Another End Time Novel

By Gary A Parker

Historicist-futurist, Premillennial, Post-tribulation—readers who do not know those terms may still enjoy this short novel. It is a faith-filled adventure set in the near future at the end of our age. The characters did not anticipate the path they were called to walk, yet they bravely followed the Holy Spirit through surprising successes and deep tragedies. Join them in the final seasons of this world order and the dawn of the real new age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Parker
• Release date: Jul 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201914813

Book preview

Another End Time Novel

Gary A. Parker

Copyright © 2020

Smashwords Edition

(Print Edition at Amazon.com)

Smashwords Edition License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form.

Cover photo by Maxim Tajer on Unsplash

DEDICATION

To Yeshua my Messiah. May the interpretations I presented be reasonable, and may they not add to or take away from the Revelation He gave us.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Discovery

Chapter 2. More Discovery

Chapter 3. Ruminations

Chapter 4. Shelter

Chapter 5. Equipping

Chapter 6. Training

Chapter 7. Harvest

Chapter 8. Dark

Chapter 9. More Harvests

Chapter 10. The End of the Age

About the Author

Chapter 1. Discovery

Lisa drifted out of sleep to the ponderous, almost imperceptible swaying of a nuclear aircraft carrier. Though the only sound was the light whisper of the ventilation, massive nuclear engines powered the technological marvel slowly across the Mediterranean. Despite filters, the salty, sweet smell of sea air filled the cabin. She stretched her lithe muscles in a feline fashion, and bounded out of bed to begin her morning routine.

~~~~~~~

Lisa Ann McAllister did not see herself as an action hero. In High School, she maintained a solid B average, and excelled at soccer, swimming, and Judo. Trophies and ribbons crowded her small bedroom. She was a nominal Christian, yet she lacked any relationship with the subject of her professed faith. She had a posse of faithful friends, and occasionally dated from a pool of boys attracted to her uncomplicated persona.

An adventurous adolescent, she longed for excitement and travel to distant lands. Consequently, during her senior year she inquired about a life in the Navy. After graduation, she signed up. Early training had been uneventful, so she volunteered for SEAL training. She breezed through the intense exercises, survived her classroom lessons, and cautiously entered a new life surrounded by strong men. As she neared the end of her latest hitch, she planned to go into the reserves. She now desired a loving husband, loud children, and an old-fashioned sense of community. She usually got what she longed for.

A year earlier, a friend of hers shared the joy she found in the new Messianic movement. Though neither she nor her friend were Jewish, the literature and websites her compadre provided made sense. The teachings Lisa read did not advocate converting to Judaism, or becoming ensnared in the legalism of rabbinic traditions. Lisa met her own Messiah, and her spiritual life began to grow. Doubtless, her new birth influenced her pleasant nesting urge.

She was still young in her faith when the news broke about a new super-virus that caused ugly and painful sores on the victim’s skin. It appeared several places around the globe at nearly the same time. Early research showed that the period prior to visible symptoms varied from 1 to 28 days. Thus, a person could carry it for weeks unaware that the virus had infected them. Worse, it spread by both personal contact and airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes. The only good news was that it was not deadly. In the months that followed the initial reports, the virus had spread with disturbing speed, and now infected millions.

Curiously, neither Lisa nor her Messianic friend had any sores. Though mainstream media did not discuss it, side-stream sources reported that many people who claimed to be Christians did not display the disfiguring marks.

~~~~~~~

After a hearty and heart-wise breakfast that morning, she and her team heard a call to report to the forward briefing room. There, she noticed that the sores on her CO’s face were getting worse. So many people had them that they had become normal. She hoped he wouldn’t cough. The other members of Team C were present for the briefing, plus a new face—one without sores.

The CO pulled out a handkerchief, coughed, then officiously said, You will be departing tonight to monitor the Russian naval base in Syria. Here are your packets.

He passed them out before raising his handkerchief for another cough. Lisa took hers by a corner, and as she left, she glanced at the new man on the team. The men she served with were a rough and boisterous bunch, but this one was different. Tall with dark, almost black wavy hair, piercing blue eyes, and chiseled features, he was an imposing figure. And he hadn’t said a word—he hadn’t even looked at anyone. As she approached her quarters below, he approached his from the other direction. She felt her chest slowly expand.

He stopped, gazed directly into her eyes, and said, You’re blessed that you don’t have children yet. After making such an unusual statement, he entered his room.

Stunned, she stood still for a moment, then slowly went into her own cramped quarters. She pulled out her tablet, logged onto the ship’s secured net, selected personnel and entered his name. A notice popped up that read Access Denied in bold red letters. She thought, Who was Michael B. Smith and what did he mean by those words? She had confidence in the mission, but she wondered why this strange stranger was part of it. What was going on?

She knelt by her bunk and began to pray about the new assignment, and other things. Then, in her mind’s eye, she saw an impossibly wide and towering waterfall. She saw herself going over the top, and it seemed like the whole world was tumbling over with her. Puzzled, she prayed on.

~~~~~~~

After twilight, Team C headed out from the carrier group in an inflatable she had never seen before. A composite, cylindrical hydrogen tank about a foot in diameter and eight feet long lay in the center. A fuel cell and electric motor lay aft on the carbon fiber bottom. The ensign eased the throttle forward, and Lisa estimated they were skimming along through the dark night at an impressive 45 knots. The craft and everyone in it appeared true black—the nano-absorbers coating the raft and its occupants reflected neither light nor radar. She also noted the surreal silence broken only by the occasional swooshing and splashing of their speed. When they eventually slowed, those few sounds stilled as the craft glided on across the mild swells. The silence seemed to accent the dense expanse of stars that decorated the moonless expanse.

When they were several miles from the Syrian coast, the pilot stopped the inflatable, and the team eased overboard in their wetsuits with fins, snorkels, and tethered float bags. They swam towards shore unnoticed. When they arrived at their position in the modest breakers, they waded to the beach one at a time and skittered across it with only a suggestion of rustling sand. They regrouped in the brush behind some rocks, and the new man got out of his wetsuit, opened his float bag, and put on some nondescript civilian clothes. Lisa stayed low and kept still with the others, but she wondered what he was doing—this was not in the mission description. Then he stood up and walked northward.

They set up their electronic eavesdropping equipment, then watched and waited in silence as the devices recorded everything from a wide range of bands. Three hours later, the mystery man returned, undressed, put the local garb in his float bag and climbed back into his wetsuit. The team leader then signaled the others to return. One by one, they reentered the Mediterranean and swam together to the rendezvous point displayed on their dim GPS wristwatches. The ensign was waiting with the inflatable, and they eased back on board. They traveled from there to the carrier, and from the carrier to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Lisa guessed from the flight time that they flew most of the distance at Mach 2. She kept silent, as did the others. CIA staff debriefed them individually, then allowed them all to leave.

~~~~~~~

Later that day, Lisa caught up with the new man and demanded, What did you mean by ‘You’re blessed that you don’t have children yet?’ Her normally pleasant Midwest accent was somewhat less than pleasant.

He turned his head towards her and quietly asked, May I explain myself over dinner? His well-defined words had no accent at all.

After a full three-second count, she cautiously said, Yeah.

They went to their separate temporary apartments, and Lisa took out the casual wear she brought in her duffle bag. Half an hour later, she took a cab to the restaurant Mike mentioned. When she entered, she quickly approved of his choice of eatery. The heavy, dark brown ceramic tile floors accented the dark foliage of the many hanging plants. The air smelled garden fresh with a complex blend of spices that indicated agreeable cooking. Lisa quickly spotted him seated behind a small table with his back to a windowless wall facing the entrance. He rose as she approached and held her chair as she sat. After sitting, he pointed out an item on the menu that he said was the best in the establishment, and they both ordered it. Neither of them ordered drinks. After pleasant, neutral small talk, the meals arrived and Lisa noticed with the first bite that the entrée was indeed savory.

Now, what did you mean by that? she questioned pointedly.

Mike slowly replied in a lower voice, The world as we know it will soon end. Those skin sores indicate that God is pouring out His final wrath—the bowls of wrath described in the Revelation. It’s not a future event, it’s happening right now and it’s no time to start a family.

But aren’t we supposed to be raptured before all that?

"‘All that, as you said, has been happening for centuries. The tempo and severity of the seven seals and seven trumpets have increased in recent decades, and what lies ahead will be much, much worse.

Lisa softly said, Oh, I suppose I knew, but I just didn’t want to accept that I was left behind.

You weren’t left behind, Lisa. I knew in my spirit that you were a sister in Christ, and the Holy Spirit gave me that word about raising a family to share with you. The rapture, as it’s called, will occur at the end of this age, not before the great tribulation.

The Holy Spirit gave you words? she asked, You can do that?

I can’t, but He can. The Spirit gave me the idea, but the words were my own. I’m a Pentecostal—how about you?

"I’ve always considered myself to be a Christian, though I haven’t exactly lived like one. Lately, I’ve been learning about Messianic teachings. I’m new at really trying to

Reviews for Another End Time Novel

[Joy Oglesby · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When so many other authors accentuate the power of evil, which generates fear and dread, this work encourages and builds confidence in the power of our God. So refreshing!!