Apocalypse Dawning

Epilogue Friday, May 10, 2024. The Southern Lights As a way to communicate in a nonconfrontational manner, I texted Benjamin images of the northern lights, which due to unusual solar flare activity were suddenly visible as far south as Florida. “Dang, where are you?” “Knoxville.” Dad “It’s beautiful. It’s a shame I wouldn’t be welcome there.” “Well, I’m not welcome in California. Fortunately, all are welcomed by Jesus.” Dad “You’re welcome in California, and belief otherwise is delusional. Unless there is something I’m unaware of.” “Do you have any warrants out for your arrest in California?” “Do you have warrants in Tennessee?” Dad “I support the Second Amendment. That’s not delusional.” Dad “TN has set the groundwork for arresting transgender people if they just call your appearance a drag performance.” “Yes. Children should not be introduced to sexuality. . . .” Dad “This is always the thing that feels like it’s underlying texts between us. I’d love to talk with you and just be family again, but also look at this divide! I don’t even know how to bridge this gap. I’m sorry to instigate it, but do you want this? . . . “I do wish we could bridge that divide, but don’t know how. I miss having a father, And I don’t know why you text me anymore even.” ********** The original title of this book or manuscript was to be For Benjamin. My reasoning was the desire to bring those who wander away from the truth and faith to a realization of the truth of the Word of God, by demonstrating the concrete reality of the book of Revelation, rather than some mistaken fantasy of magical miracles and plagues. I changed the name, because too often Benjamin is a term used referencing the children of Israel, and I do not wish the book to seem to be targeting any individual, race, or group of people (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”; Rom. 3:23). It is not meant to do so. Our desire to bridge gaps between broken relationships is due to the emptiness created by our rebellion against our Creator. While we may feel the gulf between us and our loved ones is too wide to bridge, the truth, Veritas, is that all of us stand on the wrong side of the bay, and on an island, we created by our own actions. Benjamin and I stand together side by side in sin. We feel separated and the plea is: How do we bridge this gap? John’s unveiling of Jesus Christ is meant to reveal to us the Way. John does not list the tribulations to beset mankind in order to depress his readers. Rather, he is showing the catastrophes to come that can only be endured by faith in Jesus and the hope of his return. Benjamin’s words ring true of all of us in our relationships with our Creator, “I’d love to talk with you and just be family again, but also look at this divide! I don’t even know how to bridge this gap. . . . I do wish we could bridge that divide, but don’t know how. I miss having a father.” The religions of mankind, including the religions of atheism and agnosticism, are each and every one trying to bridge the gap between human relations and relations with our Heavenly Father. But we don’t know how. So, we continue missing our Father, and our brothers. Fortunately, our Heavenly Father continues to reach out to each of us individually and to mankind as a whole. He knows we cannot bridge that gap, nor can we find a way. We don’t know how. He built the bridge for us across that great chasm. Jesus is the bridge that crosses the gap between our Heavenly Father and us, and also the bridge across the gap with our brothers and sisters. Neither I nor my child can bridge that gap. Fortunately, Jesus has already done so. It only remains for us to step out onto the bridge and walk across.