After another day of visiting homes, all in vain, Roy attended the meeting as he had promised. With each vacant house he visited, Roy’s most feared conclusion seemed more and more likely. He continually asked himself if he was sure the rapture could not have happened. As far as he could tell, there was no better explanation and everything agreed with what little he knew about the teaching.
The best evidence he had was the desecrated graves. He saw the other church graveyards around the city had been treated in the same way. It scared him that in the public cemeteries the majority of the graves were untouched, but some were open, as if the damage was caused by a violent sudden motion. Although he knew little about the rapture scenario, he knew his Bible well enough to know he should expect to find such things in its wake. “The dead in Christ will rise first,” he remembered the biblical text read, “and then we who are alive will be caught up together in the clouds.” The dead in Christ: those buried in the church cemetery. What else could it be? His original conclusion, the some crazy had done it, now seemed implausible. But is there any other alternative?
What baffled him the most, and was really the only thing that kept him from being certain about the rapture, was why people like Ida Zarman and the Carters had missed out. I know why I missed, and Lenny too; but why them? And why the church leaders? Surely they all didn’t have secret sins? Perhaps they do!
The meeting of church leaders would have been cherished by Roy if it had taken place before the crisis. The fact that they were not among the missing worried him. All denominations were represented; some were enemies of old but were respectful enough of each other to be called friends. Other churches were so much alike that it seemed ridiculous that they claimed differences. As Roy walked into the main foyer he told himself to relax and enjoy the meeting, and that it was a great thing to see such harmony in what was left of the Christian communities. He needed to get his thinking straight.
“Roy!” a voice sounded behind him, through the crowd.
He turned to see his friend and neighbouring church leader Rick Rheem making his way through the crowd to talk with him. Roy sighed with some relief that he would not have to make small-talk with anyone from the more outlandish denominations. Rick’s church was fundamentalist in outlook, but it had never been an issue between the two neighbours, as Roy’s church had traditionally held a loose opinion of religious enthusiasts, so long as they caused no real harm.
“Good to see you, Rick,” said Roy.
“Sorry to hear about your congregation. Have they really all gone, are you sure? This is most dreadful news.”
“As far as I know, most are unaccounted-for. But I have located a few, so I’m thankful for that, at least.”
As Roy talked he wondered why Rick would have missed the rapture, if it really happened. Surely Rick was a good, strong Christian; a church leader. He wondered if he had a secret sin which caused God to reject him. Even if he did, Roy felt he had no reason to ask him; such things could only be confessed by the person involved, and never prised out.
“About half of my congregation are missing,” said Rick.
Roy snapped from his thoughts and told himself to not think in such a judgmental way. He told Rick how sorry he was and tried to encourage him to join him in trying to find the missing people. Rick had little interest in what Roy was suggesting, and said he was perfectly happy to leave it to the authorities.
David Wyand, a large and somewhat overbearing Church of Christ pastor interrupted them, as was his usual imposing manner. “Reverend Roy Hoyle! Good to see some old-school religion with us tonight.”
Roy smiled uneasily, although he did not take offence at the term old-school, referring to their lack of new doctrines. The Kingdomites had come under some ridicule over the last few decades for not daring to update their doctrines, preferring to follow word-for-word the teachings of Mann. Other churches had followed their stance and therefore they all became grouped under the term old-school. It was only ever talked of behind the scenes, and in teaching colleges and seminaries, and most people had no idea there was pressure from the mainstream churches for them to conform.
“Well, David, I’m not the only one,” said Roy. “I’m sure there are other leaders from the so-called old-school churches here.”
“Nope. You’re the only one. Seems they’re all missing too,” David said, a little too happily.
“You’re kidding,” said Roy, upset at David’s happy mood. This is no joking matter.
“No, it’s true,” said Rick.
In his mind, Roy quickly ran through the other five old-school leaders in the city. Two he knew for a fact were very liberal, and close to being censored by the local Christian communities’ officialdom. How can they have been taken? Roy knew it was wrong to judge another man’s heart, especially a respected church leader, but he could not help it.
Roy saw Alex and called a greeting to him, but then looked at him with annoyance. The more he thought about it, the more he thought about it the more he wished that Alex had stood up to the other guests, and even Blair Laraine herself. He could have been nice about it as he told them they were mistaken, and they might have seen his point of view.
Alex returned Roy’s greeting and made his way to their group. “I trust you all saw me on TC,” he said to them. “How did you like it?”
“Enjoyed it,” said David.
“I was nervous—didn’t show it, did I?”
“No.”
“I see you were involved in good dialogue with the MotherEarth adherents,” said Rick.
“Yeah,” said Alex, “I wanted to use the opportunity to show them we love them and accept them for who they are, and not worrying about what kind of nonsense they might think.”
“But don’t you think you could have done that behind the scenes?” Roy asked him without thinking. Seeing he had their attention, Roy braved the chance to elaborate. “You appeared to be condoning them. I mean, if I were there I would have defended the rapture idea, even if I don’t believe it. I know who do believe it, who will never get such an opportunity to express it on nation-wide TC. Don’t you think you could have defended it for them?”
“Well, I’m hardly going to push a way-out pessimistic doctrine like that one, Roy,” said Alex. “But you always could, if you feel called.”
“That’s what you Kingdomites like doing, isn’t it?” David said with a smile. “Standing up for things you don’t believe in?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say we like it, or enjoy it, no,” said Roy. “But we do make it a church policy to defend those who cannot speak for themselves.”
“So how about it, Roy?” asked Alex. “Why not take a chance at appearing on live TCS? Then you can defend anyone you want. We all get a fair chance to speak our minds. Although I must warn you, you’ll be strongly challenged by those experts of theirs.”
“Yes, why don’t you, Roy?” Rick encouraged.
Roy laughed uneasily. “As if Blair Laraine would want to interview me. My church only numbered in the three-hundreds; hardly a significant member of the island’s Christian communities.”
“No, I think she might be interested,” said Alex. “Kingdomites were the first Protestants allowed on the island by the Judaits, weren’t they?”
“That’s right, but—”
“You see? As Kingdomite leader for St Antipas, you are a representative of the first church allowed in, and therefore an important part of our island’s history.”
“I really don’t think I should consider it.”
“Well, sure you should. Their agent is right here at the meeting. I saw her when I came in.”
“They have an agent here?”
“Well, sure. Angela Arnold is her name, I believe. When I talked about this meeting on TC, Blair sent me the agent to try to get more church leaders on her show. Seems they’re either getting sick of, or are running out of, professors of religion and EarthMother gurus. Trust me, Roy; I think you’ll be just what they’re looking for.”
/> Alex called for Angela Arnold to join their small group and made Roy introduce himself as willing to represent the rapturist viewpoint. She was a short woman who walked in a hurry. She wore reading glasses and carried a notebook crammed with entries.
It all happened so fast that Roy went along with it. The more Alex told her about the Kingdomite churches on Roy’s behalf, the better the idea sounded.
A soothing female voice over the loudspeakers requested them to all move through into the main auditorium, a large area that gave them comfortable room to sit. Roy sat next to Rick and another pastor he knew marginally well.
A short, sturdy and well-tanned man with grey hair and a well-tailored suit adjusted the microphone down to his height. As everyone else there, Roy knew Daniel Lamb, one of the more outspoken leaders, who always had something to say to reporters and TCS stations, when he was not on his own talkback show on a local radio station.
“I’m glad you could all make it tonight,” he said with smooth and soothing tones; radio listeners knew it well. “I’m sorry I was a bit late, but my car went missing.”
Most of the audience laughed at the intended joke. Roy struggled to find any humour in the remark.
“You know,” he continued in mock seriousness as the audience hushed for him, “I have heard that some have thought the rapture has occurred, but I can tell you quite categorically, and with a certain amount of doctrinal study, that it has not happened—how could it? We’re still here!”
Now the audience really laughed, and some began to clap; a few hooted. Roy clenched his teeth and told himself to remain calm. What he really wanted to do was stand up and tell Lamb to lay off making fun over the disaster.
“On a serious point, we must welcome our guests from the mainland who have kindly agreed to address us tonight at such short notice.” He introduced the seven dignitaries and each received a short round of applause.
Patrick Walsh was the first to be offered the microphone, a man Roy had never heard of. He too sported a well-tailored suit and stood before them with a casual ease and a certain aloofness. He was a professional.
“Thank you, David,” he said with a strong mainland accent. “What we have here, first of all I want to say, is, I feel, a terrible and well organised deception. With this disaster, and I think we can call it that, we have seen all kinds of anti-Christian and irreligious groups airing their views as to what has happened. And it is this influx of, for lack of a better word, of lies, that could create a major backlash against organised churches such as ours. We must, therefore, quickly and without argument, we must unite our churches, our denominations, our communities, if we want to make a mark in the world we have today, which is, I know you will agree, a different place than the one our founding fathers knew. And it is also a different place following this recent crisis. Our new push for unity is currently organised, with the aid of computer technology which God has blessed us with in these uncertain days, on a world-wide basis. We expect very soon to link up all Christian churches, in the world, so we can repel the, for lack of a better word, attack we have experienced. I can take any questions from the audience regarding our plan.”
A number of people raised their hands. Patrick pointed to one, a woman, who rose to ask, “To what extent will Rome be playing to help with this push for unity, given the Vatican’s advanced technology in the field of global communication?”
“A very good question, thank you,” said Walsh. “The Vatican has allowed us to use all their global communication computers, to help us organise ourselves into one body, to thwart the deception of the anti-Christian and irreligious groups.”
“But how will this affect us here in St Antipas?” the woman called out from her seat.
“Yes, I see what you mean, that St Antipas is such a small island in such a big world. Actually,” he said as he looked to his right, “it now seems an excellent time to reveal this news.”
Daniel Lamb rapidly walked back to the microphone. “Yes, Dr Walsh,” he said as Patrick Walsh stepped aside for him, “I would agree we should waste no further time in revealing our special surprise. The Judait brothers of St Antipas have kindly offered us use of their extensive communication equipment. Father Laturette, if you would kindly brief us?”
Jamieson smiled pleasantly as he walked up to the stage and to the microphone vacated for him. He wore black garments that gave him an air of authority. His black hair and heavy eyebrows were tinged with grey at the temples, and his expression displayed his total confidence. He had a natural tan, but always looked like he needed a shave. His body hair was so copious that the back of his hands were streaked with black.
“Thank you, Dr Lamb and Dr Walsh, and the other dignitaries, both on stage and in the audience. To those who do not know me, my name is Jamieson Laturette. I am a monk of the Most Sacred Society of Judas Thaddaeus, and I have been given by my superiors the honour of helping our extended brothers in Christ in every way possible. And yes, we will be making out equipment available to help in this great uniting of Christ’s holy church, Christ’s body. I don’t know how many of you are aware of this fact, but this work for unity has been the sacred mission of my Society, not only on this island, but also throughout the world, to join together the factions of the universal and Catholic Church in a peaceful and godly fashion. My fellow monks have long yearned for such unity in our own denominational community, and I know you all share the same feelings for unity in a wider scope, in the entire body of Christ.”
He paused while some people called out their support.
“It was indeed a great day in 1860,” Jamieson went on, “when my forefathers in the faith opened the doors of the island for our Protestant brothers, led by the Church of the Kingdom of God, founded by Julius Mann, a teacher for whom I have a special place in my heart. In fact, I believe the current Kingdomite leader, Reverend Roy Hoyle, is with us tonight. Could you please stand up for us, Roy?”
At once Roy felt all eyes on him as he half-stood and gave an awkward wave. He was in the tenth row from the stage.
“So dear a friend of mine,” Jamieson continued, “even though our two communities have little in common as far as rituals and tradition are concerned. I have introduced Roy to some of the spiritual disciplines of my Society, and Roy has introduced to me the wonderful writings of Mann. I can testify that, at least in these two areas, we differ little.”
The audience responded by applauding.
Over the next few hours Roy sat silently while he listened to more speakers, all of whom thanked the Judaits for their help. Some made more remarks about the rapture to keep everyone amused. Each time Roy heard a rapture-joke he cringed. By the end he was frustrated that he did not know enough on the subject to be able to seriously weight it all up.
With the end of the meeting Roy tried to leave quickly, but Jamieson called to him. Roy acknowledged him and politely pushed his way through the sea of suits and broad smiles to meet him.
“Please understand, I wasn’t trying to embarrass you, Roy. I just thought it would be a good idea to show the others how we are actually alike and follow the same God.”
“It was no problem, Jamieson.”
“But you seemed unconvinced, my friend. I assure you we can handle all communication needs. We are devoted to do everything within our strength to keep Christianity united, especially now, when we face attacks from those outside, from all those ungodly cults and false religions.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Trust us, Roy. We have watched over this island and its unfortunate inhabitants for hundreds of years without anyone else’s help. We are quite capable of re-establishing the church again; Protestants, Catholics, Evangelicals, Charismatics, whatever that call themselves, we are really all one in the faith. The crisis must be used to our advantage.”
“I have no doubt about that, Jamieson. Nor do I doubt you and your fellow monks can guide us in the way we should go.”
“Thank you for your support. So tell me, what is tro
ubling you? I see in your face that you are weary.”
“It’s the crisis. We still have no answers. I’ve travelled to each one of my missing congregation, and I can confirm they have disappeared. If they are not among the missing, then I have no other explanation as to where they have gone.”
“We must let God comfort us in such an hour.”
“I’m even starting to think the rapture—you know, like the fundamentalists say—might have actually happened.” He said it quietly so only Jamieson could hear. “I know it is a theory far from acceptable to those of us of who had a thorough theological education, but what its supporters say seems to ring true with what’s happened.” Roy studied his friend and saw him trying to suppress a smile.
“All I know, my brother, is that God is in control. Perhaps he has indeed seen fit to take selected people away to Abraham’s bosom. I have read books on the subject, and some that may agree with the current happenings.”
“But you don’t believe in the rapture, do you? It’s not exactly orthodox Catholicism.”
“I’m like you, my friend. In such an hour I am just about willing to believe anything. But for now I would so much delight in your support for us, as we make our drive for unity in the faith, to show the world we are one in Christ.”
“Yes, of course. I agree, we must do all in our power to stay unified in the faith.”
“Yes, the common faith. Tell me, did you locate any more members of your church? You told me you had some replies on your TC. Were they what you hoped?”
“Oh yes, I was meaning to get back to you about them. They are indeed safe and accounted for. What’s more, I think we can have enough for a bona fide church meeting next Sunday.”
“Really?” Jamieson asked with genuine surprise.
“I will have to check the church law. We’ve lost the two deacons and the elder, but I think we can do it. I think I can get my church up and running again.”
“That is such good news, Roy. I’m so pleased for you. I will be praying for you to our Holy Mother Mary to watch over you.”
Without showing it, Roy was saddened at the thought of his friend invoking the help of Mary. He had never said anything about it, knowing the Judaits loved everything about the Virgin Mother, or the Queen of Heaven, as they called her. Jamieson had never made any comment about Mann deriding such Mary-worship, and Roy knew it was a subject they would never agree on and therefore should never discuss.
“I greatly appreciate that,” Roy said with a smile, to which Jamieson returned.