Arrived Read Free

came here to fight the GC and live right under Carpathia’s nose. But the Bible motivated us.”
    â€œWhat’s the Bible got to do with it?” Westin said.
    â€œOne of my friends—at least he used to be a friend— was studying the book of Revelation one day and came across an interesting verse.”
    Rainer flipped toward the end of the Bible and found chapter 18 and began reading. “ ‘After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. He gave a mighty shout, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become the hideout of demons and evil spirits, a nest for filthy buzzards, and a den for dreadful beasts.” ’ ”
    â€œFilthy buzzards, dreadful beasts, that’s the New Babylon I know,” Westin said.
    â€œHere’s where things get interesting,” Rainer said.
    â€œâ€˜Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God is ready to judge her for her evil deeds. Do to her as she has done to your people. Give her a double penalty for all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so give her twice as much as she gave out. She has lived in luxury and pleasure, so match it now with torments and sorrows. She boasts, ‘I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow. I will not experience sorrow.’ Therefore, the sorrows of death and mourning and famine will overtake her in a single day. She will be utterly consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”’ ”
    â€œI don’t get it,” Westin said. “I mean, I understand the city is going to be destroyed by God, but why would that make you want to come here?”
    Rainer smiled. “When it says, ‘Come away from her, my people,’ we believe that means there will be true followers of God right in New Babylon. We couldn’t imagine who they would be, and then God placed a desire on our hearts to come here and either join this band of brave fighters or become a part of the biblical history.”
    â€œHow many of you came?” Judd said.
    â€œThere were thirty-eight altogether,” Rainer said.
    Judd had asked Rainer earlier if any members of his group had been killed. Rainer hadn’t wanted to talk about it.
    â€œThose verses beg some questions,” Westin said. “If God’s people are supposed to come out, how are they supposed to do it, and where do they go?”
    Rainer nodded. “I have been thinking about that. It’s clear God has had enough of the lies and killing of New Babylon, so he’s going to destroy this evil city. But there must be something coming that will signal that it’s time for us to leave. That’s what we’ve been waiting for.”
    â€œIs it possible to talk with someone else?” Judd said. “What’s the leader’s name again?”
    â€œYou mean Otto Weser?”
    â€œYeah, he might have some ideas.”
    Rainer pursed his lips. “We have had no contact since … for quite a while. It’s one of our unwritten rules. No one talks with Otto.”
    Judd glanced at Westin. There was something behind this Otto business, and Judd wanted to find out what it was.

    Vicki and a few others had gone outside to watch the sun rise early the next morning. As it peeked over the hills in the distance, Vicki could tell the heat and humidity were gone, along with most of the smoke that had hovered over the valley.
    At noon, Vicki ventured to the knoll above the campground. There was a lot of excitement with the weather change, more news from the Global Community, and activity on the kids’ Web site. But the news of Judd made Vicki want to be alone.
    It was spring, and the trees in the distance should have been covered with