Paul’s textbooks had come alive. Meanwhile, those in the house sang.
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
“They’ll see in a few minutes,” Coker said. Paul heard him check with the other unit.
No question, a crime was in progress. But what was the point of it? What so gripped these people?
Now the woman was talking.
“Be encouraged, brothers and sisters. Here is the word of the Lord. ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. . . . “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I amthe bright morning star.” . . . Let each one who hears them say, “Come.” Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. . . . He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!’
“And what is our instruction in light of this?” The woman read again, “‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I amwith you always, even to the end of the age.’”
“Protocol says we move now,” Coker said. “The longer we sit, the more vulnerable we—”
“One more minute,” Paul said. “She’s getting down to it.”
“So, dear ones, we are not alone,” the woman was saying. “The Lord is with us, and many other believers are rising up, gathering, certain the end is near. We have all seen the signs that the coming of the Lord draws nigh. That’s why we must be about our Father’s business. We have critical tasks we must perform—despite the law, despite the danger—trusting God to give us courage. As Jesus told His disciples, ‘The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields.’
“And why do we believe this, friends? Jesus Himself said, ‘Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the prophecy written in this scroll.’ Later He said yet again, ‘See, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’”
These nuts talking about rising up made Paul’s blood run cold. So they hoped to spread their poison all over the world—to “make disciples of all the nations.” They were plotting something big, “despite the law, despite the danger,” the woman said. And that idea that the end was near, that Jesus was coming soon—that was their justification for flatout sedition.
“We’ve waited long enough,” Coker said. “We’re going in.”
“Be careful. These people might be crazier than we think.”
“Relax, Professor. We know what we’re doing.” Coker turned and motioned to his people to follow him.
He got out and moved around to Paul’s window, giving him a thumbs-up. “Watch, listen, and learn,” he said. He ran, leading his troops to join the others jogging toward the house.
In less than a minute, the house was surrounded. And from what Paul heard, no one inside had an inkling.
“I want to allow you all to be gone before sunup,” the woman said, “so let’s sing another hymn and close in prayer.”
Coker raised his arm and swung his fist in a circle. No knocking, no announcement, no warning—as one, the SWAT team charged the house. Paul ripped off his goggles and leaped from the van to move closer. Windows were smashed, front and back doors rammed in, tear-gas canisters tossed. Screams filled the air.
Through his receivers, Paul heard the SWAT team members bellow encouragement to one another. Then a new
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
“They’ll see in a few minutes,” Coker said. Paul heard him check with the other unit.
No question, a crime was in progress. But what was the point of it? What so gripped these people?
Now the woman was talking.
“Be encouraged, brothers and sisters. Here is the word of the Lord. ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. . . . “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I amthe bright morning star.” . . . Let each one who hears them say, “Come.” Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. . . . He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!’
“And what is our instruction in light of this?” The woman read again, “‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I amwith you always, even to the end of the age.’”
“Protocol says we move now,” Coker said. “The longer we sit, the more vulnerable we—”
“One more minute,” Paul said. “She’s getting down to it.”
“So, dear ones, we are not alone,” the woman was saying. “The Lord is with us, and many other believers are rising up, gathering, certain the end is near. We have all seen the signs that the coming of the Lord draws nigh. That’s why we must be about our Father’s business. We have critical tasks we must perform—despite the law, despite the danger—trusting God to give us courage. As Jesus told His disciples, ‘The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields.’
“And why do we believe this, friends? Jesus Himself said, ‘Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the prophecy written in this scroll.’ Later He said yet again, ‘See, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’”
These nuts talking about rising up made Paul’s blood run cold. So they hoped to spread their poison all over the world—to “make disciples of all the nations.” They were plotting something big, “despite the law, despite the danger,” the woman said. And that idea that the end was near, that Jesus was coming soon—that was their justification for flatout sedition.
“We’ve waited long enough,” Coker said. “We’re going in.”
“Be careful. These people might be crazier than we think.”
“Relax, Professor. We know what we’re doing.” Coker turned and motioned to his people to follow him.
He got out and moved around to Paul’s window, giving him a thumbs-up. “Watch, listen, and learn,” he said. He ran, leading his troops to join the others jogging toward the house.
In less than a minute, the house was surrounded. And from what Paul heard, no one inside had an inkling.
“I want to allow you all to be gone before sunup,” the woman said, “so let’s sing another hymn and close in prayer.”
Coker raised his arm and swung his fist in a circle. No knocking, no announcement, no warning—as one, the SWAT team charged the house. Paul ripped off his goggles and leaped from the van to move closer. Windows were smashed, front and back doors rammed in, tear-gas canisters tossed. Screams filled the air.
Through his receivers, Paul heard the SWAT team members bellow encouragement to one another. Then a new
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