He’d received so many notices about special meetings, important new messages, and groundbreaking DVD’s over the last few months, that Samuel thought semi-seriously about writing New Jerusalem and telling them not to bother anymore. The hype over some remarkable new event on the schedule had reached the saturation point. He no longer paid much attention to them.
His current plan for life worked, though. He went to Gatherings, attended Servants’ meetings, and reported just enough Disciple-making time to avoid Caleb’s attention. He’d solved the last problem with a simple expedient: he lied on his last monthly report. He reported for the regular meetings on Saturday twice, so others in the Gathering saw him in the preaching work. But he inflated the numbers on his report.
He spent some time each week, mostly on his lunch break, talking about his religious conflict with some of his coworkers. Two of them were religious, another an atheist. The four spent lunch breaks in friendly discussion debating their beliefs. The ability of the others to disagree politely, contrasted sharply with The Word’s understanding of Outsiders. The others understood Samuel’s conflict, and clearly wanted to help him talk it out.
If anybody asked about his Disciple-making time, he was going to say those conversations counted. The irony amused him. Here he was listening to Outsiders poke holes in New Jerusalem’s teachings and then reporting that time to The Word’s headquarters as preaching.
So when the latest message from Caleb calling for a special meeting of the Servants landed in his voice mail, he yawned. But attendance was mandatory, unless he was sick or dead. When he arrived at the meeting, he found out he wasn’t alone. Sergei Ivanov, Allen Jefferies, and Benjamin Oldendorf were already there.
“What’s this one about, do we know?”
“Probably putting the right cover sheet on the fax reports,” Sergei muttered.
Samuel laughed, “Office Space. I love that movie.”
“That’s a trashy R-rated movie,” Benjamin snapped, “you shouldn’t watch Outsider stuff like that. I turned it off, like we’re supposed to.”
Samuel thought quickly, he needed to avoid investigation. “I saw it on TV, they cleaned up the bad parts.”
“I saw it at my brother-in-law’s place. He’s an outsider you know,” Sergei added.
Samuel couldn’t help but notice how absurd the situation was, grown men coming up with excuses for watching a funny movie. It was absurd.
As usual, Caleb arrived last. Samuel hadn’t noticed this habit until recently. Lately, Caleb was last to arrive almost every time. He probably thought he was too important to sit and wait for others.
After the usual opening prayer, this time very brief, Caleb started talking. He reminded them of policy about taking notes at Servants meetings and review committees, specifically it wasn’t allowed, unless directly requested, for example to note certain new procedures. Otherwise, only the Senior Servant, at Servant meetings, or the one leading a review committee would keep notes. In that case, the note taker would promptly turn them over to the Senior Servant. No one was to keep notes or minutes at home under any circumstances.
Samuel could see perplexed looks on the other faces. He wasn’t the only one confused by this sudden review of what they all knew as policy. He’d always understood there would only be one record kept. Keeping the records in the Senior Servant’s archive protected them.
In the last few years, the archive remained in a password protected file on the computer sitting in the corner of the library. Only Caleb, Luke and the IT department at New Jerusalem knew that password. Until now, he hadn’t given it much thought. Knowing Caleb’s habits, he wondered if the file was up-to-date. Scanning and storing documents took time.
Gloria Lighthorse, egged on (Caleb’s words) by a bunch of Outsider lawyers, petitioned Juvenile Court to declare her an emancipated minor, or at least a ward of the court. The media would report it, incorrectly of course. Outsiders did not understand The Lord’s requirements. Samuel saw again, the people didn’t matter, only The Foundation.
“New Jerusalem believes we may have to give depositions and turn over any notes we may have. I’ve copied everything here,” Caleb gestured toward the computer, “and sent it to New Jerusalem. I assured them there are no more notes.”
The assembled men nodded, they understood what Caleb wanted. There would be no other notes.
“I’ve received more information from New Jerusalem about these two special speeches by Apostle Rodgers. The first is for Disciples only, delivered during the mid-week Gathering. We must take care that only baptized Disciples and immediate family enter the House for that Gathering.”
He handed each of them a list, explaining that they needed to call the individuals and explain the conditions for admission to the first speech. Each of the lists outlined the criteria, if a question arose, they needed to read the list as written. The instructions specifically excluded the Cast-out and unbaptized adults. Children could attend with their parents. If anybody kicked up a fuss, they could call Caleb.
“These attendance rules will apply in the future. We aren’t announcing it just now, but soon only Disciples may attend the midweek Gathering. At this one, we will reaffirm our dedication to The Word. It isn’t a complex procedure, just a public affirmation of our standing before The Lord and His Apostles.”
Several Servants expressed surprise at this. Even hard-line “company men” like Robert Brown and Benjamin Oldendorf wondered what was going on. Both protested that asking for a “pledge of allegiance” insulted dedicated Disciples. Samuel said he felt the same way about excluding studies, drawing a scowl from Caleb, who said he was only following instructions from New Jerusalem.
“We will hear the second speech, for the public the following Sunday. For that one, we’re encouraged to invite as many as possible, just like Commemoration.”
“We’re going to give our studies whiplash,” Sergei remarked.
“Well, New Jerusalem surely knows what it’s doing. We should respect their instructions,” Allen Moore replied.
Caleb wrapped it up with a few routine instructions about the presence of extra people. He added that when making their calls they should stress the invitation to the second address from Apostle Rodgers.
“Gentlemen, events are moving swiftly. We must not question our instructions. We must not let setbacks like this silly legal nonsense distraction from our service to The Lord. He is guiding us to the completion of his grand plan, don’t let anything deflect us from the path of righteousness and devotion.”
**
An air of expectancy hung over the Gathering House as the midweek Gathering began. After several years of plodding along following the failed 2008 prophecy, recent events changed the Disciples’ attitudes. The sudden rush of events reinforced the idea that The Lord had something big planned. In the years after 2008, the Disciples came to Gathering with boredom written all over their faces.
Tonight they laughed and smiled as they talked. A lighthearted, almost festive attitude prevailed. A light that no one had seen in years showed in Judith’s eyes. Samuel could not enjoy his wife’s newfound happiness. He’d learned too much in his studies. The Word’s few discussions of 2008 treated it as an aberration. The Disciples read too much into The Word’s prophetic interpretation.
Samuel knew better. His research confirmed his recollection of Rodger’s big speech in Seattle in 2007. He’d reread parts of many books and magazines, items he’d not looked at in years. The critics were right, in those years The Foundation taught the end would arrive in 2008.
Worse, he now knew the Word had done the same in the past on several occasions. His study, and all the recent verbiage from New Jerusalem convinced him they were about to do it again. He also knew why they kept picking new dates. In the years leading up to 2008, the religion grew by five percent or more each year. Since 2008, it never exceeded one percent.
Certainly New Jerusalem stood to reap big benefits from renewed excitement. New dates encouraged Disciples to increase their Disciple-making. More preaching meant more books, magazines, and Bibles sold. New converts meant more people preaching. Increased attendance at the Area and Grand Gatherings, which brought in major money according to “The Crumbling Foundation,” would add to the bottom line.
The first part of the Gathering covered new information about preaching. New Jerusalem planned several new publications lined up for release at the Grand Gatherings, with training in preaching the new message. It all sounded so exciting, whispered comments in the audience filled every gap in the messages read from the platform.
Rodgers speech occupied the last few minutes of the program. This surprised the audience. They expected more. What he said sounded like a pep talk, it reminded Samuel of talks he’d heard from the sales manager firing up the outside sales staff. The writers at New Jerusalem perfected a message to appeal to Outsiders of all beliefs and practices. The Lord extended one last opportunity to become a Disciple and live in Paradise. Knowing of the swift arrival of the Lord’s Great Day, people would flock to the Gathering Houses.
“This is a time for you to show your loyalty to The Lord’s Word. Just as you showed your dedication by baptism in water, so now will you reaffirm your loyalty to The Lord, and His Word and Apostles. At the end of this message, your Gathering’s Servants will call the roll for your Gathering. After confirming who is present, you will pledge your loyalty to The Lord and His Apostles. You accept their leadership of His Disciples through the instruction and regulation provided by The Word of God Foundation.”
As Caleb stepped back up to the speaker’s platform, the building buzzed with expectation. They’d never done anything like this before.
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
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