CHAPTER FOUR
Plattsville, Missouri
Monday, November 9
12:00 p.m. Local
Blake took the sandwich she’d just prepared, put it on a plate, and the sliced it with a knife. Taking half for herself, she gently pushed the plate across the counter toward Ty. She could tell by the way his elbows were planted on the breakfast bar that his mind wasn’t on lunch. In fact, he’d hardly eaten since his mother had died three days earlier. Still, she refused to lay aside the exuberance she felt in her heart.
“Your mom was awesome,” she said, hoping that a casual conversation about nothing might pull him out of his funk. “She had this place stocked up with loads of essentials. I mean, there are jars of homemade jams, and the peanut butter to go with them.” He didn’t respond. “Come to think of it, I bet her cupboards explain how she stayed so thin. They’re full of canned garden produce, nuts, and Jiffy. Plenty of that! But just about everything is sugar free. She obviously didn’t eat junk food, did she?”
“No, but she loved a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” he finally showed signs of life.
“I think I know why.”
“Why?”
“There’s something happy about it. It’s creamy and fruity all at the same time. It just makes you feel all fuzzy when you put it in your mouth. Her attitude was like that, wasn’t it?
“Yeah, it was,” answered Ty with the trace of a smile showing up around the edges of his mouth. “I remember eating this stuff until it was coming out my ears. I always thought it was because we were kind of poor, but you’re right. She loved ‘em.”
“Me too.” She waited before taking her first bite. “Ty, I need to ask you something and now is as good a time as any. Is that okay?”
He looked her in the eye wondering what she was thinking. “Sure.”
“What are you planning on doing?”
He thought about it as he picked at his sandwich,” I don’t know. I’ve got a meeting with the board this evening. They want to try and make sense out of what’s happened, maybe get a handle on what to do next. After that, I don’t know.”
“That’s not exactly what I’m asking.”
“I don’t understand,” Ty said.
She looked at him. Humor graced her eyes. “I’m talking about us. What are you planning on doing about us? I know you’ve got to work your way through some things, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to have lost your mom, but I heard her last words too.”
“You heard her talk about the rapture stuff, did you?”
“I heard it. But, I was thinking of something else.” She could still hear the words Martha Dempsey had spoken as she lay on the ground dying. “You marry this girl!” had been her final, motherly command.
He reached across the counter and touched her hand. “Honestly, it’s been on my mind since she said it. I just don’t know about the timing,” he said with sincerity.
“Want my opinion?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, here’s the blunt version. I think what your mom said about Jesus coming back should be taken seriously. It looks to me like there isn’t much time left before it happens. With that said, I haven’t waited for the right guy to come around for all these years just to have the rapture keep me from marrying him. Know what I mean? My guess is your mom understood the sentiment and was basically telling you to get with the program, no matter what happened to her.”
“Wow, you are blunt, aren’t you?”
“Yup. I calls ‘em like I see’s ‘em,” she teased. She also noticed he’d taken a bite of sandwich. That was good.
Ty took his time before responding to her original question. In fact, he’d worked his way through the first half of the sandwich before he spoke. Now that he was eating, he realized he was hungry.
Blake waited patiently, but couldn’t help being swallowed up in her man’s quiet sorrow.
He finally spoke. “It’s sure weird how things get all tangled up. A week ago, I could hardly wait to pop the question to you, remember? Then everything went haywire. Suddenly, I don’t know what to do. Does that make sense?”
“Sure. Everything’s been out of whack for me too, starting with the day you first called to ask me out. For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you did.”
“I’m glad too, and I have no doubt what the next step is. I just don’t know when to jump. It’s still hard to believe that mom is gone, especially knowing how much she wanted me to find the right girl.” he explained. “Now, she won’t see how it all turns out. I’m having a hard time with that.”
“I know you are. Me too. Part of me says we should wait so that all this grief can be processed. But the other part says that there’s too much of it to work through. Waiting until the hurt is healed might take forever. My heart tells me that getting married will only help.”
Ty got up and walked to the glass doors that opened to his mother’s garden. She’d cleared most of it before the nuclear holocaust had happened, but there were still a few fall-blooming flowers highlighting the edges. A wisp of wind carried dried leaves across the yard, and the sight of a dying autumn only added to his melancholy. But standing there, between the pain of remembrance and the brightness of a new future, his mind began to clear.
Turning to Blake he stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the door. “I don’t want to sound super-spiritual, but I think we should pray about it. Let’s see what the Lord says. One thing is for sure, I love you, and unless Jesus comes back real soon, you’ll be Mrs. Tyler Dempsey, agreed?”
“Agreed!”
Blake had no doubt her man really wanted to do the right thing at the right time. He would wait for the Lord to give him the go ahead, and that was a good thing. But the ache in her heart was casting a vote for more speed, and that ache wasn’t due to grief.
Jerusalem
Same Time Local
Dr. Lira nodded in the direction of Zev Tolberg, who stood and dimmed the lights. A white screen lowered in front of the window, and a video projector came to life above their heads. The room was quickly converted into a classroom.
“Gentlemen,” she began, “this is our objective.”
The screen was filled with an artist’s rendering of the Ark of the Covenant, situated in the Most Holy Place of Solomon’s Temple. The design was simple, yet beautiful. The box, inlayed with gold inside and out, glowed. Two angelic beings stood on opposite ends above the cover with heads bowed and wings outstretched. Their wingtips touched in the center. The space between them formed the ancient Seat of Mercy. Solomon described it as the place of God’s glorious presence on earth, and so it was. Ben was well familiar with all of it.
“Our mission is simple. We will recover this object from its hiding place and return it to Jerusalem.”
The image changed to reveal a satellite-generated photo of a compound. Three structures dominated the scene.
“Say hello to Aksum, Ethiopia. Located in the Horn of Africa approximately one hundred kilometers south of the border of Eritrea, it is the home of the three structures you are observing.” She continued. “The larger building is the Church of Saint Mary of Sion, an Orthodox Christian community that makes up the prominent religious group in this region of northern Ethiopia. The rectangular edifice nearby, about a hundred meters to the south, is the ancient church of the same name. You will notice a small, perfectly square building between the two. This little structure will be the focus of our mission. It is the Chapel of the Ark of the Covenant.”
Gilad Belfer, a tightly built man with short black hair, sharp facial features, and penetrating eyes broke in. “We’ve been led to believe the rumors of the Ark being under the Church of Saint Mary were only a myth created by fundamentalist Christians.”
“Welcome to the world of disinformation, Gilad. Our own government has disavowed the rumor since the time of our inception as the State of Israel. Instead, reports that the Ark rests beneath the ruins of the Temple Mount have been given a hint of credence, and it has happened for a purpose. Because of the ongoing conflict with Islam, our leaders have conspired to keep the eyes of our enemies, and those of the world, locked upon Jerusalem as being the Ark’s location. Discounting Aksum as the actual site has left it relatively forgotten and unmolested.”
“That makes sense,” nodded Gilad.
“However, we have a problem,” continued Dr. Lira. “It seems the Russians are attempting to cover every possible lead. They’ve enlisted the help of their allies in the Sudan. As we speak, elements of the Sudanese armed forces are pushing into Eritrea and are slowly moving toward the capitol city, Asmara. Once that has been achieved, they will have a straight shot down the interior highway to Aksum. Now, we believe the Eritreans will be able to hold off the intruders long enough for us to order our operation, but we have a window of only about three weeks to get ready and get the job done. Timing will be critical.”
“Why us?” asked Ben. “Why exactly are we here? Honestly, I’m just an average guy doing my best to do some good in Haifa. I don’t know about these men, but outside of Zev, Ari, and Gilad here, none of us seem like the ideal people for this job. What gives?”
Dr. Lira smiled at Ben’s candidness. It was the reaction she had been expecting from the transplanted American Jew. “The answer to your question, Ben, will take us in several directions, but it is time you know. This group was chosen on the basis of three pertinent facts. First, you are all Messianic…each of you believe Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel. Second, you can all trace your heritage to the tribe of Levi. That would have made you members of the functioning priesthood in ancient Israel. You are Christian priests! Third, you have all been proven in combat during your time in the Israeli Defense Forces. With a short period of intensive training, you will return to combat readiness. Those three elements make you exactly the men we need.”
“How do these elements relate?” Ben questioned.
“It’s really quite simple when you think about it, and it has to do with appearances. We are going on a mission to recover the Ark of the Covenant. God gave Moses a mandate that only Levites were to be the caretakers and transporters of the Ark. Twelve priests were to carry it by way of two, gold-covered poles. The twelve of you will make up that number.” She let that sink in for a few seconds. “We will maintain the integrity of the Torah by following that command, and we will avoid being a stumbling block to the Jews, all at the same time. But there is an added element, and it has to do with our being followers of Yeshua. We know from the writings of the Apostle Paul that we are freed from the letter of the Law. That freedom is by virtue of the atoning sacrifice of Messiah. Therefore, the old statutes of not touching the Ark upon pain of death will not apply. We will be able to do whatever it takes to get the Ark back to Israel, even if it means hoisting it on our backs and carrying it.”
Ari Goins spoke up next. “Dr. Lira, tell them why it is absolutely essential that the Ark return to Jerusalem as soon as possible. I think it will help them understand the bigger picture.”
“Ari’s right. I believe, as do most of you, that Ezekiel’s prophecies are about to reach their fulfillment. The alignment of nations is complete. Forces are on the move toward the borders of Israel, just as it was prophesied. But that’s not all. In my studies, I have found two verses that stand out as an indication of what is actually going to happen.
“The first is the twenty-third verse of chapter thirty-eight. It says; ‘And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations.’ In other words, God is going to reveal his glory. I believe the Ark of the Covenant must be the centerpiece of that issuance.”
Ben knew the verses well and simply had to challenge Dr. Lira’s interpretation. “Hannah, there is no mention of God’s glory in that verse. What makes you believe the Ark must be present?”
“If I were to go by that verse alone, I couldn’t make that leap. However, verse twenty-one of the next chapter goes further. As happens throughout scripture, the next chapter expounds upon the previous prophetic utterance by adding detail. Listen to the verse; ‘I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.’ The term glory is only used in reference to the most intimate expression of God’s presence. The manifestation of the glory took place between the Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. This is how he revealed himself to Israel.”
“That, I’ll give you. But why does that presuppose the Ark is still the wellspring of God’s glory?” asked Ben. “In fact, Yeshua fulfills all the aspect of God’s revealed glory on the earth.”
“You are right. Yeshua is the revelation of the glory of God. But even in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we see the Messiah standing beside the shekinah glory in heaven. John described it in an incredible way. That plays right into what I believe is about to take place.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everything about Ezekiel’s words focus on a great cataclysmic demonstration made by God against his enemies,” she continued. “It will happen in a moment, and the whole world will see it. Not only that, they will know that it is God’s doing. I believe it will be a startlingly visible manifestation that will proceed from the restored symbol of his presence. I don’t know what it will be, but for it to take place, the Ark must be resting on its ancient platform. A monumental effort on our part will be required, but once the Ark is placed on the Temple Mount, it is entirely possible that something spectacular will occur.” She let the words sink deep before she continued.
Questioning glances were exchanged between the men, but something about Dr. Lira’s words resonated as prophetic. Still, Ben could not help himself. “How can we stake so much on such slim Biblical evidence? I agree with you that something cataclysmic is going to happen because it is prophesied. But this could all just be a wild goose chase.”
“Ben, it’s a risk. That is certain. If none of this is true, we’ll literally be scattering our lives to the winds. But there is more to it than just returning the Ark to Jerusalem.”
“Like what?”
“Israel is alone. No one is coming to our rescue this time. People need to refocus on God, and since they haven’t found a way to do that, a symbol like the Ark might just cause them to turn and begin to seek him again. That is the spiritual awakening I am praying for,” her voice cracked with emotion. The men could see her true passion shinning beyond the trappings of the mission. “We know by the scriptures that many Jews will not turn to Yeshua until after a great deception has occurred. But we must do all we can to help draw them to the Lord before that happens. In the meantime, the rebuilding of the Temple will not be possible until the Ark of the Covenant is returned. So, either way, we must complete this mission.”
There was silence in response to what she’d spoken. Even for Ben, the questions were suddenly moot. Israel needed help, even if it was something as bizarre as returning the most holy of ancient artifacts to its proper place.
After a few moments Dr. Lira continued. All signs of deep emotion were gone from her voice. “Here is our plan of action. Tonight, you will be housed here on the campus. Tomorrow, you will be returned to your homes, and each of you will have three days to get your interests in order. You already know this will be a dangerous endeavor, so you need to make sure your families are provided for in case something should happen to you. If you need any particular help in getting this done, let me know. There is a very small element of the government that knows what we are doing. They are committed to assist you in every way possible. On Thursday, no later than noon, we’ll meet back here. From that point on, be prepared to work and work hard.”
She paused and crossed her arms. “I can imagine how the original words of Ezekiel were taken when he talked about dry bones and mountains blowing their tops. The vision seems fiction-esque, but I believe it with every fiber of my being. We are approaching the day for which we have longed since we came into relationship with Yeshua. The peril of Israel is as high as it can possibly be, but so are the prospects of victory.” She paused. “Let me be honest. If our mission is discovered, you can be assured that our enemies will react with violence to stop us. We must be prepared to fight our way to the finish line.”
There it was—no hedging, no innuendos, and no speculation. Twelve messianic Levites and one woman were on a life—or—death mission that could possibly bring back the King.
The meeting was adjourned with prayer for guidance and help.
At precisely the same moment, a call was placed by the distant watcher to the secure line of an apartment in Paris
Jerusalem
One hour later
As the only pastor in the group, Ben faced a dilemma. The congregation of Celebration Center desperately needed a substitute, someone who could step in and take his place. He was having difficulty balancing the church’s needs with Dr. Lira’s suggestion that the mission could quite possibly claim his life. What if he didn’t come back? Due to the destruction in Haifa his energies were needed now more than at any other time since the group was started. A true harvest was being reaped. People were turning to Yeshua in the wake of the nuclear attack. And then there was Ingrid? She might be able to carry on the work of the church in his absence temporarily, but not if she had to cope with his death. The realities of his commitment to the mission suddenly became clear.
As the internal debate raged, the image of a particular face encroached upon his thoughts. The image was of the American pastor, Ty Dempsey. He was bent over his dying mother listening to words that bound the two pastors together in a most unusual way. Unable to shake the picture from his mind, Ben got the distinct impression that the answer to his problem was right in front of him. But how could it be? The idea seemed impossible. Kansas City had been attacked by a nuclear-laden terrorist too, and Dempsey was knee deep in his own difficulties. Why would he come to Israel? How would he come to Israel? International travel was practically at a standstill.
That’s just crazy! Ben thought to himself, but it gnawed at him until he decided to test the Lord. Dr. Lira had offered to assist the team members in their preparations. He’d use Dempsey as a fleece. If Lira could find a way to get this one man shipped to Israel, when both America and Israel were basically shut down, then Ben would know everything that was happening was part of God’s plan. With that in mind, he left the dorm and made his way back to the front porch of Dr. Lira’s home.
The door was opened by Zev Tolberg and Ben stepped back into the now empty living room of the archaeologist. She was sitting on the sofa sipping a hot cup of tea when he entered. She started to stand.
“Please, Dr. Lira, don’t get up,” he said before she could set her cup on the table. “I won’t take much of your time, but I have a little problem. I need your help.”
“Let me guess, Ben,” she smiled, “you’re worried about your church, aren’t you?”
He knew she was sharp, but man, it was like she could read his mail. “Yes ma’am, I am. I’m on board fully with this operation. However, my congregation is in a precarious position, and I need help in getting the right person in place to take the reigns of the ministry, at least temporarily.”
She smiled, “I’ll ask you again. Call me Hannah, okay? If you don’t, I’ll start calling you Reverend.”
Ben laughed. He could see she wasn’t rebuking him, but wanted to establish a genuine camaraderie. “Deal!”
“Good! Now, I bet you have a plan.”
“I do. I have a gut feeling, maybe a nudge in my spirit. I think the Lord wants me to send for a young pastor from the United States. He doesn’t know it yet, but we are spiritually connected.”
Ben took the next few minutes to share a story that tied him and the young American pastor together. “My father was what we called an old fashioned revivalist. He even had the tent to go with it,” Ben chuckled at the memory. “Anyway, we were holding a revival in Kansas City when, one hot summer night, something strange happened.” He paused, trying to find a way to shorten the narrative.
“What happened?” Hannah wanted to hear.
“A couple was in attendance. The woman was pregnant, which meant nothing to me at the time; I was only ten years old. But the Spirit of God came over my dad right in the middle of his message. He went straight to them and began to give a word of prophecy.”
“What did he say?” She was aware of the Biblical teaching concerning the Gifts of the Spirit.
“He spoke first to the father, who didn’t seem to listen. But then he spoke to the mother and said something about her child being appointed for the salvation of many people. He told her the child would see the return of Jesus with his own eyes. He would be alive at the moment of the Rapture. That really got my attention,” Ben said as he stood and turned toward an artifact cabinet as if he needed to formulate his thoughts. He was trying to replay the image of Ty Dempsey cradling his mother’s head, all of being broadcast internationally by satellite. “I’d forgotten all of that until I heard her repeat those very words on international television not three days ago.” He turned back to Hannah. “Ty and I have been connected since that moment. And now I’m convinced God wants our paths to converge again.”
Hannah listened intently, quite moved by what he’d related. When he finished, he noticed tears in her eyes. No words passed between them for several moments.
“Hannah, I guess I’m asking for some of that help you were talking about. With the attacks on American cities, things are pretty chaotic over there. In fact, it appears things are going from bad to worse. It will take some leverage from highly placed, influential people to get the man here.”
“Are you in a position to contact him?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Then do it right away. See if he is open to the idea. If so, we’ll get him to Israel by any means possible. But I have to tell you, it may be impossible to insure his arrival before you have to report for training. Are you comfortable with the man stepping into your ministry without having actually met him?”
“Hannah, in my way of thinking, only the Lord has to be comfortable. I can’t get around the fact that Ty Dempsey is God’s choice,” Ben answered thoughtfully.
“Okay then, let’s do it!” She stood to walk Ben to the door. She handed him her business card. “Take this and call me when you’ve talked him. That way, you won’t have to make another trip down the hill, deal?”
“Thanks. I’ll get back with you as soon as I have an answer.”
Plattsville, Missouri
Monday, November 9
12:00 p.m. Local
Blake took the sandwich she’d just prepared, put it on a plate, and the sliced it with a knife. Taking half for herself, she gently pushed the plate across the counter toward Ty. She could tell by the way his elbows were planted on the breakfast bar that his mind wasn’t on lunch. In fact, he’d hardly eaten since his mother had died three days earlier. Still, she refused to lay aside the exuberance she felt in her heart.
“Your mom was awesome,” she said, hoping that a casual conversation about nothing might pull him out of his funk. “She had this place stocked up with loads of essentials. I mean, there are jars of homemade jams, and the peanut butter to go with them.” He didn’t respond. “Come to think of it, I bet her cupboards explain how she stayed so thin. They’re full of canned garden produce, nuts, and Jiffy. Plenty of that! But just about everything is sugar free. She obviously didn’t eat junk food, did she?”
“No, but she loved a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” he finally showed signs of life.
“I think I know why.”
“Why?”
“There’s something happy about it. It’s creamy and fruity all at the same time. It just makes you feel all fuzzy when you put it in your mouth. Her attitude was like that, wasn’t it?
“Yeah, it was,” answered Ty with the trace of a smile showing up around the edges of his mouth. “I remember eating this stuff until it was coming out my ears. I always thought it was because we were kind of poor, but you’re right. She loved ‘em.”
“Me too.” She waited before taking her first bite. “Ty, I need to ask you something and now is as good a time as any. Is that okay?”
He looked her in the eye wondering what she was thinking. “Sure.”
“What are you planning on doing?”
He thought about it as he picked at his sandwich,” I don’t know. I’ve got a meeting with the board this evening. They want to try and make sense out of what’s happened, maybe get a handle on what to do next. After that, I don’t know.”
“That’s not exactly what I’m asking.”
“I don’t understand,” Ty said.
She looked at him. Humor graced her eyes. “I’m talking about us. What are you planning on doing about us? I know you’ve got to work your way through some things, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to have lost your mom, but I heard her last words too.”
“You heard her talk about the rapture stuff, did you?”
“I heard it. But, I was thinking of something else.” She could still hear the words Martha Dempsey had spoken as she lay on the ground dying. “You marry this girl!” had been her final, motherly command.
He reached across the counter and touched her hand. “Honestly, it’s been on my mind since she said it. I just don’t know about the timing,” he said with sincerity.
“Want my opinion?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, here’s the blunt version. I think what your mom said about Jesus coming back should be taken seriously. It looks to me like there isn’t much time left before it happens. With that said, I haven’t waited for the right guy to come around for all these years just to have the rapture keep me from marrying him. Know what I mean? My guess is your mom understood the sentiment and was basically telling you to get with the program, no matter what happened to her.”
“Wow, you are blunt, aren’t you?”
“Yup. I calls ‘em like I see’s ‘em,” she teased. She also noticed he’d taken a bite of sandwich. That was good.
Ty took his time before responding to her original question. In fact, he’d worked his way through the first half of the sandwich before he spoke. Now that he was eating, he realized he was hungry.
Blake waited patiently, but couldn’t help being swallowed up in her man’s quiet sorrow.
He finally spoke. “It’s sure weird how things get all tangled up. A week ago, I could hardly wait to pop the question to you, remember? Then everything went haywire. Suddenly, I don’t know what to do. Does that make sense?”
“Sure. Everything’s been out of whack for me too, starting with the day you first called to ask me out. For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you did.”
“I’m glad too, and I have no doubt what the next step is. I just don’t know when to jump. It’s still hard to believe that mom is gone, especially knowing how much she wanted me to find the right girl.” he explained. “Now, she won’t see how it all turns out. I’m having a hard time with that.”
“I know you are. Me too. Part of me says we should wait so that all this grief can be processed. But the other part says that there’s too much of it to work through. Waiting until the hurt is healed might take forever. My heart tells me that getting married will only help.”
Ty got up and walked to the glass doors that opened to his mother’s garden. She’d cleared most of it before the nuclear holocaust had happened, but there were still a few fall-blooming flowers highlighting the edges. A wisp of wind carried dried leaves across the yard, and the sight of a dying autumn only added to his melancholy. But standing there, between the pain of remembrance and the brightness of a new future, his mind began to clear.
Turning to Blake he stuffed his hands in his pockets and leaned against the door. “I don’t want to sound super-spiritual, but I think we should pray about it. Let’s see what the Lord says. One thing is for sure, I love you, and unless Jesus comes back real soon, you’ll be Mrs. Tyler Dempsey, agreed?”
“Agreed!”
Blake had no doubt her man really wanted to do the right thing at the right time. He would wait for the Lord to give him the go ahead, and that was a good thing. But the ache in her heart was casting a vote for more speed, and that ache wasn’t due to grief.
Jerusalem
Same Time Local
Dr. Lira nodded in the direction of Zev Tolberg, who stood and dimmed the lights. A white screen lowered in front of the window, and a video projector came to life above their heads. The room was quickly converted into a classroom.
“Gentlemen,” she began, “this is our objective.”
The screen was filled with an artist’s rendering of the Ark of the Covenant, situated in the Most Holy Place of Solomon’s Temple. The design was simple, yet beautiful. The box, inlayed with gold inside and out, glowed. Two angelic beings stood on opposite ends above the cover with heads bowed and wings outstretched. Their wingtips touched in the center. The space between them formed the ancient Seat of Mercy. Solomon described it as the place of God’s glorious presence on earth, and so it was. Ben was well familiar with all of it.
“Our mission is simple. We will recover this object from its hiding place and return it to Jerusalem.”
The image changed to reveal a satellite-generated photo of a compound. Three structures dominated the scene.
“Say hello to Aksum, Ethiopia. Located in the Horn of Africa approximately one hundred kilometers south of the border of Eritrea, it is the home of the three structures you are observing.” She continued. “The larger building is the Church of Saint Mary of Sion, an Orthodox Christian community that makes up the prominent religious group in this region of northern Ethiopia. The rectangular edifice nearby, about a hundred meters to the south, is the ancient church of the same name. You will notice a small, perfectly square building between the two. This little structure will be the focus of our mission. It is the Chapel of the Ark of the Covenant.”
Gilad Belfer, a tightly built man with short black hair, sharp facial features, and penetrating eyes broke in. “We’ve been led to believe the rumors of the Ark being under the Church of Saint Mary were only a myth created by fundamentalist Christians.”
“Welcome to the world of disinformation, Gilad. Our own government has disavowed the rumor since the time of our inception as the State of Israel. Instead, reports that the Ark rests beneath the ruins of the Temple Mount have been given a hint of credence, and it has happened for a purpose. Because of the ongoing conflict with Islam, our leaders have conspired to keep the eyes of our enemies, and those of the world, locked upon Jerusalem as being the Ark’s location. Discounting Aksum as the actual site has left it relatively forgotten and unmolested.”
“That makes sense,” nodded Gilad.
“However, we have a problem,” continued Dr. Lira. “It seems the Russians are attempting to cover every possible lead. They’ve enlisted the help of their allies in the Sudan. As we speak, elements of the Sudanese armed forces are pushing into Eritrea and are slowly moving toward the capitol city, Asmara. Once that has been achieved, they will have a straight shot down the interior highway to Aksum. Now, we believe the Eritreans will be able to hold off the intruders long enough for us to order our operation, but we have a window of only about three weeks to get ready and get the job done. Timing will be critical.”
“Why us?” asked Ben. “Why exactly are we here? Honestly, I’m just an average guy doing my best to do some good in Haifa. I don’t know about these men, but outside of Zev, Ari, and Gilad here, none of us seem like the ideal people for this job. What gives?”
Dr. Lira smiled at Ben’s candidness. It was the reaction she had been expecting from the transplanted American Jew. “The answer to your question, Ben, will take us in several directions, but it is time you know. This group was chosen on the basis of three pertinent facts. First, you are all Messianic…each of you believe Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel. Second, you can all trace your heritage to the tribe of Levi. That would have made you members of the functioning priesthood in ancient Israel. You are Christian priests! Third, you have all been proven in combat during your time in the Israeli Defense Forces. With a short period of intensive training, you will return to combat readiness. Those three elements make you exactly the men we need.”
“How do these elements relate?” Ben questioned.
“It’s really quite simple when you think about it, and it has to do with appearances. We are going on a mission to recover the Ark of the Covenant. God gave Moses a mandate that only Levites were to be the caretakers and transporters of the Ark. Twelve priests were to carry it by way of two, gold-covered poles. The twelve of you will make up that number.” She let that sink in for a few seconds. “We will maintain the integrity of the Torah by following that command, and we will avoid being a stumbling block to the Jews, all at the same time. But there is an added element, and it has to do with our being followers of Yeshua. We know from the writings of the Apostle Paul that we are freed from the letter of the Law. That freedom is by virtue of the atoning sacrifice of Messiah. Therefore, the old statutes of not touching the Ark upon pain of death will not apply. We will be able to do whatever it takes to get the Ark back to Israel, even if it means hoisting it on our backs and carrying it.”
Ari Goins spoke up next. “Dr. Lira, tell them why it is absolutely essential that the Ark return to Jerusalem as soon as possible. I think it will help them understand the bigger picture.”
“Ari’s right. I believe, as do most of you, that Ezekiel’s prophecies are about to reach their fulfillment. The alignment of nations is complete. Forces are on the move toward the borders of Israel, just as it was prophesied. But that’s not all. In my studies, I have found two verses that stand out as an indication of what is actually going to happen.
“The first is the twenty-third verse of chapter thirty-eight. It says; ‘And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations.’ In other words, God is going to reveal his glory. I believe the Ark of the Covenant must be the centerpiece of that issuance.”
Ben knew the verses well and simply had to challenge Dr. Lira’s interpretation. “Hannah, there is no mention of God’s glory in that verse. What makes you believe the Ark must be present?”
“If I were to go by that verse alone, I couldn’t make that leap. However, verse twenty-one of the next chapter goes further. As happens throughout scripture, the next chapter expounds upon the previous prophetic utterance by adding detail. Listen to the verse; ‘I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.’ The term glory is only used in reference to the most intimate expression of God’s presence. The manifestation of the glory took place between the Cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. This is how he revealed himself to Israel.”
“That, I’ll give you. But why does that presuppose the Ark is still the wellspring of God’s glory?” asked Ben. “In fact, Yeshua fulfills all the aspect of God’s revealed glory on the earth.”
“You are right. Yeshua is the revelation of the glory of God. But even in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we see the Messiah standing beside the shekinah glory in heaven. John described it in an incredible way. That plays right into what I believe is about to take place.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everything about Ezekiel’s words focus on a great cataclysmic demonstration made by God against his enemies,” she continued. “It will happen in a moment, and the whole world will see it. Not only that, they will know that it is God’s doing. I believe it will be a startlingly visible manifestation that will proceed from the restored symbol of his presence. I don’t know what it will be, but for it to take place, the Ark must be resting on its ancient platform. A monumental effort on our part will be required, but once the Ark is placed on the Temple Mount, it is entirely possible that something spectacular will occur.” She let the words sink deep before she continued.
Questioning glances were exchanged between the men, but something about Dr. Lira’s words resonated as prophetic. Still, Ben could not help himself. “How can we stake so much on such slim Biblical evidence? I agree with you that something cataclysmic is going to happen because it is prophesied. But this could all just be a wild goose chase.”
“Ben, it’s a risk. That is certain. If none of this is true, we’ll literally be scattering our lives to the winds. But there is more to it than just returning the Ark to Jerusalem.”
“Like what?”
“Israel is alone. No one is coming to our rescue this time. People need to refocus on God, and since they haven’t found a way to do that, a symbol like the Ark might just cause them to turn and begin to seek him again. That is the spiritual awakening I am praying for,” her voice cracked with emotion. The men could see her true passion shinning beyond the trappings of the mission. “We know by the scriptures that many Jews will not turn to Yeshua until after a great deception has occurred. But we must do all we can to help draw them to the Lord before that happens. In the meantime, the rebuilding of the Temple will not be possible until the Ark of the Covenant is returned. So, either way, we must complete this mission.”
There was silence in response to what she’d spoken. Even for Ben, the questions were suddenly moot. Israel needed help, even if it was something as bizarre as returning the most holy of ancient artifacts to its proper place.
After a few moments Dr. Lira continued. All signs of deep emotion were gone from her voice. “Here is our plan of action. Tonight, you will be housed here on the campus. Tomorrow, you will be returned to your homes, and each of you will have three days to get your interests in order. You already know this will be a dangerous endeavor, so you need to make sure your families are provided for in case something should happen to you. If you need any particular help in getting this done, let me know. There is a very small element of the government that knows what we are doing. They are committed to assist you in every way possible. On Thursday, no later than noon, we’ll meet back here. From that point on, be prepared to work and work hard.”
She paused and crossed her arms. “I can imagine how the original words of Ezekiel were taken when he talked about dry bones and mountains blowing their tops. The vision seems fiction-esque, but I believe it with every fiber of my being. We are approaching the day for which we have longed since we came into relationship with Yeshua. The peril of Israel is as high as it can possibly be, but so are the prospects of victory.” She paused. “Let me be honest. If our mission is discovered, you can be assured that our enemies will react with violence to stop us. We must be prepared to fight our way to the finish line.”
There it was—no hedging, no innuendos, and no speculation. Twelve messianic Levites and one woman were on a life—or—death mission that could possibly bring back the King.
The meeting was adjourned with prayer for guidance and help.
At precisely the same moment, a call was placed by the distant watcher to the secure line of an apartment in Paris
Jerusalem
One hour later
As the only pastor in the group, Ben faced a dilemma. The congregation of Celebration Center desperately needed a substitute, someone who could step in and take his place. He was having difficulty balancing the church’s needs with Dr. Lira’s suggestion that the mission could quite possibly claim his life. What if he didn’t come back? Due to the destruction in Haifa his energies were needed now more than at any other time since the group was started. A true harvest was being reaped. People were turning to Yeshua in the wake of the nuclear attack. And then there was Ingrid? She might be able to carry on the work of the church in his absence temporarily, but not if she had to cope with his death. The realities of his commitment to the mission suddenly became clear.
As the internal debate raged, the image of a particular face encroached upon his thoughts. The image was of the American pastor, Ty Dempsey. He was bent over his dying mother listening to words that bound the two pastors together in a most unusual way. Unable to shake the picture from his mind, Ben got the distinct impression that the answer to his problem was right in front of him. But how could it be? The idea seemed impossible. Kansas City had been attacked by a nuclear-laden terrorist too, and Dempsey was knee deep in his own difficulties. Why would he come to Israel? How would he come to Israel? International travel was practically at a standstill.
That’s just crazy! Ben thought to himself, but it gnawed at him until he decided to test the Lord. Dr. Lira had offered to assist the team members in their preparations. He’d use Dempsey as a fleece. If Lira could find a way to get this one man shipped to Israel, when both America and Israel were basically shut down, then Ben would know everything that was happening was part of God’s plan. With that in mind, he left the dorm and made his way back to the front porch of Dr. Lira’s home.
The door was opened by Zev Tolberg and Ben stepped back into the now empty living room of the archaeologist. She was sitting on the sofa sipping a hot cup of tea when he entered. She started to stand.
“Please, Dr. Lira, don’t get up,” he said before she could set her cup on the table. “I won’t take much of your time, but I have a little problem. I need your help.”
“Let me guess, Ben,” she smiled, “you’re worried about your church, aren’t you?”
He knew she was sharp, but man, it was like she could read his mail. “Yes ma’am, I am. I’m on board fully with this operation. However, my congregation is in a precarious position, and I need help in getting the right person in place to take the reigns of the ministry, at least temporarily.”
She smiled, “I’ll ask you again. Call me Hannah, okay? If you don’t, I’ll start calling you Reverend.”
Ben laughed. He could see she wasn’t rebuking him, but wanted to establish a genuine camaraderie. “Deal!”
“Good! Now, I bet you have a plan.”
“I do. I have a gut feeling, maybe a nudge in my spirit. I think the Lord wants me to send for a young pastor from the United States. He doesn’t know it yet, but we are spiritually connected.”
Ben took the next few minutes to share a story that tied him and the young American pastor together. “My father was what we called an old fashioned revivalist. He even had the tent to go with it,” Ben chuckled at the memory. “Anyway, we were holding a revival in Kansas City when, one hot summer night, something strange happened.” He paused, trying to find a way to shorten the narrative.
“What happened?” Hannah wanted to hear.
“A couple was in attendance. The woman was pregnant, which meant nothing to me at the time; I was only ten years old. But the Spirit of God came over my dad right in the middle of his message. He went straight to them and began to give a word of prophecy.”
“What did he say?” She was aware of the Biblical teaching concerning the Gifts of the Spirit.
“He spoke first to the father, who didn’t seem to listen. But then he spoke to the mother and said something about her child being appointed for the salvation of many people. He told her the child would see the return of Jesus with his own eyes. He would be alive at the moment of the Rapture. That really got my attention,” Ben said as he stood and turned toward an artifact cabinet as if he needed to formulate his thoughts. He was trying to replay the image of Ty Dempsey cradling his mother’s head, all of being broadcast internationally by satellite. “I’d forgotten all of that until I heard her repeat those very words on international television not three days ago.” He turned back to Hannah. “Ty and I have been connected since that moment. And now I’m convinced God wants our paths to converge again.”
Hannah listened intently, quite moved by what he’d related. When he finished, he noticed tears in her eyes. No words passed between them for several moments.
“Hannah, I guess I’m asking for some of that help you were talking about. With the attacks on American cities, things are pretty chaotic over there. In fact, it appears things are going from bad to worse. It will take some leverage from highly placed, influential people to get the man here.”
“Are you in a position to contact him?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Then do it right away. See if he is open to the idea. If so, we’ll get him to Israel by any means possible. But I have to tell you, it may be impossible to insure his arrival before you have to report for training. Are you comfortable with the man stepping into your ministry without having actually met him?”
“Hannah, in my way of thinking, only the Lord has to be comfortable. I can’t get around the fact that Ty Dempsey is God’s choice,” Ben answered thoughtfully.
“Okay then, let’s do it!” She stood to walk Ben to the door. She handed him her business card. “Take this and call me when you’ve talked him. That way, you won’t have to make another trip down the hill, deal?”
“Thanks. I’ll get back with you as soon as I have an answer.”
Jimmy Root Jr
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Distant Thunder, Gog and Magog, Israel, Iran, Radical Islam, Ezekiel 38 and 39, Jimmy Root Jr, Rapture, Nuclear Weapons, Bible Prophecy, Russia, European Union, Lightning Chronicles, Terrorism, Ahmadinijad,
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