A Land Divided: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "=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...") |
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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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | ||
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==The Collapse of Civilization== | ==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 | 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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | ||