly defied the gunmen. She has helped ours and everyone else's without question. So leave her alone or I will hear about it. Denominations and backgrounds don't matter to this woman. She helps all regardless. I have known this woman since I was two and she is ok."

     Mary-Jo later learned that Bobby was the head of a notorious violent paramilitary organization and was greatly feared.

     After that she had become a district nurse and had no problem wherever she went. She loved them all and was a good nurse and had a good reputation in all sides.

     She saw another flashback and was with her friend Sandra. Both girls had wanted to nurse from the minute that they could walk and talk. They had great fun bandaging up their dolls and teddy bears and any brother and sister that they could find. The fact that Sandra came from a different tradition from Mary-Jo was of no consequence whatsoever.

     Mary-Jo saw their graduation day when both graduated with top grades from 'Nursing and Midwifery College'. Mary-Jo could feel the same excitement that she had felt on that day and she remembered how pleased her father and mother were as they sat watching her and Sandra, along with Sandra's parents. Afterwards they had all gone to dinner together.

     Mary-Jo saw the scene a few weeks later when she said goodbye to Sandra. Sandra was going off to Africa as a Protestant Missionary and Mary-Jo was entering the religious life and had been accepted into a nursing order.

     Sandra had laughed at the thought of Mary-Jo becoming a nun.

     "You! A nun? Oh Mary-Jo I thought you would end up marrying and having twelve kids!"

     Both had laughed and hugged each other emotionally and said goodbye. They were to keep in touch and always send birthday and Christmas cards to one another.

     The rest of Mary-Jo's life had unfolded before her and she was given a beautiful and awesome grace that filled her with joy. She was able to understand the mystery of the Holy Eucharist and was filled with so much joy and ecstasy that she wanted to die at that moment and be with her beloved Jesus. Oh how He had suffered and died for her. She understood this fully in these revelations. Something else was revealed to Sister Mary-Jo and she was asked if she wanted this to happen and accept this for Him. Mary-Jo did not hesitate as she remembered Mary's 'Yes' at the ANNUNCIATION.

     "Yes Lord Jesus. You died for me. I would be only too delighted and honored to die for You and in Your precious name." Answered Mary-Jo.

     Mary-Jo heard a voice telling her that she should go to the town, as many people would be needing her. She got up and dressed and went straight away. On the way she met Father Ben and Father Brendan. Both of their faces were radiant and she knew that they had received favorable illuminations. She also knew that they had also been told to go into the town and be ready to help others. Mary-Jo went in search of the elderly street evangelist Old Ron.

     Back in the selective Hill district of Fort Wayne in the dream house that Gene and Cynthia lived in, Gene Washington had been drinking quite heavily. He hated fights with Cynthia and took his bottle of whiskey and went down into the den and closed the door. Cynthia had a great way of making him feel so small and so stupid at times.

     Gene didn't usually drink like this but he was upset and he had a day off. He had shouted at the kids, a thing he never did and they had looked at him in disbelief. This in itself was upsetting him.

     He threw himself onto a big soft recliner chair and flicked on the television. He would watch some football videos and everyone else could go jump he said to himself.

     This giant screen he had, made it seem as if you were actually at the game. He switched off the lights, grabbed a six -pack and his bottle of whiskey and sat back to watch his videos in the comfortable soft chair. This was nice. He was determined to enjoy his afternoon. For a while he watched the football games and played some of them back and then whether it was the comfortable surroundings, the beer and whiskey, or the darkened room he started to feel sleepy. He jolted himself awake with the image of another program being shown. He gave himself a shake and tried to focus his vision for a better look. He wondered just what was this he was seeing. The graphics were quite unusual even for this huge expensive top of the range television screen that he had. The events that he was watching took up a much larger area than the huge video screen would have allowed. He sat up and stared. What was this? These weren't tapes!

     He stared again. He could see his mother and father when they were younger. Where did these films come from? He wondered if some family member had gotten together some old black and white films and had them made into a video movie.

     He could see himself as a baby and his father and mother proudly showing him off. Gene felt that he could have reached out and touched his parents. He could see their house down in Mississippi and every detail of it. There were things there that he had forgotten all about that came quickly to mind. There was the china egg basket that sat on a table in the kitchen that was filled with eggs from their own little chicken coop. The family golden retriever was sitting at the door of the house chewing on a bone and the cat was up on the windowsill. He watched enthralled as it stretched and then went back to sleep again. This was no family movie Gene thought to himself. This was something else.

     He watched in fascination as event after event unfolded in his own life. Something compelled him to keep looking ahead. He was filled with apprehension and dread as he viewed the events of his life. He knew that he was going to see things that he had done that were wrong and sinful.

     Gene saw his whole life story unfolded in front of his eyes from his birth to his first day at school, to his college days. Next he saw himself joining the police force.

     He watched in total disbelief as he saw himself about to go through the First Degree of the Masonic order. Gene was so keen to join that he could hardly wait to be eighteen to do so. Here he was in the lodge's anteroom and he could feel the same fear and apprehension that he had felt then. Some of the lodge members had been teasing him and making little comments to each other in Gene's hearing as to the events that would happen. He had been really scared and he was shaking like a leaf then and as he watched this unfold he felt himself shaking again. He saw his progression in the lodge and he watched himself becoming totally immersed in Masonic teachings. He dropped everything to attend a lodge meeting or do degree work somewhere or attend other lodges as a visitor. He was shown Cynthia at home on her own anxious and with a sick child and he could feel her distress as she told him that she was a 'golf widow as well as a lodge widow'. She knew if she had to call the lodge and ask for Gene he would be furious. She had wrapped the child up in a blanket and taken him to emergency. She had done this just in time as the baby was desperately sick and could not have waited. Gene felt remorse. He saw his indifference to Cynthia's interests and he also saw himself demanding that she paid attention to him. He could see his own cold callous attitude developing until it became the norm for him.

     Some of the decisions that he made in life were brought back to him in a big way. He could see clearly how upset his mother and father were the day he told them that he did not want to be baptized nor join a church as he believed in scientific logic rather than God. He felt their distress. He wondered what this was where he could feel the hurt that others had suffered because of his actions. This was indescribable.

     He saw the consequences of many decisions that he made and felt every pain that he had every caused. He could see his arrogance and his vanity. He could see that his sons were slightly afraid of him and was shown how his lack of religious beliefs had very much confused and upset his two sons who did not know what to do.

     Gene seemed to receive an inner locution that asked him if he wanted to amend his life but Gene thought that his life was fine. He was then shown himself as he appeared in the eyes of God and he became transfixed in horror and disgust. How ugly the sin made him look. What was this? Where was this coming from? Even then the stubbornness in Gene refused to accept that it might be from God. He fought against this. He could see himself surrounded by dark shadows and who knew immediately that these dark shadows contained entities that were waiting to get at him. He further saw that if he did not amend his life that they would get him and he would be led into darkness. He fought this all the way. Suddenly he saw before him the guru and a Bible. He was given to understand that he was to make a choice.

     "I don't know!" Shouted Gene.

     All at once the scene changed and Gene was shown what awaited the world. He was also shown what awaited him if he persisted in his present attitude. He felt horror and disgust and was outraged that He, Gene Washington the chief of police to be, was shown in such a light. He saw again himself covered in the ugliness of sin and saw horrors in the background that were waiting for him and he yelled out in fear and in disgust and tried to shield himself with his arm. He tried not to look on these horrors but as much as he tried to close his eyes he could still see them. Laughing loathsome horrible entities suddenly surrounded him. These demons were trying to grab at him, seize him and take him down a long, broad, dark and hideously fearful road. Gene fought them and yelled and tried to struggle away from them. They were whispering and mocking at him, they were foully whispering his sins to him. Gene was so shocked as he had forgotten some of these sins. These hideous entities meant to seize him and he reeled back in horror.

     They pulled back as there appeared to be a barrier. Gene was given to understand that the barrier was the prayers of his parents and his wife and the prayers of his good friends Bobby and Mike. Gene was so shocked. He was crying and sobbing and his clothes were disheveled and he was so terrified that the entities might come back and get him.

     "There is a God! There is a God! What have I been doing?" He yelled out aloud.

     Again he was given the choice.

     He stared in disbelief at the hard road that he would take if he followed Jesus and he was shown the easy time that he would have if he followed the guru and took the chip. He was shown a picture of the figure of Jesus on the cross at Calvary and was also shown the guru with all his glories and wonders. He heard all of the wonderful explanations and solutions the guru had for life's mysteries and life's ills.

     Suddenly Gene was shown himself in the future as State Governor and immediately he was filled with a surge of ambition and pride and longing. He wanted all of this but there was a price to pay. If he took the chip he would obtain this position and others and many more worldly wonders would be within his grasp. With his background and education he would easily reach the senate in the future. He wanted all of these things and he had studied and worked toward these ends. Gene would need to make a choice. He knew that if he went for these things and took the chip he would lose God forever.

     Everything started to fade and the last he saw were the shadowy figures all around him growling and threatening him and letting him know that they were near him. Gene was again shocked and traumatized. He knew that this was no hallucination or dream and he that he had decisions to make. He fell to the floor in shock and horror unable to get the image of himself disfigured with sins out of his head. He felt nauseous and dizzy. Gene ran to the bathroom as he felt that he was going to throw up. Then he sat on the bathroom floor crying and whimpering and calling for his mom.

     Not too far away in the main street of Fort Wayne there was utter and chaotic pandemonium. People were screaming and running wildly about the streets. A few were radiant and calm as they had, had favorable illuminations. Some sat down on the sidewalk in various states of hysteria and shock. Others were stricken with terror and revulsion at their own sins. Many people were shocked to find out that there was a God after all.

     There was no doubt that this illumination had come from God and that it was a last grace for mankind. They would have to either now choose Him or the anti-Christ.

     People were lying and sitting on the sidewalks and on the grass and on the street. Some were kneeling down right there where they were, praying and calling on God and repenting of their sins. Vehicles were left unattended in the middle of the streets. Everything was left. Supermarkets and restaurants were now empty and there was utter disorder. It seemed that time had stopped for everybody in an unprecedented manner. Planes had been put on automatic pilots and 'take offs' had been aborted. Everyone apparently had, had an illumination of their consciences and many things hardened deep within them, had been brought out.

     Conflicts and wars throughout the world had come to a halt as those taking part came to terms with what had been revealed to them about God and about themselves, and it was realized that although appearing lengthy, time hadn't appeared to pass during this supernatural worldwide event.

     In Fort Wayne many people were running about yelling for pastors and priests, ministers and rabbis to repent of their sins. None could be found at that moment as they also were in need of the same repentance and had gone in search of help for themselves.

     At the airport Steve Tyier and Dan O'Connell had been in the car park going towards their respective cars when the illumination came. Each person no matter where they were had suddenly felt themselves alone with themselves and with God. They were not aware of anyone else's illumination and knew nothing until the event for them alone was over and they themselves were returned to normal.

     Pastor Steve was appalled at his own sinful past and how his sins had helped to crucify the Jesus that he professed. He was shaking all over with remorse and shock and disgust. He would need to get home and get to his church. He had said 'yes' to Jesus there and then that he would indeed change the life that he thought was right.

     As he hurried to the car he bumped into a young man in a state of great distress and Steve knew that he too had been shocked by his sins. He was crying and sobbing and his eyes were wide and red. Steve knew this man, and the man seemed to know him. Suddenly it dawned on him who this was. It was the 'with guy' from the Catholic Church that he had met at the interdenominational service a few weeks ago Father Sean. Steve hadn't liked Father Sean then because of his brash and arrogant attitude. Something compelled him to speak to this man.

     "Are you alright?" Steve asked him putting a hand on his shoulder.

     "I need to change." Stuttered Father Sean.

     "Me too!" Steve replied.

     "I need to repent of my many sins. Can I tell them to you?" Stuttered Steve.

     The young priest looked up at him tears running down his face.

     "Only if you will hear my sins first." Father Sean replied.

     He started to cry. And sobbed bitterly. Steve put his arms around Father Sean and pulled him close.

     "I was far from the Lord and cared only for myself and did many, many terrible things as a priest and before I was a priest. I denied... that Satan existed and ... I ... and I ... came face to face with him!" Father Sean spluttered.

     "Hey I am no better and gee do I need to come home to the Catholic faith!" Steve said.

     Pastor Steve put his arms around the heaving shoulders of Father Sean. They sat on the wall of the parking lot and shared each other's sinful pasts. They prayed together and asked God to help them and bring them both in to His light, promising that they would abandon themselves totally to His will and do whatever He wanted them to do.

     Meanwhile Sam Elliott walked back into his ranch. Sam met George, one of his stable foremen. He was utterly radiant and he came forward and embraced Sam joyfully.

     "Praise the Lord!" George yelled ecstatically.

     "Y'all don't need to say a word Boss. I can tell by your face." He hugged Sam again.

     "Hey Boss. Come on. We got work to do here amongst these boys!"

     "I know!" Sam replied.

     "We need to help them find Jesus."

     Nearby some of his ranch hands were sitting on the ground. Some were praying and some were crying. Sam found Carl leaning against the side of the barn shaking and crying and in total shock. He kept repeating to himself over and over.

     "I'm sorry! I'm sorry. You're right. There was no excuse."

     Sam put his arm on his shoulder and he turned round. Immediately on seeing Sam, Carl started to cry. Sam held him close and tried to comfort him.

     "Where is George?" He whispered. I need to speak to him and ask his forgiveness."

     George heard and came over. Carl looked up at George and whispered.

     "I am so sorry George. I was so wrong and so sinful. Can you forgive me for my hatred and racial taunts?" Pleaded Carl.

     "That's ok Carl. Jesus forgave you from the cross and I also forgave you. You were forgiven a long time ago brother."

     Both men hugged and there was a great healing. Sam and George went around the other young men and helped them best they could.] One of Sam's hands an African-American man named Byron came out of the barn. It was obvious that he had had a good enlightenment. George and Sam held open their arms to him and they all embraced.

     Byron immediately went over to Carl and hugged him and spoke to him so encouragingly that Carl started to cry again.

     Just at that they were all distracted by hysterical frantic screaming. Lee Mitchell came running down the slope leading from the forest. He came running into the courtyard obviously overcome by terror shaking and screaming. He dropped his liquor bottle out of his pocket and all of the liquor in it ran into the ground.

     "Get them away from me. Don't let them get me!" He screamed in terror.

     "They are all around me! Get them off me! Get these hideous animals off me!"

     "Gee! His DT's must have been bad this time." Whispered Jack a young hand.

     Sam and George exchanged glances. Both knew why Lee had been screaming. George and Carl tried to go to him but he shrugged them off and got on his motorbike and started it up. Joe the fencing and buildings foreman went over to him switched off the engine and took the keys.

     "I've stopped turning a blind eye. You're not fit to drive and I am not about to let you kill anyone."

     Lee got off the bike swearing and snarling and staggered towards the driveway.

     "Better let him go Boss." Joe said.

     Sam agreed and went back to the boys that wanted help.

     Just then as they were all about to go into the shift room with Sam they heard a rebel yell.

     Everyone laughed. A beaming and radiant Charley Jackson came bounding out of his truck.

     "Alleluia! Praise the Lord!" He yelled.

     Sam grinned he now had another ally to help him.

     They all hugged and then they went into the shift room and Sam wrote the 'Commitment To Jesus Prayer' up on the blackboard. They all joined hands including Charley and said the prayer and gave a yes to Jesus inviting HIM into their lives.

     At the entrance to the public park Ron Jeffries stood enraptured, his arms held aloft. He himself was deep in fervent prayer. He seemed to emit a radiant light and everybody that looked at him could see it. This man had bravely witnessed to Jesus for forty years as a street evangelist.

     "Praise You Father! Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit I adore You profoundly! Thank You Father for giving us this illumination and for this last chance to decide for You! And Yes Father I would be delighted to accept the honor that You have offered me." He shouted.

     Just at that Mary-Jo O'Connell was standing beside him. He reached out to the Catholic sister and held her by the hands.

     "I was shown!" He said simply.

     "I was also." Replied Mary Jo.

     "We'll go together!" She continued.

     Yes we will. And how we will rejoice!"

     Next minute both hugged and then they laughed and started to sing.

     A...men! A... men! A...men amen. Amen! Alleluia."

     People stopped and looked. Nobody was laughing now at Old Ron and at the Catholic sister who had given out the pro-life leaflets and who ran courses getting everyone to commit their lives to Jesus.

     Mike Douglas, Bobby. Father Ben and Father Brendan came along just then and were shortly joined by Father Sean and Steve Tyler.

     They were all radiant now and they all hugged each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

     Dan O'Connell and Joe McNally, his wife and Sue Jackson and Cynthia, also joined them. They were all ready to work for Jesus and in a hurry.

     There was much confusion and distress in the street.

     "Brothers and sisters we all have work to do whilst we can. Lead these folks to Jesus as even now the evil one has plans to thwart the good that has been done here today." Ron informed them.

     "Take Jesus to the streets now and evangelize urgently! It is imperative!"

     At that Mark Chan, Zack Elliott and some others from all of the churches, committed Christians, arrived and were given the same orders from Ron.

     "Time is short. The evil ones are ready to strike back!"

     The team of Christians, filled with the Holy Spirit, went out and evangelized and carried the Gospel message to those who needed it. They encouraged those who did not know of the Lord's love and helped the lapsed Christian.

     Mark and some others said the Chaplet of Divine Mercy over those who were stricken and in shock and unable to ask for help. Margaret McNally and a group of Catholic Christians started saying the Rosary and many people, lapsed Catholics who knew it joined in.

     Ron never wavered and continued in his ministry. He was surrounded by a huge crowd of people anxious to hear him talk of Jesus. He was using his microphone to the full for the first time in his ministry.

     "Yes Lord. How marvelous you are and mighty indeed are Your works and Your ways." Thundered Ron.

     "Yet... they will soon say that it all didn't happen! That it was a mass hallucination, that it was Mother Earth fixing out her children. The man of perdition will claim it as his doing. He will tell his supporters that he sent it to them to cleanse their minds for his brave new world. Even now as 'he' gets ready to address the General Assembly they are making plans to explain Your Warning Lord! But we have read ahead and we know who wins the victory and we also know what is going to happen to the beast and the false prophet and all their cohorts! It won't matter what they do to us as long as we stay with You Lord. Soon they will come and ask everyone to take the mark of the beast openly. At first it will be optional then it will become legislation and compulsory. They will promise you a brave new world free of fear and of worry." Ron shouted.

     "Many will forget today and will listen. But we already knew all this would take place and that many will follow the man of perdition believing in his empty promises and his lies. They have murdered the correctly elected Pope and now the false prophet has ascended the Throne of Peter." Ron continued.

     "Today the man of perdition will make his Satanic declaration to mankind and many will come under his hypnotic, Satanic spell. The false prophet and the anti-spirit will join him. Get ready to go brothers and sisters. THESE ARE THE TIMES! Spoken of in Holy Scripture. Get ready to flee to the hills and go into hiding. I urge you to stay in His light brothers and sisters and ask for his help in the coming trials, see them through to the end and win the victory. It is better to die than take the mark. Hold out and hold on to Jesus and you will receive your eternal reward in Heaven. Thank you Lord. Oh how You have drawn many souls to You this day!" Ron declared with a sigh.

     "Now if anyone would like to accept Jesus and give their lives to Him right now and be baptized then come over here to me and I will call on my helpers. We have water and the Holy Spirit don't be afraid." Shouted Ron.

     Many people went forward and there was a mass baptismal service in the lake. Some had been baptized as children and just needed to renew their lives and commitment to Jesus again. Ron and "^ helpers prayed over the people who asked and many were snatched for the Lord.

     Sometime later Ron and Mary-Jo would be accused of holding religious services and conducting baptisms in a public place.

     Meanwhile the imposter pope was about to appear in front the world's media for the second time in a special broadcast. He had not been elected in the usual traditional manner and was not of the Lord but of the new regime.

     The properly elected Pope Peter seemed to have disappeared and no reference was being made about him except to say that he had resigned. Everyone knew that the true church would now have to go underground. The imposter Pope was about to officially announce changes in the Catholic Church. The first thing he was going to do was to downgrade the Holy Eucharist to a sacred meal and ally himself to the guru and promote the biochip. There were to be other changes. He declared his allegiance to the guru.

     In the great hall of the General Assembly the man going by the names of the 'new messiah' and 'He Who Is', the 'enlightened one', the 'bringer of peace and harmony in the universe', took his place on the podium and got ready to render his declaration.

     The reporters and the news media were utterly wowed by this charismatic man. There had never been anyone quite like this man they all agreed. He had so much appeal and charisma and exuded a compelling personality that gave many people goose bumps. Many cried in his presence or passed out with sheer emotion.

     He had promised to help them build a new world. A world where there was only one religion, the religion of the inner spirit of man. There was no need of the old ways of worship and of God anymore. Everyone was God. He was God he claimed.

     The mainstream religions he claimed had failed them all. He the guru would change all of that and put them on the right path. He would be their God he said and lead them to a paradise here on earth.

     He would stop these mainstream religions and their stupid practices. He would abolish relentless Bible study, communion services and above all the Catholic Mass. There would be a one-world religion with only one permitted service, where man would be encouraged to celebrate his own spirituality. This continual daily sacrifice that the Catholics perpetuated was intolerable and he would now put a stop to.

     He would soon change all this nonsense and people would know that he was the only master that they needed. Hadn't he just successfully sent them all an inner locution world wide to get them to cleanse their minds and make ready to receive peace and healing from their new God and messiah? This was to free them from all distractions. He had sent them this to let them see his power he claimed. He alone would herald them into a new and wonderful existence.

     He needed their complete allegiance. He asked them to throw off all ties and accept only his direction. It would be hard and there would be tough decisions to make but he would be there at every turn to lead and teach them to attain immortality. He said that he would make himself available in a special way to everyone. They would see his image everywhere to reassure them.

     He would sort out the stock market dilemma and the problems over the currencies with his wisdom and the food shortages with his compassion. Nobody would ever be hungry and in need he told everyone.

     He asked only two things, one, that they give him their full allegiance and two, that they sort themselves out by accepting his bodily smart chip in the hand or the forehead. This chip had been given a new name it was going to be referred to as the guru chip. Wonders would unfold he promised.

     It forced all the people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads, so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beast's name or number that stood for its name.