Armageddon's Slaves Chapter four

The first part of the evening passed in relative peace. Samuel did not contribute much to the small talk. Luke did most of the talking. Prompted by his sisters, he passed along “news” from other Gatherings. Samuel watched Uncle Harry closely.  He picked at his food, but did not eat much. He did not track the conversation around him. Whenever he spoke, he told a story about something that happened years earlier at New Jerusalem. Twice he said something about doctrine that Luke or Caleb corrected, pointing out that information changed. Otherwise, nobody paid much attention to him.

As they finished dinner, David and the two Larson children disappeared to another part of the house to watch TV. Sophia cautioned the boys not to watch anything inappropriate for Rachel, who was several years younger.

Samuel saw Peter Larson roll his eyes, but David pleased him by politely saying he was sure they’d find something suitable. Uncle Harry excused himself and returned to his apartment, claiming a need for sleep. As soon as they were gone, the tone around the table turned serious.

“The Lord Almighty has been testing His Disciples,” Luke announced pompously, “soon the tests will be harder and more frequent. We must all prepare to prove our loyalty to The Lord.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Samuel snapped without thinking about his tone.

“It means that we can’t just rest on our laurels, we have to show The Lord that we DESERVE a reward in Paradise. It’s more than just not sinning, it means showing The Lord we love him.”

“Isn’t that what we do in Disciple-making?”

Caleb nodded saying, preaching and making Disciples were part of it, but not everything. They had to live their faith.

“Is that what tomorrow’s meeting is about?” Samuel asked.

“Perhaps.” Luke mumbled some generalities about showing faith like Abraham, ready to make any sacrifice for The Lord.

“I think,” Sophia said, “The Lord has already tested us., Samuel you and Judith have shown your complete faith in The Lord, and Paradise. I mean keeping faithful…”  Her voice trailed off at Judith’s eyes shot daggers at her.

“Yes, The Lord tested us, He will reward us by returning our daughter in Paradise,” she said coldly.

“You see,” Luke said, oblivious to his sister’s remark, “this is the what we’re talking about. The two of you stood before The Lord and kept your conscience clean even in the greatest trial. Soon, I think everyone will face a similar decision.”

“Of course, The Word will tell us what to do, we only have to do as we’re commanded.” Sophia beamed, as if she had just uttered a great revelation.

Samuel realized she probably thought she had. If the Word of God Magazine said two and two made five, she’d accept it without question.  Maybe that was what faith meant.

“Yes, that is exactly what we’re talking about.”

For a second Samuel thought that Luke was agreeing with his thought about arithmetic.  But he was just echoing Sophia’s comment about following instructions from New Jerusalem. He added that he could say the special meeting was on that subject.

“Doesn’t The Lord want us to make moral decisions for ourselves?” Samuel interjected, “I mean, he gave us the ability to use our conscience to decide right from wrong.”

“And what is right,” Caleb intoned, “is what The Word tells us.”

That was too much for Samuel. “And what if The Word changes its mind about something important like vaccinating your children?”

“We did what we thought was right at the time,” Judith said angrily, “The Word taught us the right course of action based on all the available understanding of both medicine and scripture.  I have faith that we’ll have Charlene with us in Paradise.”

“I’m sorry, honey. You know I have faith too, I’m not blaming anybody, I just…” he struggled for words. Caleb and Luke stared at him. He paused, knowing he had to choose his words carefully to avoid sounding critical of New Jerusalem.

“I have faith too. I just find it hard sometimes to follow the changes.”

Luke nodded, but still had a cold look on his face. “I know it can be difficult. That’s why we must study the Bible and listen to the Apostles. It is the way of safety for The Lord’s people. Let’s talk about something more pleasant.”

Later, after driving home in cold silence, Judith stomped into the bedroom, shutting and locking the bedroom door in Samuel’s face. He slept in the spare bedroom, thinking that it used to be Charlene’s, knowing that he was going to hear more about his remarks at dinner from Caleb.  Perhaps as soon as tomorrow, a thought that did not help him sleep.

 **

As always, Saturday was Disciple-making day. The whole Gathering met at the House to organize the morning’s effort to find potential converts. They would spend the morning walking through a residential neighborhood trying to interest people in studying the Bible. Although the Disciples considered this activity the most important act of faith, it rarely produced converts. As usual, David didn’t want to go, his mother insisted.

Samuel suggested that they take both cars, so David and Judith could ride home when they finished preaching for the morning. Samuel would stay at the House for the special meeting.  Judith quickly agreed, possibly because it gave her an excuse not to ride with her husband.

David started talking as soon as they got in the car.

“Mom’s in a mood this morning. Did you and Uncle Caleb get in a fight or something?”

“A disagreement, Sophia brought up Charlene last night.”

“Oh boy.”

“Yeah, it got unpleasant. I have a lot to think about just now. Some of my doubts came out last night. 

It didn’t go over well.”

The morning passed uneventfully.  After meeting at the House, the Gathering split into small groups to walk through neighborhoods leaving literature with potential converts. They left a few brochures with people. Samuel estimated that no one was at home at three quarters of the houses they visited.  

Folks had better things to do on Saturday morning than sit around waiting for somebody to explain the Bible to them. When they arrived back at the Gathering House, David announced that he was going bowling with some other young Disciples. An Assistant Servant would go to keep an eye on them. Samuel shook his head, why not just trust them? But, no, that they needed a watchful eye.

Shortly, the Servants entered the House and prepared for their meeting. They pulled chairs in around a phone placed on the floor. With it on speaker, they could all hear.

“This won’t take too long. I’ll read a letter from New Jerusalem and take a few questions. It is all straightforward, but this announcement represents a big change in how we handle certain matters.”

With a few minutes to go before the phone link, Luke and Caleb cornered Samuel. He had braced himself for accusations, instead they took a conciliatory approach, saying that they understood the strain the loss of his daughter had put on his marriage. Luke especially seemed concerned that Samuel relax a little and work at staying close to The Word. He noted that sometimes changes in understanding could be difficult to accept, especially with a personal matter like vaccination. A strict rule, subject to review by the Servants, was now open to decision by an individual’s conscience.

“Remember, just because the Servants can’t review your conduct, it may still result in condemnation at Armageddon. You and Judith made a good decision and you will see your reward soon when you hold your daughter in your arms once more.

“There are big changes coming, The Lord Almighty is clearly preparing us to take a more active role in Armageddon, establishing The Lord Almighty’s Paradise on Earth. Today’s information will advance us along that path.”

Samuel thanked them for their kind words as men drifted toward their seats around the phone. However, he wondered what Luke meant when he said the Disciples would play an active role in Armageddon.   

Allen Moore, another Servant, set up the phone for the conference call. When all the Gatherings reported in, Luke began the meeting with a brief prayer. He pulled a letter out of his briefcase, saying that he had correspondence from New Jerusalem regarding new procedures. Within the next few days at most, every Area Servant in the United States and Canada would read the same letter to all Gatherings. He cautioned the Servants not to say anything before everyone had received the message.

Every Gathering House would install a flat screen television at the back of the speaker’s platform. Any Gathering that did not already have a computer would get one, and install special software provided by New Jerusalem. At least once a month New Jerusalem would broadcast a midweek Gathering.

 The number of broadcasts would increase, eventually also including Sunday Gathering. Eventually, New Jerusalem would broadcast to the entire world, one unified message reaching all Disciples at the same time! The letter closed with a stirring admonition.

“The Lord Almighty is preparing His people for the coming great day when He will establish Paradise on Earth. Think of the blessings in this new arrangement, The Lord’s people will preach and worship as a single body, directed by the Lord’s Apostles.  Clearly we know see that we live in exciting times foretold in Bible prophecy.”

Luke said that he would try to answer any questions, but the letter contained everything he knew. Samuel thought he saw something in Luke’s expression. He suddenly felt that he knew more than he was letting on. He studied the men around him, gauging the differing reactions.

Sergei Ivanov, normally happy about everything, scowled. Charles Brown, always a company yes man, nodded his head in agreement, joined by the other two Servants. Caleb looked like the cat that ate the canary. Probably he knew whatever Luke knew.

Disembodied voices coming out of the phone’s speaker voiced general pleasure at the announcement. 

One voice cut through the babble.

“Carlos Sanchez in Richland. How does this change the local administration of the Gatherings? Is New Jerusalem just going to take over? What happens to the Servants?”

Sergei Ivanov nodded vigorously, Samuel could hear murmurs of agreement coming over the phone. 

Although claiming they had no clergy, The Word did have a rigid hierarchy. The Servants exercised considerable authority within their Gatherings. He expected objections to a perceived power grab by New Jerusalem, although few would express it openly.

Luke quickly tried to smooth over hurt feelings, local administration of Gatherings would continue. New Jerusalem would control all teaching. He stressed the need for unity among The Lord’s people in the time of the end.

“So New Jerusalem is going to lead The Disciples while we do the scut work?” Said another voice from the phone.

“Who said that?” Luke snapped, “that is certainly not the right attitude.”

He did not get an answer. Luke wondered if another member of the man’s Servant Committee would rat him out, or if the voice spoke for all of them.  He fully expected Luke to go on a witch-hunt to find the speaker.

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” Sergei Ivanov said mildly, “but I do have some questions about this.”

Luke answered warily, saying that he did not yet have all the information. He expected it would take some time to work out details. Samuel noticed that he did not look at anyone when he said this, instead staring at the letter he’d picked up again. What was he holding back?

Armageddon’s Slaves © Jeffrey Thomas  All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. All events and characters are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.