■ Steven’s Amazing Adventures, and the Future of the World ■ (PART 20) - "Communist Norway" - (A STORY about the END TIMES, with Messages from God) (PART 20)

Steven’s Amazing Adventures,

and the Future of the World

(A Story about the End Times 
with Messages from God)

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(This story chronicles the adventures of Steven O'Neill, his wife Sarah, and their friends during the End Times. Judgment has already struck the U.S., and Steve and his friends have reached the vast continent of Asia. Witness the amazing things God will reveal about the coming kingdom of the Beast (or the Antichrist), the Mark of the Beast, and the Tribulation period. This story should keep you fascinated, as a realistic account of the future unfolds in the form of a fictional story.

But, this story is not just a story. It contains messages from God and prophecies that actually shall happen. It is written as fiction with fictional characters, but the message of the story is very real, and the cataclysmic events, touched on in this story, will actually impact this earth as God’s Holy Bible and its prophecies unfold. The world will soon enter a time much like that portrayed in this story. I encourage you to seek God about this to see what He will show you.)

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Chapter Twenty

PART 20: “Communist Norway”

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[In the future, Norway and all of Europe will be communist 
and under the control of Russia, God showed this writer. 

I encourage you to seek God about this. If you are Norwegian 
or Russian, please don't take this personally, but seek God. 
God will use Russia to bring judgment down on Europe and America, 
but Russians are not the enemy.]

Karl Holst, a sandy-haired Norwegian, opened his Bible and flipped through the pages until he reached a place in the book of Revelation. He was sitting in a metal folding chair facing a circle of men and women who also were holding Bibles.

“Is everyone at Revelation 5?” Karl asked the group of twenty-two people.

Most nodded or muttered that they were at the place.

“I’ll read down to verse 5, starting at verse 1,” Karl said. “As I do, I encourage you to think about what is happening and what significance it has to us now.”

They were in the windowless basement of an old apartment building. A handful of tall floor lamps were scattered among the group to provide light in a room that would otherwise be dark.

Clearing his throat, Karl read from Revelation 5:1-5: “‘[1] And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? [3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

‘[4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. [5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.’”

(An African male lion. Click for source.)

Looking at the faces of this Bible study group, Karl said, “Notice in verse 3, how no man or woman was worthy to open the book? No one but Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, could open that book. We are not worthy, in ourselves, for any of God’s purposes, but God gives us the grace to do His will and to serve Him in His Kingdom. Though we are not worthy in ourselves to serve God, God sees value in us. That is why He sent Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, to die on the cross for our sins.”

A few of the men and women nodded and said, “That’s true.”

“Verse 5 speaks of the Root of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” Karl said. “This is Jesus Christ, of course. And, notice how He is called the Root of David? What this means is that Jesus Christ is the Creator of David. Though his physical body, which Jesus dwelt in on earth, was genetically from David’s DNA, Jesus is the One who created David and his DNA.

“Now, we probably all know that, but it is good to be reminded of who Jesus Christ is. He was not just a good teacher on earth. He was and is the Son of God, who is One with God the Father. Jesus Christ will come back in a visible form to this world, riding on a white horse, and many thousands of saints, which will include you and me, will follow Him. He already dwells in us Christians by His Spirit. But, we will all see Him coming in the clouds of Heaven.”

In one corner of the room, a set of stairs led up to a door that opened into a yard outside. That door opened and a young Syrian man in his early twenties entered. Another staircase, located in the middle, of the room reached a door that opened into the first floor of the apartment building.

Closing the outside door behind him quietly, the Syrian man said, “I saw soldiers approaching from down the street. We need to quietly pray that God will keep them from coming to this apartment.”

“Abdul, how many soldiers did you see?” a thirty-year-old Norwegian woman asked. 

“I saw two,” Abdul Hamed said with some concern in his face. “They appeared to be members of the People’s Army of Norway, and not Russians soldiers. But, both are a danger to Christians like us.”

“Let’s pray,” Karl said, closing his eyes and bowing his head.

“Dear Abba Father,” Abdul said as he approached the group with closed eyes, “deliver us from the People’s Army and from the Russians. You know how ever since the Russians took down the United States, the European countries and NATO lost 

(The Soviet Union prior to 1992. Click for source.)

their power to fight Russia. You know how Russia and its allies did a blitzkrieg war and took country after country, until they even conquered as far west as Iceland and Britain.

“All of Europe is in the clutches of the communists and governments that are loyal to Russia. We live under oppression. We can’t even pray or read the Bible in public for fear of being locked up or beaten. Churches have been closed and have had to move underground. Oh, Abba Father, deliver us from these communist soldiers, and bring your Church into close fellowship with you.

“And, work that the communist soldiers, both those who are Russians and those who work for the puppet government here in Norway, will see the truth about who you are, and will worship you, and trust only in Jesus Christ for salvation. In Jesus Christ’s Name, amen.”

“Amen,” a Nigerian man said.

Seventy percent of the group was composed of ethnic Norwegians, 20 percent of the people were Syrian or Afghan, and 10 percent were African. Karl was glad to have Christians in his group who represented a variety of ethnic groups in his country. Norway had changed a lot since he grew up back in the ‘90s.

Now, in his thirties, Karl saw more Arab and African people living within northern European countries than in his childhood. But after the Russians took over Europe, many Muslims decided to flee back to Muslim-dominated countries. The majority of the Syrian refugees in Europe had decided to return to Syria as the Russians and Arab states helped Syria rebuild, following the end of the Syrian civil war.

Abdul walked up the steps to the door leading to the outside and placed his ear against the wood. He was listening intensely for soldiers.

The policies of the communistic puppet governments in Europe had narrowed religious freedoms to a point where only Russian Orthodox or some liturgical Churches, which had sold themselves to communism, could exist. Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, and other denominations of Protestants were outlawed. And, anyone who met in secret to worship God would be put in prison, beaten, or sent to a prison camp. The government declared that it had to approve all assemblies and meetings, which were held for “religious purposes.”

“I don’t hear anyone, but I need to make sure no one is watching us,” Abdul said from the stairs.

“Aren’t you being a little fearful?” a 60-year-old Norwegian man said.

“I don’t want to be,” Abdul said before he cracked the door open and peeked out through the gap between the door and its post. Finally, after a minute had passed, Abdul sighed. “I think we are safe. I think it would be good to start having us leave, one at a time,” Abdul said.

“But, Abdul, you just came in and missed the scripture passage I was sharing in Revelation chapter 5. We haven’t got to the next part I was going to share with the group,” Karl said.

“What was that?” Abdul said.

“I was sharing about the book that Jesus Christ only was worthy to open,” Karl said. “I was going to share next a brief summary of the seven seal judgments from the book of Revelation. We are moving very close to the time when the Antichrist will arise on the earth, and when these seal judgments will enter into full force. At this point in our lives they are just about to open.”

“I’m curious now what these judgments will look like,” Abdul said before he closed the door tight and started descending the stairs.

“In Revelation chapter 6, God’s Word speaks of seven seal judgments,” Karl said. “Who would like to read Revelation 6:4? This takes place after the first seal is opened. The first seal releases a rider, on a white horse, who carries a bow. The second seal is a rider on a red horse.”

“I can read that,” the Nigerian man said, holding a leather Bible open.

“Go ahead, Toben,” Karl said.

Toben Nenge cleared his throat and said, “Revelation 6:4 says: ‘And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.’ That sounds like what we’re seeing now with all the wars happening in different countries and in Nigeria, where I came from.”

“The wars are starting to spread,” Karl said, “but what God showed me is that the ten kingdoms that the book of Revelation speaks of, which will all exist soon, are beginning to arise as I speak. The Russian empire is one kingdom. The Chinese empire is another. You know that China now controls Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.”

“China has even captured large pieces of America,” a fifty-year-old Eritrean woman said.

“That’s right,” Karl said.

“What about the first seal?” Toben asked. 

“The first seal has already been opened,” Karl said. “We have seen the spirit of conquest sweep across Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. But, the red horse seal will release chaos, bloodshed, and murder throughout the whole world, and especially in the areas where old rivalries exist. When this second seal is opened, expect that some people in Europe will start attacking non-Europeans like never before, and expect terrorists to strike like never before.”

“That is a scary thought,” Abdul said.

“But, God will protect and provide for us,” Karl said, trying to keep his friend calm.

“Now, the next seal judgment in Revelation 6 is the black horse,” Karl said. “The rider has a balance for weighing food. One side would have weights and the other side would have grain, or something that was being sold. Less than a quart of wheat (or about 1.92 pints) would be sold for a day’s wages, so food prices will really increase dramatically when this third seal is opened. Sadly, there will be many people starving to death from this plague around the world, and even in our continent of Europe.”

(A black horse. Click for source.)

As Karl scanned across the group, he noticed that many of the men and women looked somewhat downcast and sober as they thought about the implications of the judgments and how it would affect them.

Seeing their concerned looks, Karl said, “We Christians don’t need to be concerned about our own lives, or what we’ll eat, drink, or wear, or where we’ll live.”

Karl flipped back through his Bible until he came to Matthew 6.

Karl said: “Jesus Christ told us these words in Matthew chapter 6, verses 31 through 33: ‘[31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. [33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ There is no need for us to be alarmed. If we seek God’s will and do it, we will have all our needs met by our loving Heavenly Father.”

“That is comforting,” a brunette Norwegian girl, in her twenties, said.

“Now,” Karl said, “the fourth seal unleashes death on a large scale, as a result of the first three plagues taking their toll. It is sad that many will die during this fourth seal judgment, but if they die, it is because they did not want to repent and seek God as He calls out to them. If they turn to God, He will certainly provide for their needs during this time, and forever afterward.”

“What about the fifth seal?” a Norwegian teen guy with glasses asked.

“The fifth seal shows the martyrs who have died for the sake of Christ now in Heaven,” Karl said. “Many of these will die for Christ’s sake during the second half of the seven-year tribulation period. In chapter 6, they are asking God to avenge their blood on the wicked who killed them. The Antichrist will seek to slay many people during the second half of the tribulation period.

“Revelation chapter 13 speaks about how the Antichrist and the False Prophet will cause anyone who refuses to receive the mark of the beast to be killed. But, God will protect those who follow His voice and the leading of His Spirit. Revelation chapter 12 speaks about how those of Israel who believe on Jesus will go into a place of refuge, in the wilderness. Since God does not respect one person above another (as we see in Romans 2:11), we know that God will provide places of refuge for Gentile Christians as well.”

The brunette girl lowered her Bible and said, “Karl, are you saying that people who die as martyrs are not being led by God to die for their faith?”

“Inga, God does not want people to have to die a torturous death,” Karl said. “But if people don’t follow God’s leading, they may die a slow death, but God will give them the grace for it. However, I know that God prefers that His children follow His leading, and go where He sends them. In Matthew 10:23, Jesus said: ‘But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.’ Jesus also told his disciples to beware of men in verse 17 of that chapter.”

“In other words,” Karl said, “Jesus is saying to not put your trust in men because they may turn on you and seek to harm you. If we follow His leading, things will go well for us. But, if God is calling you to die a martyr’s death, He is not calling you to die a torturous death, but a swift one. Revelation 20:4 shows how people who refuse the mark of the beast will be beheaded. Beheading is a swift, painless death. But, for the Antichrist, it is a very efficient means of killing people in his cruel, planet-wide dictatorship.”

“So, God would never lead His children to be burned at the stake or tortured to death?” Inga said.

“That is correct,” Karl said. “God may allow it, but if we follow His voice, He will not lead us to a place or situation where that would happen to us.”

“Are there any examples in scripture that support what you’re saying?” Inga asked with a questioning look on her face.

“Yes, there are a number of them,” Karl said. Are you ready for them?”

“Sure,” Inga said.

“In Numbers 35,” Karl said, “we learn that the Jews had cities of refuge where people, who accidentally killed their neighbors, could flee to for safety. In 2 Kings 1, Elijah called fire from heaven upon soldiers who were seeking to capture him, to kill him. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha, Elijah’s successor, requested of God that an army of enemy soldiers would be blinded so they could not capture him or the town he was staying in. And, God answered his prayer. David was helped to escape before Saul would have killed him. God certainly worked to deliver David from his enemies, who sought to take his life.

“In Psalm 91, verses 1-4, David says with confidence in God: ‘[1] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. [3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. [4] He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.’” [Note: Bold added.]

“What about the New Testament?” Inga said.

(Paul was let down in a basket. Click for source.)

“There are many examples from the New Testament too,” Karl said. “Paul, an apostle, was let down in a basket by night to escape from Damascus, when men in that city sought his life. That’s in Acts 9. In Matthew 2, an angel told Joseph, in a dream, to take Mary and the baby Jesus, and go to Egypt, because King Herod sought to kill Jesus, and I think likely also do harm to Mary and Joseph.”

“Hmm,” Inga said, listening attentively.

“In Acts 17, Paul and Silas also escaped from Thessalonica by night, where men sought their lives,” Karl continued, letting his eyes scan over the faces in the group of more than twenty. “And, as I mentioned earlier, referring to Revelation chapter 12, God will provide a place of refuge for believing Jews to go to during the last half of the tribulation.

“Also, in Genesis 19:15-17, God, in His mercy, had angels bring Lot out of the wicked city of Sodom, when God was about to bring fire and brimstone on it. If Lot had remained in that city, he would have died, but he would still be brought Heaven and given a white robe.

“Oh, I almost forgot; In Acts 23, God also had Paul’s nephew tell him and the Romans (who were holding him in their custody) that certain men were plotting to kill Paul, when they had an opportunity. Then, the Romans escorted Paul with many soldiers out of Jerusalem. God spared Paul’s life out of His love and mercy for Him.”

“But, those people you spoke of are all gone to Heaven. What about us?” Inga said.

Karl said: “Paul wrote in Romans 2:11 how that God does not respect some people more than others. I can quote it for you. Romans 2:11 says: ‘For there is no respect of persons with God.’ God loves us and cares for us all the same.

“But, James 4:8 and Jeremiah 29:13 both show that those who seek and desire God will get to know Him more personally than others, because they are opening their hearts, more and more, to experience God’s love. You see, God works according to our free will, which He gave each person when they were conceived in the womb.”

“I’ll have to think about that,” Inga said with a hand on her chin as she contemplated what he had shared.

____________________

“Secret Police”

(KGB badge)

Wearing an yellow florescent vest over his blue polo shirt, Karl approached a metal staircase attached to a large gantry crane designed for unloading container ships. He climbed the steps up to a platform where he entered an elevator. Pressing a button, he waited as the elevator hummed to life and defied gravity as it lifted him up high above the dockyard. Once he reached the top of the gantry crane, Karl emerged from elevator doors and breathed in the fresh air.

He was standing on a metal balcony which led to a control cab. The city of Oslo, Norway spread out below him, stretching out for a few miles into the distance. Skyscrapers stood proudly among the multitudes of high rise-apartment buildings, multi-floored hotels, malls, businesses, and boutiques. The numerous windows of the new and old tall structures reflected the pink rays of the rising sun. It was summer in Oslo and the August temperatures felt good to Karl, regardless of the fact that the average temperature was less than 60 degree Fahrenheit.

(Gantry crane. Source.)

Here high above the harbor, he felt a breeze stir his vest and ruffle his hair. He was thinking about the Bible study he had the other day, remembering how the people took the information he shared with them. Some seemed to be a little troubled by his talk, but others spoke to him afterward and said that his teaching made sense, but they would like to look into it more.

But, Inga Jacobsen seemed skeptical and tried to argue that God had allowed Job, from the Bible, to suffer for no real reason, saying that Job was serving God faithfully. Karl had heard others tell him that argument before. The question about Job honestly bothered him. He needed to find an answer from God because Job, who was a righteous man, had suffered for what seemed to be no apparent reason. And, this didn’t seem to fit with what Karl had been telling the Bible study group about, how God never ever would lead Christians into places where they would be tortured or killed slowly and painfully.

(A gantry crane cab. Click for source.)

Stepping into the control cab, Karl sat down in the comfortable operator’s seat and gazed down through the Plexiglas windows at a dizzying view of the ground more than a hundred meters below. The front third of the floor and all of the front side of the cab were crafted from the tough, transparent material, making him feel safe from wind and rain.

A large container ship had just docked, brimming with tall stacks of shipping containers, which came in a variety of colors. He was supposed to start unloading very soon. But, in the time before he would get the orders to start unloading, Karl prayed to his Heavenly Father.

“Father God,” Karl said, “what would you tell me about Job? Inga pointed out that he suffered a lot from events that you allowed, which seemed to have no real purpose. I thought you were the One we could trust to take care of us. What would you tell me about this concern I have? Why did Job have to suffer?”

“My son,” God’s loving quiet voice said, “the Job from the book of Job suffered from the loss of his children and the loss of his herds because he was starting to put them before Me. He did love Me, but his heart was starting to draw away from Me, and toward his own works. He boasted of good deeds he did and of works of service he did for the poor, and for the outcasts. He complained and said that I was unjust and cruel, and that he, Job, was innocent of any transgression.

“It is true he followed the laws I gave mankind from the beginning, such as to not commit adultery and to not steal, but he was trusting in his own works to satisfy Me, and he was turning more toward his physical possessions than he was toward Me. I will tell you that no man is righteous of himself or of his own works. Your righteousness comes from Me, and Me alone, through the blood of the offering of Jesus Christ, who died for your sins and for the sins of the whole world. That is correct, My son. Do not fear. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. And, I the Lord your God and Abba Father have spoken.”

“Wow,” Karl said. “I didn’t realize fully that Job was turning away from you, but I noticed he did seem to accuse you of doing him wrong and of making him into a target for you to shoot at. I knew that wasn’t right.”

“My son,” Abba God’s voice said calmly, “that showed you his heart and that he was turning away from Me, even before he experienced the loss of his children and herds. That is correct. And, I the Lord your God have spoken.”

A voice squawked over the two-way radio in the cab: “Karl, we’re ready for the unloading procedure.”

“Copy. I’m on it. Over,” Karl said after he pressed the ‘talk’ button.

Moving a joystick forward, Karl sent the control cab rolling down a long crane arm that stretched many yards out over the docks and above the water. As the cab rolled forward on its track, Karl thought about what God had told him. He wanted to share that new information with Inga Jacobsen the next time he saw her.

Just as he was close to the point where he would need to be for unloading the containers, his radio came to life. “Karl, this is Jens*. We need you to return and come down to the ground level. Some undercover cops are wanting to see you. Over.” [* Pronounced: ‘Yens’.]

“Copy. I’m coming. Over,” Karl said, feeling his heartbeat quickening.

He stopped and then pulled back on the joystick, sending the control cab back toward its resting position near the elevator and balcony. He felt fear gripping his stomach area as he returned. This was the last thing he wanted to hear. What kind of trouble was he in? Why would undercover cops want to talk to him? Did they learn that he was conducting an illegal Bible study in the basement of an apartment building late at night?

The owner of the apartment was a secret Christian and had allowed them to meet down there for a weekly study and prayer time. Could one of the residents have seen people approaching the basement entrance and somehow overheard what the Christians were doing down in the basement? Karl had made sure the people coming to the Bible study did so at night and one at a time to avoid being noticed. One member would arrive at the basement, and five minutes would pass before the next person would quietly open the outside door, and descend the stairs to the concrete below.

(Audi Q3. Click for source.)

Having left the control cab once it came to a stop, Karl was now inside the elevator and descending to the ground. He hoped that no one in the Bible study had snitched on him or on the others. But, only God knew if there was a mole in their group. After the elevator came to a stop, he quickly descended a flight of stairs to the ground. His chest tightened as he noticed a black Audi Q3 SUV with tinted windows parked nearby and three men in dark business suits quietly standing around it.

One had blond hair and a prominent chin. Another had dark brown hair, which was slicked back. A third man was shorter and stocky with a brown crew cut. All men appeared athletic and strong.

As Karl stepped to the concrete pavement, they turned and approached him with emotionless expressions on their faces.

“Are you Karl Holst, a longshoreman?” the blond-haired man asked him without extending any hand of greeting.

“Yes,” Karl said.

“We would like to take you in for questioning,” the dark-haired man said while the man with the crew cut walked up beside Karl, to Karl’s left.

“And, you are?” Karl said, with concern in his face.

“Hey!” Karl said as the man with the crew cut suddenly grabbed his wrist, with a vice-like grip, and snapped a handcuff on it. Then, he pulled Karl’s wrists close together and locked a second handcuff around his other wrist.

“We are officers of the peace, and you are being detained for certain illegal activities you are participating in,” the blond-haired man said. “I am Officer Erikson and this is Officer Landvik.” He nodded toward his colleague with the blonde hair.  Then, motioning toward the man with the crew cut, Erikson said, “And, this is Officer Lund.”

“Why do you wish to question me?” Karl said. “Have I done something illegal while operating this gantry crane?”

“We will speak about it in the car,” Officer Landvik said.

Knowing he had no choice, and was locked up, Karl reluctantly followed them to the car and got into the back seat, after Landvick opened the door for him. Once he was seated, Officer Lund sat down in the passenger seat near the opposite door, giving Karl a cold look, as if to say, ‘Don’t even think that you can escape from us.’

Many questions and fears raced through Karl’s mind as the SUV drove off, rolling through the dock yard, which was filled with stacks of metal containers, high-capacity forklifts, and transport trucks. A few workers looked at the car with curiosity as it drove past them, but most ignored it.

“So, what is this all about?” Karl asked as he leaned forward in his seat, looking through the Plexiglas window in a partition that separated the back seats from the front. He was no doubt being taken by the secret police to an interrogation room somewhere hidden from the public’s awareness.

“Mr. Holst, we received a report,” Officer Landvick said, “from a source that you are currently involved with illegal religious activities, including illegal secret meetings at night, and proselytizing citizens of this fine country. We will ask you more questions later.”

Hearing that, Karl felt peace come into his heart. It was the peace of knowing that he was doing God’s will and suffering persecution for the sake of Christ. Karl let himself relax and receive God’s peace. He told his Heavenly Father his concerns as the Audi Q3 pulled out of the shipping yards and onto a road that would take them back into the city center of Oslo.

A several minutes passed while the SUV drove through heavy morning traffic on well-used streets, and then turned onto less-used streets, which were lined with apartment buildings, houses, and many trees.

(Traffic in Oslo. Click for source.)

“My son, Karl, do not be concerned,” God’s loving voice said. “I am with you. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. What you were telling your friends was certainly correct. I do not allow My children, who seek My best will, to have to suffer torture, without warning them and calling out to them. If they follow My leading, they will never suffer torture or slow deaths. I will certainly take good care of them. But, they must surrender themselves to Me and follow My leading. And, I will bless them. And, I the Lord your God have spoken.”

“But, Father God,” Karl said, feeling some anxiety, “I am being arrested for serving you. I have led a Bible study in an apartment building basement like you showed me to do. Now, I am being arrested for that by the secret police. What do I say and do? I would like to get back to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Will you take care of me in this time?”

He tried to peer through the tinted glass in his door, but it was hard to see features and details of the streets he was passing through since the glass was nearly opaque.

“My son, Karl,” Abba God said, “I will certainly guide you in what to say to these men. I will give you wisdom and understanding from Me. I shall never leave you, nor forsake you. And, I will deliver you from the prison. I certainly will. Remember Peter, the apostle? He was delivered from prison when he was locked up by Herod. I sent angels to rescue him, and to take his shackles off, and to open the prison doors. I shall do the same for you. Just watch and see, and rest in Me. And, I the Lord your God and Abba Father have spoken.”

At last at its destination, twenty minutes after Karl’s capture, the Audi Q3 rolled up to a medium-sized office building, which resembled many government buildings in Oslo, after having passed through a manned checkpoint gate. The car drove down a sloping entrance into an underground parking garage and pulled gracefully into an unoccupied space between two dark grey BMW 7 Series sedans. Officer Landvik approached Karl’s door and opened it while Lund kept a sharp eye on his prisoner.

“Come out of the vehicle slowly and place your hands behind your back,” Landvik said coldly.

Once Karl was out, and the door was shut, Landvik smiled at him diabolically and said gloatingly, “You are the twelfth Christian I personally have arrested for conducting illegal religious activities. Do you know what happened to the other eleven?”

Karl remained silent.

“They are on their way, or have already arrived, at some concentration camps in Germany and Poland. If you don’t forsake your superstition, you will be next to go to labor camps where I have heard it said that they make you work until you die from exhaustion.”

Karl shuddered slightly, but began silently telling his burdens to his loving Heavenly Father.

“Let’s get him moving to the interrogation room,” Officer Erikson said.

____________________

“Interrogation”

“Have a seat, Mr. Holst,” Erikson said.

Reluctantly, Karl sat in a metal chair before a steel table. A lamp was shining in his eyes in the darkened interrogation room. Landvik, the dark-haired Norwegian, knelt down and snapped a shackle around Karl’s left ankle. He shook his leg, but felt it would only move seven inches in any direction. Solid chain links locked his ankle to the concrete floor. There would be no escaping this eerie room, Karl thought.

On the other side of the table, hidden by the bright glare of the desk lamp, Erikson leaned forward in his seat while Landvik stood in a corner of the room away from Karl’s view. Officer Lund had left them to attend to other duties.

“So, tell me, is it true that you are conducting illegal religious activities in a basement?” Erikson asked with an even, emotionless tone. “Are you having Bible studies?”

“How is it illegal for men and women to read and study a book, which is meant for spiritual encouragement?” Karl asked.

“Mr. Holst, answer my question, please,” Erikson said calmly but with a slight degree of firmness.

“Tell me, by whose authority is a Bible study made illegal? Is it by God’s authority or man’s?” Karl said with peace filling his heart and a new sense of boldness.

“I am the one asking the questions, not you,” Erikson said coldly. “Are you leading a Bible study? Answer my question.”

“Why are you so concerned about this?” Karl asked.

“We are concerned,” Erikson said, “about the spread of harmful and dangerous ideas in our country and with the rise of cults, which would want to usurp our great nation and the integrity of the European commonwealth. We must put a stop to their spread. It is clear that you are conducting Bible studies. So, this must end now.” 

There was a pause which filled the room with silence for a few seconds. Erikson pressed his fingertips together while he rested his hands on the metal table top, thinking of what next he should say.

“Mr. Holst,” Erikson said, “if you cooperate with us, we will show you mercy and allow you to live a normal life in this great communistic republic through which our country now is rising to prominence. Will you cooperate with us and cease all illegal religious activities, such as proselytizing; and participating in Bible studies, or group worship; and disseminating harmful and illegal religious literature or ideas?”

“I will do what my God shows me to do. I must obey Him over man,*” Karl said simply.

[* Note: See Acts 5:29.]

“If you refuse to cooperate with us,” Officer Erikson said, “I can only say that you will be sent to a labor camp where you will face indefinite, hard, manual labor; small rations; and torture, until the day that you deny your faith in your religion.”

“I will never deny my faith in my God,” Karl said with conviction. “Jesus died for me on the cross for my sins…”

“Be silent!” Erikson said gruffly.

“…, and I can never deny my faith in Him,” Karl finished.

Erikson glared at Karl, but his facial expression was hidden from Karl’s eyes by the bright light shining in his face.

“How many people are in your group?” Erikson said after he forced himself to relax his pent-up hatred.

“There are less than thirty,” Karl said.

“Give me five of their names, please,” Erikson said, pulling out a computer tablet.

“Do you know where you’re going when you die?” Karl asked, leaning forward.

Erikson paused and seemed to be stuck in a moment of intense thought. A minute passed. It seemed as if the interrogator had forgotten his next question.

“Hell is a real place,” Karl said calmly. “People have been there briefly to see it before they were returned to their bodies. There were many videos of their experiences on the internet before it was heavily censored. I don’t want you to go there.”

“Shut up!” Erikson shouted. “I don’t want you telling me about Hell. That place doesn’t exist. It can’t exist.”

“People have been there. There are testimonies,” Karl said.

“Enough about Hell. I am asking the questions,” Erikson said angrily.

“Only Jesus can save you from Hell if you turn to Him,” Karl said.

“Be silent!” Erikson said sternly, pointing a finger at Karl.

Erikson pressed a button under the table and leaned down toward a small microphone under the table. “Guards, take the prisoner, Karl Holst, to a holding cell.”

A thick metal door opened a few seconds later, and two security guards wearing police belts with handcuffs, pistols, flashlights, and other tools entered. Officer Landvik unlocked his leg shackle and the two guards grabbed each of Karl’s arms, which were still linked by handcuffs.

They led him down a concrete hallway in the basement of the police building, and took a left at an intersection. Karl was taken to a room where his mug shots were snapped, his name and personal information was entered into a computer, and he was given an orange uniform to put on. They took his shoes, watch, cell phone, keys, and personal belongings, and placed them in a security box. Once he had come out of a dressing room, wearing the uniform, the guards reattached his handcuffs and escorted him out of the room, back into the hallway.

After walking down this hallway some ways, they reached a hallway, branching off to the right, which was lined with small concrete cells. Each cell contained a small lavatory, bright florescent lights encased in wire cages, and two folding beds attached to the walls. The guards shoved him into one of these and locked the door once they had removed Karl’s handcuffs.

As the guards’ footsteps echoed down the corridor, Karl sighed and looked up, trying to picture the Lord Jesus. He desperately wanted to know what God had to say about this. He was now in the custody of the secret police of a communistic puppet government, and facing what Officer Erikson said would be indefinite hard labor, and possible torture in a German labor camp. What would his Abba Father tell him now?

“My son,” Abba God’s loving voice said, “I know you are troubled about this, but I will deliver you, just as I did Paul when he was escaping from Damascus, when the people sought his life. You will escape. I promise this. And, I the Lord your God and Abba Father have spoken.”

“Thank you, Father God,” Karl said, smiling, as he felt the peace of God fill his heart again.

That night, as Karl lowered himself into a hard-padded bed and tried to make himself comfortable, he thought about his friends and wondered what they were doing, and if they knew he had been arrested. He thought about Inga and wondered if she and the other people in the group knew he was gone.

Karl remembered that one of his Christian friends from the Bible study, named Felix, worked in the same dockyard where he was employed. Felix Tangen operated a high-capacity forklift. Surely, Felix would hear the news from coworkers. He hoped his friends were praying, because he was needing prayer in this difficult time in his life.

Finally, he drifted off to sleep, thankful that the overhead lights turned off automatically at 10:30 PM.

____________________

(Click to Read Part 21.)

(Click here to see The Table of Contents.) 

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[Footnote: The Chinese are not the enemy, neither are the Russians. Both are people just like you and me. But, God will use Russia and China to judge wicked nations, which will not repent from their rebellion against Him. And, the devil will seek to stir up men to persecute the Church. But, God will deliver all who seek Him and trust in Him.]

EXCERPT from Part 21:

 ... They entered the concrete hallway, which was illuminated by white LED ceiling lights, and walked down it for some distance. As they took a right around a corner, Karl stiffened. A security guard, armed with a tactical shotgun, was standing in this new corridor. The man in white gently took Karl by the arm and kept him walking toward the guard.

“He will see us,” Karl said, fearfully.

“Do not fear or be concerned,” the man in white said.

The guard suddenly turned their direction and walked toward them. Karl cringed and prayed fervently but remained as silent as he could manage as they approached the guard. Every footstep felt like one more step toward a concentration camp, to Karl’s mind. The seconds slowed down as the guard drew very close, but then, ...