Ashes of Babylon

Chapter 1: Ashes and Debts

David Peterson stood in front of the smoldering ruins of his house, his heart sinking as he took in the desolation. The California sun beat down mercilessly, as if indifferent to the tragedy. His home had been swallowed by the Palisade fire, one of many that ravaged the Los Angeles area. Like countless others, David had no fire insurance. The rising premiums had become unaffordable, and the decision to forego coverage now weighed on him like an iron chain.

To make matters worse, he still owed over $200,000 in loans on the house. He clenched his fists, tears welling in his eyes. “The borrower is servant to the lender,” he muttered, quoting Proverbs 22:7 from his beloved King James Bible.

But as devastating as his personal loss was, David sensed something darker lingering in the air—something far more sinister than the flames.

Chapter 2: A Poisoned Land

David had always taken comfort in the Central Valley's lush orchards and abundant farms, which supplied much of America’s produce. Now, however, a troubling revelation began to surface. News trickled in that the fires had released massive amounts of dioxin, a cancer-causing chemical formed when materials like PVC burned. This toxin would taint the soil, making vegetables and fruit unsafe for decades.

Even worse, dioxins accumulated in animal fat. Meat, milk, butter, cheese, and eggs—all staples of human life—were now vectors of slow death. As David researched late into the night, he discovered chilling parallels between the East Palestine train disaster and California’s fires. Both had unleashed clouds of invisible poison, and neither the government nor the EPA seemed willing to act.

“It’s a dual weapon,” he thought grimly, recalling the mRNA vaccines, which many believed also had cancer-causing properties. “They’re poisoning our food and our bodies. This is the beginning of sorrows.”

Chapter 3: The Curse of Babylon

David turned to his Bible for answers. Jeremiah 50 and 51 spoke of Babylon’s destruction, a desolation so complete that only wild beasts would remain. He saw in California a fulfillment of prophecy: “Dragons shall dwell there,” he read, envisioning the AI robots and automated systems that would soon dominate.

The parallels with Sodom and Gomorrah were striking. California’s policies—diversity quotas, ESG mandates, and the promotion of lifestyles contrary to Scripture—seemed to invite divine judgment. Many speculated that God had let the state burn as a modern-day warning.

But David’s faith endured. He refused to believe that all was lost. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,” he whispered, “then will I hear from heaven.”

Chapter 4: The Robot Takeover

Within a few years, David’s vision of a robotic future became reality. Humanoid AI replaced workers in grocery stores, hospitals, and warehouses. In the burned-out husks of once-thriving neighborhoods, robots rebuilt infrastructure, immune to the dioxin that continued to poison the land and its people.

California’s government declared insolvency, its debts spiraling out of control. BlackRock stepped in, buying vast swaths of the state. Universal Basic Income (UBI) was introduced, but it came with a chilling caveat: acceptance of an implant in the hand or forehead, the mark of the beast prophesied in Revelation. Private property became a relic of the past as residents were forced into cramped, insect-protein-fed, AI-monitored apartments.

Chapter 5: The Great Tribulation

David watched as the tribulation unfolded around him. The once-vibrant landscapes of California now echoed with despair. Those who rejected the mark were cast out of the system, left to fend for themselves in desolate regions where food and water were scarce. Yet, even in the midst of judgment, David found hope.

He joined a small community of believers who resisted the world’s system. They clung to the Word of God, finding solace in the promises of eternal life. “This world is not my home,” David often reminded them, “I’m just passing through.”

As the tribulation worsened, David reflected on the words of Revelation: “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” He prayed that his faith would endure, knowing that the ultimate victory belonged to Christ.

Epilogue: Faithful to the End

Years later, as David looked upon the remains of California, now a robot-dominated wasteland, he felt an unshakable peace. The trials of this world had refined his faith, and he stood ready to meet his Maker.

Though the fires had taken his home and the toxins had poisoned the land, David’s hope remained steadfast. He had overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony, holding fast to the promises of his Savior.