Jacob's Trouble and the Elect

By Michael Drotos

After the rapture of the church the world moves at a rapid pace toward the end of times. The anti-Christ continues to push the world into his New World Order agenda. In the midst of world-wide chaos, two mysterious prophets travel the globe and speak out against him. At the same time the Elect of God prepare for the second coming of Christ with the assistance of 144,000 Jewish evangelists.
This final book of the “Waiting for the Rapture” trilogy unravels end times prophesy as it plays out in this exciting fast paced novel

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669838449

Michael Drotos

Mike lives in a small town near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He is a college graduate with a degree in economics and a graduate of a well known Bible college. His background includes pastoring for over thirteen years and working in the insurance industry for sixteen years. Currently, Mike Drotos is teaching and preaching on his YouTube channel, Solving the Prophetic Puzzle, with a large focus on end times prophesy. He also facilitates a weekly Bible study group and is pastoring a small country church. His passion is reading and teaching the Bible. He is also interested in end time events pertaining to biblical prophecies as they unfold in present day worldwide events. He also enjoys numerous outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, hunting, gardening, and raising chickens.

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Jacob’s Trouble

and The Elect

52103.png

Michael Drotos

Copyright © 2022 by Michael Drotos.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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.

Rev. date: 07/25/2022

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

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

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24:21, 22 (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION

F or over 2,000 years the scriptures warned of the sudden coming of the Lord. The signs of His pending wrath were everywhere. Throughout the universe, in the heavens, and on the earth the warning signs unfolded on both the guilty and the innocent just as the prophets had foretold. In the twinkling of an eye, suddenly and unexpectedly many were caught off guard, unprepared and left to suffer the consequences.

CHAPTER 1

I n the heart of Jerusalem, the warm October afternoon brought the usual lunchtime customers to the King David Hotel. Customers patiently waited to be seated in the garden restaurant. Saul hurried to welcome them with his usual warm smile and gracious demeanor. When the last customer had been seated Saul took a short break to drink in the view of Mount Zion and to place a video chat call with his wife, Abigail.

Saul had been employed at the hotel since before their marriage but had not been able to find suitable employment closer to Rosh Pina where Saul and Abigail lived with her parents north of Jerusalem. He was delighted to see Abigail’s beautiful face when she promptly answered his call. Her soft olive skin looked fresh and vibrant. The sun kissed strands of her long, black wavy hair each time it peeked out from behind the clouds. Ordinarily her smile melted his heart, yet, today was different, the smile was hiding behind her furrowed brow.

She didn’t look directly at him but raised her hand to her forehead shading the sun from her eyes. Saul, the sky looks very strange and ominous.

Saul looked up and saw the dark clouds rolling in overhead. Yes, I see, the sky looks a bit odd here too. There’s an unusual golden light coming from behind the clouds and the wind has kicked up. Must be a storm brewing. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. He hesitated for a moment. Saul’s concern for his wife’s safety was wrapped up in his desire to be the best husband and father he could be especially now that his first child would be born within the next 5 months. "Just in case, I’m going to see if I can leave work so I can get home before this storm hits.

Abigail looked back at him and breathed a sigh of relief. I’d like that, Saul. Do you think your manager will let you off work this early today?

Of course, I think they can manage without a waiter for a couple of days. I’m due for some time off anyway. Besides I have some exciting news to tell you.

What’s that? Tell me about it, she coaxed.

Saul could barely breathe at the pounding of his heart. I met some Americans who have been staying at the hotel. They are Christians from an underground church and they’ve been sharing their faith with me. They invited me to go to some of their meetings.

Saul, we talked about this when you took that job in Jerusalem. We agreed that you would stay away from foreigners as much as possible. There is much danger in being associated with some foreigners, she gasped.

Abigail, I’m a waiter, of course I’m going to meet foreigners, but you’re right I was a little apprehensive at first until the Americans introduced me to Caleb. He’s a Jewish man who believes that he is one of 144,000 chosen men of God, and I’m convinced he is. Abigail, you’ve got to meet him. Saul urged her.

We’ll see, just get home as quickly as you can, then you can tell me all about your American friends and the chosen Jew when you get here, Abigail relented and blew him a kiss.

I can’t wait to tell you all about it. I’ll get home as soon as I can. Before I can leave here, I have to …

Their goodbyes were suddenly interrupted by a loud sound, a single high pitch tone of a shofar. It seemed to be coming far up in the sky from behind the clouds. The shrill blast reverberated off the surrounding buildings and bounced through the air. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the sound stopped leaving behind an eerie silence.

The heavy silence permeated the entire atmosphere. Not a sound could be heard as the world suddenly lost its voice. Just as abruptly, BOOM! An explosion louder than the sound of an atomic blast, a sound loud enough to be heard throughout the world, quashed the silence. The sky rolled up like a scroll and the earth heaved with the sound of steady rumbling.

Instantaneously every human being on the face of the earth who was a believer in Christ, vanished disappearing from existence as well as every child and baby. The ordinary everyday life of those who remained on the earth was replaced with turmoil and destruction such as the world had never experienced before.

Pandemonium set in as planes in flight crashed to the ground for lack of pilots, trains were derailed when engineers went missing, ships sailing the oceans ran aground as captains and crews went AWOL. In hospitals the remaining medical staff scurried to replace missing surgeons, doctors and nurses; NICU units and nurseries were left empty. Throughout jungles, forests, plains and deserts animal kingdoms scattered in panic and birds momentarily lost the ability to fly and fell from the sky.

Terrified in the aftermath of such a cataclysmic phenomenon humanity faltered and floundered without direction. Not knowing where to go or what to do, those who carried the mark and had pledged allegiance to Chancellor Victor Cortes and the New World Order ran for the safety of the hill country to hide in caves and other dark places.

Abigail was more frightened than she’d ever been before. Her body trembled uncontrollably as she lifted her phone up to speak. Her heart sank when she did not see her husband looking back at her. From what she could tell it looked as though he had dropped his phone on the ground. Desperately she yelled into the phone. Saul, are you alright? What was that? What just happened? Saul? Saul? Are you there? He did not answer her frantic pleas but she could tell that they were still connected from the screams and sound of people running past in the area where Saul had been. I’m sure he just dropped the phone. He will pick it up and I will see his smiling face again, she thought.

Her hand tightly gripped the phone to her ear as her heart raced. She prayed for the sound of his voice then the line went dead. Abigail felt as though she’d been abandoned by the love of her life and her God as her legs gave way and she crumpled to the ground.

CHAPTER 2

T he long-awaited rapture of the church that had been prophesied for centuries through the scriptures by the prophets of God had come to pass. Moses and Elijah marched north through Africa on their way to Jerusalem preaching to lost souls. Their message was a warning as much as it was a message of eternal salvation. The assignment of the 2 witnesses was to warn the remaining Jewish population of the plans and purposes of the Antichrist identified as Victor Cortes, and his established New World Order and One World Religion. Multitudes who had not received the mark of the Antichrist gave their hearts over to the Lord Jesus.

At the same time 144,000 faithful and true Jewish men, 12,000 from each tribe had been selected by God Himself and filled with the Holy Spirit. These men, known as The Elect were commissioned to preach the good news of the gospel throughout all the world to the Jews and gentiles who had chosen not to follow the Antichrist but who had not yet made the commitment to follow Christ.

In the twinkling of an eye Saul, who had recently given his heart to Jesus, was among the multitudes of believers who had been caught up in the clouds, and taken up to be with the Lord.

The sudden transformation from earth to the kingdom of God found him standing in a vast room in the midst of believers past and present. The golden glow of the atmosphere around him had no beginning and no end. His eyes widened; his heart hesitated as he stretched out his arms and hands examining his body. "Wow, what’s this about? Where am I?" He pondered to himself.

As though he had read Saul’s mind, an unrecognizable voice beside him answered. You have been raptured, you’re no longer on the earth. Saul looked up to see an angel, tall and majestic in appearance. His countenance spoke of authority, strength and power. He wore a brilliant white robe with a soft brown leather belt fastened around his waist. The shiny brass grip of a dagger protruded from the leather scabbard attached to the belt. On his feet he wore thick soled leather sandals.

I think I know you from somewhere, said Saul.

Yes, you do know me, we’ve been acquainted since you were conceived, the angel smiled.

Saul took a step back, lowered his gaze to the ground and knelt down before the angelic figure standing in front of him. A smile crawled across his face and he looked up. I do know you, you’re Jesus aren’t you.

The angel bent down and placed his hands on Saul’s shoulders and gently helped him to his feet. No, Saul I am not the Lord. I am Melchizedek, your guardian angel. I’ve been assigned to watch over you since the day you were born. There have been many instances during your life when I’ve protected you, ministered to you and provided a path that led you toward salvation through Jesus Christ.

So, you’re the angel that has had charge over me. I’ve heard about angels from my Christian friends. Guess I put you through a lot of stuff throughout the years. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Melchizedek tipped his head back and his shoulders shook when he let out a generous laugh. It has been an honor to be your guardian during your earthly life. I have to say there have been times when I was very concerned about your eternal destiny especially now that time is short. It was imperative that a Christian teach you about the Lord and lead you to the way of salvation.

Before Saul could open his mouth to speak 3 more angels approached. They were communicating with each other in a language Saul did not recognize nor understand. One of them walked up and stood in front of him. The soft warmth of his eyes surged through Saul, settled in his spirit and flooded his being in divine love. Hello, Saul. We’d like to introduce ourselves. I am Joshua, April’s guardian and the 2 angels with me are guardians assigned to Fred and John Mark.

Melchizedek grasped hands with Joshua and saluted. Melchizedek looked at Saul. If it were not for April, John Mark and Fred, you would not have received the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

Yes, my American friends are they here too? Saul asked as his eyes searched through the crowd.

Most certainly, your friends are here and multitudes more, exclaimed Joshua. "Rejoice Saul you have entered into the