The Unveiling Page 3

  Mulrooney wondered what it meant to be “born again” and if that really was the true distinguishing mark of being a Christ follower. The fact that he was a Catholic all his life, yet he didn’t have a solid answer to this question didn’t sit well with him.

  All he knew was, prior to the disappearances, if ever asked to make a top ten list of the Christians he knew, Justin Schroeder would have never made the list. He wouldn’t have even made Mulrooney’s top one thousand!

  The letter changed everything. Had Brian not read it, he would have never uttered the words “Justin” and “Christian” in the same sentence. What was it that separated Catholics from born-again Christians? Were the differences between them minor or vast?

  Once again, Mulrooney did not know. Aside from a co-worker who was always talking about Jesus on the job, and nearly got fired for it, Brian wasn’t sure if he personally knew any other born-again Christians. If he did, they never openly discussed it with him.

  All Brian Mulrooney knew was the Catholic way. Baptized and raised a Catholic, until this week, he had every intention of one day dying a Catholic. And why not? The Catholic Church was the one true Church. At least that’s what he was taught to believe.

  Like most Catholics, Mulrooney felt comforted knowing that being part of the one true Church meant he would one day ascend to Heaven with all other good Catholics. With such assurance, why would anyone want to leave?

  During his childhood and teenage years, Brian seldom missed a week at church. Raised in a strict Irish-Catholic household—at least on his father’s side—missing church was never an option.

  That all changed once Brian graduated from Notre Dame and moved to Michigan, to work for the Marriott corporation. Now 33, the hotel business manager was lucky to attend mass once a month, if that. But even had he gone to mass each Sunday, would that have made any real difference in his overall spiritual growth? Aside from the few times Brian felt something stirring deep in his soul at church, it could never compare to the closeness Justin appeared to have with his Maker.

  In short, what he felt was never sustained.

  Not only did his departed friend have tremendous peace with God, he seemed completely contented in all other ways. The one exception was when they went to all those bars on what turned out to be Justin Schroeder’s last night on Earth; he looked like there were a million other places he would have rather been than there.

  Yet he graciously went through the motions of pretending to have a good time, if only for Brian’s sake. This was nothing like the Justin Brian knew growing up.

  Did it really have to do with his faith in God? Was the Rapture theory true after all?

  As his girlfriend, Renate McCallister, cleaned up after breakfast, Mulrooney Googled the word “Rapture” on his cell phone. As expected, it got millions of possible results.

  Brian clicked on a link which happened to be a video. A chart appeared on his phone screen showing a timeline which started at the birth of Christ and ended at the Great White Judgment.

  In between those two events were the life of Jesus, His earthly ministry, His death and resurrection, the lengthy Church age, the Rapture, the Seven Year Tribulation period, and Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom on Earth.

  With a thumping, pulse-pounding music playing in the background, several Scriptures flashed onto his phone screen, all pointing to the Rapture of Christ’s Church.

  A female voice spoke, “‘Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.’ First Corinthians, chapter fifteen, verses fifty-one and two.”

  Then, “‘For the Lord himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangels and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.’ First Thessalonians, chapter four, verses sixteen and seventeen.”

  Whoa! That’s in the Bible? Brian Mulrooney was completely astounded! That’s precisely what happened to Justin! Why wasn’t I taught this?

  The female voice continued, “‘Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the Earth.’ Revelation, chapter three, verse ten.”

  Then, “‘After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ Revelation, chapter four, verse one.”

  As more Scriptures flashed on his cell phone screen another voice, this time a male said, “Whereas Revelation three, verse ten offers a comforting promise to all believers of being spared the hour of trial which will follow this silent evacuation, chapter four, verse one will be the actual event itself.

  “First Corinthians fifteen and First Thessalonians four merely explain how the Rapture will be carried out. Revelation four is when it will happen. Only no one knows the exact date.

  “Of course, there are many out there who flat-out reject the notion of a Rapture. Some, namely Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, believe in a rapture of sorts, but only in the sense of a final resurrection when Christ returns a single time. Others claim the word ‘Rapture’ doesn’t exist in the Bible and, therefore, couldn’t possibly be real.”

  The voice went on, “Then there are some who say no such doctrine existed before John Nelson Darby invented it in the year eighteen-hundred and thirty A.D. Prior to that, with exception to Morgan Edwards, who wrote a short essay on a pre-tribulation rapture as a college paper for Bristol Baptist College in Bristol England in seventeen-forty-four, no one else had ever heard of it.

  “To this I say, the word ‘Bible’ isn’t found in the Bible either, but it certainly exists. While it’s true the word ‘rapture’ isn’t mentioned in the Word of God, it literally means to ‘be caught up’ or ‘snatched away’, as clearly stated in First Thessalonians, chapter four, verses sixteen and seventeen.

  “For those who believe in the Rapture the question then becomes, will it happen before the seven-year Tribulation period described in the pages of the Book of Revelation? Will it occur at the midway point? Or will God’s children be forced to suffer through the seven-year Tribulation Period before Jesus comes back for them?

  “Regarding the Antichrist of the Bible, from where will he come? Many believe the Son of Perdition will come from the Middle East and will be a Muslim. Others believe he will be a Jew. Some believe he will be the Pope; while others believe he will be a Gentile either from Europe or the United States.

  “Then there are the children to consider: if there is a Rapture, will all children up to a certain age of accountability be removed from the planet? Or will only children whose parents are true followers of Jesus Christ be taken with the Church, leaving all other children behind? And the debate rages on...

  “After studying the Book of Revelation, Daniel and many other end-time prophecies in God’s Holy Word for more than thirty years,” the voice went on, “I believe once the last of God’s elect receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Rapture will occur.

  “Even the Apostle Paul said in Romans eleven, verse twenty-five that a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. This is why I believe it will happen before total annihilation strikes the planet, during the seven-year Tribulation period.”

  “Looks like you were right after all,” Mulrooney said to his cell phone screen.

  The voice continued, “The reason I believe this is that the Rapture will be an isolated event with no judgment attached to it. For Christians, that is. That’s
why it’s called the blessed hope. Believers are urged to be comforted by it, to not let their hearts be troubled. So, the question is, are you Rapture ready? If not, the time to repent and turn to Jesus is now!”

  Interesting! Mulrooney’s deep set, pale blue eyes gazed at a spot on the wall opposite him. Now that he was left behind, these future tense passages were suddenly past tense to him. He had no choice but to believe in a pre-tribulation Rapture. He also knew beyond all certainty that all young children would be taken.

  Other than that, he was totally clueless about the Book of Revelation, or the Rapture, to further connect the dots or voice an intelligent opinion on the topic. It sickened him knowing that, as a Catholic, the one Book he should have been reading all along was the Book he always avoided. It’s like he read everything else except the Word of God.

  It dawned on him that no one had ever encouraged him to read it, not even his university professors. No wonder I feel so spiritually bankrupt! How can I profess faith in Someone I know so little about? This Savior Justin cherished so much, I know only by name, nothing more.

  Mulrooney had a sudden urge to call the Catholic priest he’d contacted last week to get his take on everything. But if Father Tom Dunleavey couldn’t explain the disappearances last time they spoke, how could he possibly shed light on this new gripping revelation?

  If it was Christian in nature, and everyone now gone were in Heaven, as Brian sensed more and more was the case, how could Father Dunleavey justify the Rapture when countless scores of Catholics were still on Planet Earth? Would he even dare venture a guess?

  Brian didn’t know. What he did know was that he couldn’t keep these uncertain, overwhelming thoughts bottled up inside.

  The only person he knew who seemed mildly interested in this topic was Jacquelyn Swindell. But after the episode between her and Renate at his apartment the other night, he wanted to call her many times since, if only to apologize again for his girlfriend’s childish behavior.

  But how could he when Renate’s insecurity was so bad that whenever he checked his cell phone, she stopped everything she was doing to monitor his every move?

  This was so out of character of her. If anything, Brian tended to be the clingy and jealous one at times, not Renate. It’s as if they’d switched personalities overnight.

  Brian knew the reason: the woman he was desperate to talk to.

  Renate finished what she was doing in the kitchen and sat next to Brian, cell phone in hand, waiting for her best friend and fellow environmentalist, Rachel Stein, to arrive. The two would visit their friend, Molly, who was in a bad car wreck last Saturday after the disappearances.

  Molly ended up being trapped upside down in her vehicle for 36 hours, before someone came to her rescue. She suffered a broken right arm, collarbone and a ruptured spleen.

  With hospitals so overcrowded, she was treated then sent her home with pain medication.

  Thankfully, her prognosis was good.

  Brian silently rejoiced when he heard a horn honking. The 45 minutes they waited for Rachel to arrive passed like hours. More than anything, he wanted to be left alone so he could think things through in peace and quiet without so many distractions. Finally!

  Renate kissed her boyfriend on the lips and grabbed her coat. “Be back later.”

  “Be careful out there,” he replied.

  The instant they pulled away Brian called Jacquelyn Swindell.

  It went to voice mail: “Hey, Jacquelyn, did you hear the news from Brussels? Looks like your brother may have been right after all. Love to further discuss it with you. Hope you’re okay there. Call if you need me for anything.”

  Mulrooney sighed. After all this waiting, a voice mail?

  But at least he was alone for a change. Now he could think and read the Word of God in peace and quiet, without Renate constantly looking over his shoulders.

  Brian made a cup of hot chocolate, turned on the overhead light above his chair, and opened the Bible to the very beginning, to the Book of Genesis...

  5

  TUESDAY…TWO DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

  SALVADOR ROMANERO STRODE INTO NATO Headquarters ever so confidently, as if nothing tragic had befallen his world. The 30-year-old was calm and resolute, like the entire universe was under his complete control. Everyone else in Brussels appeared to be falling apart, but not him.

  When he was free of the two goons sent to Belgium on the ailing king of Spain’s behalf—to spy on him among other things—Romanero got to rub elbows with some of the world’s elite. Mostly because he was a total non-factor the night before, few knew who he was.

  Mostly because he was a total non-factor the night before, few knew who he was. But last night was nothing more than roll calls, charting world religions and protocol. As far as Romanero was concerned, it was outdated protocol. This is my coming out party!

  What began as a few one-on-one high-minded discussions with some of the world’s elite, quickly turned into a two-on-one, then three. The manner in which this young man spoke, and the way he carried himself, made heads turn and audiences gravitate toward him. Including the press.

  Just being in his presence made world leaders feel hopeful again. Word quickly spread that Romanero was a delegate from Spain. Even though most didn’t know him, they took pictures and recorded him on their cell phones, while hanging on to his every spoken word.

  They had no choice—it’s like they were under the ether. The more he spoke, the more the press gobbled it up.

  And he was so good looking! At 5'8", Salvador Romanero wasn’t particularly a tall man. But what he lacked in height he more than made up for with confidence and charisma. It oozed out of him. He had dark brown hair, and near-perfect olive skin.

  It was hard to find a single blemish on the man. What stood out most on his well-proportioned face were his dark brown eyes: they could easily pierce a person deep down to the soul.

  Each time someone asked him about the current tragic state of affairs, Romanero responded with solid, practical, easy-to-implement solutions. It was as if he’d been through this many times already. His very presence alone seemed to soothe everyone’s nerves, even if only slightly.

  “How can peace be restored in the streets of the world?” asked a reporter from Italy, who just happened to be a plant from within the secret society.

  Not only did leaders from this clandestine group have the power to create recessions anywhere in the world, they controlled stock markets and had the power to make war. Their main goal was nothing short of world domination.

  The Powers That Be were eager to establish a universal cash-less system, so all transactions would be monitored by them and no one else. Without a cash-less system, total control would be impossible to achieve.

  All they needed was a major catastrophe to strike the planet and the world would freely accept global transformation.

  What happened last Saturday was the sign they’d long awaited. As the world mourned, they rejoiced. Now that they had found their front man; it was time to make him known worldwide.

  Romanero smiled warmly and said, “Not with force, but with love. What better way to begin the healing process than by having citizens of the world lining the streets tonight, as one, to show our respect for the many departed. Honoring those who are no longer with us is a vital first step to rebuilding our lives, towns and communities,” he declared, to the growing group of world leaders, delegates and press, with a certainty no one else there possessed.

  The reporter smiled and nodded agreement. The interview was being done just outside the main entrance of NATO Headquarters. Even this was choreographed by the secret society so the press could have direct access to their man.

  When asked why tonight by a well-known press member fr
om the BBC—another secret society plant—Salvador Romanero said, “What better way to end the summit than by having world leaders all joining hands to honor our many dead? Sure, many local vigils have already taken place, but what we really need is one global vigil to bring us all closer together.”

  What he said next wasn’t choreographed by the Powers That Be. “And let me just say that not a single drop of precipitation will fall anywhere in the world during the vigil. Even if it’s presently raining or snowing in your town or city, not a single raindrop or snowflake will fall from the sky when you join hands and hearts with the rest of the world! So leave your raincoats and umbrellas at home!”

  Looking out at everyone, Romanero knew his remark had landed hard. Many had this “Who is this person?” look on their faces, but in a good way.

  “While tonight’s vigil will come and go,” he continued, “I challenge each of you to continue showing true solidarity toward your neighbor long afterward. If we are to overcome this tragedy and prosper again, each of us must do our part!”

  At that, the 30-year-old man went inside the cavernous NATO Headquarters. The media took his idea and ran with it.

  What started out as one man’s humble opinion quickly gave birth to a brilliant plan. It was an idea that would soon place Salvador Romanero in the limelight and champion him as a true fighter for peace.

  It wasn’t the idea itself that had sparked them to action. After all, he was only proposing a vigil. It was the confidence behind his words, not to mention his bold promise of no precipitation.

  They would wait with bated breath to see if his prediction would come true or not. Deep down inside, they needed it to come true; they needed someone to rise up at this extremely uncertain time and predict future events with 100 percent clarity.

  Would Romanero be the one to do it? They silently hoped so.

  There was just something about this young man, many thought. He had the ability to make everyone believe everything would soon be okay. Perhaps the vigil would be the first step to breaking many out of the stupor they’d slipped into last Saturday and reinstate their will to want to continue on.