There he sat. A shabbily dressed man. In the back of a church sanctuary. He sat in the shadows, anxious, fidgety, nervous. He wore a soiled, silvery-white cloak. A shiny silver insignia was embroidered into the rumpled fabric that stretched across his chest. The insignia? An eagle, a winged man, an ox and a lion, symbols of the four evangelists. Sacred memories and half-forgotten prophecies - they flashed across his restless mind as he sat there, tightly holding an ancient scroll.
At the conclusion of the service the man emerged from the shadows and discretely pulled the pastor aside, away from the congregation. He hurriedly pulled a manila envelop that contained a small ancient scroll, a rough, faded parchment, and handed it to the pastor. His hands were trembling.
"For you and only you. John the Younger sent me. Do exactly as I say. Translate, transcribe, then save copies of this document into multiple computers for safety and security - then burn this scroll. Do exactly as I say. Burn it! The boy, John the Younger, who is now old and near death, told me to give this to you, and you alone. I am doing as he told me - you must do likewise!"
I did as I was told. I am that pastor.
Even as I write this, I wonder: What would you have done, reader? Put yourself, if you will, in my shoes. See through my eyes. What would you do? There was no time to wonder and no time to worry - a decision had to be made; and I made it.
My editor and publisher, as well as a few family members, friends and ministerial colleagues who have read advanced copies of this work have asked me, "Did these things really happen?"
My answer is simple: I have lived long enough to know that...
A Reflection on The Last Martyr...
Since the beginning of time people have been thinking about the end of time. Many have made predictions about how and when the end would happen. Most of us are familiar with Nostradamus, Bishop Ussher, the Mayans or others who predicted the end. Even now the Muslims expect the Mahdi to appear. The Christians are looking for the Christ. Orthodox Jews are looking for their Messiah. Others look for the incarnation of Krishna and still others look for the reappearance of Mohammed. Each of these messianic types are associated with the end of the world. Hidden behind the veil of is another end time revelation -- Before the 1st Coming of Christ, God gave John - the Last Prophet - Whose Death Closed The Old Testament Age. Before the 2nd Coming of Christ, God gives another John. He is John - The Last Martyr - Whose Death will Close The New Testament Age. The Last Martyr focuses on (1) the conflict between science and religion, (2) between atheism and theism, (3) between philosophy and theology, and, (4) between that which is secular and that which is sacred - from a biblical/Christian perspective - cloaked in the context of contemporary fiction. A theological thriller -- The Last Martyr -- Utilizes intriguing biblical symbols and symbolism, allegories, similes, powerful metaphors and other literary devices to increase the readers understanding of biblical truth and to enhance the value of the readers journey with John, the Last Martyr. .
