A Land Divided

The New Landowner

Nestled within the rolling hills and winding dirt paths of a rural town was an expansive estate known to the locals as Stonegate Manor. Once a community landmark of modest charm, the manor had been purchased by a man named Samuel Callister—a figure whose reputation for cunning and calculated cruelty had already cast a shadow before him.

Samuel was no ordinary landowner; he was a firm believer in social Darwinism, convinced that only the strongest should survive and thrive, while the weak were destined to perish. His estate wasn’t merely a home but a laboratory where he tested his beliefs, pitting neighbors against each other through rumors, manipulation, and strategic land leasing.

The Faithful Neighbor

Among the residents near Stonegate was Elijah Briggs, a quiet, hardworking farmer known for his unwavering Christian faith. Elijah was a King James Version believer, carrying his Bible wherever he went and sharing verses with those willing to listen. Though his farm was small, it sustained him, his wife Hannah, and their two young children, Isaac and Miriam.

Elijah’s devotion to his faith and commitment to kindness made him a target in Samuel Callister’s twisted game. To Samuel, Elijah’s compassion for the downtrodden was a sign of weakness—a liability in a world where only the ruthless survived.

Whispers in the Wind

It began subtly. Samuel spread whispers among the farmers, suggesting that Elijah was hoarding resources. He implied that Elijah’s generosity to struggling neighbors was merely a strategy to gain influence over their land. The lies took root, and soon, former friends began viewing Elijah with suspicion.

“I heard he gave old Mr. Harris seeds for free,” one farmer said.

“Probably expects to take Harris’ farm when he fails,” another replied.

Even Elijah’s closest neighbor, Jacob Tanner, began keeping his distance. Jacob, once a friend who shared morning coffee over fence posts, now stared coldly whenever Elijah waved.

The Weakening Struggle

The pressure mounted when Samuel offered struggling farmers deals they couldn’t refuse—loans with hidden clauses, agreements that ensured their dependence on him. As neighbors fell into debt and lost their land, Samuel consolidated his power.

Elijah, despite his troubles, continued to hold fast to his faith. He prayed every morning in his small chapel, reading verses from the KJV. One morning, as he turned to **Romans 12:21**, he read aloud, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

But good deeds did not stop the tide of calamity. Jacob Tanner, now embittered, accused Elijah of sabotaging his crops. The town council, heavily influenced by Samuel, fined Elijah, draining what little savings he had.

Hannah tried to remain strong, but tears often filled her eyes at night as she held their children. “Why would God allow this?” she asked one evening.

Elijah, holding her hand, replied softly, “We are tried in the furnace of affliction. But our faith is not in this world.”

Despair and Hope

As the seasons changed, Elijah’s farm began to wither. Crops failed, and livestock sickened. Desperate, he sought work outside the farm, but Samuel had already ensured no one would hire him.

Then, the unthinkable happened. Samuel Callister orchestrated a final blow—Jacob Tanner’s property was foreclosed, and Jacob was evicted. Destitute and vengeful, Jacob confronted Elijah, believing him responsible.

“You destroyed me!” Jacob shouted, tears streaming down his face. “I have nothing!”

“Jacob, please,” Elijah pleaded. “This isn’t what you think. Let’s pray together.”

But Jacob, consumed by despair, attacked Elijah. The scuffle ended with Jacob fleeing into the night, leaving Elijah bruised and battered.

The Collapse of Civilization

Months later, the world around them began to change in catastrophic ways. Famine, war, and natural disasters gripped the land. What Elijah had read about in **Matthew 24** unfolded before his eyes—wars and rumors of wars, nations rising against nations, and the earth quaking beneath their feet.

As society crumbled, Stonegate Manor fell into disrepair. Samuel Callister, once the master manipulator, was left isolated, his wealth meaningless in a world devoid of order.

Elijah and his family retreated to the hills, living off the land as best they could. In their nightly prayers, they asked for strength to endure the tribulation.

One evening, Elijah sat with Isaac and Miriam by a small fire. He opened his Bible to **Revelation 7:14** and read, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. His voice trembled, but his resolve did not.

Though the world around them was collapsing, Elijah knew that the tribulation, as devastating as it was, had a purpose beyond their understanding. He did not expect the Second Coming within his lifetime, but he trusted that God’s plan was unfolding exactly as foretold.

The Final Lesson

One fateful night, as the winds howled and distant gunfire echoed through the hills, Elijah knelt in prayer. He prayed not for deliverance from suffering but for the strength to endure it.

Samuel Callister, now a broken man, wandered aimlessly, seeking refuge. By chance, he stumbled upon Elijah’s camp. Starving and shivering, he collapsed at their feet.

Without hesitation, Elijah offered him food and warmth.

“Why would you help me?” Samuel asked, tears streaming down his face. “After everything I’ve done?”

Elijah, gazing at the man who had caused his downfall, replied, “Because our Savior taught us to love our enemies.”

Samuel wept, but Elijah knew that redemption was not his to grant—it was between Samuel and God.

As the tribulation worsened, Elijah’s family continued their journey through hardship. They had no illusions of earthly rescue, but their faith remained unshaken, for they knew that endurance was their calling.

And so, their story was not one of triumph over the world but of perseverance through it.