The Last Church Member on Earth

A. "The Earth Shall Reel"

Isa.24:20; 25:4,5

Vladimir need not have mixed that last batch of concrete for his stones. He was not going to finish his patio on that day. The evening news was vague on the progress of the troops advancing toward Israel. Their position was surmised to be quite close a couple of days ago and they could be already engaged in fighting, but the media was silent.

Suddenly, the siren interrupted. He stuck his shovel in the soft concrete. It couldn’t be, but it was. Vladimir’s local civil defense leaders had succeeded in getting a very few citizens to know the signal for "disaster imminent." He had given some thought about what to do and now remembered

reading of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Those in the blast area had died instantly, and those at some distance, but directly exposed, were soon dead. But those not reached by the direct blast of terrible heat, and who were by or under considerable substance, and lay motionless for a time had survived.

Vladimir dropped everything and quickly, fumblingly, with a terrible sense of panic, closed every window shade, drapery, and curtain in the house, snatched a quantity of food from the cupboard shelves, and made a dash down the stairs. In the basement he drew a supply of water from a faucet, took a battery radio from his work bench, and proceeded to secure a place of protection in the basement’s darkest corner. Actually, though it seemed an eternity, it was only a matter of minutes before he was covered up and settled into a kind of hibernation. Then for one moment it seemed that all the artillery of a hundred angry gods was directed at him. Then it subsided. He hardly dared to breathe. The throbbing of his heart subsided, and his body slowly began to relax as he realized that he was still alive. It had come and it was done (Ez.39:8). He was still here. It was as if he had toiled for days without rest, as if he had spent the strength of every muscle. The sounds of speeding cars, the screaming voices all faded as in his stupor he slept.

About him a thousand fools had sped through the streets. Escape was the only thing in their minds. They raced to the countryside, hoping to elude the target areas, but science had advanced too far. The piercing finger of the laser, the brute power of the harnessed elements; these weapons in the hands of brilliant Machiavellians had created hell on earth. They stared at one another with flames dancing from their eyes. Flesh slipped from their limbs, their tongues consumed away in their mouth (Zech.14:12).

Vladimir had been half expecting a battle far away in Palestine, but nothing like this. He slowly moved his toes and felt his fingers. Beyond that he did not stir. That was enough to satisfy him that he was alive and all there -- at least to this point. A night must have passed. Silence prevailed. He remained half-conscious for some time. As in some sort of dream, a terrible nightmare, he envisioned the stampede around him. As animals following the blind over the cliff. The blaring horns, the sirens, the interspersed call of some crowd psychologist pretending to have composure, it all seemed so utterly futile. How many would survive? How many would return?

Now, by reason of God’s providence in his life, he found his interest in this plucky little nation increasing. He usually favored the underdog. He scanned the paper daily for some news about this country, and was seldom disappointed. Israel was repeatedly in the news. The idea of some supernatural explanation did not occur to Vladimir at this time.

* * *

Vladimir was born in Russia. Strange events had occurred to direct his life. He thought of changing his name, to relay suspicion in his new home, but he had met so many "foreigners" with unusual names, that he decided to go on as Vladimir in the American melting pot. He lived alone for reasons of self-protection, as we now explain.

His father had moved the family from Russia to Michigan. As a youth Vladimir grew up speaking English flawlessly. He spent the summers with his uncle on a farm. In time his dad felt loyalty to his homeland, and they moved back to Russia before World War II started. After World War II, Russia had an extensive spy system during the so-called cold war. Vladimir was a good prospect for this service to his country. He had the language, and years of experience with the American culture. He knew that the White Sox played in Comiskey Park in Chicago, and the Red Sox played in Fenway Park in Boston. During his spy mission to the United States his interest in Israel prevailed. He kept up with the news concerning Israel.

A. "Jerusalem, A Cup of Trembling"

Zech.12:2

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about . . . a burdensome stone for all people" (Zech.12:2,3). According to the prophecies, Israel shall be restored to her land. This promise of Jehovah appears over and over in the prophetic books, and it is taught in the New Testament. It was the never dying hope of this persecuted race.

1. Israel Shall Be in Their Land

"Then will I remember my covenant with Abraham . . . and I will remember the land" (Lev.26:42). "And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (Isa.62:7). "I will open your graves, . . . and bring you into the land of Israel" (Ez.37:12). "And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem" (Zech.12:6).