Redemption

By Richard Powell-Gonzalez

Rarely do see we stories written about God, and even less about His creation. Too frequently, we limit the first verse of the Bible to what happened here on earth. However, the verse could easily read: In the beginning God created Heaven and (fill in the blank). We forget that God is infinitely more capable of creating every what-if scenario that men can only imagine and write about. However, God can make any scenario real.

In the movie Contact, the character played by Jodie Foster says, The universe is a pretty big place. If its just us, seems like an awful waste of space. The author of those words was Carl Sagan. I do not think he would have thought that way if he had seriously considered the themes in C. S. Lewis Space Trilogy.

C. S. Lewis wrote his Space Trilogy about God quarantining his creations from each other in the existing solar system. What I do in this fictional novel is show how three of his creations work, in different parts of the universe, against a fourth to bring about Gods will of saving the remnant from each and giving them the opportunity to experience his redemption.

Therefore, the overarching purpose of this novel was to expand Lewis idea of the universe as a whole, and show how each creation stood in the presence of God and how, through Gods sovereignty, His will is done among these different creations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490831473

Richard Powell-Gonzalez

My life began after surviving a thirty-foot fall. I awoke three days later. I believe that was God’s providence. When I was thirty, God healed the pain from that fall. Thirty-five years later, I have learned something about God. I reside in Brazil with Fabiola, my wife, and our son, Joshua.

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Copyright © 2014 Richard Powell-Gonzalez.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ All rights reserved.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-3146-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-3147-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014905468

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/10/2014

CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1   First Observation

Chapter 2   The Call

Chapter 3   Wisdom from a Lastborn

Chapter 4   The Taking of the Emperor’s Ship

Chapter 5   The Soteria

Chapter 6   Remembering my father

Chapter 7  Fate of A Captain

Chapter 8   Approaching The Anomaly

Chapter 9   Krill Prime

Chapter 10 The Emperor of Krill

Chapter 11 Answer to Prayer

Chapter 12 The Voyage Home

Chapter 13 Meeting the Engineer

Chapter 14 A New Insight

Chapter 15 Prelude to a God Rising

Chapter 16 Resurrection

Chapter 17 Change of Heart

Chapter 18 Life through Death

Chapter 19 Departure

Chapter 20 Reunion

Chapter 21 Trump Card

Chapter 22 Benton

Chapter 23 The Hand of Destiny

Chapter 24 I am a God

Chapter 25 Engage the Ship

Chapter 26 Awakened

Chapter 27 Gomer’s Glory

Chapter 28 The Encounter

Chapter 29 The Inevitability of Folly

Chapter 30 Righting a Wrong

Chapter 31 From Evil Intended Good Prevails

Postscript

Preface

All events have happened are happening, and will happen from God’s perspective. (paraphrase of Colossians 1:16-17)

This novel’s overarching theme is to give greater credence to God’s character. Only He is the Supreme Being capable of creating whatever He desires. Only God can create what if scenarios because only God is omnipotent and omniscient.

God loves all of His creation; that is true here on the only planet we know and everywhere else in His created universe. We know, with confidence, that His providence insures, from whatever evil exist, only He can draw out the good.

To my brothers and sisters, in Christ, I hope this book inspires you to praise and worship a holy God. In Romans 11:36 it says:

For from him and through him, and to him are all things.

To him is the glory forever! Amen.

To fellow readers, I hope you take from this novel that the universe, and not just this world, can exist without an evolutionary explanation. Why limit your imagination?

Lastly, I want to thank many people who helped me. To Betsy and Chris, who constantly demanded I tell them new, creative bedtime stories when they were toddlers. I want to personally thank Julie Kaplan, who read my first manuscript and encouraged me to continue. My wife, Fabiola, who gently pushed me to finish. I want to thank Joshua, my younger son, who wants to read everything I write as long as they have adventure and dinosaurs.

Richard Powell-Gonzalez

CHAPTER 1

First Observation

‘Apollumi comes! The end is at hand! Prepare for death!

For two decades and eight before him, Malachi the former Hierate and myself, first of the Lastborn, have repeated these chants as a reminder of what is our mutual destiny. He was the Hierate, the head elder over the Enku and the Manteuomai, the first prophet since Enkus. ‘Bless you, Hierate! May you enjoy this day that the Lord has made!’ said a woman that passed by him. He smiled. Then another woman gave him a greeting followed by a small group that welcomed him. One, with a look of joy lighting her face, asked, ‘do you think the crops will have a good harvest this year?’ Dregun reassured her that the Lord has been good in season and out of season, and we should always be grateful for God’s grace. He exhorted, ‘pray Maddy that the harvest is bountiful and truly a blessing from the Lord!’ She laughed along with her companions as they walked by the Hierate. We are a joyous people he reflected. We are content and take each day as it comes by faith and not worried about the end of the world. For a while, Malachi had worried that the day of endings would bring mass hysteria among the people but it never materialized thanks to God’s providence.

Enkus and the Firstborn had their test, and they moved forward leaving this land to the Middleborn. Likewise, the Middleborn also completed God’s work before Enkus came for them. And now we, the Lastborn, are alone to seek what God wants from us. ‘Appollumi is coming to bring us death and we have no idea why,’ pondered Dregun.

Unlike the Firstborn and Middleborn, who were faithful, there is a grumbling among some who don’t cherish death at the hand of Appollumi. It was a struggle for our people to accept that destiny. Malachi preached endlessly that we must encourage an attitude of; be mindful that the good and the unknown are part of His divine providence.

Both the Firstborn and Middleborn didn’t have this challenge. They had other obstacles and faced them without wavering. It was Enkus who never lacked faith for what God had given him. Enkus had been faithful and with Caridad, our great mother, all Enkusians had stayed their hands and demonstrated their willingness to be put to the test by God. The cry was always:

‘All of these events were happening in accordance with prophecies yet no one knows what is to come!’

At times, some of the younger members of the Brethren had to be reminded that their work was to investigate prophecies and try to determine prayerfully how they applied to our daily lives; discovering His will for our people was always a satisfying pursuit. Many questioned the Elders because Enkus took all the knowledge of God with him and left them essentially with a life by faith alone.

Enkus did all the Lord asked of him, and God allowed him to ask of Him anything he needed. But Enkus only asked to abide in His presence and do His will. Then God expressed his great joy towards Enkus by given him, The Sacro Sanctum, a book that contained all the knowledge that his children would ever need. Enkus elected my father as keeper of The Sacro Sanctum, when he left. But, Enkus instructed him and Malachi not to give it to the Lastborn for God had planned something different for them as he had done before with the Firstborn.

Jared surprised everyone when he presented a duplicate of The Sacro Sanctum to the Elders. Jared, who was not part of the Brethren, received visions from God over many months. Deeply troubled by the visions he wrote them down and brought them to Malachi and Dregun. Jared astonished them by writing The Sacro Sanctum word for word. Jared became known after a time, as the new keeper of The Sacro Sanctum

Over the course of many years, they worked with Jared to interpret other visions and dreams that weren’t in The Sacro Sanctum. Then came Elder Jewles Kaparay, who seemed to understand much of Jared’s visions. Between them, they compiled the knowledge that had been given to the Firstborn and Middleborn, respectively. God revealed to Jewles and Jared all the knowledge necessary to do His will as He had done with the others. For the current movements of Appollumi are known to us, and God has given us the technology to study it. Our great delight has been discovering how things He has made works.

Now the Lastborn prepared for Appollumi by having developed all the technologies it would need to understand what it is: what everyone called the bringer of death. Some, however, doubted what God was doing, choosing to allow scepticism to dominate their conversations, especially among old seekers. Dregun persisted, nevertheless, to keep emphasizing that Enkus taught trust and obedience rather than dwell on the doom Appollumi represented.

It used to be a tradition for the head elder to orient new seekers and lecture on the character of God; in the last decade the elders have had to speak too often on adherence to the articles of faith each new seeker had promised to follow. Many were inquiring about themes that undermined their walk. At the heart of the order the walk of faith: a willingness to allow God to guide us toward a right relationship to their God-Creator. Dregun was all too familiar with zealous attempts of Brethren trying to rewrite the ethical doctrines of the faith.

He remembered one seeker who tried to change things. This seeker began to present ideas using references in books Dregun had written. Dregun had asked this seeker if she knew the author from which she quoted, and she assured him that the author of the book was the authority upon which she founded her polemics. The assembled new seekers began to erupt in laughter because the young woman was quoting Dregun to Dregun. They were saying that she doesn’t even know whom she is talking to less debating the person who wrote the sources she is quoting. The young lady was so embarrassed that the color of her face matched her bright red hair. It’s still humorous when he recalls the incident. He would never have imagined she would become one of his most extraordinary friends.

Of course, today she is polemically relentless. He smiles as he reflects, ‘I lit a time bomb in that girl!’ Now she is the person most responsible for destroying arguments based on conjecture and faulty premises. New seekers are weary of the bow beatings she renders to all who attempt to challenge her position. I’m glad Elder Kaparay has restored the proper focus of seekers; to know the character of God and serve Him. She served notice to all new seekers when she set up a new banner outside the study hall that read:

THE BRINGER OF DEATH IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY!

She now spends endless hours studying the work of Enkus and how he motivated the Firstborn and Secondborn. Jewles has been inspirational in countering thoughts of despair, fear and destruction that had been growing among the Brethren. ‘We have to challenge every argument raised up against God’s will,’ she would proclaim, ‘because it can lead to dangerous conclusions when taken out of context and our missions are guided by general and specific revelation: not knowledge.’

We know that one of our most profound missions is to save others, but who are those others I have yet to understand; how will we know and how do we prepare ourselves for those events? I have hope,’ thought Dregun, ‘that God will reveal this to us according to his plans.’ He then saw the boy who shook him from his contemplations.

He sat there, surrounded by people, on his grandfather’s lap. The child represented one of Dregun’s prophecies fulfilled in their time: in the last days a child would come among us to bring us hope against all hope. When Khalid was old enough to talk, crowds gathered to hear him speak fearlessly of Appollumi and how God would destroy it. ‘Your blessing upon us, Oh wise one,’ said Morgan, his friend and grandfather of Khalid. Dregun moved to the center of the gathering and placed his hand upon the boy’s head reciting the blessing:

‘May you see the fulfillment of your dreams before

Apollumi! May you know life among the dying! Khalid, you of many here I pray will have more to treasure

than facing the Bringer of Death alone. May

God help you fulfill your destiny.’

Dregun kissed the boy on the forehead that is the highest blessing a Hierate could bestow. Certainly, the boy was like his father Jared: full of faith and trusting in God in all things. Now the last matter of the day had come to his attention.

Keeper Jared had requested an exploratory mission to Appollumi. He brought his plans to us complete to the last detail including the ship he had built to take to Appollumi. We couldn’t refuse him, because we had seen visions of this long before he came to us; we knew all too well when the hand of God manifested itself in our presence. Jared, like his son, reminded us that we should do everything possible to remember that we are a people of God.

Many saw Jared’s mission as dangerous and foolish: what purpose would it accomplish! But Jared’s motivation wasn’t just his journey. Mariah, his wife, had become the last Enkusian translated, and her desire to be with God was evident by all who knew her. She was the forty-first person taken directly to heaven in the twinkling of an eye. Mariah inspired her husband to seek the Lord’s will in all things. He had remembered her encouragement to complete the work of his journals that God had put on his heart. His son only motivated him more to go on this mission.

Dregun continued his chant:

‘Appollumi comes! The bringer of death awaits us all! Prepare yourselves! Look for the deliverance! Look for the Savior!’ ‘What does he mean Grandpa, Appollumi is the bringer of death; will we all die,’ asked the boy excitedly. Then Morgan told his grandson,watching his excitement grow that it was a great time to experience the wonders of God. He took his grandson upon his knee and began to speak of the fate and wonder of Appollumi.

It was amazing that as his grandfather spoke, Khalid listened as if he were on an adventure. His ears riveted on every word his grandfather spoke. Khalid responded with words of wisdom that showed a marvelous faith; anticipating with great joy what God is going to do with this bringer of death. Morgan, especially liked how Khalid described how God would just say poof, and Appollumi self-destructed. ‘God is awesome isn’t He,’ said the boy enthusiastically. The boy was happy hurrying his grandfather to tell him more. Many years ago, Dregun had that childlike faith that led him to the order of which he now is the head.

CHAPTER 2

The Call

‘We all come with a calling,’ said Hierate Malachi, ‘but as many that are called few are chosen.’ Dregun was the chosen one. Unlike many among the Brethren, Dregun never sought to have a family or love a woman; he was driven by many visions that came to him while he slept, that convinced him to become part of the Brethren. God, he thought, placed these visions in his mind, and he didn’t understand most of them. Like Enkus of old, he had faith to believe understanding would come at the needed time. Malachi knew that this boy differed from any he had known. He faced Dregun and continued, ‘Dregun, are you ready to take the oath and undertake the duties and responsibilities of the order, forgoing all attachments to the world, family and friends?’ Dregun without hesitation said, ‘yes, most Reverend Hierate, I do!’ ‘Very well, my son,’ said Malachi, ‘listen to the words of our forefathers before the witness of the Brethren and the new seekers who stand with you.’ Malachi turned toward the altar, asked that all stand and began to recite from the sacred writings of the prophet. Malachi read aloud:

‘From The Book of Commensari, Chapter One:

From the beginning, there was only God. Only he existed and nothing else. God was Lord over all and nothing; for He spoke to the nothingness and from it came life. He spoke and set the places throughout the expanse, the suns to provide light, the planets to inhabit all his living creatures and a mission to each to glorify his name. For this world he created Enkus, our first living being, to rule and govern over all that he had made. To Enkus, he gave knowledge to govern over all that our world contained, a wife Caridad, and family to live in this new world. Enkus was faithful and did all required of him, and God rewarded him righteousness. Enkus and Caridad were fruitful and multiplied, teaching his children to obey God and his commandments.

Then God spoke to Enkus to remove the Firstborn to Secundus, the largest moon of the Enkusian system to allow the Secondborn to complete their mission; this was the first gathering. When the Secondborn likewise pleased the Lord Enkus returned to took them to Terza, the second moon of Enkusian system to allow the Lastborn to complete their task; that was the last gathering. The wisdom and experience of the first and second gatherings were unknown to the Lastborn; only the sign of Appollumi was given to the Lastborn. Enkus would return for the Lastborn that would be the last gathering.

The word of God will go forth, according to his purposes and will complete all that it sets forth to accomplish; blessed be the name of the Lord!’

Malachi smiling, said, ‘Acolyte Dregun, repeat this oath: I accept this burden of responsibility, to be faithful to our forefathers and comfort our people until God reveals our destiny!’ After Dregun repeated the oath Malachi lifted Dregun’s head covering over his head; the other elders surrounded Malachi and waited for him to give the blessing. Malachi began:

‘For each of us has sought after God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and all our strength. Oh Lord, give Dregun wisdom to seek your counsel, a pastor’s heart for all the Brethren, faith in the face of death and allow him to prophesy in accordance with your providence for all here on Prime in the presence of God, Amen.’

Then Malachi took the urn of oil and poured it over Dregun’s head and placed the head covering over his wet hair. Malachi continued, ‘and may your Spirit, Oh Lord, pour this anointing into his heart and guide his life as all those who came before him.’ Then the others all raised their hands and gave praise to God for this new elder; all knew that one day Dregun would be the successor, the Manteuomai to Heirate Malachi.

When the ceremony ended, Malachi had whispered for Dregun to join him in his chambers. They entered jointly into his chambers, asking Dregun to sit by his desk while Malachi walked directly to a shelf behind his desk and removed a leathered bound book. Malachi sat next to and showed him the book. He told Dregun it was Enkus who wrote it. Malachi explained that much of the book is metaphorical or allegorical. Some chapters, after many years of prayer and fasting, are understood, but the greater part of the book remained a mystery. Malachi shared, with the Elders, the belief that only the Hierate could read the book and only the Manteuomai unveil its secrets.

They all believed that Dregun would be that person whom God had called to do that task. Before he could walk the elders called him the chosen one. ‘Dregun,’ said Malachi, ‘please read and tell me what it means to you.’ Dregun stared at the text for a few moments and saw something familiar with the words and then it came to him. Dregun had recognized that this calligraphy was like his fathers, and it wasn’t mysterious at all. He explained to Malachi it was a word game his father used to play with him where you changed the meaning of the words by rearranging the letters. He studied the text for a few minutes and began to read:

‘When the Holy One finished his work of creation, he established a governing council of twenty-four elders that would oversee His creation.’

Dregun had paused when he noticed that Malachi, who had moved from his chair and stood behind him, suddenly sank in the sofa just behind him. Dregun turned around to see if the Heirate was okay; Malachi expressed astonishment by what Dregun read. Malachi told Dregun he had attempted to decipher that same text hundreds of times without success and Dregun interpreted it on the first try. Malachi then explained to Dregun that that information was unknown to anyone other than Enkus. Malachi enthused asked Dregun to keep reading. Dregun continued,

‘…the angel of the lord said to me, there has been a disturbance in the heavens, and you will see the specter of death that will be near you, but not touch you for our Father’s hand will sustain you. At that time, you will bring the Enku through it to save them who are not your people to the place prepared for all of you. When Enkus inquired when the great disturbance shall begin, the angel responded, ‘it has already started.’

Malachi reasoned that the great disturbance, threatening our people had to be Appollumi. Neither Malachi or Dregun could understand what the angel had meant by a people who are not our people we would save or to what place prepared for them! Dregun had tried to read further, but it became incomprehensible. Malachi assured him that, in time, God would reveal more in accordance with his providence. Malachi put his arm on the Dregun’s shoulder and told him to take the book home and meditate for the Lord to reveal its secrets.

Dregun learned much from the sacred book, and he and Malachi discerned many other things since then. Now many depended on Keeper Jared to resolve many mysteries. He was departing soon, and those new mysteries needed resolution. His thoughts brought Elder Kaparay to mind and at that moment he received a message that she had urgent news to share with him.

CHAPTER 3

Wisdom from a Lastborn

Her message conveyed a sense of urgency about her findings. Elder Jewles Kaparay had become the Brethren’s leading analyst over the decade. She continually demonstrated her talent to simplify complicated situations; her elevation to head theologian among Elders raised no eyebrows. Dregun, sitting at his desk, heard his aide announce Elder Kaparay had arrived. After exchanging greetings, Dregun asked, ‘now what concerns you that you asked for this audience.’ Jewles responded, ‘Hierate, my team has spent the last six weeks analyzing Keeper Jared’s sixth vision, and there is something about it that is indecipherable.’

Dregun amused, prompt the Elder to explain what was indecipherable. Jewles answered, ‘we knew God’s natural law provides us a frame of reference that is both uniform, consistent and invariable.’ unless God changes it according to His providence.’ ‘We also know,’ she added, that the total amount of energy in the universe is constant.’ ‘Nevertheless,’ we see increasing disorder and we don’t know how that is possible; it’s contrary to our existence as complicated life forms for we continue to exist in spite of this growing disorder.’ ‘Hierate,’ she concluded, ‘people aren’t getting older or