“Praise God!” Thomas shouted.
The quake grew stronger. The saints fell to the dirt and embraced each other. The hail stones splintered huge trees, crushed branches into wood shavings, and flattened boulders. Yet not one of the massive ice rocks struck the saints.
Everything went black as if someone flipped a switch and turned off the sun. A red moon appeared above them, turning everything the ominous color of blood. Flaming meteors zipped across the sky.
Though she was terrified, Tori rose and gazed upward. Thomas appeared beside her and grabbed her hand. . To her left Brianna and her children huddled together, and on her right, Nyla with Daniel in her arms, leaned against Kyle.
The sky began to slowly disappear like a curtain disintegrating from old age. Much to Tori’s amazement, a brilliant golden city appeared and standing before it was a shimmering throne.
And the one who sat on it was the Ancient of Days.
“Hold on!” Tori said, smiling. “We’re going home!”
And then they were gone.
???
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Revelation 19:11-16
One minute Thomas was standing in a forest pummeled by hail and lightning, staring at a sky full of meteors that was disintegrating before his eyes, and the next he was standing in a field of flowers, blown gently by a wind that was filled with the sweetest music he’d ever heard.
Several large warrior angels—for that is what they had to be—stood before them, fully armored, bearing swords and all manner of weaponry. He recognized several of them.
The snort of a horse drew his gaze to his left where thousands, maybe tens of thousands of white horses lined up as far as he could see, grunting and pawing the ground. Upon them perched people of all shapes, sizes, and colors, dressed in white and wearing breastplates and shields of gold.
Beyond them, a massive golden city perched on a hill, its mighty ivory towers and spires reaching into a rainbow-colored sky.
“Whoa!” Kyle exclaimed. “Are we in heaven?”
“I think so.” Nyla laughed and glanced back at the rest of the saints.
Thomas followed her gaze. The UnderHisWings saints looked as astounded as he was. Yet the older ones were young again, the weak looked strong, all exhaustion and pain erased from their faces.
In fact, now that he looked at Tori, she was more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. He stretched his shoulders, noting that the perpetual ache was gone. He pressed hands down his torso and gripped his thighs. He was strong, firm, and full of more energy than he ever remembered. This must be his new body!
Bubbling laughter rose in his throat, uncontainable, joyous, laughter. Turning he embraced Tori, then grabbed Nyla and Brianna and the rest, and they hugged, laughed, and cried for joy.
“We made it! We made it!”
“Was there any doubt?”
That voice. That remarkable, indistinguishable voice. Tugging from the saints, Thomas turned, blinked a few times, then found himself unable to move.
Daniel. Daniel Cain stood before him, stronger, younger, happier. Beside him stood Angel, or “Smokes,” as they had called her, looking more like her name than ever. Isaac, their son, now a young man, studied Thomas with curiosity.
“Daniel.” Thomas's voice cracked. “I’m so sorry.”
