Anne: Lost in Transit

Chapter 13

True to his word, Ebere was in church the next day and waiting in front of the pastors’ office after service. The pastor was in a meeting with the elders in the church and although Maria promised us that the meeting was only for few minutes, we ended up waiting for more than an hour.

We saw him running towards us apologetically to open his office. The middle-aged man brought out two plastic chairs and asked us to sit while he tidied up his desk that was full of books.

‘I'm sorry for taking so long. Or did you wait long?’ I nodded angrily. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Oh, it’s fine.’ Ebere responded. I wanted to counter him but I held my own crossing my arms.

‘Erhm… Sister Maria told me you heard the message of rapture and you want to know about it. She also told me it so troubled you that you cut your trip.’

‘Yes sir. I don’t know any Christian there and my mum, she—, I wouldn’t want her to know…’ He met the pastor’s eyes. The man nodded instinctively and changed the subject.

‘Well sir, what you need to know is very simple. For the ones already born again, there is no need to panic. Jesus will come to earth again, this time, to rapture his saints. Those that are born again and lived righteously, will leave earth to heaven without dying. Their clothes, what they were doing will remain behind. Those not born again will remain on this earth for seven years. For three and a half years, life will try to forge on despite the disappearances and in Israel, two men will day and night preach the message of repentance during that time. Then the antichrist and false prophet will gradually and subtly make themselves known to the world. In the next three and half years, intense prosecution of the remaining saints will take place. People not strong enough to remain faithful to God or people that do not care about God, will receive the mark of the beast that will allow them buy, sell and do anything they want. After the seven years, Jesus will come again for the third time, bound the devil and his agents, reign for one thousand years and during those years, the world will be in perfect peace. No killing, hatred, lying and all sorts. After the one thousand years, the devil and his agents will be freed to fight one last battle, which is the Great Battle of Armageddon but he will lose and be permanently sent to hell together with all unbelievers to suffer in pain and agony forever.’ Ebere was nervous throughout the pastor’s speech. After another hour of searching and discussing the book of Revelation, the pastor’s wife called him to come home.

Outside the compound of the church, the pastor asked Ebere if he understood everything. Ebere was left more confused but he admitted it and promised to come back to discuss other passages in the Bible that spoke on rapture.

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I was sitting on the couch when Ebere walked in forty-five minutes to 11pm three weeks later. As soon as he was through the door, I popped my question. ‘Why did you come back so late? You know this area is no longer safe or did you forget about the attack on Maria’s father? You knew you’d be out late and knowing how worried I’ll be, you did not inform me.’ I got up and threw the pillow I’d been holding to the floor.

‘I'm sorry. I was driving from work and passed by the church. I heard music and saw some people go in. I wanted to know what was going on and why we weren’t invited. It was Bible study so I stayed back. I got caught up in the discussions that I lost track of time and forgot to call you. I'm sorry.’ He released my folded arms and tried to hug me. I shifted out of his reach.

‘That’s still not an excuse and when did you start using that road? Driving that route takes an additional five minutes than going through our normal route and the road in our route is much better than the church road.’ I inhaled deeply. ‘Tell me really, what is going on? I understand the rapture scare you had in Enugu and that you want to understand the Bible a little more but this, this is just out of hand! I'm not angry that you now wake me up for church service unlike the struggle to get you out of bed before. I'm happy you're praying and committed to church activities. It’s good Ebere, I'm happy for you but please, don’t make it hard for me! I’ve never made my serving God difficult for you.’ He looked at me skeptically and closed his mouth.