The False Brother

\= The False Brother =

\== Prologue ==

As the sun set behind the jagged hills, Jacob knelt on the worn wooden floor of his small cabin, clutching his Bible tightly. His prayers echoed through the room, his voice steady and filled with faith despite the turmoil outside. The world had grown darker—not just figuratively but literally. The skies carried a permanent ash-gray hue, the earth groaning under the weight of sin and rebellion.

The tribulation had begun. Jacob felt it in his spirit.

Word had spread among the believers about a man named Malachai. At first glance, Malachai seemed pious. He carried a Bible, quoted scripture with uncanny precision, and often spoke of his "love for the church." But something about him unnerved Jacob and other faithful Christians. His words dripped with honey, but his eyes burned with something unholy, as though a fire not of God raged within him.

Malachai’s reputation preceded him. He was not just a man—he was a weapon. Many whispered that he was demon-possessed, a vessel of Satan’s cunning and malevolence. Wherever he went, churches were split, friendships destroyed, and believers left in despair. Malachai didn’t merely oppose Christians; he targeted them to bring them into bondage, spying out their liberty in Christ Jesus and working to have them imprisoned for their faith.

\== The Encounter ==

One evening, as Jacob gathered with a small group of believers in a secret meeting, the door burst open. Malachai entered, his presence commanding the room like a storm cloud. He wore a disarming smile, but his eyes betrayed him.

“Ah, brothers and sisters,” Malachai began, his voice smooth. “Why do you hide in shadows? Is not the Lord’s work done in the light?”

The group fell silent. Jacob stood, clutching his Bible. “Malachai, why are you here? This is a place for worship, not for strife.”

Malachai laughed, a chilling sound. “Strife? No, brother, I come to bring unity. To teach you all the truth. You see, you cling to an outdated faith, holding yourselves above others. I’ve come to correct you.”

“By tearing down what God has built?” Jacob countered, his voice firm.

Malachai’s expression darkened, his facade slipping for a moment. “God?” he hissed. “You mean your narrow, divisive God who dares to exclude? No, Jacob, the time of your God is over. Submit to me, and I will show you the path forward.”

The room seemed to grow colder. Jacob felt a weight pressing against his chest. “We will never bow to you, Malachai. Your words are false, your spirit unclean. We give you not an hour of our time,” he declared, quoting Galatians 2:5.

Malachai’s smile returned, but now it was twisted. “So be it. You will regret this, Jacob.”

\== The Unraveling ==

In the days that followed, Malachai’s campaign against Jacob and his group intensified. Using lies, half-truths, and manipulations, he turned neighbors against them. Some of the weaker believers even sided with Malachai, drawn to his charisma and promises of peace. Others claimed he practiced witchcraft, pointing to inexplicable events: crops withering overnight, homes catching fire without cause, and strange sicknesses afflicting the faithful.

Malachai’s intent became clearer. He spied on their gatherings, listening for anything he could twist into accusations. His ultimate goal was not just to undermine their faith but to have them imprisoned under the guise of lawlessness and rebellion. He reported their meetings to authorities, framing their worship as acts of sedition. Yet Jacob and the faithful stood firm, refusing to yield to his schemes.

One night, Jacob awoke to a voice whispering his name. He bolted upright, finding himself face-to-face with Malachai standing in his room. Jacob reached for his Bible, but Malachai raised a hand, and an invisible force pinned Jacob to his bed.

“You can’t win, Jacob,” Malachai sneered. “Your God has abandoned you. This is my time now. The dragon has been unleashed upon the earth, and I am his servant.”

Jacob struggled, whispering a prayer. “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”

Malachai recoiled slightly, as if burned. Jacob seized the moment, crying out, “In the name of Jesus Christ, leave this place!”

The force lifted, and Malachai staggered back, his face twisted in fury. “You will suffer for this,” he spat before vanishing into the night.

\== The Great Tribulation ==

The next morning, the group gathered in what remained of their meeting place. Jacob shared what had happened, his voice steady despite the fear that lingered.

“This is not just a battle against Malachai,” Jacob said. “It is against the powers and principalities of darkness. The dragon has been cast to the earth, and he seeks to destroy those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The group nodded solemnly. They turned to Revelation 12:17, finding strength in the Word.

The days grew more perilous. The skies darkened further, earthquakes shook the land, and the world seemed to unravel. Demonic forces roamed freely, their hatred for Christians evident in every attack. Yet Jacob and his group held firm. They understood that these trials were foretold, a part of the tribulation leading to Christ’s return.

One evening, as the group prayed, a vision came to Jacob. He saw the Lamb of God standing victorious, the faithful gathered around Him. A voice spoke:

“Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

The vision strengthened Jacob and his group. Though Malachai continued his attacks, they endured, their eyes fixed on the eternal promise. They knew the tribulation would worsen, but they also knew it was temporary. The victory belonged to Christ.

\== Conclusion ==

Malachai, with all his cunning and demonic power, could not overcome the faithful remnant. Though he claimed to be a brother, his fruit revealed him as a false prophet, a servant of Satan. Yet even in the darkest times, God’s light shone through His people.

The great tribulation raged on, but Jacob and his group stood firm, awaiting the day when the King of Kings would return to make all things new. For they knew that no weapon, no demon, not even Satan himself, could separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Category\:englishCategory\:fiction\_\_**FORCETOC\_\_**