JOHN B. JOSEPH
Declaration
of
WAR
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Declaration of War
Copyright©2016 John B. Joseph
Declaration of War
by
John B. Joseph
ISBN:
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All Rights Reserved
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form, Stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by Any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the author and publisher.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are taken from
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright© 1982, by Thomas, Inc.
and the Holy Bible, King James Version, Kerr’s Bible Handbook,
Cruden’s Concordance Evangel Bible Project
Published By
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DEDICATION
This play is dedicated to all Christian leaders,
all over the globe. Be blessed with greater grace
as you read this great story and its series.
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Table of Contents
Act One
Scene One: Tempestuous Arrival
Scene Two: Warlord on the Busy Path
Scene Three: Captives of Woes
Act Two
Scene One: Warriors in Conference
Scene Two: Left for War
Scene Three: Sorrows of Lone Fighter
Act Three
On to the Warfront
About the Author
Other Titles by the Same Author
Author’s Connects
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ACT ONE
ACT ONE, SCENE ONE
TEMPESTUOUS ARRIVAL
FADES IN
EXT. IN THE WOOD – NIGHT
CAST: DOMINO, VILLAGERS
DOMINO
{Out of the dark wood that lays in-between two villages, a large vulture appears with a warlike giant on her wings. The giant, DOMINO, dresses in all blacks with red silver crown on his head, bloody sword in his right hand and smoldering scepter in his left. He commands his chariot}. Stop here!
{The vulture stops. Domino raises his iron scepter to the sky and shouts with crude voice} I am the roaring lion, the old Serpent, the king of the dark.
Special Effects: {A tempestuous noisy waves rises and sweeps through the forest. The windy storms tear down trees and dust up pebbles. As thunders and lightning strike frightfully, people from both villages run about for safety. Domino rides through the thundering storms, disappears and reappear a few times, and suddenly, he lands on the road with more terrific look.}
{Wild laughter} Aah, ah ah ah! {Pauses} I am for war; the war is my will and my will must be mercilessly done. {Silence, shouts} Ee ee eh!, I wage war to kill. Yea, I am here for real hostilities. I will war according to my wishes and no one can stop me. {Intense thunders strikes}
{Scene Fades}
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ACT ONE, SCENE TWO
WARRIOR ON THE BUSY PATH
EXT. ON THE BUSY PATH – NIGHT
CAST: ADEOLA, COMFORT, DOMINO
{Two female friends walk along the lonely pathway that link their village to the nearby town of to attend the monthly Miracle Service of Evangelist Charles}
ADEOLA
{Breaks the silence} Hun! What a terrifying stormy night this is!
COMFORT
Ah, my sister, the storms was so hellish. See how it tears the green and dismantles rocks. Oh, its hurricane armies pursue men about. This indeed is a battle cry.
ADEOLA
Certainly it is. It couldn’t be anything else. I sense strong confusing darkness in my spirit while it lasted. My sister, {lower voice} the devil might be visiting.
COMFORT
Hun, the old Serpent visiting the land? Oh, I don’t want to think that side. Visiting this place for what? Oh, no; please stop this awry vision. It’s the heaviest burden to bear.
ADEOLA
But you know it. The roaring lion visits to prey on men every second. More so, his visiting shouldn’t be a heaviest of burdens. Sin should.
COMFORT
Sin should? I don’t really think so. Who brought sin here? The devil sold it for free for Adam, and they joyfully bought it for free.
DOMINO
{Appears from the wood, transforms to an aged man and follows the ladies stealthily but mimicking}
ADEOLA
Truly, it was the entry of sin that brought the death. It wasn’t the old serpent’s presence that brought it. Men died only when they patronize devil’s goods.
COMFORT
You are right. I now understand. He who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy shouldn’t be taking for terror as the instrument he uses. Sin is devil’s most dreadful war weapon.
ADEOLA
He visits to sell sin by means of manipulation. He who detects his clever workings and refuses his commodity gets the victory.
DOMINO
{Catches up and walks side by side with the ladies} Hun, dear young ladies, what a great topic to discuss! But, does Satan truly manipulate men to sin? No, he doesn’t. Men often sin at will. Sinning is their personal choice. Satan is such a serious warlord that he has no time to manipulate anyone. While the valiant fighter fights, the saintly men leisure in pleasures.
COMFORT
How, Baba? You mean many are too lazy in spiritual warfare and grossly occupy with pleasures of this world?
DOMINO
Exactly, my daughter
ADEOLA
Well, that notwithstanding, in Christ we are victorious over both sin and Satan. We shall crush the prince of darkness in the name of Jesus. Thank God we have the name of Jesus. Faith in His name is our victory. At the name of -
DOMINO
{Cuts in} No, you got it wrong, lady. Faith in His name alone isn’t enough. God helps those who help themselves.
COMFORT
How Baba?
DOMINO
There is prayer and there are prayers. Those who seek further aids from high supernatural lords get quicker and permanent victories.
ADEOLA
What! {Pauses} Hun, sister Comfort, I feel the presence of higher evil here. We must quit this unholy fellowship.
DOMINO
Liar, what evil presence? What unholy fellowship?
ADEOLA
Hun… {Pauses} But sir, who are you? Where do you come from? En, where are you going?
DOMINO
Will you stop asking me foolish questions! I know everyone in this village, and you don’t know me?
ADEOLA
Get behind us, Satan, in the name of Jesus. Get lost, Satan. {Holds Comfort by the hand and pulls her along as she flees. Looks back; shouts loud}. I rebuke you Satan in Jesus name.
DOMINO
Ah, ah, ah! {Transforms to serpent, and flies off into the bush, with heavy mockery} Huh u huh u huh…
ADEOLA & COMFORT
{Running, shouting repeatedly} In the name of Jesus! {Sing in joyous mood on their way}JESUS IS THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW…
DOMINO
{Reappears as giant warlord, points his sword to the direction of ADEOLA & COMFORT; wielding it as he rolls his awful eyes.
He turns, prances about, stops and makes an earsplitting shouts} I am for war; yea, I am come to wage it fiercely against His saints. I am for war, and yea, I have declared it. Oh you saints, awake to war and engage me. {Laughter} Ah ah ah. {Heaves} ahuh! Hun!
{He leans on his iron scepter, menacingly} Eh…eh! It is true. Yea, it is the truth that the triumphant Prince gave them the victory on His Cross. {Pauses} Ayah! But that was over 2000 years ago. Hun! {Showcases his teeth rudely} Don’t you see 2000 is too long to be active? {Hysteric laughter} Eeh eeh eeh eeh ….
Listen! He truly won the victory, but, as long as I, the god of this age remain the lord of darkness, no way for His followers. I will hinder many chosen ones from entering into His won victory. {Laughter, momentary silence follows. Then a sudden loud and wild row}
It is me, the god of the power that is in the air. It is me, me, me who is the lord. {Jumps up and bashes his feet on earth} Who else is the lord that reigns here on earth? {Hysteric laughter} Ah…ah…ah…ah…ah. {Bangs on his own chest, egoistically} I run my missions to frustrate the mission of the Son of God on earth! I shall stop His reigns even over His covenant ones. See those dirty Eves. {Points at the direction the two ladies run} See the bastard idiots. What a jobless bigots called sisters!
{He looks downward, stoops suddenly and begins to hit the ground with the head of his iron rod} Oh, no! Many like these bastard fools proudly call themselves End-Time anointed believers! {Frowns face, loud shouts, turns about, and begins to walk away} No! No! Never! I will not let them be, yeah, I will turn all of them to ‘anointmess’ bastard saints. {Laughter bursts} Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah… {Fades away, just as the musical, ‘ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS’ echoes from background}
{Scene Fades}
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ACT ONE, SCENE THREE
CAPTIVES OF WOES
EXT. VILLAGE SQUARE – DUSK
CAST: CAPTIVES, DOMINO, PRINCESS MISERY
Background Music: J. A. Adelakun’s “OLORUN IGBALA…”
CAPTIVES OF WOES
{VOICE OVER: Inside a dark underground prison of the city of Lagos, many people are seeing bound with chains. They wail loud and hard as their tough looking oppressors, in blacks, whip them mercilessly.} Help, Lord, free us from this agony. Come, people, save us. Oh, free us from these chains pains and death. Etc.
DOMINO
{Resurfaces, laughs loudly in mockery} Ah… ah… ah! What a vain cry of my captives! Ah, ah, ah! None is able to deliver you from my hands. No one dare. Yea, no one delivers from my prison. I am the chief tormentor of the saints of the Most High. {Pauses} I, the unrepentant dragon, am the strong man of the earth, the dreaded roaring lion that preys on every faith-giant. Yea, I exploit the wise by the bait of pottage; spoil men’s fortunes by token of gift, and murder joys by the sword of subtlety. {Weird shouts} Eh! Ah! {Looks about madly} Yeah, I, your dreaded dragon will do all these in my haste. And, who can dare me? Who? {Fanatical dance} Eh… eeh… eeh…
PRINCESS MISERY
{Comes out from behind the scene, pays homage} You are the master! You are the conquering master! You devastate mighty men by the seducing pleasures of pretty thighs! You roast kings in burning bosoms of beautiful women! You conquer stars by swords of mammon! All crowns fall before your throne! You are the master!
DOMINO
{Acknowledges} Yes, yes, I am the lord. I am winning tempter, the conquering warlord. I am now come to make spoils of His saints by subtleness. I am for war! Ah, ah, ah… {Raises his iron staff, strikes the earth thrice and a great ocean suddenly appears. He then stands in the rivers, makes loud cries and vanishes into ocean. And in a matter of moment, he comes up out of the water again} Yeah, I am for war. Worship me or be damned! Bow before my altars, all you His saints or prepare for war. Will you dare to engage in hot battle? I warn you anointed men and women: worship at my altar or face my war. {Looks about}
{Shouts}I have sent forth my merciless armies to make war with you all. My impregnable forces will fight you at all fronts. The battles are on! Prepare for war! {Scream}Ah! And who among you can stand when I fight! I am the old Serpent.
Special Effects: He strikes the earth and inserts his iron staff in the open hole. The iron suddenly turns to a big winged snake. He sits on its back and it carries him off the skyway}
{Scene Fades}
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ACT TWO
ACT TWO, SCENE ONE
WARLORDS IN CONFERENCE
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
CAST: TOLA, PRINCESS MISERY, CAPT. TERROR, LORD THORN, MS HONEY
TOLA
{It is midnight in the city of Ajah, Lagos. Tola, a Christian lady is on her knees, praying}. Father, I thank you for always answering my prayer. {She rises and begins to sing} ALIVE, ALIVE, MY JESUS IS ALIVE. HE’S ALIVE FOR EVERMORE, ETC.
PRINCESS MISERY
{Lands upon a suspended platform in the air over the city of Ibadan, in multi-color robe, wearing a brown, sunburned crown on her head}: Ah…ah…ah…ah! I am Princess MISERY, the honorable minister of woes in devil’s cabinet.
CAPTAIN TERROR
{Lands grandly in red attires, holds burning sword in hand and pale crown}: Huu… huu! I’m LORD TERROR, the valiant, matchless minister of war. I make war to devastate! I am the unusaul Warriooooor…Yes! I am.
LORD THORN
{Lands with a loud shout, in blacks and reddish-dark crown. He wields his silver thorny rod menacingly as he stares oddly into space}: I am Lord–the-Thorn. Yeah, I, pierce the saintly soul with grief. {Laughter} Ah…ah…ah. I lead the ministry of Pains that soils destiny, breaks spirits, causes tears and murder comfort. {Laughter} Eh ah, eah!
MS HONEY
{Ascends in sparkling rosy-blue and yellow crown; she paces about in feminine grand-style; winking her glazing, seducing eyes}: I am the noble lady of love - your admired lovebird. I’m the queen of love; call me your royal darling. {Smiles} Eee… eeh! I, the honorable minister of romance and sex, do lust with men of collar to muddle their colors. I flirt with royalties to spear their glory. And, yeah, you see, yeah, I am come to darken love’s light and to roast you in the oven of my lusts. {Displays her elegant beauty}
TOLA
{Awakes, sweating} What a dream! I couldn’t believe this. What a revelation of the Spirit! Ah, Lord, hum! {Pauses} Could these be the evil forces at war with saints of Christ? {Stands up, prays, prances about. She sleeps again and the dream continues}
FOUR BEINGS
{Sing & dance in a closed circle to the beats of unseen drummers} “WE ARE DARK EMISSARIES; ON A MISSION TO WASTE/2X, WE ARE DARK ROYAL TROOPS/2X TO FIGHT AND CONQUER/2x”
PRINCESS MISERY
{Gives a large white sheet to MS HONEY who spreads it out on the centre stage, then makes a loud order} – The Command! The Command! The Command!
MS HONEY
{In chorus} – You, most anointed in this city, show up. Appear! Appear! Appear! {The 1st man, pastor DEINDE, appears shining with bright rainbow all around him. He pastors Gospel Aflame Ministries. The 2nd man shows up with terrifying burning flame. He is Evangelist Ken-Rex of the Lord’s Coming Missions}.
FOUR BEINGS
{Dreadful} Eh, eh, help master; too hot to handle. {They all shiver and fall over, scrambling for life.}
TOLA
{Wakes, trembling} O, God! What a horrible dream! {She looks at wall clock; it says 2.45 a.m. She rises to pray, but sit down again to wonder; only to suddenly go into trance and the vision continues.}
PRINCESS MISERY
You, Lord-the-Thorn {Serves Orders} bring that little powder container here. Smart!
LORD THORN
At your command! {Walks to the left corner, carries the bronze pot and returns} You will is done, your majesty. Here is it
PRINCESS MISERY
Open. Pour out the darkness in the pot on both. That will reduce their power voltage. {Winks, with cruel smile}
LORD THORN
At your command! {Opens, and pours but he
falls at once on the floor, grabbling for life... Others rush to his help only to be seized by the windy blaze} Ah, Eh! Hum! Hum! {Cries of agony}
PRINCESS MISERY
{Faintly} You, come here {points to Ms Honey} Takes this from me. {Struggles to give her a white calabash}
MS HONEY
{Crawls frontward] Your majesty, here is my hand… Here it is…put it on.
PRINCESS MISERY
{Places it on her left hand} Open quickly. Pour it all on them. {Stammering] It will still the winds and quench the inferno.
MS HONEY
Oh… Humnnn… {Opens, creeps to centre and pours the red water on the images}. It is done as ko-man-de-d! {Calmness begins to return}.
PRINCESS MISERY
{Gives out a black burning scepter to CAPTAIN TERROR}Take this by you left hand. Lift it high. Strike them with might.
CAPTAIN TERROR
{Collects the burning scepter, trembling; lifts it high and strikes} Done as commanded! {Storming fire explodes suddenly, and left all the FOUR BEINGS gasping for breathe on the floor. They heave and wail heavily}
[Trance ends]
THE ANGEL
(VOICE OVER) Tola, Tola, Tola, I am sending you to the city of Ibadan, to my faithful servants, Deinde and Ken-Rex. The Devil is up against them, that he might sift them like wheat. Go at once to their individual church and relate all that I have shown you to them. Tell each of them to be in my presence with their chosen elders men, for a 40 day fellowship. Let them come with fasting, for I want to meet them in the flavor of my glory. Go! I am with you.
{The Voice ceases}
TOLA
Thank you, Lord. Thank you. {She awakes, shivering and covers with sweat. But with faith she “THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS in Yoruba language}: ‘IGBAGBO AWON BABA WA, KO BERU IDA ATI INA…’}
{Scene Fades}
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ACT TWO, SCENE TWO
LEFT FOR WAR
EXT. INSIDE CAR – DUSK
CAST: DEINDE, JOSHUA
DEINDE
{It’s 7 p.m. He drives homeward, playing Don Moen’s “LEAD ME THROUGH THE NIGHT” on the car tape. He shakes his head in unbelief, soliloquizes intermittently} Ah, Lord, have mercy Lord… Hun, so these people haven’t change. {Pauses} It is terrible working with carnal church elders. Hum, hum; okay. {Pauses} Only five {counts fingers}, just five out of twenty one elders on the board! They won’t believe the message… and vowed not to let the fasting hold. Shit! O God you heard their foolish arguments, and saw their fracas over such a simple issue. And, oh, imagine their sharp tongues. {Laughs, displeasing}Lord Jesus, do you still call this your Church? [Pauses]