Haven

2

LISA AND TIM BROWN

1 Thessalonians 5:2

2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

The siblings navigated their way through the enchanting, dense woods of Northern Maine. Lisa remained shocked after witnessing the most extraordinary event she or anyone in the world had experienced since the resurrection of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. She trudged through the thick woods, her breath strained, her blonde curly hair in disarray.

So... we were in our backyard, enjoying a barbecue with the church members. Dad was tending to the grill, and Tim was in the pool flirting with the Pastor Frank's daughter, who's just seventeen!

Tim retorted, I wasn't flirting with the Pastor's daughter, and she'll be turning eighteen next month! That's only a one-year age difference!

She's my age Tim.

So you're admitting that you were too young to date Shawn LeClair? Tim questioned.

My brother was talking to the Pastor's daughter in the pool, that's all.

Tim responded, pushing some branches out of the way. Much better!

The aroma of Dad's food filled the air. He took another steak off the grill and added it to the plate already filled with cheeseburgers and hot dogs. We had potato salad, green bean casserole, and Greek salad. I'm starving right now Tim!

Can you please stop talking about food!

That's when the Pastor's daughter and you came out of the pool. I bet you remember that part, right Tim.

You're so annoying. Too bad Shawn wasn't there, right?

Yeah, really. Then he would be here with us. Mom was chatting with the ladies, and suddenly they all disappeared. It was like a pile of clothing was left where everyone had been standing! I watched the plates and their napkins fall to the ground. Everyone just vanished, and we were the only two left, Lisa continued.

Sis, please stop retelling me this story. I was there, I saw it.

I really need to vent! That's when that pickup went through our house at, like, a hundred miles an hour!

I don't want to talk about the truck again! I'm the one who grabbed Dad's emergency backpacks. Dad knew something was going to happen sooner or later!

Those backpacks had been there for over a year! God told Dad about the rapture — wow!

Thank God we have instructions to come out here, Sis!

Out here in the middle of nowhere, in the sticks!

I beg you to stop talking for ten minutes, no, five minutes, just five minutes of silence!

But...

Quiet, please, five minutes.

Tim?

Four and a half minutes, you can do it!

Lisa sat on a fallen tree and cried, I miss Mom and Dad. We've been running for two days now. I'm so tired, my body is really sore. The dirt bike and sleeping in a tent last night... I was freezing cold all night! Why did Mom and Dad leave us instructions to go to a cave? Do you think we're going to live in a dirty cave? Are we like cavemen now?

I don't know much right now, but I do know that Mom and Dad wouldn't send us to a cave if it weren't for our own good. We'll see what's going on when we get there.

A few more miles passed by, and both were still in disbelief. The hardest part of the trip was wading through a waist-deep stream. The water was bitterly cold, and their hiking boots were soaking wet. Tim had stashed the bike in the woods in case they would ever need it again. He had covered it with a camouflage tarp and placed a pile of brush and pine tree branches on top.

Tim had a tent in his backpack, and they huddled together the night before. She was cold and scared all night. But for Tim, it was almost like a camping trip, except his dad wasn't there, and that was truly devastating. The two were always together. His frightened sister was next to him, trembling as she clung to him. He was protecting her. She had spent her life on her cell phone, and now it was gone. They had destroyed their phones so they couldn't be tracked. It was better to be safe than sorry. She had no idea where her friends were. She used to be the leader of the cheerleader squad. He had dark hair and was a good-looking young man, standing at six foot two. They were both physically attractive, but that didn't matter anymore. Good looks don't help when you're walking through the woods. They had to grow up quickly if they were to survive the next seven years!

They finally reached a cave in the lush green woods of Maine. The cave was situated partway up a magnificent mountain that pierced the sky. The mountain wilderness was adorned with pine trees. As they walked, the two of them gathered and consumed berries, a vital resource for their survival. It seemed like berries might be their primary source of food for the foreseeable future. Following the stream, they arrived at a beaver pond.

Tim carried a handheld GPS device intended for camping, but it was rendered useless due to the blackout. However, he knew that the GPS would come in handy later on. For now, he relied on a map and the knowledge his dad had imparted to him. The map contained landmarks that his dad had marked, guiding their way up the immense mountain.

They were aware that the new world order would target anyone who refused to accept the mark of the antichrist, though that might take some time to come into effect. Wars continued to rage across the globe, with Russia and China displaying increasingly aggressive behavior. Russia, Iran, and Turkey were launching attacks on Israel, yet Israel was putting up a formidable defense against these three nations.

Tim was tired, and he said, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

That was the first time she found the sound of God's Word comforting and remembered, saying it with a mix of pride, sadness, and a hint of shame. That's Psalms 121, one of Mom's favorites!

She could quote the whole Bible by heart!

Think about that... she was so awesome!

She's still awesome, praising Jesus in heaven. We'll see her before you know it. We just need to get through this tribulation!

Lisa sarcastically replied, Oh yeah, seven years will fly by!

I think we're here at the place.

Are you sure?

Tim held a small brown leather manual in his hand and pointed to a page. He said, It says here the door is a boulder... that's weird.

Lisa's face tightened, A boulder? Like a big rock?

I'm trying to keep my mouth shut, but yes, a boulder is a big rock. I think this is it!

They both began pushing on the boulder and to their surprise, it moved and opened like a door. It rested on hidden steel wheels and emitted a rolling noise. Tim and Lisa exchanged disbelieving glances before stepping into the opening of the cave. Ahead of them was a short, dark, damp, and dreary hallway. They closed the boulder behind them, and Tim retrieved a penlight, shining it on the inside of the boulder. The massive rock had been cut in half, with the interior chipped away. They proceeded down the corridor toward the next door, which was crafted from oak. Tim hesitantly knocked on the door, but there was no response. Lisa looked at him and exclaimed, I guess no one is home. This is so cool!

Are you kidding me? This is crazy! Tim replied, still amazed.

Tim opened the heavy wooden door, revealing a large shelter crafted from pine wood. The walls, ceiling, and floors were all made of wood, creating a cozy atmosphere. As they entered, the scent of clean pine wood shavings filled the air, reminiscent of a well-maintained hamster cage.

Lisa found a light switch next to the door and flicked it on, flooding the space with bright illumination. The lights revealed something far beyond their wildest dreams. Both of their mouths dropped open, and they stood there in awe. Then, in perfect unison, they exclaimed, Oh my gosh!

Lisa pointed to the right, saying, There must be twenty bunk beds here!

Sis, this place is about the size of a basketball court, Tim remarked, amazed.

He gestured to the left, adding, Look at the freezers, sinks, and those cabinets are massive!

They're more like walk-in closets. And the freezers are huge too! Lisa replied.

Well, at least we'll have couches to relax on. It would be nice to watch a game, but I don't see a TV, Tim observed.

I see a place to lay down! Lisa exclaimed.

3

WHY ME?

"Titus 2:13

13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"

Thirty-six-year-old retired Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOT) commander and youth leader Greg Oliver, all six foot five and two hundred and forty pounds of him, collapsed on the perfectly manicured green grass at Bowdoin College field in Brunswick, Maine, a few days after that dreadful July day. He rolled over onto his back and stared into the sky in disbelief, his hazel eyes gazing at the smoke-filled skies caused by fires. The whole world was still in utter disarray, reminiscent of his tour in Afghanistan a few years before.

He wondered how he missed the metaphorical bus to be with Jesus Christ. Just two days ago, precisely at one thirty-two, all the born-again Christians had been raptured to be with Jesus. The aftermath of what was left behind in the world was worse than any book or movie could ever portray, with the cities throughout the planet suffering the most.

He kept repeating, You forgot me! over and over again.

He closed his eyes and opened them again to a sky with no airplanes, as all were grounded, and martial law was in effect. Youth Pastor Greg looked across the green field at the clothing that still lay in little piles across the soccer field. The children had been playing a soccer game when the rapture hit. There was still a seven-months-pregnant soccer mom there, walking back and forth, trying to fathom what had happened to her two children. Rubbing her loose stomach skin, she said, They were here and then they weren't. They were here and then they weren't. I don't understand. Where's my baby? I want my baby back! Give me all my babies!

Greg, too, was trying to comprehend what had happened and why he was still on Earth. After all, he was the Youth Pastor at the Church of God. He had received an education at a Bible college in the United States before he went into the military, and his knowledge of the Bible was good. He knew what was to come; there was no excuse. Shortly after the rapture, a seven-year period known to Christians as the Great Tribulation would take place. He was a tribulation saint; that's what they were referred to by the Christians who were now with Jesus. Prophetically, the Antichrist was going to make a peace agreement between Israel and her enemies.

Finally, Greg knew that knowing the Word of God and Jesus as his Savior were completely different things. Only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ would bring them to heaven. How many times had he heard that message preached? Pastor Greg himself had shared that message with the youth group in the church. It was unfortunate that he hadn't truly believed it at the time. He had witnessed so much death in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and several other countries, including Colombia, a topic he was not allowed to discuss with anyone.

With tears streaming down his face, Greg angrily yelled at God, I saw so many people killed—my friends, the enemy, children dying... Where were You then? I've taken the lives of so many people! And it doesn't matter, does it?

Greg was so upset that he gritted his teeth, but his anger was mostly directed at himself. He let out a loud yell and confessed, I was just playing Church! I had other priorities that took precedence over You, every single time! I often wondered if You were even real! Honestly, I didn't believe in You! But I guess I believe in You now! The joke's on me!

A few years ago, while Greg was in Afghanistan, his best friend Will was tragically shot in the head and died in Greg's arms. Greg had been struggling with that painful memory, especially considering that Will was a devout Christian. Now, in the midst of the tribulation, Greg found himself preoccupied with other thoughts rather than dwelling on his loss. Will was in heaven, and Greg was not.

Greg recalled how he had felt disconnected from the Church and its people. He couldn't relate to them, and they couldn't understand the wars and battles he had been through. He had witnessed so much, but he had never confided in anyone. He often wondered how, if there was a God, his life had turned out the way it had. He believed that only his fellow soldiers who had experienced war could truly comprehend his struggles and the life he had lived. Once again, filled with anguish, he cried out to the Lord, I was angry with You! I was furious! Will died in my arms!

So many people died in front of me! How could You let that happen?"

So many thoughts were running through Greg's head, but clarity entered his mind, and he knew what he needed to do. It was time to get right with his Maker! He sat up, wiped the tears off his reddened face, and then knelt down to pray the sinner's prayer in the middle of that green field, something he should have done a long time ago.

Jesus, I'm so sorry for the things I have said and done against You. The sins; the many sins, take them from me, wash me clean, and be my Lord. I will never yell at You again. I acted like a fool, please forgive me. I would ask You... what should I do next? Direct me, use me, fill me with Your presence. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Then he stood up, feeling the Holy Spirit surging through his body. He had never felt like this before; it was like an electrical charge that started at his toes and went to his head. Finally, he had a perspective on the situation. Finally, he had direction from the Holy Spirit!

Finally, he knew what God wanted from him!

Pastor Greg possessed an impressive fitness level, clearly evident in his well-toned physique. Every movement he made showcased his strength, with his muscles flexing in perfect synchrony. He had honed his skills through rigorous training as a member of the Marine Special Ops Team, making him the ideal comrade to have by one's side on the battlefield. However, the upcoming seven years held a different calling for him. He could no longer employ his lethal abilities; instead, he needed to find new ways to utilize his skills.

Apart from his military background, Pastor Greg harbored a deep passion for basketball. There was a time when he even contemplated pursuing a professional career in Brazil prior to his military service. This held particular significance because his father hailed from North Brazil, while his American mother had met him during a mission trip many years ago. Afterward, the two settled in Maine, where Greg, their only child, was born. Tragically, his parents were raptured in Florida, rendering any attempts to contact them futile, as they were undoubtedly rejoicing in the heavenly presence of Christ.

The Brazilian and American mixture made the women ooh and ah. Greg was a very handsome man, and he had taken advantage of his looks on more than one occasion. He said out loud, All that sin is a thing of the past for me, God. I'm free!

He was a soldier of the living God, and this was the most important tour of duty he would ever undertake! With God directing his path, he ran to his new tan Jeep, which he had just bought in April. Tears of joy were still running down his face as he drove to the Church of God in Brunswick, the place where he had spent so much time before. Greg opened the door.

There wasn't a soul in the Church; it was completely empty. Even with the presence of the Holy Spirit that dwelled inside Greg, he still felt very much alone. He made his way to Pastor Frank's office and opened the door. On the Pastor's big oak desk, his well-read Bible was open. Greg pulled out the old chair, which held all of Pastor Frank's clothing. The Bible was open to Revelation 3:10. Pastor Frank must have been preparing tomorrow's sermon, Greg thought.

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Pastor Greg looked at Pastor Frank's bookshelf and noticed all the books that Pastor Frank had read, including a King James Bible from 1809. It was a big book and hard to miss. Greg remembered how Pastor Frank had repeatedly urged him to check it out someday. The Holy Spirit-driven youth pastor felt compelled to take a closer look at the old Bible.

As he reached for the Bible, he felt its weight in his hands. The pages were thicker than those of modern Bibles, and a musty odor emanated from them. As Greg opened the Bible, he noticed a corner of an envelope sticking out. His curiosity piqued, he carefully pulled out the envelope and was astonished to find his own name on it.

Greg Oliver

4

THE YOUTH GROUP

"Revelation 3:10

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth."

Greg was completely baffled by the presence of an envelope with his name on it inside the old Bible. With a mixture of curiosity and awe, he opened the envelope and began to read the contents.

"Dear Greg,

I'm so sorry that you are still here. It seems like you missed the boat, brother. Yes, I was aware of what was happening in your spiritual life. But Greg, there's no time to feel sorry for yourself because God is in control of everything. It's time to make up for lost time. God needs you right now! Do you remember my favorite verse in the Bible?

'Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'

Greg, you have been called according to His purpose. Alex, Liz, and Brandon should arrive at the Church, if they're not already with you now. We ask that you teach the teens about God, the Bible, and what's going to happen in the next seven years. I can only imagine how witnessing the rapture has impacted you.

It has happened right before your eyes that you have now accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is your chance to demonstrate your leadership abilities to God. May God bless you.

With much love,

Pastor Frank"

Pastor Greg had no time to dwell on the guilt he felt; things were about to take a dangerous turn. The front doors swung open and then slammed shut. It was Alex, Liz, and Brandon, and they were terrified! Gunshots echoed outside! Greg cautiously poked his head out of the office door and signaled the kids to come in by waving his hand, silently mouthing, I'm in here!

The kids were amazed to find Greg there and hurried into the office, with Greg swiftly closing the door behind them. A raging mob of people stormed into the church, filled with confusion and anger. They were going from house