The Abominable Sacrifice

Ten years passed since the second Jewish temple was destroyed by the Romans. It was a day of sadness and woe. The cry of the children of God went up to heaven.

At that time, the Jewish people chose to erect a tabernacle to hold a gold altar where the people of old came to offer sacrifices. They chose not to erect an Ark of the Covenant, hoping to find it.

Sarah saw the scattered debris of precious stones, brick, gold and fine wood. “Mother, will the temple ever be rebuilt?”

“That is our prayer.”

“How could God let this happen?”

“We must trust the Lord.”

“Sarah, Rachel, it is the hour of prayer. Let us go the mosque.”

“Very well, husband,” said Rachel.

The three walked down to the mosque where people prayed. Rachel and her husband, Boaz, did too. Rachel wondered why people could be so faithful to a God who allowed such a thing.

In thirty minutes, the vigil ended.

“I must go to my labors,” said Boaz. “I will see you both later.”

Boaz kissed them and went to the grain fields.

They went home. Rachel weaved a quilt to put with the others she had made to sell.

“Sarah, go over the Torah.”

“Will God ever free us from the Romans?”

“It is not for us to know the times God has appointed by His own power.”

“Yes, mother.” Sarah opened the holy book.

The young teenager busied herself in the scriptures until evening.

Boaz came home, looking tired.

“I will prepare dinner.”

Rachel began boiling a lintel stew and they ate.

“Old man, Dreyfus, is on another tangent-this time about a prophecy of our tabernacle being desecrated in a day.”

Rachel gasped. “How?”

“He said in two days, Antiachus Epiphanes will be resurrected.”

“Who is Antiachus Epiphanes?” said Sarah.

“Centuries ago, he desecrated the first temple by sacrificing swine on the holy altar.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Some think the Messiah came eight decades ago.”

“Was he?” asked Sarah.

“We believe the Messiah will free us from Roman rule and set up the holy kingdom on Earth.”

Rachel looked out a window. “It is near twilight.”

Everyone rose.

“Good night, mother and father,” said Sarah as she went to her room and laid on her bed.

That night she dreamed of a glorious angel.

“Greetings, Sarah. I have come to proclaim a vital truth-one that must be heeded to survive the return of Antiachus Epiphanes. All who trust in the One who came 80 years ago, declaring Himself to be the Messiah will be spared.”

“But what of my parents?”

The angel touched her lips. “I have blessed you with a prophet’s spirit that will cut to the hearts of men. Nevertheless, some will still resist. Go your way and proclaim the truth.”

Sarah awoke, but she felt the essence of the spirit given by the angel.

She exited her room to see her parents. She could see in their eyes, that something had changed in her.

“You’re different,” said Rachel.

“God has chosen me as a prophet to speak to our brethren of the true Messiah who came teaching 80 years ago.”

“But this could not be! Where did you get this notion?” said Boaz.

“An angel came to me in a night vision and bestowed upon me the true gospel to preach along with Dreyfus, the servant of God.”

“You speak heresy! How dare you speak such things!” said Boaz.

“Boaz! Calm down!”

“She speaks blasphemy!” Boaz fumed. “Leave this house until you come to your senses!”

“Boaz, please!” said Rachel.

Sarah left and looked for Dreyfus and found him.

“My sister. I knew you would come. Let us announce the coming of the evil one.”

The two went about the city of Jerusalem, prophesying of the impending doom to come imminently.

The next day a mob of disbelievers threw dust into the air and tore their clothes.

“Traitor to the Jewish race!” said one.

“You are deceivers of Baal! Stone them!” cried another.

Boaz rushed in front of her. “Please, she is confused!”

Suddenly a Roman guard stepped in. “Silence! Their words carry no incitation of a tumult, nor do they speak against the emperor. Now, go your way.”

The two prophets went in a circuit around the areas of Jerusalem teaching about the Messiah who was rejected by the high priests and was killed by them about 50 ago.

But many souls came to the faith and dusk came. Sarah went home.

“What have you done! You were almost killed!”

“Father, it is the will of God.”

Boaz barged out of the house in grief and Sarah went to sleep.

She awoke from screams outside. She ran out to see a man that had eyes that wreaked with devious intent.

Jewish people were being cut down left and right, yet she was not harmed.

The evil man made his way to the tabernacle where the copy of the altar was and with him, he brought a pig. He tied its legs together and set it on the altar. He got out a knife to slay it but Sarah looked away and ran through the groups of people being cut down.

As the slaying went on, Dreyfus stood tall and fearless as was Sarah.

“Now it is time to end this,” said Dreyfus as he walked up to the resurrected incarnation of Antiachus Epiphanes.

“What do you want old man?” he said with dark, piercing eyes.

The old prophet looked at the slain pig and seethed. He rose a hand into the air and hail came from the sky and wiped-out Epiphanes and his army, while those who believed were retained.

Dead bodies littered the ground. Yet, the heart of many still did not believe in the Messiah who came and died decades ago.

But that was life. And time went on and Dreyfus and Sarah kept preaching the Gospel of the One who came decades ago.