For surely you realize that this is NOT the end, but instead only The Beginning.
From afar I saw a road begin to take shape upon the devastated landscape – a highway of hope, and immediately I knew its name – for it had already been foretold by Isaiah as The Way of Holiness.
The Highway of Hope
All around the road, the earth was still smoldering from where it had been scorched by the Fires of Hell, but the newly forming highway was unblemished and soon the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the roadway began to be transformed as well.
From afar I saw people walking upon The Way — at first I wondered who they could be for I remembered that all of the wicked peoples had already been taken away and I knew they were not meant for The Way.
But then I realized that only the Redeemed would walk upon this highway, and only those ransomed by Christ could return.
Led by the Victorious Angels, the ranks of the pilgrims grew and as they approached New Zion; I could hear them rejoicing. Their white garments were gleaming with splendor; and yet still their numbers swelled. Although too many for me to count, I knew their number regardless: 144,000.
Joy had overtaken them as they returned to the source of Life and stood in front of The Great Altar.
And there stood Pope Benedict too – encouraging his flock to come forward and receive their Salvation.
I wondered how I could have ever doubted my friend Joseph’s loyalty to Christ, for although Lazarus, Mary, and I never did complete our Commission (at least not in the way we always envisioned it), it was Benedict who had emerged as our world’s true champion.
But then the blinding Whiteness washed out that scene and I was instead left with a multitude of hazy images.
Struggling to make sense of it, I caught only a glimpse of a few faces – yet all were smiling and at peace: Lazarus, Mary, Benedict, and yes even myself.
Lazarus
Mary Magdalene
Joseph Ratzinger
Me – John
Indeed, as I gazed upon the beautiful faces of my friends, and as I basked in the wonder that was my own restored visage, there is one more thing that I cannot fail to mention…
For above and around and in each of our faces there was also one other, and it was a face that I have been waiting to see for nearly 2,000 years…
The vision of that face overwhelmed me with Joy!
It was a glorious <presence> that my soul ran to with all its might.
It was He who accepted me completely — in peace – at last.
The Beast continued Its monumental efforts to break The Seal that held The Scroll of the Illuminated Angels.
There was a resounding <CRACK!> as if the foundations of the world were being ripped open!
The Chosen were thrown in all directions as the earth rumbled around them. In the chaos, The Altar of the Most High God began to grate apart and it was all Pope Benedict could do to hold on for dear life, trying to avoid falling into the earth’s core. When Benedict looked up at The Beast, his faith appeared to weaken, and as The Beast ripped at The Scroll, The Pope cowered down before It.
The Beast was atop The Altar of the Most High God
“You are The One Daniel spoke about,” Benedict wailed in fear, “The Abomination That Causes Desolation!”
And yet, despite that momentary lapse, The Pope did not falter…
And The Seal that held The Scroll did NOT open!
The Beast was shocked at this unexpected turn of events.
In rage It looked down at Benedict, “You!” The visage of Bates snarled, “Have you not given me your blessing and power?” And with blood lust It reached out a talon to strike The Pope.
“Pride goeth before destruction!” Benedict replied, suddenly full of newfound confidence, and defying The Beast to the amazement of all (including me)!
Then, with a movement so fast that it must surely have been divinely aided, Benedict snatched The Scroll of the Illuminated Angels away from The Beast!
The Beast was forced to remember his previous Fall
As if on cue, the final Angel burst forth upon the mount – and threw the contents of its own Golden Bowl directly upon The Beast!
The heavens now opened as well – spewing giant hailstones upon The Abomination That Causes Desolation and pounding down onto The Chosen as well.
And then, The Crown That Rains Blood began to take a stronger hold over The Beast – imbibing It with a <POWER> so terrible that it was surely far beyond anything It had expected.
Out of control, The Beast’s heads began to belch forth a sulfurous death — destroying every living thing in sight – including The Chosen.
Realizing Its grand victory was about to be lost, Satan’s Son lashed out again towards The Pope – yet once more The Rock of Peter did not crack. Instead, filled with faith, Benedict held aloft The Scroll and shouted confidently to the Heavens, “Rise to my defense; contend for me, my Lord!”
I watched then as a chasm opened beneath the feet of the Beast and foul smelling flames burst forth, scorching Its flesh.
“NOOOOOOOOO!” The Beast refused to give up, cursing in The Tongues of The Abyss. “The Legions shall not be destroyed!”
As if under Benedict’s command, the flames of Hell licked higher, literally pulling The Beast back into the Fiery Pits from which It first came. Those same fires also spilled forth onto the surrounding landscape, purging it of <evil>. And when they finally recoiled back into the chasm, the flames brought with them all of The Beast’s unfortunate followers as well.
Nonetheless, still The Beast clung to the surface, and in a last ditch effort, It lashed forth with its great tail and tried to coil it around The Pope, seeking to pull him down to Death as well.
But it was not to be.
For Evil was doomed to fail on this Day of Destiny, and as the dragon’s tail shot out, the Fires of Hell spewed higher still and from the flames an army of demons who hungrily pulled at The Beast…
Satan’s Helpers foiled The Beast’s plans.
Waylayed by It’s own minions, The Beast’s effort to capture Pope Benedict fell pitifully short — by a mere few inches – leaving The Pope unscathed.
In the end, The Beast that was once Bill Bates was vanquished into the Depths and then the black gash in the earth slammed shut with a resounding <BOOOOM!!>
The Beast was pulled back to the Depths from which It came.
Through it all, Pope Benedict had remained untouched — as had the bodies of my friends and I while we still hung lifeless upon our crosses.
And then, at last, Benedict looked over to us, and sobbed, “I have prayed for you for so long, my friends. Please, be still before the Lord. I’m so sorry, but there was no other way. And yet, I know that you are in a better place and that it is well for your souls.”
With the Seven Angels now on the scene, The Chosen tried to scatter, cursing God and running for their lives.
Yet it was too late – for the Angels were on a mission…
The seven angels with seven trumpets, and the angel with a censer, from the Bamberg Apocalypse.
The First Angel pummeled them with a plague of ulcerated sores, and even as they were cowering from the effects of the First Bowl, the Second Angel released his wrath too – causing the earth around The Chosen to become a soul-sucking mud that began engulf them.
After delivering the contents of their Bowls, the first two Angels flew off to the Unknown and as I watched them leave, I was filled with a sense of Hope that perhaps God would act to save our world after all – for it seemed as if the tide was turning to The Good.
However, my faith was quickly shaken when I looked over at The Beast – for rather than be upset with the destruction of some of Its disciples, It apparently enjoyed seeing them suffer – as if their pain was making The Beast even more powerful!
Worse yet, when I looked upon the five remaining Angels, I noticed with chagrin that none of them appeared restored to their glory. Instead each labored on foot towards the Temple Mount – and all the while, The Beast continued looking on in victory.
Could it be that these five Angels were on The Beast’s side? My spirit wondered.
Angel Three, awash in its own blood, raged long and loud as it poured forth its own Bowl – a festering miasma that slammed into The Chosen and tormented them anew. Yet before Bates’ forsaken people had time to feel these new pains, suddenly The Fourth Bowl was poured – yet this Angel’s wrath rose upwards – intensifying the sun’s heat, and boiling the evil doers alive in a cauldron of the earth’s now gore-filled mud.
The Chosen wailed against God!
And the Beast rejoiced anew!
How long it was before the Fifth Angel poured out his Bowl, I could not say, but when he did it was as if the world had ended – for immediately the Sun was blotted out and the world was cast into Darkness – yet this was much to the delight of The Chosen for it appeared to offer them a measure of relief.
The Beast pleasured in this too, and all I could guess was that perhaps this was because The Darkness was Its abode and It sensed that Its Final Victory was closer than ever?
My fears seemed confirmed when the Sixth Angel commanded the scene – for the release of the Wrath of the Sixth Bowl actually caused the restoration of The Chosen to their power and glory – as if they had never suffered any pains to begin with!
Things looked worse than ever and then it was that The Beast rose up to its full power as It surveyed the scene: all seven of Its heads smiled wickedly as It looked with glee upon of Its followers, now regaled anew and cursing against The Christ and his father Yahweh.
7-headed Beast of Revelation
Now while all of this had been happening, Pope Benedict had remained behind The Altar of The One True God – and I could see that he was afraid — very afraid – especially after he’d witness what The Beast had done to Klaus Schwab. However, even as my own immortal soul shivered at the sight of Satan’s Son, I could sense an unseen force was keeping The Pope upright as the man struggled to remain standing at The Altar.
“I cannot falter now.” The Pope whispered to himself. “I am—“
“CROWN ME NOW!” The Beast that was once Bill Bates raged at The Pope, Its voice reverberating down to the very bowels of the earth. The head that showed Bates’ face (the one which also portrayed Arrogant Pride) was that which had spoken and it was this head that the creature now bent down – snaking its dragon-like neck down to hover over the body of Rabbi Metzger upon The Altar. Meanwhile, Satan’s Son also made ready to break the seal of the Scroll of the Illuminated Angels – as soon as It gained the divine power to do so.
The Chosen screamed in delight and began to beat their drums all the louder, now confident that they were again on the winning side.
<Boom. Doom! BOOM! DOOM! DOOM!>
Unable to take a breath, Pope Benedict carefully placed The Crown That Rains Blood upon The Beast.
Immediately even more <POWER> flowed through The Beast’s massive body!
As I left my earthly body, I was granted one final vision, and since you’ve come this far with me, I imagine you’ll want to hear about this too…
Golgotha by Lee Steiner
What I saw next was something that was undoubtedly UNseen by everyone else ,for God gave me a vision inside of Pope Benedict’s battle helmet — there I saw that Benedict’s visage was awash with of horror (not victory!) as he punctured my heart and released my life force. Clearly this was not the face of the Antichrist’s Second Helper – for such a fiend would surely have rejoiced at killing Christ’s Immortals. For a moment I was confused…
Whose side was Benedict on? Was a Pawn of Satan or a Champion of Christ?
I watched as the Pope bowed his head while standing below my body. As he pulled the pike back out of my side he was shaking and it was everything he could do to pull my Nail off of the spear and add it to his belt. Yet he completed the task – and it was significant for this action finally gave him control of all three of The Nails of Jesus.
Pope Benedict was thus the first person in history to possess all three nails since the centurion who used them to crucify our lord over 2,000 years ago. It immediately filled him with power!
Yet here he paused.
Standing below my now-dead body as it hung limply on the cross above, he took a long moment to collect himself, before finally turning around and walking back towards Bill Bates as The Beast Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus… and towards HIS final destiny.
By now the red-streaked skies were roiling worse than before and a Heavenly Thunder had replaced the booming of the earthly drums.
“I am the Hand of God!” Pope Benedict screamed within the din as he continued his inexorable walk to The Altar of the Most High God.
Had Bates or Schwab heard that proclamation perhaps events might have turned out differently on this day, but fortunately neither the Beast nor his evil henchman heard the Pope’s cry — for Bates had already gone into The Dome of The Rock to pursue his own designs and Schwab was focused on inciting the crowd to acts of debauchery as everyone waited for EA Incarnate in the form of Bates’ self-made persona known as Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus to re-emerge from The Well of Souls.
As my spirit watched, it seemed that Satan’s Son was well on his way to completing The Armageddon Rite – and thereby gaining control of the world. It was truly a Dark Day from my perspective and Nature seemed to agree with me – for the landscape was buffeted anew with a viscous sand storms, all worse than before.
And yet, as if it was a bright summer’s day in a dewy meadow, The Pope seemed unaffected by the raging weather. I watched as Benedict reached The Altar and began to remove each of The Nails from his belt. Using the care of a master craftsman, he installed The Nails within The Crown That Rains Blood – preparing it for The Beast.
After this he waited. And I with him.
Time passed slowly – yet whether it was thousand years or just a single day, who can say?
During the interim, Schwab has incited the Chosen to in debaucheries galore – committing every sin imaginable and likely inventing new ones, and what they did to the bodies of the murdered innocents that littered the ground around them was unspeakably disturbing.
The Last Judgement
Things got so out of control that had I the power to end my vision, I might well have done so.
At last, Bill Bates, Dr. Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus, the new EA Incarnate, emerged from The Dome of the Rock.
Gone was any last vestige of his humanity – for this was no longer Bill Bates the would-be world savior, and it was the new Dr. Ghaz al-Ridwan Ma’bus, Director of the Union of Many Allied Nations and de facto World President – instead the creature that emerged from its confrontation at The Well of Souls was but one thing: EA Incarnate – The Beast – Satan’s Son!
<EVIL> in its purest form emanated from the monster that made its way slowly back towards the Altar of the One True God. By now, I knew that It must have successfully broken open The Foundation Stone and then had been able to throw The Book of Life into The Well.
That meant that to complete The Armageddon Rite It only needed to utilize one more item — The Scroll of the Illuminated Angels – which It now carried in Its talons.
With utter confidence, the creature clove its way across the span between the now sundered Foundation Stone and The Altar – clearly intent on destroying the latter as well.
With the scaly-tail of a dragon, its giant body resembled that of a leopard, yet It was poised on humongous bear-like feet that skirted twenty foot wide sections of earth. Yet none of these other features matched the fear-inspiring sight of Its seven heads – each with a different visage: Nero, Attila, Arnulf, Weishaupt, Hitler, Ma’bus, and the last a formless black slate.
Worse yet, each face depicted a different portrayal of the Seven Deadly Sins – it was the Chairs of Woe come to life — as one head showed victorious Pride, another soul-destroying Wrath, a third unquenchable Lust, and so on down the line through Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, and Envy. Yet regardless of which Sin they showcased, all of the heads spewed forth a black waterfall of evil words in the deep, guttural language of The Tongues of The Abyss.
At the horror of the sight that was The Beast even the mood of Klaus Schwab and his Chosen Ones shifted and those wayward souls who were once so confident in their choice to follow their EA Incarnate now appeared to realize that The Beast was not only NOT going to allow them to share in Its glory, but instead was intent on destroying them as well!
Schwab was the first to wail as he held up his hands in terror, backing away as The Beast approached him. The people on the hillsides also cried out in fear as they experienced a wave of emotions…
Sorrow.
Doubt.
Regret.
Horror!
Yet for them, it was too late. (You chose poorly, friends).
Schwab yelled out, “What about our great Agenda, Lord. Didn’t I serve you we–“
But the Beast reached out Its claws and tore Schwab in two, casting The Great Reset architect’s body aside as It neared The Altar.
And all the while the thunder rolled, threatening to bring down the heavens.
The windstorm raged on, now whipping dusts and debris all around. And soon enough, the landscape began to erupt at the feet of The Chosen – sending flames of fire shooting up to devour them.
And then, suddenly, from out of the fires came forth the Seven Angels – those pitiful creatures who had been so mercilessly tortured by Bates.
They had been released (yet by whom I did not know), and each of them held their Golden Bowls of Revelations – the cauldrons now boiling over with the brimstone of retribution.
Despite their previous tortures, I could see that at least two of the Angels had been restored to their former glory, and hovering over the cowering disciples of The Beast, they released the contents of their smoking Bowls – pouring forth horrible judgments upon the evil doers!
With Bill Bates as Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus and his friend Klaus Schwab looking on approvingly, Pope Benedict had just used two of the sacred nails previously used to crucify Christ to destroy the immortals Lazarus and Mary Magdalene – my friends.
The earth continued to protest, sending raging winds to whip through the disaster site that was once The Temple Mount – yet The Beast and his minions merely took that as a sign of approval, a welcome to the chaos that the Antichrist’s reign was sure to bring.
After receiving the sign from Bates, the Pope again donned his helmet and retrieved the final spear. Then he looked my way.
The Beast sends forth Pope Benedict to complete his mission.
Then it was that my courage faltered and I looked down upon him.
The pope’s battle helmet and the dust storm obscured Benedict’s visage, yet not his intention. He was here to destroy the final immortal – he was going to kill me.
“YAAAAAAAAWWWWWWP!” I wailed – shocked at the unimaginable intensity of the pain!
It was a feeling beyond the limits of endurance, even for an immortal, and as Jesus’ Nail entered into me, I felt…
The nails used to crucify my wrists and feet burned anew.
Fresh blood oozed forth from a myriad of tiny holes that ringed the crown of my head.
My back ripped open against the splintered wood of the cross – tearing from unseen lashes that slashed into me.
My knees swelled up.
My legs ached.
My shoulders protested against the weight of a cross I had never carried but suddenly felt as if I did.
In my mind’s eye, I saw Jesus of Nazareth, and at last, I understood the full extent of all the horrors that my master had suffered nearly two thousand years ago at this very place — and I remembered what I saw as an eye-witness to the horror of it all…
And I wept.
“My Lord, I love you.” I prayed, suddenly no longer afraid, welcoming my fate.
The sands of time dripped slowly, and my Deliverer pushed his spear further into me – up and to the left – towards my heart.
The blood now dripping even from my eyeballs, I could no longer even see Benedict beneath me, yet it mattered not.
Despite the agony of my pain on the cross, I knew that death would not come easy.
With a nod, the man who was Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus signaled to The Pope to carry out his orders…
To deliver death to the immortals.
I watched as Benedict picked up one of three spears that were lying before the altar. Each of the weapons had one of the Nails of Jesus affixed to its head as a killing blade.
Spear in hand, and in full battle array, Pope Benedict looked like a legendary knight from the fantasy world as he proceeded to walk over towards the cross upon which Lazarus hung.
The Pope was ready for action
Standing beneath my friend’s limp body, Benedict waited only for a moment – as Lazarus’ blood dripped down and stained the pontiff’s white robe – and then the leader of the Church slammed his pike up and into Lazarus’ side.
“YAAAAAAAAAR!” Lazarus suddenly came to life, his arms and legs nearly ripping themselves away from the cross.
Closing my eyes against the gruesome sight, I failed to see that Lazarus’ screams woke Mary from her own snatch of death but my ears soon ached as I heard Miriam begin to wail. I opened my eyes in time to catch a glimpse of Benedict as he stoically twisted his spear up and into Lazarus’ heart – an action that abruptly ended Lazarus’ screams.
The Nail that killed Lazarus
My God, he’s dead! I panicked. It’s finally going to happen? But alas, Lord, I am NOT ready yet!
Believe it or not, I was suddenly afraid at the unknown of Death – a specter that hadn’t threatened me in nearly two thousand years.
In the silence that followed, I looked upon our unexpected Deliverer – after killing Lazarus Pope Benedict had removed his blood spattered helmet and I saw that face was as hard as stone. He appeared to study the Nail that was now dripping with Lazarus’s blood at the end of his lance.
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BOOM! BOOM!> <DOOM!>
The drums started up again at a signal from Bates.
I watched as Benedict looked over at The Beast.
And then, I saw the Pope take a deep breath before doing something that I have never seen anyone other than myself or my two friends do…
Benedict reached up and took hold of The Nail.
“You Fool! Don’t touch it!” I roared, even as Mary screamed a similar warning.
Yet, Benedict did not die.
In fact, if nothing else, he seemed suddenly more alive!
Bates and Klaus Schwab began dancing around triumphantly at the sight – surely reading this as a sign of Bates’ coming victory – now confident that The Pope was indeed The Second Helper.
For his part, Benedict’s face remained hardset while he proceeded to tear the Nail off of the spear. Discarding the staff, he affixed the dripping Nail to his belt. Next I watched him proceed to confidently walk back towards the Altar and pick up another pike, before heading over towards his next victim.
Mary’s screams bespoke of sheer terror. Unable to look away this time, I watched Benedict prepare to deliver a deathblow to her as well.
“Oh, Babylon,” I roared out, suddenly finding new strength. “You will be destroyed!”
Hearing me quote from Psalm 137, for a moment Benedict paused, and I watched a strange shadow pass over his face.
“Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done.” I tried to goad him away from Mary. “You shall be smashed against the rocks upon this very day.” Then, looking up to heaven, I cried, “Father, do not forsake us now!”
Yet, The Lord did not come to save the day.
And with Lazarus already dead and Mary soon to follow the skies only roiled blacker than before.
For The Moment had not yet arrived, and I knew that the Prophecies — my own prophecies – were still waiting to be fulfilled.
Pope Benedict knew this as well, and therefore he took only a moment to prepare himself to forge on – after which he pushed his spear into Mary’s heart, killing her as well.
Unable to control myself, I vomited up the last of the bile from my stomach – its acidity scorching my throat and mouth. Tears streamed down my face as I wailed in regret, “Their torture is because of me. My friends are paying the price of my sins!”
Yet Fate no longer cared about my feelings and in truth I knew that what was happening went far beyond my small part in this Divine Event.
And so, with two bloody Nails hanging from his corded belt and his robe now blotched red, Pope Benedict began to approach me with the final Nail – and his face was Death.
And so, the Dome at al-Aqsa remained, even unto this day, waiting, ever waiting. Waiting for The Beast.
My head jerked up as I suddenly remembered…
The Well of Souls — it lies beneath The Dome. If Ma’bus moves The Foundation Stone, The Well shall be opened – for the first time since Solomon hid the ark there. For the first time since…
Yet my strength failed me again, and that which I was trying to recall was lost.
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BOOM! BOOM!> <DOOM!>
After a time, my unconscious mind remembered — a natural cave, The Well of Souls was originally accessible only by a narrow hole in the rock of this plateau.
It was I who inspired The Templar’s to hack open an entrance to the cave – yet in spite of my recommendations they would go no further. And so, the foundation stone of The Dome – The Sakhrah – remained untouched.
“If you open it, you’ll unleash The Abyss of Chaos!” I wailed, not realizing that I was suddenly screaming aloud — my voice somehow carrying even above The Drums.
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BO–> The drums stopped.
The Masked Chosen looked up at me.
Pope Benedict and Klaus Schwab also present but unmasked like Bates, both looked up at me.
And Bates himself, standing at the Altar Of the One True God – upon which lay the gored body of Rabbi Yona Metzger – yes, Bill Bates as Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus, The Beast, also looked up at me.
The Beast wasn’t happy that I interrupted him.
There was Silence – and I felt as if all of creation was waiting for me to die.
Yet as I looked over to my left and saw Lazarus and Mary languishing on their own crosses, I knew that my friends were not yet dead either.
Then looking down at Bill Bates, I saw that The Beast also realized this fact… and smiled.
Still hanging on my cross, waiting for The Beast that was Bill Bates to complete this work, I continued wondering about what was inside the remains of the Temple.
While the Babylonians did not carry off the ark, what is true is that old Nebuchadnezzar did destroy our temple – at least Solomon’s original version of it.
But what my former brothers failed to realize is that Jesus, The Christ, was the Final Temple.
“Ouch! Ahhhhh.” Pain drove away my memories as I felt the weight of my body sag on the cross. The more gravity pulled me down, the more the nails twisted shards inside my wrists and dragged my exposed back against the splintered wood of my cross. I swore like a sailor, railing against the pain. (Crucifixion is no joke – please don’t try this at home kids!)
Trying to take my mind off the pain, I searched for more memories.
Although the second temple had been destroyed by Vespasian, I remembered that Emperor Julian II had ordered the Temple rebuilt in the 36th decade after Christ’s birth. Sparing no expense the Roman ruler commissioned this task to Alypius of Antioch – the preeminent engineer of the time.
“Pah! I knew Alypius would fail.” I muttered deliriously — tasting blood and bile — even as my mind wandered further.
Now whether this was divine intervention, a natural phenomena such as an earthquake, or just human sabotage, I can’t say, but the fact is this Temple never again rose higher than Alypius’ foundations.
(Yet how could it? For as I already said, Christ was the Third Temple).
My head lolled as the drool spilled from my mouth while I tried to keep my mind focused.
Yes, that’s right. For Saint Helena commissioned the building of the Church of St. Cyrus on the site.
And all was wel…
Until the Muslims arrived!
I grimaced as pain shot up my legs, competing with the memories.
Caliph Omar – I’ll never forget him — he tore down Helena’s church and replaced it with al-Aqsa — the cursed Dome of the Rock.
If nothing else the Dome stands out, eh?
Gathering the awfulness that filled my mouth, I spit towards the East – towards Mecca. (What can I say, I never was one for political correctness and given my present situation I wasn’t about to start caring).
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BOOM! BOOM!> <DOOM!>
Although I’d always dismissed it as mere myth, I knew that Islamic scholars claimed that Caliph Omar did not just tear down the Christian Church and replace it with a mosque out of spite, but instead that he did so because he and his people believed that this land die to their belief that the aforementioned al-haram al-qudsī ash-sharīf was the location of their prophet Muhammad’s supposed ascent to heaven.
Poppycock! I lived in Jerusalem during the entire time they claim that Muhammad traveled here and I can tell you that ‘the great prophet’ never set foot there. It’s all a lie!
In my opinion Caliph was nothing but a scoundrel — he knew that The Foundation Stone was The Holiest of Holies to The Jews and he built his Dome there as the ultimate insult to his rivals!
With that my memories faded – for the effort of my hatred overwhelmed me and the pains of my present situation drove me to near unconsciousness.
After a time the murkiness lifted.
Then it was that my visions of the past continued.
Next I remember how I tried to influence the destruction of al-Aqsa – without success.
The closest I came was when I’d worked with the Knights Templar shortly after The Crusades. At first I had high hopes for The Knights were eager to partner with me.
I was helping the knights plan their excavations of an ancient tunnel system – one that ran from beneath the Templar’s Jerusalem headquarters to, among other locations, namely the Temple Mount. My plan was to undermine the foundations of al-Aqsa, but what I didn’t know is that the knights secretly scrapped my idea and instead they used my designs to build a vast underground network, from which they unearthed countless religious antiquities – priceless artifacts they pillaged away to their European strongholds!
The Knights then used these treasures for personal gain – turning themselves into nouveau riche royalty back home.
Eventually the Templar’s time passed and their secret tunnels were sealed – leaving my desires for revenge against Caliph Omar to wait.
Centuries passed and the sands of time kept falling…
Giant drums continued to pound – shaking the rocks of The Temple Mount and thundering as harbingers of what was to come.
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BOOM! BOOM!> <DOOM!>
Although it was midday, the sky boiled a mixture of black and blood red. And still the drums sounded, now louder than ever.
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BOOM! BOOM!> <DOOM!>
They had been banging so loud and for so long that I could no longer remember a time without their triumphant cacophony.
And yet, somehow I knew that Mother Nature still contended, fighting against The Rhythm of The Beast – even if none others were left to fight.
The sandy ground rebelled as it belched forth dusty waves and these storms pummeled Bill Bates’ Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus persona, his masked Chosen Ones, their many victims whose bodies littered these hillsides, and my friends and I as well. Yet the Earth’s resistance was to no avail.
For this was the Day of The Beast!
<BOOOM! DOOM!> <BOOM! BOOM!> <DOOM!>
Hanging from my cross, I lifted my head with what meager energy I had left. Blinking my eyes against the driving dust, I looked out over the site that was about to witness my death.
It’s amazing what goes through your mind when you know you are about to die.
As odd as it might sound, I found myself awash in memories about Har haBáyit– ancient site of the Great Temple on Mount Moriah – a bastion of so much legend and lore.
The Great Temple as it once was
And now what appeared to be the place of my ignominious demise too.
The Muslims called this place Al-haram al-qudsī ash-sharīf– for after they conquered the area they turned the Temple Mount into the site of their own noble sanctuary, building the mosque of Al-Aqsa on the remains of Solomon’s temple.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Regardless of whether you called this place by its Islamic name or its Jewish one, the fact of the matter is that this location within the Old City of Jerusalem was one of the most contested religious sites in the world.
And now, here on December 21, I realized that this place would be famous for something more important still – as it seemed destined to become the locale of the Bill Bates’ Ultimate Glory as the Antichrist Ghaz al’ Ridwan Ma’bus!
Even if you don’t believe what I do, you can’t argue that Jerusalem itself was rich with history. Long ago it was simply called Salemand was ruled by a fellow known as Melchizedek – a mysterious warrior king who even the great Jewish forefather Abraham cowed down to.
Bill Bates looked to my friends and I – trying to gauge the effect of his threat to destroy us.
Meanwhile I noticed another pair of eyes practically boring a hole into me – Pope Benedict’s.
Glancing over at him, I caught him watching me, but he refused to look me in the eyes and before I could learn more Bates was talking again, “Yes, yes, if these are your final wishes, far be it from me to keep you from your desires.”
His demeanor changing, The Beast then detailed how he would be the Instrument of Fate that would destroy us, “Al-haram al-qudsī ash-sharīf – The Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa, there on The Temple Mount – this is the site of your destiny. December 21 – this is the day of your destiny. The Armageddon Ritual – this will be the revelation of your destiny. Do I need to explain the horrors you will endure?”
It was Miriam who spoke now – calmly and without emotion. “We will be crucified. You’ll use duplicates of the nails to crucify us and then pierce each of us with one of Jesus’s Nails that will be attached to a spear. This will deliver the deathblow – through our sides and up into our hearts. Then we will experience… The End.”
The fate that awaited us
Eyebrows raised just slightly, Bates let his teeth show. “I’m impressed… as always. You are correct again, Mary. The very nails that the Jews used to kill The Nazarene, and the ones you’ve been protecting for lo these many centuries, will in fact be the instruments of your deaths too. Jesus Christ’s power will destroy you – rather ironic, huh?”
“But why do you bother to tell us all this?” Alan asked. “We already told you, we WANT to die. You can’t scare us with these threats.”
“Ah, but I am not trying to scare you. I merely want you to fully understand how you will serve me.”
Seeing Alan perplexed by this statement, Bates explained, “Oh, don’t worry, you shall all get your wish — you WILL die. But what I’m not sure that any of you realize is that, all along, I needed more than just your Nails – I needed each of you.”
And The Beast took a moment to let that sink in. “Recall that, on every world, the victory of my father and I cannot be complete without the participation of the people. In the case of this Earth, the Nails that killed Jesus Christ are imbibed with much power – but even that power is not enough to bring about my victory. YOUR crucifixion and death – this is the real key. For when Christ’s Nails destroy the immortality that flows through your veins, the Nails will be imparted with more <power> than ever before!”
“It can’t be.” Miriam protested
“Oh it be, sister, it be.” The Beast laughed as he rose again, once more full of pride. “And after you three die, I shall proceed to enter The Dome. There I will destroy your preciousThe Book of Life – thanks for protecting that for me by the way. And after that I’ll open The Sakhrah – as you recall, my servant Muhammad descended to his Eternity through The Sakhrah Stone and I think it’s high time to–
“If you move the Foundation Stone,” I interrupted, “if you dare to set foot onto the Holiest of Holies, it is YOU who will be the fool! Open it, Bates, and God will smite you down!”
“I think not.” Bill Bates waved my warning aside. “And when I DO move the Foundation Stone, the souls of the dead who are gathered in the Well of Souls beneath shall emerge to pray for The Last Judgment. And with their help, when I return from The Dome, I shall be filled with enough <power> to break the Angels’ Seals – and thereby will I destroy the work of your Christ once and for all!”
“After The Beast opens The Sakhrah Stone within The Dome of The Rock, and when he emerges back to The Altar of The Most High God as EA Incarnate, the Fallen Angels will be unleashed to bring their doom upon the world. By then you three will already have passed.” The voice was Benedict’s and it came so unexpectedly that even Bates jerked his head to look, yet pope stood up and continued unabated, “It’s my job to make sure that The Scroll of the Illuminated Angels will be waiting for EA Ma’bus upon The Altar. By that time, I will have gathered The Nails together and installed them into the Crown That Rains Blood. The Crown will be imparted with your blood, and when I place it upon EA Ma’bus’ head, that is the moment when the destiny of this world will be determined. For that is the Moment of Truth when The Beast shall open The Angels’ Seals and… and our Savior shall be revealed at last!”
Bill Bates looked Benedict up and down with a critical eye, yet the Pope merely bowed his head, spent, and fell back to his seat.
Satisfied, The Beast nodded, “Indeed, Benedict speaks the truth. For when the Armageddon Ritual is completed and the Angels’ Seals lay bare, I will release all of the Sin back into the world that Jesus Christ took away with his death. Every offense, every malice, all the Evil this world has ever known will return…to Me! It will be a glorious day indeed! And that, my friends, is the destiny that YOU will experience.” Then, flashing his best smile, Bates laughed, “So how ya like me now?”
The Last Temptation of John 