Great Tribulation 1: The Lamb's End-time Overcomers

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. (Matthew 24:21)

Great Tribulation is Book Two in the Positive Apocalypse trilogy, the sequel to Book One, Birth Pangs of the Coming Age.

In this series you’ll experience a world where Bible prophecy comes alive in ways you’ve never considered, and faith is tested to its limits.

In Book Two you’ll witness the rise of the Antichrist and God’s Two Witnesses, the 144000 sons of God, the latter rain outpouring of God’s Spirit, the completion of the Great Commission, and Armageddon at Jesus’ second coming.

A Brief Prologue: Where Book One Left Off . . .

In Birth Pangs of the Coming Age, the first book in the series:

1. When Satan and his followers were cast down from heaven to earth, the La Palma volcano and earthquake produced a 150-foot mega-tsunami that destroyed every city on the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Satan’s last-ditch plan, to avoid being cast into the Lake of Fire, is to unite all mankind in rebellion against God, as in the Tower of Babel.

3. To implement Satan’s plan, the United Nations commanded every person to pledge allegiance to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or be cut off from the global economic system. Katie and Ethan chose not to comply.

4. Katie’s small group of Christian brethren agreed. They couldn’t pledge allegiance to the anti-Christian global government and its SDGs. With God’s help, they committed to work together to survive, to be faithful to each other, and to God.

Book Two, Chapter 1

Guillotine

Near Ketchikan, Alaska, November 8^th

The crisp November air carried the scent of spruce trees and saltwater as Katie stood before Moses, her long black hair dancing in the gentle breeze. Ethan stood beside her, his usually rigid posture softened as he leaned slightly towards her. They were perched on a rocky outcropping near three log cabins, 2,100 feet above sea level, overlooking the stunning fiord below. The afternoon sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, a breathtaking backdrop for their intimate ceremony.

Moses, his dark brown skin contrasting with his white collar, cleared his throat and began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to join Katie and Ethan in holy matrimony."

Joyful tears blurred Katie's vision as she gazed at Ethan. His touch was warm and reassuring, his hand squeezing hers gently. The three-inch scar on her left cheek, a stark reminder of their shared combat experience, faded into the background of this perfect moment.

As Moses continued the ceremony, Katie's mind drifted to the journey that had brought them here. From the chaos of Kyrgyzstan where she'd saved Ethan's life, to their time working together at Ketchikan Medevac Service, to the day they both chose their faith over their jobs. It hadn't been an easy road, but it led them to this moment, and to each other.

"Do you, Ethan Salvadore, take Katie Whitefeather to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Moses asked, his deep voice carrying across the mountaintop.

"I do," Ethan replied, his voice strong and sure.

"And do you, Katie Whitefeather, take Ethan Salvadore to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Katie's voice trembled slightly as she answered, "I do."

"Then by the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

As Ethan leaned in to kiss her, Katie heard a familiar bark. She broke away, laughing, as Buster, her black and white border collie, came bounding up the path, tail wagging furiously.

"Looks like someone didn't want to miss the ceremony," Rachel, Moses' wife, said with a chuckle. She stood nearby with Juan, Catalina, and their sons Miguel and Rafael, all grinning widely.

The small group erupted in cheers and applause as Ethan scooped Katie up in his arms, Buster circling their feet excitedly. For a moment, the challenges of their new life faded away, replaced by pure joy and love.

Following a lot of hand-shaking and hugging, they all sat down inside Moses and Rachel’s cabin for a wedding feast.

The aroma of roast venison and mashed potatoes filled the air as Rachel and Catalina served everyone. Steam rose from the plates, mingling with the earthy scent of stewed spinach. Guests savored each bite, the rich gravy and pickled beets adding bursts of flavor.

For dessert, Rachel made apple and berry cobbler. People could choose water or hot peppermint tea to drink.

As she was eating, Catalina said, “That was a whirlwind romance. You two sure didn’t waste any time.”

“In these days we all need emotional and physical support, so why wait,” Ethan said, “As a married couple we can help each other a lot more. Besides,” turning to look at Katie, “we’ll have some fringe benefits we didn’t have before.”

Embarrassed and blushing, Katie joked, “It’s not like I had a lot of options. I had to snag him while I had the chance.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the mountainside, the newlyweds made their way down the foot trail to Katie's cabin, near sea level. Buster ran ahead, occasionally glancing back as if to make sure they were following.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Salvadore," Ethan said as he carried her across the threshold.

Katie felt a lump form in her throat. Despite the hardships they faced, their little community had come together to make this day special. Wrapping her arms around his neck. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," he replied, drawing her in for a kiss.

As the night deepened, Katie and Ethan sat on the cabin's porch, wrapped in a warm blanket. The fiord stretched out before them, a ribbon of inky blackness under the star-studded sky. Buster lay at their feet, occasionally lifting his head to sniff the night air.

"It's hard to believe sometimes," Katie said softly, "that just a few weeks ago, we were flying medevac missions, living normal lives in town."

Ethan nodded, his arm tightening around her shoulders. "Do you regret it? Giving up our jobs, I mean?"

Katie was quiet for a moment. Sign the pledge of allegiance to the SDGs or forfeit our jobs?

"No," Katie said finally, her voice firm. "I don't regret it. We did what we had to do to stay true to our faith."

Ethan pressed a kiss to her temple. "I'm proud of you. Not everyone would have had the courage to walk away from everything they loved like that."

Katie smiled, leaning into his embrace. "I didn't walk away from everything. We still have each other, our friends, and this beautiful place. And most importantly, we have our faith."

As if on cue, a shooting star streaked across the sky. Katie took it as a sign from God. She said a silent prayer of thanks for all the blessings in her life, even amidst the uncertainty of their future.

A Fruitful Land

November 16th

The morning dawned clear and cold. Katie woke to the aroma of mint tea and the sound of Ethan moving about the cabin. She stretched lazily, savoring the warmth of the bed for a moment longer before reluctantly throwing back the covers.

"Good morning, beautiful," Ethan said as she emerged from the bedroom, wrapped in a thick robe and wearing her moosehead slippers. He handed her a steaming mug.

"Good morning," she replied, inhaling the rich aroma gratefully. "What's on the agenda for today?"

Ethan grimaced slightly. "Moses radioed earlier. The fish traps need checking. Everyone in the high cabins are helping Juan bring in the last of the garden harvest before the frost hits."

Katie nodded, sipping her tea. This was their life now—a never ending cycle of homesteading chores. But as she watched Ethan move about the cabin, stowing the last of his belongings that he'd brought down from his high cabin, she felt a sense of contentment wash over her. They were in this together, facing whatever challenges lay ahead as one.

After a quick breakfast of oatmeal sweetened with local honey, Katie and Ethan bundled up and headed out. Buster bounded ahead, his tail wagging, excited for the day's adventures.

Katie's boots crunched the frosty gravel as she made her way down the path from the cabin. With each step, she silently thanked Rachel for helping her craft these sturdy boots. The sea lion hide, soft yet incredibly durable, proved perfect for Ketchikan's damp maritime climate. Its natural water resistance kept her feet dry, while the rabbit fur lining cradled them in cozy warmth. As she navigated the slippery path, Katie marveled at how well these traditional materials suited their new way of life. As they walked, Ethan filled her in on the latest news from Moses' morning radio check.

"Sounds like things are getting tense in town," he said, his breath fogging in the cold air. "We’re learning that we’re not the only people who lost their jobs for refusing to sign the pledge. Food shortages are starting to hit hard for those cut off from the system."

Katie frowned. "I wish there was more we could do to help."

Ethan squeezed her hand. "The barter system Moses set up is already starting to help them."

They used Moses’ boat to pull up, check, and reset the fish and crab traps around the fiord’s icy shoreline. It was hard, cold work, but Katie found herself grateful for the physical labor. It kept her mind off the worries that threatened to overwhelm her if she let them.

By midday, they’d harvested a respectable haul of food, including three chum salmon, two rock fish, a ling cod, sugar kelp, sea lettuce, and six Dungeness crabs.

When they neared the cabin, Katie spotted a familiar figure waiting on the beach. Rachel waved to them, her dark hair whipping in the wind.

"Thought you two might need some help with the catch," she called as they pulled the boat up to Uncle Andy’s old dock.

Ethan hoisted fifty-five pounds of sea vegetables and crabs onto his back, adjusting the straps of his makeshift pack. The frame, crafted from sturdy local wood, creaked under the load. The pack itself, a clever modification of his old military rucksack reinforced with seal skin, kept the moisture contained while allowing him to distribute the weight evenly across his shoulders and hips. As he started up the gravel path, Katie marveled at how seamlessly he'd blended his Green Beret training with the traditional methods Rachel had taught them.

"Thanks, Rachel," Katie said, gratefully handing over one of the two stringers of fish. "How are things up at the cabins?"

Rachel's face grew serious. "It's been a busy morning. Juan and the boys are finishing up the harvest. Moses has been on the radio, trying to get news from other communities."

"Anything we should know?" Ethan asked, his voice tight with concern.

Rachel sighed. "Nothing concrete yet. But there are rumors . . . whispers of stricter laws coming. Moses is concerned."

Katie felt a chill that had nothing to do with the November air. She glanced at Ethan, seeing her own concern mirrored in his eyes.

As they approached the cabin, Katie saw Juan and his sons, Miguel and Rafael, coming down the trail, carrying crates of vegetables. Catalina escorted them, armed with bear spray and a shotgun.

"That’s quite a harvest," Katie remarked as they drew closer.

Catalina turned, a tired smile on her face. "Yes, thanks be to God. We should all have enough to get through the winter, with careful rationing."

Katie nodded, knowing that "careful rationing" was likely an understatement. They’d need to make every calorie count in the months ahead.

The rest of the day passed in a flurry of activity. Katie and Ethan processed the fish, including hanging fillets in the smoker, making soup stock from the meat scraps, heads, and bones, and saving all the fish guts for crab bait. Nothing went to waste.

Juan’s family sorted and processed the vegetables. Root crops, like potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and turnips went into the root cellar, while leafy greens, beans, and other veggies got pressure-canned. The boys bundled cilantro, rosemary, sage, thyme, dill, basil, mint, and other herbs to be dried indoors.

Moses and Rachel processed cabbage and radishes for fermentation. Before long, they’d all be enjoying sauerkraut and kimchi.

Conversations flowed all afternoon between Rachel, Catalina, and Katie via their walkie-talkies.

Feasting and Plenty

November 17th

After a good night's sleep, the group gathered the next day in Juan and Catalina's cabin for a hearty lunchtime meal of six steamed crabs, a grilled salmon, sautéed spinach, and homemade sourdough bread. They always ate fresh crabs as soon as possible, since crab meat was hard for them to preserve, and it spoiled faster than fish or venison.

Miguel said, “If only we had some melted butter, this crab and bread would be perfect.”

His mother responded, “Yes, butter would be good. But, look at the bright side. At least we have plenty of salt. Think how bland everything would be if we didn’t have salt. And, fortunately, since we live next to the ocean, we can always make more, so we’ll never run out of it.”

The mood was subdued, each lost in their own thoughts about the uncertain future.

Psalm 83 War

After they’d eaten, Moses cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “Just before our lunch I heard some news on the shortwave radio. Apparently, Israel has been attacked by many of her immediate neighbors. It looks to me like the Psalm 83 war is happening.”

Moses opened a notebook and showed this image to everyone. “These nations are all called by different names today, but they’re descended from these ethnic groups in the Bible.”

Making Plans

Moses led the group in prayer for the peace of Israel.

Then, his deep voice somber, he said, "Closer to home, let’s discuss our plans for the winter. The world is rapidly changing, and I’m hearing chatter on my radio about new UN laws that may affect us. Nothing definite yet, but we need to be prepared."

Juan nodded, his usually cheerful face serious. "The intruder detection system is fully operational now. It will alert us of any unexpected visitors coming up the mountain, giving us at least ten minutes warning."

"Good," Moses said. "We'll need to be extra vigilant.”

“Katie, Ethan, you might want to think about moving up here instead of living down by the road. It's much safer up here."

Katie felt Ethan tense beside her. She knew he agreed with Moses, but the thought of leaving her uncle's cabin—the last connection she had to him—was painful.

"We'll think about it," she said softly. "But for now, I think we're okay. We have our own early warning system on the road, and Buster's a good early warning system too."

Moses nodded, respecting her decision.

***

That evening, back at their cabin, Katie found herself standing on the porch, staring out at the darkness. Ethan came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Katie leaned back against him, drawing warmth and comfort from his solid presence. "I was just thinking about Uncle Andy," she said quietly. "Wondering what he would make of all this."

Ethan was silent for a moment, remembering the kind-hearted man who had welcomed him into their close-knit community. "He'd be proud of you," he said. "Of all of us, for standing firm in faith."

Katie nodded, blinking back tears. Her uncle's martyrdom in August proved the dangers they faced. But his martyrdom also testified to what he believed, that spiritual life and faithfulness to truth were more important than continued mortal existence.

Settling Into a Routine

By December 1st, the Psalm 83 war was over. Israel suffered many casualties, but it was still standing, while it’s attackers were obliterated. Though outnumbered 5 to 1, and attacked on every side, somehow God enabled them to decisively defeat all their enemies.

As days turned into weeks, Katie and Ethan settled into a routine. Their lives revolved around the constant work of off-grid, self-sufficient homesteading—fishing, hunting, splitting firewood, tending to the stored harvest, cleaning, and maintaining their equipment.

There were moments of joy too, stolen kisses as they worked side by side, quiet evenings reading by lamplight, the laughter of Miguel and Rafael as they chased Buster through the snow.

Rebuilding The Temple

December 22nd

Katie and Ethan finished their supper, washed dishes, and relaxed by the woodstove sipping hot sassafras tea.

Their walkie-talkie came alive. It was Moses. "Katie, Ethan! I just picked up some incredible news on the ham radio."

Katie picked up the radio. "What is it, Moses?"

"The UN just made a shocking announcement. They're going to allow the Jewish Temple Institute to rebuild a Jewish temple on the Temple Mount."

"What? Where?”

Moses replied, “Right next to the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. The UN has been pushing to unify all religions, and they're saying it’ll represent two of the three Abrahamic religions on the mount.

Juan has an artist’s depiction of it saved on his TV’s digital video recorder. It shows the temple directly behind the Eastern Gate of the city. According to prophecies in Ezekiel, many believe Jesus will enter the city through this gate when he returns."

“And the Muslims are okay with it?”

“Yes, strangely, they are. Somebody in the UN must’ve twisted their arm.”

Katie said, "What about the so-called Christian church? Surely they'll want to join the party."

"The Pope declined the offer to add a church on the temple mount. His exact words were, 'Christians have the Churches of the Nativity and the Holy Sepulcher nearby, and they will represent us.'"

Sharing the walkie-talkie with Katie, Ethan said, "Having a third temple is huge. But how long will it take to build?"

Moses said, "That's the most unbelievable part. The Jews already have everything prepared. They say they’ll be ready to resume Jewish temple services and sacrifices by Passover in April."

Katie said, "How’s that possible?"

"They already pre-fabricated the temple, so they just need to move the components into place and erect it."

Ethan said, “Wow!”

Katie asked, "What do you think this means for the world?"

"I think we're witnessing the next step in the divine plan, which means we need to be more vigilant than ever. The end of the age is closer than we thought."

February 1st

Katie woke to find Ethan already up and about, a worried frown creasing his forehead as he listened to the crackling radio.

Ethan turned to her, his eyes grave. "Moses just got word from one of his contacts in town. Lilith Thornblood is back from UN headquarters, and she's not alone."

Katie felt her heart rate quicken. "What do you mean?"

"Apparently, she's brought reinforcements. And equipment. Heavy equipment."

Lilith’s Strategy Wasn’t Working

In many parts of North America, UN forces actively hunted people who refused to pledge allegiance to the UN’s SDGs, calling them domestic terrorists. But, in Southeast Alaska, fuel and manpower shortages limited Lilith’s capabilities.

Out of all Americans, Texans and Alaskans are most renowned for their independent, freedom-loving attitudes. They’ve always resisted a distant, federal government ruling over them.

After Uncle Andy’s execution, people in Lilith’s administration started experiencing public hostility and minor acts of sabotage, such as slashed tires and fuel contamination.

Lilith’s subordinates started fearing for their safety. As a result, they developed a defensive ‘castle’ mentality, generally staying in town, where it was safer.

So, rather than hunting dissenters who lived outside city limits, Lilith’s strategy was to let the Alaskan winter take care of them. In her heavy accent, she said, “We don’t need to go out and find them. With no access to the global Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) they’ll either starve or freeze.”

But, with their garden harvest, and plenty of firewood, venison and seafood, Katie and her brethren were not only surviving, they were helping others through the winter.

With no access to the global CBDC system, they quickly developed a ‘black market’ bartering network. Many of those who pledged allegiance to the SDGs were sympathetic to the believers, and some actively participated in the barter network. For example, Moses split a pile of logs for a pound of store-bought flour. And Juan traded five pounds of smoked salmon for a gallon of gasoline.

Lilith’s New Plan

In a sleek office overlooking the Ketchikan harbor, Lilith Thornblood stood at the window, her sharp eyes scanning the bustling harbor below. The late afternoon sun glinted off her perfectly coiffed blonde hair, casting harsh shadows across her angular face.

"Ms. Thornblood?" a voice called from behind her. "The installation is complete."

Lilith turned, her gaze falling on her assistant, Alex Fleming. The younger woman stood erect, her short-cropped brown hair and crisp suit a stark contrast to the shabby and dirty dockworkers visible outside.

"Excellent." Lilith's words came out sharp and clipped, her thick German accent lending a harsh edge to her already menacing tone. "And the announcement?"

Alex nodded briskly. "Set to be broadcast at 0800 tomorrow morning, ma'am. It’ll be on all local channels."

A cold smile curved Lilith's lips. "Perfect. It's time these . . . dissenters . . . understood the consequences of their actions."

February 2nd

Before 9 am, Moses called Ethan on the walkie-talkie, saying, “Charlie, Seven, Orange.”

Ethan clicked his radio’s transmit button twice to acknowledge receipt, then reached for this week’s code sheet.

Ethan told Katie, “We haven’t been using these code sheets until now. Something must be up.”

Referring to the code sheet, Ethan said, “Charlie means Rendezvous. Seven means high cabins. Orange means ASAP. So, Moses wants us to meet him at the high cabins ASAP."

“Okay, I’m ready.” Katie said, “Let’s go.”

The Three High Cabins

Tsunami’s are the biggest natural catastrophe threat in this part of Alaska. So, the year before he died, Katie’s Uncle Andy built and stocked a high cabin at the 2100 foot level as a bugout location in case of a tsunami. For this reason, they sometimes called this high cabin ‘the Tsunami Cabin.’ It also had an outdoor sauna of fragrant cedar wood, and a large, sunlit garden space where he felled the timber for the cabin.

Lilith executed Uncle Andy in August, after falsely accusing him of terrorism. Juan and his family lived in town, and needed to find refuge from Lilith’s persecution, so Katie invited them to move into Andy’s high cabin.

Within the last year, Ethan and Moses added their cabins next to Juan’s family. All three high cabins had indoor running water, received from a spring-fed underground cistern located uphill from the cabins. Each cabin also had its own outhouse with a composting toilet.

After marrying Katie, Ethan moved down into her cabin, leaving his high cabin to be used as overflow for the others. Moses used it as his ham radio shack. Rachel and Catalina stored canning supplies there. Miguel and Raphael used it as an indoor play area.

Bad News

The climb up from Katie and Ethan’s sea level cabin was difficult in the best of times. On this day, with fear and uncertainty dogging their steps, it felt grueling. When they finally crested the last rise, Katie saw Moses, who was watching for their arrival. As usual, Buster bounded ahead of them, up the trail.

"What's happening?" Ethan asked as they approached.

“Come into Juan’s cabin and see.”

Rachel turned to them, her face pale. "Juan records the local TV news every day. We thought . . . we thought you should see this for yourselves."

Juan stepped aside, revealing a small screen. The battery-powered TV image was grainy, but clear enough to make out the Ketchikan town square. And there on the screen, installed in the town square, was a sight that made Katie's blood run cold.

She clutched Ethan’s arm. A guillotine. What a wicked, steel blade.

The screen flickered as the image changed to a somber-faced news anchor sitting behind a desk. Her voice quivered. Her eyes betrayed a hint of fear as she delivered this announcement:

"This is a special bulletin. The United Nations Regional Authority for Southeast Alaska is issuing this announcement to all citizens. In accordance with the new Global Unity Act, as of 6:00 AM tomorrow, any individual who refuses to pledge allegiance to the UN Sustainable Development Goals will be classified as a dissenter and enemy of the state. Under the Global Unity Act, the penalty for such dissent is death. I repeat, the penalty for dissent is death. The guillotine you see behind me is a symbol of the regional authority's commitment to building and maintaining total unity in these challenging times. Citizens are urged to report any suspected dissenters to the authorities immediately. Remember, if you see something, say something. Compliance is unity. Unity is life."

Juan paused the TV, freezing the image of the guillotine, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

"Oh my God," Katie breathed, her hand flying to her mouth.

Moses put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's as we feared. The global government is done tolerating any form of non-compliance."

Ethan's jaw clenched. "Seriously? We’re no threat to anyone. We just want to be left alone."

A silent gloom fell over them as the implications of this news sank in.

Moses said, “Ethan, you bring up a good question. I wonder . . . Why is it so important that everyone be in total unity with the SDGs? Why do they need to eliminate all dissenters? We’re not hurting anyone, so why does it matter?”

The question hung in the air, but nobody had an answer.

"So, what do we do now?" Catalina finally asked, looking around at the solemn faces of her friends—no, her family.

Juan straightened, a look of resolve settling over his features. "We do what we've always done. We trust in God, we look out for each other, and we prepare.”

Moses took charge. “That’s right, Juan. I want you to boost our security measures. Catalina, we need to take another inventory of our supplies. Rachel, let's go over our emergency bugout plans again."

As the others moved to carry out Moses' instructions, Katie told Ethan, “I’m ready now. It’s no longer safe for us to live down near the road. It’s time for us to move up here to your cabin.”

She felt Ethan's hand slip into hers. She looked up at him, seeing her own mix of fear and determination reflected in his eyes.

"We're in this together," he said softly. "No matter what comes."

Katie nodded, squeezing his hand. "Together," she echoed.

Ethan said, “Given what we just heard, if we move our stuff right away, we can have it all moved before dark. With Juan’s permission, we’ll ask Miguel and Raphael to help us.”

As they hiked down to their cabin, Katie's mind raced with everything they needed to do. Buster bounded ahead, down the trail.

Katie’s Revelation

As they walked down the trail, Katie mulled many practical concerns. But, with every step, she became increasingly aware of something deeper, bubbling up into her mind from her heart.

When she focused her inner senses on it, she realized that it was faith. It was the realization that she really did trust the invisible God who had seen her through so much in her life.

Since becoming a Christian, years ago, she’d wanted to trust him, and she hoped that she did, but this was different. Lilith’s guillotine provoked and revealed the tangible substance and quality of her faith.

For the first time in her life, she had proof her faith was real. She felt it, not in her emotions, but in her heart, her spirit. Her faith was a real, tangible thing. It wasn’t just an idea, a preferred theory, or a mental agreement to a doctrine.

Whatever trials lay ahead, Katie knew with certainty they wouldn't face them alone.

Moving Day

Buster didn’t follow them up and down the trail on their successive trips that day. Each time they departed Katie’s cabin, loaded with household items, food, clothes, and tools, he looked at them as if they were crazy.

The sun was setting as they ferried the last of their required possessions on their fourth trip up the mountain that day. This time, they coaxed Buster to come along. There were still a few non-essential items left in her cabin, but they could get them another day.

At the top, Ethan said, “Thank you boys. We couldn’t have done it without your help.”

Smiling, Raphael said, “You owe us, big time!” Ethan laughed.

Exhausted, Katie paused for a moment, drinking in the beauty as the sunset painted the fiord, 2100 feet below, in shades of gold and crimson.

"It's not going to be easy," she said quietly.

Ethan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "No, it's not. But we've got each other, we've got our friends, and we've got our faith. That's more than most people have these days."

Katie nodded, leaning into his embrace. As the last rays of sunlight faded from the sky, she sent up a silent prayer. For strength, for wisdom, and for the courage to face whatever lay ahead.

Little did she know, the true test of that courage was just beginning.

---

Coming Next Week . . . The believers plan and implement their response to the threat. Moses takes risks bartering—and gets caught. A rising world leader is mortally wounded.

---

Ignite faith in your circle of friends

Share this prophetic story!

Did this chapter grip your heart? Know someone who needs these spiritual insights?

❤️ Hit that 'Like' button to fuel my writing fire!
🔄 Restack to share it with your followers on Substack!
💬 Thoughts racing? Post a Comment, or send me a Message, and let's discuss!
📱 Spread the word! Share it on social media. Tag a friend who needs this story.

As we enter dark times in our world, every Like, Restack, Comment, and Share helps more readers discover this message of positive, end-time faith, helping them understand their end-time role from a victorious perspective.

📩 Haven't subscribed yet? Don't miss out on future chapters! Subscribe now to get each new installment delivered straight to your inbox. It’s Free.

Let's grow together in understanding and faith—one chapter at a time!

---

Click below to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.