Twice Loved at Armageddon

Twice Loved at Armageddon, Part XVIII

Scotts sits holding Farah and prepares her for burial.  Judas and Thomas show up.  Jesus had sent them.  In a loud rush, they send her into the present time.  They ask Scott if she had stiffened.  He said no.  It's possible they he could join her but the next time there would be such a rush of uncontrollable spirit would be in Jerusalem.  Scott in desperation makes for Jerusalem.

Chapter Twenty-Eight 

   Scott thought about sending another rider to catch up with Jesus.  But He had to be in Jerusalem in just over a day on Palm Sunday. He had raised Lazarus, but how would He return to help now?  He sat by her side and prayed. Servants begged him to leave her side and to take something to eat.  He refused.

   Instead he called for servants to bring a wash basin, towels, and burial spices.  He washed her with loving care and sprinkled on the costly perfume.  Then he called for her embroidered marriage gown.  He dressed her but put no veil on her head. In her still lovely hands he placed her Cord of Hercules, that symbol which bound them together all these wonderful months.  Taking her hand, he placed the ring she had received from Emperor Tiberius.  When servants offered to bring a burial shroud for her, he refused.  He sat holding her hand and dwelling on their life there in the valley.  

   Just before first light, servants said there was someone knocking at their door.  Without even thinking, he said, “Please answer it.”

   From the front room he heard someone say, “Peace be unto this house.”  Scott rose so as not to offend his visitors.  He entered the room to see two men, who looked somewhat familiar.

   “My friends, I mean no disrespect.  This day I make a poor host, for my loving wife has just given up her spirit during the night.  Let my servants tend to your needs if you will but excuse me to spend a little more time at her side.”

   The two robed men carrying staffs looked at each other and back to Scott.  One said, “She is why we are here.  We are Thomas and Judas, Jesus’ followers.”

   He asked, “What will you do here?  Do you intend to say special words over her in her tomb?”

   “No,” they said, “Jesus called us aside while we were on our way to Jerusalem.  He heard your prayer, even with as much as He has on His mind these days.  He told us about Farah, which I believe is her name. He and John the Baptist spoke of you.  He said the angels brought you here from another time itself to be her loving husband.  We cannot explain everything we know or why.  We don’t understand everything ourselves.  We just know that this time Jesus gave us a double portion of His spirit to help her.”

   Scott interjected, “But she is dead.”

   Judas raised his hand, “Not everyone is dead who looks that way.  Even the ‘demons are subject to us in His name.’  Show us where she lies.”

   Scott took them into her room.  Judas turned and said, “Please wait in the front room while we tend to her alone.”  Scott bent over her body yet once more.  He fought back tears as he stroked her hair as he loved to do and kissed her cheek for the last time.  He then nodded to them and left the room.  He began again to pray as never before.

   In but a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, there was an intense flash from the next room with a deafening sound like a hurricane wind crashing within the room. After the disciples came out of the room, Scott hurried in.  The room to his surprise lay undisturbed, but Farah was gone!

   Scott asked in despair, “What have you done with her?”

   Judas stepped forward and held him by the shoulder.  “We cannot control the spirit. We know neither where it comes from nor where it is going, but we all heard its sound. It sent her forward in time, in your world.”