Free Stung by Jerry B. Jenkins

rose with the crowd at Teddy Kollek Stadium as Tsion’s voice thundered. “They will cry with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’
    â€œThe angels around the throne will fall on their faces and worship God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.’” Tsion stepped back.
    The crowd roared. Judd was overwhelmed. He leaned forward, trying to picture that scene. He saw that Tsion had moved back to the microphone. The standing thousands quieted again, as if desperate to catch every word.
    â€œJohn was asked by one of the elders at the throne, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And John said, ‘Sir, you know.’ And the elder said, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’”
    Tsion waited for another cheer to subside, then continued: “‘They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore.’ The Lamb himself shall feed them and lead them to fountains of living water. And, best of all, my dear family, God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
    Tsion raised a hand before they could cheer again. “We shall be here in Israel two more full days and nights, preparing for battle. Put aside fear! Put on boldness! Were you surprised that all of us, each and every one, were spared the last few judgments I wrote about? When the rain and hail and fire came from the sky and the meteors scorched a third of the plant life and poisoned a third of the waters of the world, how was it that we escaped? Luck? Chance?”
    The crowd shouted, “No!”
    â€œNo!” Tsion echoed. “The Scriptures say that an angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God, cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. And what did he tell them? He said, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ And John writes, ‘I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.’”

    Vicki and the others jotted notes furiously. It felt good to study again. Tsion’s words were like water on dry ground. Vicki knew people around the world were watching this very meeting.
    Tsion moved close to the microphone and spoke softly. “And now let me close by reminding you that the bedrock of our faith remains the verse our Gentile brothers and sisters have so cherished from the beginning. John 3:16 says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only—’”
    Tsion stopped talking. Vicki leaned forward. There was a faint noise coming from the speakers. She turned to the doorway and noticed Melinda was gone.

    Judd heard the rumble behind them and turned. A helicopter slowly came into view over the lights of the stadium. The thwock thwock thwock of the gleaming white helicopter drew every eye. Tsion stepped back from the podium and lowered his head, as if in prayer.
    Judd recognized the GC insignia on the side of the chopper as it slowly descended. The wind whipped Tsion’s hair and clothes.
    â€œIs that who I think it is?” Lionel said.
    â€œI’m afraid so,” Judd said, staring at the chopper as the engine shuddered and stopped. A murmur rose from the crowd as Leon Fortunato bounded from the craft to the lectern. He nodded to Tsion, who did not respond. “Dr. Ben-Judah, local and international organizing committee, and assembled guests,” he said loudly.
    Thousands murmured in different languages. Finally, Judd understood. “Translators,” Judd said to Lionel. “They need translators to understand Fortunato!”
    Someone in