(Click here to read Sapphire III.)
“Please let’s all calm down.”
The American air hostess said the umpteenth time to the passengers of Beeline 2019 but they wouldn’t have none of it.
“What the hell is happening in here?”
“Get us out of here?”
“About six people disappeared just like that and you expect us to stay calm?”
The passengers all wanted to be heard at the same time.
A young lady looked at all the passengers. She shook her head in dismay.
“If only these people understand what has happened?” She sighed heavily as her mind flashed back to what had occurred minutes ago.
The Aircraft had being in the air for about an hour when an Irish Air hostess came to announce to them that they would be having their Lunch soon. She was about telling them to enjoy their meal when something happened.
In place of where the Irish lady stood, laid her heap of clothes.
The passengers screamed.
“Did any one see that?” A young man had shouted.
“Oh No!” Another man shouted from behind the plane as the passengers all panicked.
“The old man sitting beside me is gone too.”
The young lady had turned to look at her side gently.
Her seat partner was gone too.
She widened her eyes as realisation dawned on her on what had really happened.
“No… It can’t be.” She had argued as she shook her head dizzily.
Something buzzed so loudly from a part of the plane at that moment jolting her to the present. The other passengers also fell in silence.
The lady opened her eyes to observe what was going on.
The air hostess who had been trying to calm the passengers since her colleague disappeared sighed before moving to figure out what had made the sound.
She stopped.
She pulled her ear pods closer to her ears as she listened to someone from the other end. She then turned back to the passengers.
“Can I have your attention please? ” She asked.
“The pilot is preparing to make an emergency landing in Boston so could you please fasten your seat belt.”
The lady grabbed her seat belt shakingly and closed her eyes.
It had really happened.
What her parents had always told her about had happened.
She wasn’t a Believer but she had listened to her Father preach so many times to understand what had played out before her eyes.
Even the man that sat beside her had tried to preach to her but she wouldn’t have none of it.
If only she had listened to that last message.
Hadn’t her Father mentioned that the Rapture occurring meant the time of Grace was over?
“Ha! I am doomed.” She shouted out as several pair of eyes turned to stare at her.
The plane landed in few minutes and they disembarked from the plane.
It was quite a struggle as everyone wanted to leave the ‘strange’ plane as fast as they could.
As soon as the lady stepped her feet on the floor of the airport, she looked around as ruins of aircrafts laid around.
“The pilots were about taking off when they disappeared. It caused quite a crash.”
A man in security uniform explained to her without her asking questions as he walked by.
It seemed like the Rapture had really happened.
She walked out of the airport hastily to the main road with her backpack behind her.
Everywhere was in chaos.
There was traffic and she needed a cab badly.
She spotted a man walking towards her in a fast pace.
“What is happening?” She asked him as soon as he moved closer to her.
“There have been accidents at the front. You don’t want to see it.” He replied.
“Someone told me the world is really ending. Looks like the Jesus people were right after all. If one of them were here I would tell him he is foolish to be a part of this.” He added soberly.
“You are right. I am foolish.” She said silently as she looked around like a stray cat.
The man gawked at her and walked way.
“Ha!!!” She shouted.
“I thought there was still time to live right. God have Mercy.”
“Mercy, Lord I didn’t see this coming.”
She cried as she knelt on the road not minding that it’s surface was hot against her knees.
“Jesus please!” She screamed.
“Krrrrrrrrrr!!!”
Sapphire jerked from her sleep.
“Krrrrrrrrrrr!!!
The alarm sounded so loud this time that she opened her eyes.
“Jesus!” she said as she stared at the air for sometime.
She was in tears already.
“That was a dream.” The ten year old said thankfully before putting out her hand to stop the alarm.
She sat up as her mind did a flashback on what she had seen.
Yes, she hadn’t seen herself in the dream but it had looked so real.
“God what is this dream about?”
She knew about heaven and hell but she didn’t have an idea of what the dream was about.
“Ha. Please don’t let me go to Hell.” she prayed in tears as she finally pulled her cover clothe away and dragged herself off the bed.
She knelt down to have her morning devotion but she couldn’t concentrate as the dream stayed with her till she had no choice but to find her way to her parents room around 6am.
It was a Saturday so she prayed silently that her parents wouldn’t mind her early visit.
Megan sighed for the third time since Sapphire had started explaining what she had seen.
John was doing good by asking their daughter questions from time to time. She knew the dream was about the Rapture and Megan could not help but think that they had once again failed by not mentioning something this important to their daughter.
Yes, she was born again.
She knew about Heaven and Hell but they hadn’t really taught her of the fact that apart from being called home by God, one day Saints that are still alive would also be caught up in the Rapture.
Their daughter had just lived with the knowledge that she could die anytime but not the knowledge that Christ could also come to take the Saints home anytime.
Her daughter was looking forward to going home to God without the knowledge that if God wishes she might not even see death as all.
In short, she was not expecting Christ’s coming.
“God, please let her understand what you are trying to tell her.” Megan prayed silently closing her eyes briefly.
When she opened her eyes, her husband and daughter were staring at her.
“Is she through?” She asked her husband.
“Yes.” He replied as he tried to decipher what was going through his wife’s mind.
“Mom, are you alright?” Sapphire asked concerned.
“Well, I am just thinking about how we haven’t talked about this before?” She said looking at her husband eyeball to eyeball.
“I understand what you mean.” John said silently to his wife.
“Okay. So what do you think?” Sapphire asked.
“You should ask what do I know or rather what the Bible says about what you saw?” John corrected his daughter gently.
“First of all Dad, what did I see?” Sapphire asked with furrowed brow.
“The dream is simply pointing your attention to the Rapture. The coming of Christ to call his people home.”
“Okay. So you are saying apart from dying and going to Heaven, Christ can come to call me home?” She asked looking at her mother briefly before directing her attention back to John.
“Not one person alone but all the Saints.” he explained.
“Okay.”
“Sapphire, you know God has a Timetable for the whole world. The world is not going to remain like this forever.” he started.
“Yes, I know.”
“God wants things to go back to how he originally planned it to be before Sin came through Adam and Eve but that can’t happen with this corrupt world. There is going to be a new earth and a new heaven but there are some events that will happen before that.” he explained.
“Like the Judgement day?” Sapphire asked.
“Yes, but there are still events before that.” he added quickly before turning to his wife.
“Sweetheart, when is the next discipleship training starting? She really needs to attend.”
“Pastor Jace mentioned it to me one day too but I told him we haven’t discussed it.” she answered thoughtfully.
“Okay. We are going to have her join them when the next class starts.” John informed his wife.
“Alright. So Sapphire, the event that will bring an end to this age that we are in is the Rapture. What you saw is just a replica of how confused people will be after the Rapture.” He explained.
“Only True Believers will make it in the Rapture. Let’s check out what the Bible says.”
“Let’s read Matthew 24:36-44 then you’ll understand what the rapture is all about.”
“It says But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
“It’s going to be sudden.” Sapphire commented. It was beginning to make sense to her.
“Yes. Let’s also see I Corinthians 15:51-52. Can you read what is in there?” John asked.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all 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.”
“How about I Thessalonians 4:15-18?” he asked.
“1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 says For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
“Hmm, I see.” Sapphire said as she looked through the lines of the verses again.
“As Saints we need to be prepared so the event wouldn’t catch us unawares. Like one shouldn’t be doing something a Believer shouldn’t do.” John added.
“What now happens if one does not make it?” the girl was asked thoughtfully.
“Wait! there will be confusion everywhere?” she added quickly.
“Hmm. Sapphire, the situation will be so terrible. Matthew 24:21 summarises it up in a way we can understand. It says ‘For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” he explained.
“You see any Christian that knows about the Rapture and does not make it will have great regrets because it’s going to be a time of suffering for the whole world at that time. After the believers have been caught up, the Anti Christ will then be revealed and he will be in Control of the whole world. Let’s check out Revelation 13:7,8,9 12-18.”
Megan reached for her Bible that had since been closed and opened quickly to read.
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
“And you know what happens when one has taken the mark?” John asked Sapphire.
“What?”
“Move on to Chapter 14 verse 9 to 11.”
Sapphire read; “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
“Now let’s go to Chapter 22:6-7.” John continued;
“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”
“Sapphire, listen to the word of Wisdom in verse 11 of that same Chapter 22.”
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” he concluded.
“Oh! One must not toil with sin at all.” Sapphire said bluntly.
“Yes, my daughter.” John replied satisfied he had been able to answer the young girl’s questions.
“But Dad, I don’t know if my friends and schoolmates know all these. Some of them don’t even act like there is God.” Sapphire said tears blurring her eyes.
“I don’t want to miss the rapture but I wouldn’t want my friends to miss it too.” she added her voice softening a bit.
“You know you should tell your friends about Christ. Isaiah 52:7 tells us that “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Megan counselled
“Alright. Thanks Mum. Thanks Dad.” She said as she stood up from the Chair.
“Are you satisfied now? Her mother asked.
“Oh Mum, Never Been.” She replied sincerely, laughing long and deep.
“I’m glad. Come and give me a hug. God will help us all.” Megan said.
“Amen.” She replied as she hugged her mum.
“I need to finish up my devotion.” She announced as she found her way out of her parents room.
“Alright. Take your time dear.” Megan called out as Sapphire closed the door behind her.
“Thank you Holy Spirit.” Megan said as she turned back to studying one of the Verses her husband had referred to minutes ago.
“Love, what do you think?” John asked his wife.
“Well, John…” she started as she dropped her Bible silently, stood up and sat down beside her husband.
John looked at his wife in awe. She hadn’t called him by name in a long time.
He watched as she took his left hand with both of her hands and gazed up at him as her eyes twinkled with adoration.
“Sweetheart, you did great. I’m not sure I could have answered her that way.”
John smiled.
“Hmm but the Discipleship class will be much more beneficial to her.” he said.
“You are right.” She said nodding.
“But before that, we have our own Pastor here.” she said nuzzling close to him.
John couldn’t take it anymore. He smiled broadly.
“My Pastor.” She giggled as John pulled her closer.
She turned in his arms and smiled. “Don’t you have things to do today?”
John kissed her neck and laughed as she giggled some more.
“Not really.” he replied.
“But I could spend this morning with you.” He added winking his left eye.
Megan blushed.
“Well, I have my Father in Heaven to talk to in few minutes.” She said regrettably as she moved out of his arms to stand up but stole a glance at her husband.
Their eyes met.
He smiled.
“You are one amazing woman, Mrs Anderson.”
“What do you think about having another amazing girl?” he asked.
Megan looked at him and chuckled as understanding dawned on her.
“We haven’t really tried, have we?” he asked with a thin smile.
“Sweetheart, Sapphire is 10. But it would really be amazing right?” She asked with an encouraging smile as her husband smiled and nodded in return.
“It would be amazing.” He replied softly as he sent appreciation to God for his little family and also a petition that he wouldn’t mind an addition.
Mrs Smith the Room Teacher for the grade 3 students finished marking the assignment notebooks and yawned.
She heaved a sigh of relief as she packed the books together and pushed them to a corner of the table. She would distribute it to the students as soon as they got back from their Lunch Break.
She stood up to make her trip to the Dining hall when one of her coworker’s Frank came in.
“To the dining hall i guess?” He said as he greeted her.
“You couldn’t be more right. How is today going for you?” She sat back concluding he came to see her as he leaned on the door.
“Not bad. Only I just witnessed a new rich girl throwing a fit about joining our school in Mrs Ruby’s Office. Such a spoilt brat. I noticed her fingers were even painted.” he said with a frown on his face.
“Hmm. Mrs Ruby wouldn’t put up with that for sure.” Mrs Smith replied blankly.
“Yeah. By the way, you might want to skip your trip to the Hall for now. Mrs Ruby wants you.”
He said as her eyes widened in surprise.
“What? And you were here talking with me. Oh Frank!” She said as she hurried to her feet.
“Sorry.” Frank muttered in reply as he watched her walk out of the class quickly.
She half ran to the Headmistress office.
As she passed the entrance to the dining hall, she noticed that some students mostly females were clustered at a corner of the hall.
“This girls ought to be having their meal. What are they up to?” she thought as she stopped abruptly.
“Well. I need to make sure things are going well with the students too. Mrs Ruby wouldn’t mind that.” She said as she turned around and made a beeline for that part of the hall.
The students didn’t see her coming as all eyes were fixed on someone standing at the centre.
She moved closer to see one of her students Sapphire talking intensely as her school mates listened with rapt attention.
One girl noticed her then. “Mrs Smith is here.”
The woman watched as the students all looked towards her as they made a escape for their normal seats.
“Sapphire, can you explain what was happening?” She asked the young girl who looked in no way threatened by her presence.
“Well Mrs Smith, I was only telling them a story.” She replied gently.
“About what Miss?”
“The coming of Christ.” She replied without mincing words.
Mrs Smith sighed. She was a believer yes but the young girl standing up and speaking inside the school dining hall was more than her.
“Sapphire!” she called as she moved closer to the young girl so closer only the girl would hear what she had to say.
“You are doing a good job talking about Christ.” She said smiling in a bid to make the girl comfortable.
Sapphire looked rather awed and amazed.
“Thank you Ma.”
“But Sapphire, I would want you to do so with wisdom. You wouldn’t want some students saying you were scaring them with talks of hell.”
“Oh! I never thought of that.”
“You might not know but the school does not appreciate gathering students together like you did. I’m not discouraging you but you can talk to your mates one on one.” She implored.
“Oh! I will heed your counsel. Thank you Mrs Smith.” Sapphire replied.
“Alright. I have Mrs Ruby to catch up with. See you after your Lunch Break.” She said smiling as she left the girl.
Sapphire nodded in understanding and turned away.
Mrs Smith had only walked a few steps when she stopped and turned back to look at the girl.
The girl had not been shy or afraid to talk about her faith. When last had she an adult done that ?
She had intentionally made the girl understand that she could talk to people one on one.
As a matter of fact, she herself had wanted to start a fellowship when she got to the school but was opposed. Her Job had even be threatened.
The last thing she would want was Sapphire going through something in any bit similar to her own experience.
“Lord have Mercy. Even I need to work on more one on one talk to people.”
She said as she hurried to Mrs Ruby’s office.
She was ushered in by the Secretary as soon as she got there.
Just as Frank reported, a girl and her parents were in the office.
“Join us Mrs Smith. We have been awaiting your presence.” Mrs Ruby said and the meeting commenced.
By the time Mrs Smith left the office she had a new student walking grudgingly behind her.
Who is this new girl?
What role will she play in the life of Sapphire?
Watch out for the Sapphire V.
