#13 Johnny: The 144,000 | Elijah Speaks
Moments after Johnny finished his speech to the World Council of Churches, backstage, a man approached him dressed in rugged sackcloth.
Johnny, The Day After, is a flash short story series. Join Johnny in his degenerate journey into the mystic world of the new global Chancellor. Experience his loneliness, pain, sorrow, and rebellion and now victory as he serves the World Chancellor as the False Prophet.
New to Johnny? Read Chapter One HERE | Chapter Two HERE | Chapter Three HERE | Chapter Four HERE | Chapter Five HERE | Chapter Six HERE | Chapter Seven HERE | Chapter Eight HERE | Chapter Nine HERE | Chapter Ten HERE | Chapter Eleven HERE | Chapter Twelve HERE
144,000 BLOODLINE JEWS | ELIJAH SPEAKS
Moments after Johnny finished his speech to the World Council of Churches, backstage, a man approached him dressed in rugged sackcloth. Johnny immediately felt intimidated, for this man’s presence was overpowering and Holy. He felt as if he was paralyzed as this man stood before him.
Johnny flashed back to his earthly father's words, “Be aware, the prophet Elijah shall return in the days of the Antichrist.” His brow began to sweat, and his body trembled. Fear flooded every thought, and he wondered, is this the man my father spoke of? Then, the old man opened his mouth and spoke.
ELIJAH: The world is in turmoil. Wars, famines, plagues, and disasters are about to ravish the earth. Your master, the Antichrist, has risen to power, deceiving many with his false signs and wonders. His spirit has possessed you, Johnny. Now, you will suffer the same judgments as he.
Johnny became weak at the knees. He could hardly stand forthright. He asks this old man a question while reaching for every ounce of bravery that remains in him.
JOHNNY: Who are you? Where do you come from?
ELIJAH: FOR I AM ELIJAH, A PROPHET OF THE HEBREW GOD.
The building shook as soon as he spoke these words, and thunder and lightning burst forth from the sky. The old man and his clothing turned radiant white. His eyes became like fireballs, piercing through Johnny’s soul. It took everything within Johnny not to drop to his knees. Immediately, he heard an inner voice: Do not bow to this weak old man! Johnny drummed up enough energy to front the prophet.
JOHNNY: Old man, you are nothing but a magician. You have no power over me; I am Apollyon’s great and almighty prophet. Be gone from me.
ELIJAH: I am here to testify of Him, the almighty of the Hebrew people, and to call you to a warning.
JOHNNY: And what warning is that?
ELIJAH: I am here to perform signs and wonders and confirm God’s word. I am here to oppose the Antichrist and his followers, like you, Johnny, to expose their wickedness. I am here to endure hardship, persecution, and death, for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am here to finish my course and set the 144,000 pure-bloodline Jews free from the torturous actions of you and your master.
JOHNNY: I don’t fear you! You are nothing but a weak old magician.
Elijah took the point of his finger, reached over, and touched the chest of Johnny. He dropped to the floor in agonizing pain. Johnny’s face turned into the image of the beast spirit that possessed him. In a growling voice, the spirit spoke.
SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST: Release me, release me – you prophet of the Jews.
ELIJAH: You will remain bound to Johnny’s body until our Lord comes to deal with you directly, you beast of Apollyon.
As Johnny writhed in pain on the floor, being a mere vessel of this legendary demon, Elijah's voice began a thundering rebuke.
ELIJAH: Your master is soon to make a covenant with Israel, only to break it and desecrate the temple. He will demand worship from all people, and the 144,000 pure-bloodline Jews will refuse such worship, and Apollyon will attempt to persecute and kill them. FOR THE LORD THY GOD WILL NOT TOLERATE THESE ACTIONS.
The floor beneath Johnny’s possessed body began to crack, and flames of fire pushed up through the divides leading to the dark pit. As Elijah continued in his words, smoke filled the room.
ELIJAH: The Hebrew God has not forsaken His people. He has kept every promise. One of those promises is His commitment to send two witnesses, two prophets, to testify against the Antichrist, you, his False Prophet, and his evil regime. We have been given the authority to perform miracles, such as shutting up the sky, turning water into blood, and striking the earth with plagues. We have the power to devour the enemies of the Hebrew God with fire from our mouths.
Instantly, fire shot forth from Elijah’s mouth, torching Johnny’s clothes. The burning awakened Johnny from his demonic stupor. He leaps from the floor, squelching the burning clothes. In anger, Johnny looks to Elijah in a fit of rage. Before he could shout out his depraved disgust, Elijah spoke once again.
ELIJAH: I am the prophet Elijah, the prophet of fire, the same prophet who had confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The Great I Am took me up to Heaven in a whirlwind, without tasting death. And now, I have returned by the command of the God of the Hebrews – to prepare the way for the Lord to finish, seal up, and contend with Satan for the last time.
Johnny tried to speak, but he could not. The demon in him shouted in his mortal soul – speak, speak, you graven servant, speak. He stood frozen before the presence of Elijah. Bewildered to the core. Johnny realized the words of his earthly father were standing before him. Repentance was the furthest thing from his mind. Revenge filled his rebellious soul. He then commanded his guards to siege Elijah.
Fire came forth from Elijah’s hand, keeping the guards at bay as he spoke the thunderous words of old.
ELIJAH: Hear me, O people of Apollyon, and all who dwell on the earth. The Lord God of Israel has sent me to warn you of the coming judgment. The Antichrist, the beast, the son of perdition, is not your savior, but your destroyer. He is the enemy of God and His anointed. He is the abomination that causes desolation. He is the one who will bring the great tribulation, such as has never been seen before, nor ever will be again.
Do not be deceived by his lies, miracles, mark, or image. Do not worship him or take his mark, or you will share his fate. He will be thrown into the lake of fire, along with Johnny, the false prophet, and the dragon. He will be tormented day and night, forever and ever. I am Elijah, the prophet of the Lord. And this is my message to you.
With the flash of a fire, Elijah vanished into thin air. To Johnny’s surprise, Apollyon was backstage watching, listening, and laughing. Apollyon approached Johnny with a rebuke.
APOLLYON: Look at you, scorched and paralyzed by the words of an old magician. You have disgraced our master today. You cowardly cave in under pressure. You are a disappointment to the kingdom of light and life.
Johnny is reduced to the grief of regret, and he cowers his way back to the helicopter. There, he finds Elijah with his hand opened wide, fire shooting forth, and the helicopter bursts into flames, leaving Johnny with yet another warning of the presence of the Hebrew God.
Coming up next: FROM BAD TO WORST