Left Behind

We were left behind when he returned. Our tears were copious. We were utterly heartbroken, but strangely filled with peace.

First, as prophesied, every knee bowed and every tongue confessed his lordship. Then, one by one--into the untold millions--people were taken. Away. To where he told his disciples they would be taken. To the place of carrion birds--eagles, ravens, vultures, hawks. Screaming scorched the very air. Wait! people screeched as their bodies lifted up from the ground, haphazardly, sideways, flipping here, sliding there along the early morning breeze. We were supposed to be taken into Heaven! Weren't we?

I caught a man who was trying to hide himself. He banged his head over and over into the ground, his feet wrapped around a utility pole. Fall on me! Please fall on me! he begged a parked truck. He was clearly losing his mind. Then he saw me. He looked up into my face, shaking, his eyes red, tears streaming. I don't want to go! Please help me! For the love of God! Help me! I knelt down beside him. You believed the lie of John Nelson Darby, I said. Dispensationalism. And because of that belief, you lost your inheritance with the saints.

Then I heard a great whirring noise, and as I watched, several dozen carrion birds swooped down on the poor man and took his life where he lay. He screamed. God, how he screamed! But I knew his pain wasn't caused by ravaging beak and claw, but by the horrifying realization that he had allowed a false teacher to lead him astray. To lead so many astray...