When the World Burned
When the World Burned
Chapter 1: A World Ablaze
The first signs of the beginning of sorrows were subtle: unusual weather patterns, dwindling harvests, and whispers of sabotage in hushed tones. But then came the fires. Not natural wildfires sparked by lightning or careless campers—these fires were deliberate, calculated, and devastating. Entire regions were consumed in infernos of unprecedented intensity, leaving desolation and ashes in their wake.
Planes painted the skies, releasing a fine mist over dense forests and dry plains. At first, it seemed harmless, but the mist carried chemical agents that sapped the moisture from the land, turning fertile greenery into tinderboxes. From the heavens above, direct energy weapons—mounted on satellites or mobile military vehicles—ignited these primed landscapes with pinpoint precision. Cities and towns were set ablaze within minutes, the flames spreading faster than any could respond.
"And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives" (Judges 15:4-5). Samson’s ancient act of vengeance had found a modern parallel in a world undone.
Chapter 2: The Prepper’s Fortress
Daniel Hawthorne was no ordinary man. A devout King James Bible believer, he had spent the better part of two decades preparing for the days he knew would come. His sprawling farm in the Midwest was a fortress. High fences surrounded acres of cultivated land, barns filled with supplies, and underground bunkers stocked with enough food and water to last a generation. Daniel was a skilled marksman, his sniper rifle always at the ready. He trained daily in self-defense and survival tactics, confident that he and his family would endure.
But the fires were different. They were asymmetric warfare at its most devastating. One night, under the cover of darkness, a small group of unremarkable individuals approached his farm. They carried bows tipped with flaming arrows and small firebrands. They waited until the wind was just right, fanning their flames toward Daniel’s carefully tended fields.
With the dry conditions primed by the chemical mist sprayed weeks earlier, the fire spread with terrifying speed. His defenses—built for marauders and armed intruders—were useless against the flames. The underground bunkers provided temporary safety, but the intense heat from the fire rendered much of his stored food inedible and destroyed above-ground structures. The gold he had buried remained intact, but his home, his tools, and his livelihood were reduced to ash. As he watched his life’s work crumble, Daniel remembered the words of Scripture:
"And Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire" (2 Samuel 14:29-30).
Even a fortress could not stand against the cunning and chaos of fire.
Chapter 3: The Inferno Spreads
The destruction of Daniel’s farm was not an isolated incident. Across the United States, fires erupted in rapid succession. Cities became firestorms, infrastructure was crippled, and millions were left homeless. Lithium batteries in electric vehicles and smart devices, manipulated remotely, exploded into flames. Electrical grids became incendiary weapons as power surges caused catastrophic fires in homes and businesses.
California, its government already fractured, declared independence. Governor Newsom announced the formation of the "Californian Sovereignty Alliance" and immediately sought aid from China. In record time, a massive Chinese-built port arose on the Pacific coast, a glimmering symbol of their alliance. But even as California sought to rebuild, the fires continued to rage, reducing progress to nothing.
Europe fared no better. The fires engulfed centuries-old cities, landmarks, and forests. Valencia’s once-vibrant streets were drowned in smoke. In Germany, water infrastructure sabotaged by unknown forces left entire towns defenseless against the flames. The words of Judges echoed through the minds of the few who saw the pattern:
"The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD" (Deuteronomy 7:25).
The idols of modernity—technology, wealth, and power—were consumed, leaving only ruin.
Chapter 4: The New Order
Amid the chaos, the technocrats unveiled their solution: "15-Minute Cities." These tightly controlled urban centers promised safety from the fires and the opportunity to "build back better." Entry required compliance—an implanted chip to monitor activity, digital currency linked to behavior, and strict adherence to centralized regulations. The propaganda proclaimed: "You will own nothing and be happy."
Daniel, now a wanderer in the ashes, saw through the facade. The mark of the beast was no longer a distant prophecy but a present reality. The fires had prepared the way for control on an unprecedented scale.
Chapter 5: The Tribulation Begins
As the world descended into the Great Tribulation, Daniel clung to his faith. The King James Bible, scorched but intact, remained his constant companion. He read aloud to those who would listen:
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke" (Joel 2:30).
The pillars of smoke were everywhere now. Entire nations fell to ruin as fire became the weapon of choice. The technocrats tightened their grip, promising salvation while delivering bondage. But Daniel knew the truth: the worst was yet to come.
"For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21).
As he walked through the scorched remains of his world, Daniel stood firm, knowing that to live is Christ and to die is gain.