The Great Delusion
'The Great Delusion'
Chapter 1: The Burden of the Evangelist
Jeremiah Langston sat hunched over his worn-out desk in a small, dimly lit cabin. Outside, the rustling leaves and distant hum of lawnmowers underscored his monotonous life. A stack of dog-eared King James Bibles lay on the table beside his laptop, which streamed a flurry of notifications from his growing YouTube channel. His videos were simple: passionate sermons about salvation, fiery denunciations of Calvinists and work salvationists, and an unyielding insistence on the pre-tribulation rapture.
He believed that the only thing delaying the rapture was the "fullness of the Gentiles." If he could just convince enough people to accept Jesus Christ, the trumpet would sound, and he would finally leave this miserable earth behind. The thought of escaping inflation, daily toil, and the rising tide of crime filled him with longing.
Yet, life was grinding him down. Food prices soared. His lawn-mowing jobs barely covered the essentials. The aches in his joints reminded him of his advancing age. "Lord," he muttered, "how much longer?"
Jeremiah noticed a surprising trend: more and more people were commenting on his videos. "Brother, your sermons have blessed me," one wrote. Another said, "I’ve shared your message with my friends and family." This sparked an idea. If he could inspire his followers to evangelize, they might hasten the rapture. He devised a plan, blending fervent persuasion with subtle psychological manipulation.
Chapter 2: Mobilizing the Followers
In his next video, Jeremiah leaned closer to the camera, his piercing blue eyes glistening with urgency.
"Brothers and sisters," he began, "the time is short! Look around you—wars, famines, pestilences. These are the beginnings of sorrows. The only reason we’re still here is because not every Gentile has come to salvation. Do you want to be left behind? Do you want to face the horrors of the tribulation?"
He paused, letting his words sink in. "I need you—no, the Lord needs you—to share the gospel with everyone you meet. We have to bring in the harvest!"
Jeremiah’s impassioned plea worked. His comments section exploded with testimonies of followers handing out tracts, preaching on street corners, and even posting their own videos. For a brief moment, Jeremiah felt hopeful. Surely, the rapture was imminent.
Chapter 3: The Waiting Game
Weeks turned into months, and still, nothing happened. Jeremiah’s frustration grew. The world, meanwhile, seemed to spiral further into chaos. The news reported daily murders, looting, and riots. Famine swept through distant lands, while pestilences crept closer to home.
One night, as he returned from mowing a particularly overgrown yard, Jeremiah locked his cabin door and pulled a newly purchased handgun from its holster. He had never owned a firearm before, but the increasing crime made him uneasy. "Lord, protect me until you take me," he prayed, placing the gun beside his Bible.
Chapter 4: The Revelation
Jeremiah couldn’t ignore the signs any longer. Earthquakes shook cities. Unprecedented storms ravaged coastlines. Headlines screamed of global famines and economic collapse. Yet the rapture still hadn’t come.
One morning, he opened his Bible to Matthew 24. The words leapt off the page: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." A cold dread gripped him. Could it be? Was he already in the tribulation?
The realization struck like a thunderclap: there would be no pre-tribulation rapture. He had been wrong. He had preached it with such certainty, but now he faced the stark truth. The mark of the beast loomed on the horizon, and he would have to choose between survival and his faith.
Chapter 5: Love Not Your Life
As the tribulation unfolded, Jeremiah’s small town descended into chaos. The local grocery store was looted. Armed gangs roamed the streets. The government announced a new digital currency, accessible only through an implanted chip.
Jeremiah sat alone in his cabin, clutching his Bible. Revelation 12:11 echoed in his mind: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."
Tears streamed down his face. He had spent years longing to escape this world, only to find himself called to endure its darkest hour. His gun lay untouched on the table. He knew he couldn’t fight his way out of this.
When the authorities came to his door, demanding he take the mark, Jeremiah stood firm. "I’d rather die than deny my Savior," he said calmly.
Chapter 6: The Final Test
Jeremiah’s death was swift, but his testimony lived on. The followers he had inspired continued to preach, even as persecution intensified. Some faltered, taking the mark out of fear. Others, emboldened by Jeremiah’s example, held fast to their faith.
The great tribulation raged on, the worst time in human history. But Jeremiah’s legacy was clear: the Holy Ghost within him had stopped him from taking the mark, and he had chosen to die rather than live and take the mark.