Sudden Change

By G. T Felix

Everywhere, one can hear the heartrending call as millions disappear from the earth. Terror-stricken people are in a frenzy, running crazily, crying, screaming, and searching for their loved ones who vanished in a split second.

Pastor Gulston Parris and several of his congregation members find themselves in the midst of the chaos and panic. There is no doubt in their minds that Jesus Christ has come and taken these people away. What are they going to do? Will they be able to stand true to God during the tyrannical reign of the anti-Christ in the great tribulation?

As the final drama of prophetic events unfold, the dreadful day comes when the heartless world ruler proclaims himself god of the universe. The world is ordered to receive his mark on the right hand or on the foreheads. Those who refuse are arrested and tortured to death.

Pastor Parris and some of his members flee from their homes. However, Karel Jones and his wife, Reena, face real danger. Reena is pregnant, and they are at their wits’ end. As fear mounts, they run from their home only to face the most horrific period of their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664240810

G. T Felix

G.T. Felix is an author, playwright, and counselor, a woman of prayer and of tremendous abilities. She started her writing career at an early age and has been a prolific writer of plays and poetry for more than thirty years. This is her second book.

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Copyright © 2021 G.T Felix.

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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

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 Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-4080-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-4082-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-4081-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021914381

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/27/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

A Message to Pastors

Words from the Author

This book took courage, patience, and overall endurance to complete. Therefore, it is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, without whose divine inspiration and enablement it would not have become a reality.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

S pecial thanks to Ms. Monica Burris and Pastor Glennis St. Bernard, whose excellent work helped bring this book to its completion; and to my niece Catherina Stanisclaus-Billy for her patience and endurance in typing this manuscript. Special thanks to my sister Ann Louison and my brother Carl Felix for their kind assistance.

1

M ary Jones turned off the radio with a deep sigh of relief. She called out to her husband in the backyard, Fred! It’s going to be a splendid day after all! The weather report has just declared there’ll be no rain for the rest of the day.

For several days now the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique had experienced heavy showers. The sun was just rising over the mountain, washing the trees with her glorious light. Rain clouds were vanishing from the sky. The breeze was cool and gentle. Truly, it was a heavenly morning.

Glad for the pleasant weather, Mrs. Jones took her laundry basket and hurried outdoors to do her Saturday’s washing. She began her work humming merrily to herself while breathing in the exotic fragrance of the nearby lilies. On hearing the sound of running footsteps coming into her yard, Mrs. Jones quickly turned around. She stood petrified. There was her grandson running toward her with frightening speed—terror written on his face.

Oh, Grandmother! Grandmother! Karel shouted wildly, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. Mom has vanished before my naked eyes a few minutes ago!

Living in a neighborhood where illegal drugs were rampant, Mrs. Jones thought Karel had gotten himself involved in the use of drugs. She had seen many a decent young man swept into the harbor of insanity following the abuse of illegal drugs.

Goodness gracious! she wailed, throwing both hands in the air. Our Karel has begun to sniff cocaine!

Grandmother, I have not taken drugs! Karel cried, his chest heaving. "It’s the awful truth! As I was about to leave for the library, I went to the kitchen to say goodbye to Mom. She stood at the sink washing dishes. Just as she said, ‘OK, Son,’ she vanished out of her clothes right there in front of me! I couldn’t believe what I saw; I thought that I was having a horrible dream.

Just then our neighbor Tommy Clarke sprang into the kitchen. Shaking like a leaf, he told me that his wife and three children melted away, leaving their clothes behind, while they all were at the table having breakfast. Like a flash it came to me that the rapture had taken place. Only last night at church, I heard the preacher saying that the Lord is about to descend from heaven to rapture His blood-washed saints. But I had thought it would be sometime in the distant future. Now it has happened sooner than I expected!

Karel went on bitterly, great tears rolling down his bloodless face. Grandmother, Christ has come and taken His people away, and we have been left behind. What are we going to do?

Weeping uncontrollably, Karel began to clench his fists and bite his nails as one who was truly insane. By now Mrs. Jones was fully convinced that her grandson had taken drugs. She was shattered. Karel was the pride of the family. He was the only child born to her son and his wife. She had watched him grow from a tiny baby into an intelligent, obedient youth. Karel’s dream was to become a medical doctor. It was decided that as soon as he had finished his college education, he would be sent abroad to pursue studies in the medical field. Now it seemed as if this dream would not be realized.

Only last week May Taylor had told her of the terrible behavior of her drug-addicted son, and Mary was proud to tell of her wonderful grandson who would someday no doubt hold a prominent place in society.

Fred, she yelled, please come at once!

Fred was at the bottom of the little hill behind the house, tending his vegetable garden. He dropped his tool upon hearing the distressed call and hobbled up the hill. Past experience told him that whenever his wife called him with such a tone, it meant that something was terribly wrong. Fred was almost out of breath by the time he got to the scene.

Before her husband could investigate, Mrs. Jones said nervously, Oh, Fred, this is so horrible! Karel is now using cocaine. He has told me a whole bag of nonsense. He said his mother and others have vanished into thin air. He has even gone so far to say that Christ has come.

This is terrible! Fred exclaimed. Our Karel is in dire need of help!

By now Karel had thrown himself on the ground weeping his heart out. On hearing these words, he tried to explain to his grandfather that he had not taken drugs. Once again, he told of the mysterious disappearance of his mother and concluded with the same implausible words: Christ has come!

Fred was sincerely puzzled. For a moment he had to admit that his wife was probably right. Karel had to be out of his mind to be telling such an awful tale.

Fred, you had better telephone the mental institution, Mrs. Jones told her husband.

Let’s all go into the house, Fred suggested.

I’ll telephone Karel’s mother. Just then, Jean Charles sprang into the backyard screaming. Mrs. Jones! Mrs. Jones! Please help me! Someone has stolen my twins!

Jean was wild with panic. Her short black hair that was always neatly arranged stood on end as if it were starched. Her chest heaving, she began a most nerve-shattering tale.

Around eight thirty this morning, I left my twins asleep in their cribs and went to do my housework. About five minutes later I had a sudden urge to glance at the children to see if they we all right. At first I dismissed the thought, since the children slept for hours every morning. But when the feeling would not let up, I went to the bedroom and peeped at the cribs. To my astonishment, the cribs were empty, and the children’s clothing was lying on the floor. I was truly puzzled. The children could not undress themselves, and they could not have climbed out of the cribs. As you know, they are only two months old. Jean howled, tears flowing down her cheeks like Paradise River. I searched the house through and through, she went on excitedly. I even telephoned the police, but the lines are jammed.

Fred and his wife listened in shocked silence. Great fear gripped their hearts. If this was so, Karel was telling the awful truth. He had not taken drugs as they had supposed. This is the most frightening thing I have ever heard! Mrs. Jones wept, her knees knocking against each other. Karel had told us of the mysterious disappearance of his mother, but we did not believe him. We thought he had gone insane. He said that Christ has come and taken people away.

Jean’s heart began to tumble in her chest. She felt as though she had been suddenly struck by a volt of electricity. Christ has come! she exclaimed. I hadn’t thought of that.

Then after a pause, she said, I don’t believe it. It isn’t true. Mrs. Jones, aren’t you and your husband the best Christians who have ever lived in this neighborhood? If Christ had come, why would He leave you behind? It just doesn’t make any sense. You are surely right, Mrs. Jones. Karel is out of his mind.

Karel did not bother to respond. He stood in a trancelike state, staring into space.

Yes, my dear. You are surely right, Mrs. Jones responded, drying her eyes with the back of her hand. If Christ had come, Fred and I would not be here. We are too loyal to our church. Fred tends the church garden with his bare hands; I give my best flowers to the church. We have never missed a church service. Half of our monthly income goes to charity. We live good moral lives that Christ expects of us. If He had come, we’d be the first ones to go with Him.

Paralyzed with panic, Fred started toward the house. I’m going to turn on the radio, he said breathlessly. If these things are so, we shall soon find out.

The two women hastened after him. Karel, coming out of his stupor, followed. The aged man’s hand shook nervously as he turned the knob on the little black radio. Soon the most excited voices they had ever heard filled their ears as panic-stricken people told of the mysterious disappearances of others.

One distressed mother said she was out walking her baby when the child disappeared, leaving his clothes in her arms. Not knowing what to make of it, she sprang into a nearby house intending to ask for help in finding her child, only to find a terrified woman searching for her husband whom she said had vanished in a split second.

This was followed by another striking story of a prison officer who said he was out in the farmlands along with five inmates. The men were chattering happily as they went about their work. Then two of the men vanished before his very eyes.

It was the most incredible thing I had ever seen, the man went on, breathing heavily. It happened so quickly, as if some kind of magnet had melted them away in their clothes. Smitten with great astonishment, I ran to where their clothes had fallen, snatched them up, and shook them vigorously, not knowing what else to do. One of the men rushed to the prison and reported what had happened. An army of officers rushed to the scene. We searched the place thoroughly; the men were nowhere to be found.

On and on went the nerve-shattering tales; many wept bitterly as they spoke. There were numerous reports of disasters that had occurred throughout the tri-island state. The horrified announcer breathlessly said that the news had just reached the desk of GBN and that the mysterious disappearances of people had occurred all over the world.

Fred got up and turned off the radio. He could not bear to listen to any more. Turning to his wife with a look of horror, he said, I’m going to see Father Johnson. He may be able to shed some light on this devastating thing! With that, Fred bolted out the front door and dashed down the path.

The others sat speechless, staring wildly at each other. Mrs. Jones felt the room spinning. She held on tightly to the arm of her chair. She wanted to open her mouth to speak, but her lips stuck to each other as if they were stitched. Her chest heaving, she suddenly fell to the floor in a crumpled heap and lost consciousness.

Wild with fear, Jean and Karel stared at the unconscious woman. Then, as if sharing the same thought, they both fled from the house and went their separate ways, leaving the old woman all by herself.

Meanwhile, Fred was hastening to Father Johnson who lived about half a mile away.

Normally, the elderly man could not walk that far without the aid of his stick. Arthritis had robbed him of such privileges a long time ago. But this morning he found himself running with the speed of an athlete. The gentle morning breeze was now turning into gusty wind. It bit mercilessly upon Fred’s haggard face, but he never felt it.

It seemed to Fred as if his once quiet St. David’s neighborhood had suddenly gone mad. Hysterical people were running to and fro. Vehicles had collided with each other. Desperate cries for help were coming from the lips of someone who was trapped in an overturned vehicle.

Oh, my sweet Lord, please have mercy, Fred prayed dolefully.

As Fred approached his home church, he halted upon seeing an enormous crowd of people at the cemetery. What would people be doing at the cemetery on an awful morning like this? Fred couldn’t imagine. Surely, no one could think of a funeral at such a time! Just then Fred heard such bloodcurdling screams coming from the cemetery that he was overwhelmed with desire to investigate.

He rushed into the cemetery and pushed his way through an excited group. A frightful scene greeted him. Mother Beulah, the woman whom many people called the village witch, was being helped out of a grave by neighbors. Weeping bitterly, Mother Beulah began to relate a most incredible tale.

Around four a.m. this morning, I was told in a vision to go to the cemetery and offer up a sacrifice on the grave of my sister who had died three months ago. I was not feeling very well, but desirous to obey the vision, I left my home at seven thirty for the cemetery. After placing the gift on the grave, I was just about to kneel in prayer when, suddenly, something like a mighty rushing wind swept through the cemetery and with dynamite power, my sister’s grave on which I stood miraculously burst open!

The impact sent me sailing through the air, she continued, like a ball walloped by an eager batsman! Then I landed with a heavy thud in this grave. I don’t know how long I remained there, but when I came to myself, I found that I was lying on a piece of coffin. I’ve been trying to climb out of that horrible grave ever since.

By now, goose bumps had covered Fred’s body. As far as his eyes could see there were several other disrupted graves. Now he knew without a shadow of a doubt that the great, awesome rapture, which he had heard about so often, had finally taken place. That is the reason for the interrupted graves, thought Fred. The dead in Christ have risen to meet the Lord in the air.

Even though the coming of the Lord was not preached at his church, Fred knew that 1 Thessalonians 5:2 stated that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night to deliver His people from this sinful world. He had also read of the awesome resurrection that awaited those who had died in Christ.

Fred always believed that he was sincere in his walk with the Lord. All his life he had adored religion; he thought it was the requirement to save his lost soul, but this morning he was faced with his sad error. Oh God, the old man cried in deep despair, I have failed you most miserably!

Suddenly, an animal-like howl from Mother Beulah brought Fred’s eyes to her face. Sweet Jesus, I had read in the Bible that you would come again, but I did not believe You’d come just yet, she moaned, struggling to keep back her tears. "Every so often I read First Corinthians 15:51–54, which says, ‘Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep but we shall be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed, for this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.’

My dear people, Mother Beulah cried, looking from one haggard face to the next, this is just what has happened here today. The trumpet of God has sounded, and the dead in Christ have been raised in their new glorified bodies to meet their blessed Lord. If only I had heeded the warning of my sister, the shackled woman sobbed, "I