John the Forgotten...

By Gary Wayne Clark

Three seminary students are getting ready for a summer break when a courier brings Brogan news of an uncle he didn't know he had who has died and he is the only heir to the estate. There is a catch--he has to go to the isle of Patmos within ninety-six hours for the reading of the will or forfeit his inheritance. Sounds easy, however, there are those in Patmos that will do anything to keep him from receiving it. When they arrive, the disciple that Jesus loved will step into their lives and turn their faith beyond belief!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685179755

Gary Wayne Clark

Gary Wayne Clark; ¶, ♬ & $ - Novelist, Poet, Grammy® Recording Academy Artist & Venture Capitalist for Creative Destruction.Gary Wayne Clark is an engineer by training, a venture capitalist by trade, but a storyteller at heart. With interests as varied as Science Fiction, Movie Soundtracks, Poetry and Photography, many divergent projects have sprung to life from his frozen fortress of solitude high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.His Sci-Fi novel series, “The Devolution Chronicles”, is an epic journey from a post apocalyptic Earth to the planet of Niburu where the reader is asked – ‘what if there was a world where man no longer reigned and evolution ran backwards?’ His Haiku / Photography series “High Country Haiku” is a photographic journal of life above eight thousand feet in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It started as a way to capture the native spirit of a simpler life in America’s High Country but devolved into something deeper, something more spiritual, and in the end, provided a glimpse of the path to enlightenment.As a member of the Grammys® Recording Academy, the hallmark of his stories are critically acclaimed companion soundtracks by his band, EaramasTM. Songwriters Gary Wayne Clark and Glen Dale Spreen provide an island of uniqueness amid an ocean of conformity. Together they have quietly been weaving an unexpected genre bending musical tapestry that stretches the boundaries of the imagination. With four albums and two singles, their music can be heard streaming from the cloud in eighty-five countries around the world.When Gary’s not wandering the Trail of the Ancients, exploring the ruins of Chaco Canyon or traveling among the Hopi and Navajo tribes to share stories, he lives in the High Country of Colorado on his ranch with his wife, a Great Doodle named Neli, and the spirit of his shapeshifting interspecies translator, a telepathic Great Dane named Raz.

Book preview

Prologue

AD 38

John, Marcus has arranged safe passage to an island off the coast of Greece. There you’ll be safe and continue with your writings of our Savior and Lord and…

Surrender the witness or you all die! shouted one of the horsemen as several exploded into the small group’s midst.

Then you must kill us all before you reach him, shouted Thaddeus.

Stop! exclaimed John. There will be no deaths here tonight. You have me. Please, you all look weary from your journey. Come, let us rest under the trees to talk, and I will return at first light.

The zealots’ anger and fierceness disappeared. I have killed so many and really do not understand fully why you only speak of love and peace. How am I to live with all this blood on my hands?

There is one who forgives and changes you from within, said John. As he spoke with us, ‘you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’"

Just then, several men stepped into the firelight.

Medius, what is going on here, and why is this man still alive? You have your orders!

I’ve changed my mind! I’m done with killing innocent people, screamed Medius.

Then we will kill you as well as this witness! screamed the swordsmen.

John, go! Medius shouts as he draws his sword to defend John. Stumbling quickly away from the fire, sounds of swords clashing could be heard.

John, take my horse and go swiftly. Meet up with Marcus. He will get you on the boat!

Thaddeus, you are a good friend. I will always be thankful, replied John. As John rode off in the darkness, Thaddeus moved quickly back to help his newfound friends.

Peter asked, If I’m going to die, what about John?

Jesus said, "If he lives until I return, what is that to you? Come, follow me. This saying went abroad among the brethren that this disciple should not die. This is the disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. (John 21:21–23)

AD September 439

Bishop Leo, you have a visitor requesting an audience.

Who may I ask is it?

He says his name is John and brings a gift to give to only you!

Very well, send him in.

He will see you now, but it must be brief. Please, this way.

The hooded figure walks in as the bishop stands. He thinks to himself, He has a strong spirit about him and the eyes so piercing! Please, said the bishop. Sit. So you have a gift of sorts and your name is John?

Yes, and it has been in my possession for a long time, and as you will become the first pope, it is only fitting you have it.

How do you know such? asked the bishop.

You might say I am a bit of a prophet, said John as he presented the crude cup.

Why is this cup so important? asked the bishop.

It was used by the Christ with all his disciples, said John.

Do you take me for a fool? exclaimed the bishop. And how do you know this?

Because I was with him, said John in the upper room.

April 30, 1775

General Washington, there is a man here from Italy and begs a few moments of your time and has a valuable gift for you, said the squire.

Interesting. Very well, bring him in, said Washington.

Right this way. Oh, I’m sorry. Your name?

John, was the quiet reply.

General Washington, may I present this man called John?

So, John, all the way from Italy…you are far from home. Please, have a seat.

Thank you, and I appreciate your time.

I must say I’m very curious why you are here.

He lays a reddish-looking garment in front of the general.

This is the outer garment that Christ wore on his way to the cross. I believed in my spirit to bring it to you, to have and to wear for the days ahead!

First of all, John, why me, and how do you know this is our Lord’s garment?

This nation that is to become, has been blessed by God, and you will be its first leader. And how do I know? I took it from his body in the tomb where we placed him.

For the son of man is going to come in his Father’s glory and then reward each person according to what they have done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the son of Man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:27–28)

Present day

Asbury Theological Seminary

Wilmore, Kentucky

So let us review, said Dr. Underwood. "John, the beloved disciple of Christ, was an eyewitness and wrote the gospel of John and Revelation concerning end-times. What I find interesting is that the Scriptures point out that John was the disciple that Jesus loved, and in John chapter 21 verses 21 to 23, Peter asks:

If I’m going to die…what about John?

Jesus said, if he lives until I return, what is that to you? Come, follow me. This saying went abroad among the brethren that this disciple should not die. This is the disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down.

So, my fellow students, let us think for a moment if this was factual. What could we learn if John were here and available to speak with us about what he experienced and saw with his own eyes?

Wouldn’t he be living on the island of Patmos and a bit over two thousand years old? How is that possible? asked TJ.

All things are possible if we only have faith as a mustard seed, replied Dr. Underwood.

However, God works in mysterious ways, and if John was alive…just think of the different groups, governments, theologians, and radicals that would love to have him for a while, not to mention those who wanted to kill him. So as we prepare for our summer break, please read the book of Daniel for this fall semester and don’t wait until two days before class to study. You know the Lord blesses you according to your preparation! Have a great summer!

Brogan, what do you suppose a two-thousand-year-old guy would look like? asked TJ.

Probably very tired and frustrated if he keeps up with the news here in our country, replied Brogan.

Cell phone rings. Hi, Raini…sure, I can be there in three minutes!

Was that your little hottie? asked TJ.

She’s just a friend, and there’s some courier guy at the admin office with a package that I need to sign for.

Sign here, sir, said the courier.

Who is it from? Quick, open it up. Maybe it’s money from an unknown source, or you won the lottery or a trip or…

TJ, cool it, said Brogan as he began opening the packet. It’s from a legal firm located in Skala, on the island of Patmos, and from a lawyer by the name of Titus Flavius Domitianus Slaton.

Now that is a mouthful, said TJ. Apparently I had an uncle who was president of Chora Banking on Patmos and had a heart attack and died in the hospital. I am the only family member that he had listed in his will. They are asking me to come and to be present for the reading of the will and have enclosed a credit card for travel and expenses and to bring anyone I want.

I didn’t know you had an uncle, said TJ.

Neither did I, said Brogan.

*****

So where was the courier from? asked Dr. Rhoads.

He is from Greece, and he had a certified letter, an American Express credit card along with instructions concerning the will of his uncle, of which he didn’t know he had, said Dr. Riehl.

What is Mr. Brogan’s history and background before coming here?

"His parents Winfred and Helene Brogan were missionaries and were in Greece where they met with an accident and were killed. Their newborn son Matthew Josiah Brogan was left here in the states with their best friends Raymond and Kari Johns as they were only going to be gone for three weeks. A few months later, the Johns adopted Mr. Brogan, and a year later they had a son, Thomas Wayne Johns. And he and Mr. Brogan have been, shall I say, like brothers. Also, Ms. Raini Morgan, who works part-time in admin, is a good friend of Mr. Brogan and Mr. Johns.

"They have been together through all their education and upbringing as the Johns