IMAGINATION'S
PLACE
FICTION
ONE MAN'S JUDGMENT DAY
By Gerald A. Polley
The Ancient One was not having a good time. The hunting was
bad. His prey continually eluded him. The Lord Of Heaven had been
having more success than him, which was an odd occurance! The
Ancient One returned from a night's hunting and went to his
material job. He had been there for some time when an Angelic
Messenger arrived. "Advocate Of The Republic," It
announced, "you are wanted in The Hall Of Judgment. One of
those bearing your mark has arrived and stands in judgment. You
are summoned to present your grievances."
The Ancient One sighed, split half of himself off, and sent it
into The Afterlife. When he arrived at The Hall Of Judgment a
woman was speaking. "Lord Peter! We do not understand. Our
father served God for 76 years. Now that he has died we are told
he has offended a Lord Of Light and cannot enter into The Kingdom
Of God. And why is he so suffering? What is the agony that he is
bearing?"
"I see Demetrius has arrived," Lord Peter answered.
"It is his mark that is on this one. Let him explain why
this man is condemned."
The woman turned angrily, looking at The Ancient One. "Lord
Peter," The Ancient One began, "I did not put my mark
on this one, an Angelic Messenger did. Four years ago we sent out
emails, messages from The Lord Of Heaven, to churches around the
country. Most did not even bother to respond, but this man
responded with hate and venom, calling us servants of the Devil,
and blasphemers because we opposed the sodomizing of God's
children. He said that God forgave man's mistakes, and would
forgive the homosexuals, that our teachings were not Biblical,
that we were not of God. That is why this one bears my mark.
Because he rejected God's messages and clung to the falsity of
man."
"I see!" Lord Peter answered. "Thank you,
Demetrius! Then there is no judgment I can give besides this one
is banished from The Kingdom Of God."
"What?" the woman cried. "Why?"
"He rejected God's teachers," Lord Peter answered,
"even though an Angelic Messenger bore witness to them. He
preferred the blasphemy of man. He would not support the truth.
God's commands are quite clear. Any that reject God's Messengers
lose their place in Heaven."
"No!" the woman cried, "No! It isn't fair! This is
unjust! He didn't know! You were asking him to forsake everything
he'd ever been taught. This is unfair!"
Lord Peter raised his hand. "Enough!" he cried,
"You do not call The Judgment Of Heaven unfair! This one was
given every opportunity. God's Messengers were sent. The Angelic
Messengers touched him, beared witnesses to the messages. He
chose to reject God. He now suffers the pain and anguish that all
of those he betrayed have suffered, because he sent them to
eternal death. Question The Judgment Of Heaven one more time, and
you, too, will be cast out! Remain silent and depart. My judgment
is made. This one is to be taken to The Gates and cast out. He
has had his reward among mankind, he has had his praise. He has
had his glory. He rejected what God offered."
The woman turned angrily to The Ancient One. "The law says
if the one who is offended gives pardon," she begged,
"the condemned may be given a second chance to repent."
"But the one who has been offended," The Ancient One
answered, "will not give pardon. Because of his rejection we
have lost many of our children. He sent them to eternal death.
Now that is his fate! It is well known that I am without pity or
compassion. Destroy my own, and you will be destroyed!"
The woman clenched her fists. It was obvious she wished to say
more but she angrily turned and stormed from The Hall Of
Judgment. The Angelic Guards took her weeping father and led him
away.
"If I may be excused," The Ancient One remarked,
"things are not well at home."
"Go!" Lord Peter answered, "With Our
blessings!"
The Ancient One followed The Angelic Guards. They took the man
outside of Heaven's Gate. He stood there weeping for a few more
moments, then fled into the Darkness. His daughter came up to The
Ancient One. "Are you pleased?" she snapped. "He
tried to do good, he tried to help people. He made some
concessions so people wouldn't leave his church. Was that so
wrong?"
The Ancient One saw a flash of light in the distance.
"Apparently," he remarked. "Apparently it was
enough to destroy his soul forever. There is no middle ground
with evil. If you accept it it destroys you."
The Ancient One returned to his body. Sometimes even when you win
there is no pleasure in it. Sometimes even when you're vindicated
it brings no joy.
THE END