(2) The Missing

by Dequincyx

Before, CPS worker Clare Dunning's only focus was keeping Tommy safe from his abusive father. But when Tommy and millions of people around the world vanish without a trace, the only thing on her mind is finding Tommy and getting out of a now chaotic L.A. What happened to the missing? Where did they go? What 'caused them to just disappear? UFOs? Radiation? Or...the Rapture?

9. (9)-The Warning Of The Apocalypse

(9)-The Warning Of The Apocalypse.

Three Hours Later...

Three hours had passed since the disappearances, making it six hours all together, and there was still no word on Tommy. The more time passed, the more worried Clare became that Tommy would never be found. And if it was true that disappearances were somehow Rapture-related, then there was a 100% chance he really would never be found.

Clare thought back to another time she had gone to New Hope Village church with Tommy, Irene and Raymie last year when Billings talked about the Tribulation.
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Chicago-(1994)

Clare, Tommy, Irene and Raymie sat in the congregation as they listened to pastor Billings talk about the Tribulation. Otherwise known as the Apocalypse.

"The day is coming when the believers in Jesus Christ will disappear. After this mysterious disappearance-better known as the Rapture-the great Tribulation will begin. And the people who recieve Jesus Christ during this 7-year Apocalyptic event will find that life is very difficult. The things we take for granted today-such as buying food, and clothes, having a job, having a family life-all of these things will be very difficult during the Tribulation period." Said Billings.

"Don't put off recieving Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior. You could wake up some morning or in the middle of the night and find out that the Rapture has taken place. The Bible teaches a great deal about the Tribulation period. It talks about the seven seals and the seven great judgments of God that will be poured out upon this world."

"Let's look for a few moments at these seven seals that will be open during the Tribulation period." Said Billings before turning to a chart of the seven seals on a stand. "The first seal was opened, and a white horse came out, and the rider of the white horse had a bow and a crown on his head". This represents the Ant-Christ coming into the world."

"The second seal was opened, and a red horse came out. The rider of the red horse was given power to take peace from the Earth."

"The third seal was opened, and a black horse came out. And the rider of the black horse had a pair of balances in his hand". He represents a wide-spread famin 'caused by a great drout. Even today we can see signs of our planet drying up. Water levels getting lower and lower in many parts of our country."

"The fourth seal was opened, and a pale horse came out. And the rider of the pale horse was Death. And he was given power to destroy a fourth part of the Earth. By hunger, and by sword, and by beast."

"The fifth seal was opened"...and John wrote "I saw the souls of the Christians believers that were killed during the Tribulation period". These people were killed for keeping God's word."

"And when the sixth seal was opened, there was a great earthquake. The sun turned black". The Bible says the moon became like blood."

"And when the seventh seal was opened, the Bible says that there was a silence for the period of about 30 minutes. This was probably the calm before the storm...because after this silence was over, the seven great judgments of God were poured out upon this world. Well, these are terrible things. And the Bible teaches that these things are actually going to happen. And if you find yourself going through the Tribulation period...it's your fault...not God's."

"For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The wages of sin is death...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."
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Clare sighed as she thought about pastor Billings' warning about the Tribulation. She didn't believe him then either. And if she was right...chances were he was gone too.

Clare then dug into her purse and pulled out the Tribulation map Tommy had given her last year, opened it up, and looked at it's contents. She had voiced to Tommy about sending it to Irene to see what she thought about it, but she knew she couldn't due to her being on the run with Tommy, and she didn't want to involve Irene and her family in this ordeal.

Pushing Irene and her family out of her mind, Clare began to read the Tribulation map...from start to finish.
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