"Ted! What are you doing out here? I don't want you to miss The Show of Shows."
I stood up, rubbing my neck. "I just sat down to relax, I must have fallen asleep."
"That was some dream you had Theodor, but I won't be destroying humanity. Not tonight, anyway." Jesus had seen my dream, of course. "Let's get back inside. It's almost showtime."
We walked back into the old train station. The angels all turned as we walked in. They were smiling and nodding their heads at Jesus, and maybe me. I wasn't sure. There was a huge digital clock hanging above the stage, counting down the minutes until 6:30pm. It was ten minutes to go. I chuckled, and was more than a bit in awe of seeing angels wearing headsets, working lights, and sitting behind cameras. Jesus and I walked over to a trailer that was set up as the control room. "Ted, you can sit in here, if you like."
"Actually Jesus, I was hoping I could be near the sound stage." I explained to The Lord.
"Wherever you want, my friend!" Jesus slapped me on the back. "You have been a big part of this." It was true I had been an unwitting partner in the beginning, now I was willing.
Someone stuck their head into the trailer, I assume it was the First Assistant Director, and said, "Jesus, ten minutes."
"Let's go then!" Jesus shouted.
The Son of Man walked up onto the stage, smoothed his hands over his robed. The stage was decorated like the set of a news show. He turned around and asked, "How do I look?"
"Like a Prince, sir." I replied. Jesus smiled. I glanced up at the clock. Five minutes to go.
Jesus closed his eyes, and folded his hands in front of him. Not more than a second later, I heard a great roar outside. A brilliant light began to flood into the room. The ground was vibrating. I ran outside into the parking lot to see what was going on. The light was so bright outside, I had to shield my eyes from it. I looked up to see a great ball of fire streaking across the sky. "I guess The Lord wants to get people's attention" I thought to myself. "This should do it." The comet I saw burning through the sky was not the only one. There was another, or maybe it was the same one?, on the other side of the Earth lighting up the darkness of the night. I knew everyone everywhere was seeing what I was. I knew who Jesus was, but this reminded me of what he was. I ran back into the building, for the final countdown.
"Five.....four.....three.....two.....one."
In an instant, every television in the world went black. Every computer monitor, every jumbotron, every iPod, Kindle, anything with a screen, went black. Every cell phone, radio, mp3 player, CD player, car radio, fell silent.
Then, the world fell silent. The great ball of fire continued is trek across the sky, but there was not a sound anywhere. Not a bird sang, not a dog barked. It was if the world had suddenly become deaf and mute. I knew people were beginning to panic.
Not a moment later, every electronic device that had gone dead, sprang back to life with the 853Hz and 900Hz attention signals used by the Emergency Alert System. "We have interrupted your regular programming for a special announcement. Please stay tuned." The Emergency Alert System signals were broadcast again. Followed again by, "We have interrupted your regular programming for a special announcement. Please stay tuned." Seven times the cycle was repeated.
There was a loud "pop" the live feed TV screen went from a small pin to a blinding bright light, then faded. The image on the screen first was a blur, then appeared to be a child. Then children's voices began to sing, "Jesus loves the little children. All the little children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world....." and the faces of children from every race and culture appeared on the screen. Again the screen changed to images of children, but not happy singing children. These were children in mass graves, children starving, children blown apart in wars, then gruesome images of child prostitutes on the streets in third world countries, and in the bedrooms of the wealthy. The screen buzzed blank again.
"The first judgement has come. Did you think it would not? Did you think what you have done had no consequences? The hairs of your head are all numbered. Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. I see you looking at each other. "I did nothing wrong!" You are correct in one way, you did nothing. In your courts, is someone not guilty of murder if they knew of the plan, but did nothing to stop it? Those of you with eyes that still see are accessories to crimes, and your judgement will come.
To some of you, I am the Messiah. To others, I was a prophet. To some, I am a myth. It does not matter what your creed is, you are born into this world knowing what is right and just. There is no escaping it. You cannot say, "No one told me," for righteousness is written on your hearts from the moment you are a single cell. The knowledge grows with every cell division and is with you through out your days on this Earth.
Again, I say! The knowledge of what is right and what is wrong is with you when you are born. Your society, schools, governments, and even religious institutions have to brain wash it out of you. I had to come here to show you abusing children violates the laws of the Universe?" Jesus' voice boomed with the words. "What else don't you know?? There is no moral relativity. Wrapping yourself in your country's flag will not protect you from judgement. Using your religion to justify maiming and killing others will not protect you from judgement. Turning your head away from starving masses does not mean they are not there. The Father sees you look away and cluck your tongues. The Father sees cross the street to avoid a beggar. The Father sees you stupidly send your children off to be cannon fodder. There is wrong, and there is right. There is good and there is evil. Which book will your name be written in? Which side of the Hades to you want to spend eternity on?"
"I hear you out there. I hear you thinking who you can blame? I hear your minds working right now like trapped mice. Go find a mirror and look at who is to blame for the stains on your soul. It is you. It is always you. You are the source of light and darkness. You are the source of all things good and all things evil. Do not waste your time praying for forgiveness. Your prayers will not be listened to, until you act. Your actions determine your fate."
Everything went dark in the studio, and I heard the world outside return to normal. "Normal?" I thought to myself. I hoped, for the sake of mankind, it would never be "normal," again.
