Hidden Thrones (8 page)

“Sounds
wonderful. Seven it is.”

Jack
smiled
again,
turned and walked out to his car. It had
finally
stopped raining
,
but it could have been
snowing and he wouldn’t have
even
noticed.

B
ack in L.A.
,
Dante Adal awaite
d a
report from one of his foul-
spirit
ed henchmen.
He liked to use
them for
“Stage 1 Intimidations
”
as he called
them -
threats, minor
hindrances
,
and the like. These types of spirits usually worked through humans who had a
welcomi
ng state of mind. Sometimes the spirits
would actually inhabit them without the
people even
knowing it
. O
ther times they would
come an
d go as needed. Operating in this way
gave Dante a wide range of options
given
that there were so
many humans
of this kind
to choose from.

A
slight gust of wind crossed over Dante’s desk and a ghostly image appeared
hovering in the center of his office. Dante turned around
,
put his hands flat on
his desk, leaned forward
,
and demanded, “What do you have to report?”

“I
have done as you asked Master,” the voice said in a deep, grave tone. “Jack
Bennett has been warned, but I do not believe he will back off. This one is
different. The Spirit is strong in him.”

Dante
stood up straight and growled, “All flesh is the same. We will have to take it
to the next level. What about the prayer meeting? Is it being shut down?”

“I
have stirred the two you chose. They will do their worst to have them thrown
out of the old church they’re meeting in. They plan on having the historical
society inform them they can no longer meet there, as you suggested.”

“Excellent.
Ah yes, so much jealousy and bitterness - two of my most delightful tools. Keep
up the good work.”
Dante paused and snickered. The phrase amused him. “Make sure
that happens. You may go. I will deal with this Jack Bennett person.”

With
that, the spirit vanished into thin air. Dante knew he had to move slowly and
methodically if he was going to destroy this uprising and, at the same time,
avoid any confrontation with angelic forces, especially Uriel. He would have to
be sly and deceptive but then again, that was his nature.

* * *

Jack
finished his Wednesday morning blog update, walked out his front door and onto
the front porch, and plopped himself down in his favorite chair. This was the
place he liked to pray, meditate, and just plain zone out. The view from the
front porch was beautiful and serene. His house was set back two hundred feet
from the road and was separated by a line of Black Oak trees that came with the
property and four flowering Dogwoods he planted himself.

Jack
thought about all that had happened over the past week, including his
encounters with Emily, but what was foremost on his mind was the spiritual
battle he was in. He knew this battle was going to be lengthy and difficult,
but he also knew that the reward would be great. The words the angel spoke echoed
in his head. Jack considered everything that happened to him to be an
incredible privilege. God was using him in a powerful way and he knew that
whatever came his way, the Lord would have his back. That didn’t mean he wasn’t
concerned, but there was only one Almighty and he knew it wasn’t him. The
enemy’s plan was obvious to him.

The
last thing the king of darkness wanted was an on fire group of Christians
praying in unity and agreeing on something. Since the beginning of time he had
been driving a wedge between Christians by persuading them to separate into
denominations. If possible, he would have them argue over how many angels could
fit on the head of a pin. No matter what the situation was, his strategy was
the same - divide and conquer.

Jesus
said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Jack knew this and had
always been about unity. His favorite scripture was in the gospel of John, 17:21.
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’

Jack
thought about how powerful a weapon unity is. It is one that causes The Enemy
to tremble. Jack knew that would be the first thing he should attempt to do. If
he could cause friction between the believers and get them to stop praying,
then he would be on his way to victory.

Just
then Jack’s cell phone started ringing - it was Conni. He almost expected this
phone call.

He
answered, “Hi Conni. What’s going on?”

“Hi
Jack. I heard from the historical society today.” Her voice was stressed. She
was obviously disturbed. “They told me that we couldn’t use the church anymore
for our prayer meetings.”

Jack
could feel his blood pressure rising. “What was their reasoning for that
decision?”

“They
said the building wasn’t safe enough for large gatherings, but you and I both know
what’s really going on. Obviously those two people you pointed out to me had
something to do with it. The historical society would have never let us in in the
first place if there been some structural problem.”

Jack
felt awful. He thought to himself.
If I only hadn’t gone there and spoken,
maybe none of this would have happened.

“Yes,
we know who’s behind this. I feel bad, Conni. I think I might have brought this
down on you and your group.”

“They
couldn’t have known you were going to be there. Only a handful of people knew
you were coming. I think this was in the works for a while.”

Jack
stood up and began to pace back and forth from one end of the porch to the
other.

“There
is something I didn’t tell you.” Jack drew a deep breath before continuing, “When
I left the other night, those same two people were waiting for me in the
parking lot. They came up to me when I was getting in my car and threatened
that if I came back, something bad was going to happen to me, or you, or both
of us. They told me they worked for powerful people who wanted me to stay
away.”

Jack
could tell Conni was a little shaken. She took a couple of seconds to respond.

“Wow,”
she said softly. “That is awful. Who do those people think they are?” Conni shifted
from shaken to furious in a heartbeat. “We should fight this thing!”

Jack
knew that wasn’t going to work. “I feel the same way Conni, but they have
authority over all those historical buildings. We would have to prove that the
building is safe, and even then they could still deny us access. We need to
find another place for you to gather. Does anyone in the group have a home
church that will let you use their building?”

“Well,
as you saw the group is diverse in many ways. Very few of them go to the same
church. That was what was so unique about it. The gathering was interdenominational.
You know how it is, churches are so territorial. I’ll ask around, but honestly
that’s why we ended up there in the first place. It was our only option at the
time.”

None
of what Conni said was news to Jack, but it still always bothered him to hear
it. Jack wanted to encourage Conni to move ahead. Without prayer, they would be
in trouble.

“This
is the age of technology Conni,” he said. “We still can get together and pray,
just not in the same place. If you have everyone’s email addresses, tell them
what’s going on and ask them to pray that God will provide a place to get
together.  We are not in this alone. This is God’s battle, not ours.”

“Okay,
I can do that. If I send you the group’s email addresses, would you send them
an encouraging message? I think they would like to hear from you as well.”

“It
would be my pleasure. Anything I can do to help,” Jack reassured her.

Conni
thanked Jack and said goodbye. She felt so much better after talking to him.
Jack had a way of encouraging people, a gift Conni was very thankful for.  She
was well aware of what was at stake. The spiritual world was very real to her.
She had prayed over many disturbed and spiritually harassed people in her life
and knew what prayer could do. For years, most of her family saw her as some
kind of religious freak, especially when she tried to share her experiences
with God with them.

Although
she never married, Conni had many children. It was because of her love for kids
that she decided to volunteer as a helper with the local children’s hospital
bringing toys and treats to many of the sick children. When the opportunity
presented itself, she would pray with them and their parents. She had touched
many lives over the years and she planned on continuing as long as the Lord
allowed.

Jack
laid his phone down on the table next to his chair and said some prayers of his
own.

He
just got started when the phone rang again. It was Frank.

“Hey
buddy, what’s happening?”
Jack answered.

“We
won’t be able to get together tomorrow. I’ve been assigned a new case. Seems
like I might need you on this one too, but I won’t know for sure until I get
there. You’re not going to believe where this one is. High Point. I think it’s
the same old church that your prayer meeting was in.”

Jack
sat up straight. “What? No way! What’s going on there?”

“They
say the lights are going on and off at night, chairs are flying around, and
strange sounds are coming from the steeple. It’s scaring the hell out of the
neighborhood.” Frank caught himself and quickly apologized for his phrasing. “Oh,
sorry. You know what I mean.”

Jack
half smiled. “You don’t have to apologize. Unfortunately, Hell is a very real
place and it wouldn’t be a bad thing if it was scared out of everybody. I need
to be in on this one.”

“I had
a feeling you might say that. I’ll meet you there tonight at, say, 7:00 p.m. I
have some things I need to clear up here in D.C. first. Plus I know you - you’ll
want to see if things go bump in the night.”

Jack
hung up, leaned back in his chair and stared straight ahead. He couldn’t
remember a time when things were this crazy.
What in the world is going on?
He thought to himself,
The spirit world is beginning to manifest itself and
the fight is moving into the open.

He
bowed his head and prayed, “Father, strengthen your people for the battle
ahead.”

A heavy
mist was falling as Jack pulled up in front of the old church. He parked right
next to Frank’s car and saw that Frank was still sitting inside talking on the
phone. Jack waited until he was done talking, got out of his car and jumped in
with Frank.

“Well,
here we are again. Have you seen anything unusual since you’ve been here?” Jack
asked.

“No,
but then again it’s just now getting dark and nothing happens until it’s dark,
right?” Frank said half joking. “Of course, this fog doesn’t help any either. I
hate this kind of weather. I brought two big flashlights and it looks like
we’re gonna need them.”

Jack
looked puzzled. “What for? The lights were working when I was here.”

“Yeah,
about that - the historical society had the power shut off earlier today. The
local cops came by earlier figuring there must be a short somewhere which would
explain why the lights were going in and out,” Frank explained.

“Great.
They couldn’t wait one more day? Didn’t they know you were coming?”

Frank
gave Jack a sarcastic look. “What do you expect? The federal and local agencies
to actually communicate?”

“Unbelievable.
Well, let’s get going.”

They
got out of the car and walked up the long, gray slate sidewalk that led to a
small front porch. Frank moved his hand over his gun. It was a habit he had. He
liked to make sure it was ready to go, just in case. Jack made his way onto the
porch and reached his hand out to open one of the large double wooden doors.

“Hey,
I should go first.  I’m the federal agent with the gun,” Frank insisted.

Jack
looked at him curiously and said, “I thought the cops already went through this
place?”

“I
don’t trust anyone except myself and God.” He then added, “And, on occasion,
you.”

“God?
Really?” Jack asked with a smile. “Interesting.”

Jack
yielded and Frank went in first, both their flashlights burning bright. Jack
tried the light switch, but Frank was right - the power was off.

“Maybe
I should check the attic. That’s where they said the sounds were coming from.”

Frank
looked at Jack like he was insane.

“No
way! Don’t you watch any movies? That’s what all those morons do.
Oh, let’s
split up
,” he imitated mockingly. “No. We are staying together, especially
after all I’ve seen working with you - no way. That’s not gonna happen.”

Jack
rolled his eyes. “You watch too much TV. I feel like I’m back in high school
sneaking around old abandoned houses. Fine, we’ll go together.”

“You
broke into houses?” Frank asked, stunned.

Jack
peered at him and said, “Just keep walking.”

The
two men climbed the stairs slowly and methodically. Frank thought,
Forget
about any wackos or goblins. These old rickety stairs will probably kill us
first.
They finally reached the attic. It was very difficult to distinguish
anything even with their flashlights, but as far as they could see, there was
no one there.

Then
Jack felt something he didn’t like. It was the same familiar feeling he always
got when something was about to appear.

“Frank,
I’m sensing someone or something is here.”

Just
then, there was a howl and a strong gust of wind. Frank felt something brush by
him that gave him a chill up and down his spine. He turned quickly, moving his
flashlight up and down, hoping to get a glimpse of what it was.

Jack
spun around. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear
it? I felt it! Whatever it was brushed right by me. I think it headed back down
the steps.”

Frank
shined his flashlight in the direction of the steps, revealing a trail of
reddish-orange smoke swirling around the top of the steps. Jack saw it too.
They looked at each other and carefully headed back down to the first floor.
Once again, they heard what they determined to be a combination of growling and
howling, with a trace of smoke rising up from the basement. They slowly made
their way down to the basement, flashlights in hand. Frank braced his gun and
flashlight tight in his hands, sweeping the room from one side to the other. Jack
was right alongside of him, searching meticulously for what he knew was not
human.

“I
don’t think that gun is going to do us any good, Frank.”

“Well
I’m not putting it down - you can bet on that. You have your weapons and I have
mine.”

All of
a sudden the room was filled with reddish-orange smoke that formed a huge,
thick cloud. Horrific, deep guttural sounds began to come from the inside of
the swirling cloud, growing louder and louder and becoming so intense that
Frank and Jack felt like their heads were going to explode. They watched as two
red eyes began to appear through the smoke and then, there it was - a large
figure with jet-black wings stood before them. It had the face of a man, but its
skin was like the scales of a snake. Strapped to its side was a large, pewter
colored sword that nearly reached the floor.

This
was not the first time Frank had seen crazy-weird-Jack-stuff, but it had always
been at a great distance before. It was never this evil and ominous, and it was
never this close. Frank felt like all of the air had been taken from the room.
It was becoming increasingly difficult to breathe.

The
creature looked at Frank and seemed to quickly dismiss him as non-threatening.
Looking back at Jack, it said, “Well, if it isn’t Jack Bennett. I knew you
would come if I put on a little show for everybody.”

Frank
tried to use his weapon, but he couldn’t move his hand. His whole body seemed
to be paralyzed, but not from fear.

Jack
looked the creature in the eye, stood firm, and said, “You have no right to be
here.”

It
glared at Jack, challenging him venomously. “Oh, but I do. I brought this place
down fifty years ago. The leadership was more concerned about preserving the
building than saving their own souls. They invited me in here with all their petty
bickering and backbiting. You have no idea how much fun it was watching them
tear themselves apart, so I can’t have you and the others re-sanctifying this
place. It was given to me, and I don’t plan on giving it back. It belongs to me.”

Jack
knew all demons were liars, but in this case there was a measure of spiritual
truth there. Even so, he needed to stand his ground.

Jack
responded with confidence, “It is my intention to take this place back in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was once dedicated to Him and it will be
again!”

With
that, the creature repelled backwards. The name of Jesus seemed to penetrate it
like an electric shock. Taking a deep breath, the creature spat back at Jack
with fury, “I am the prince of the entire region you call the United States! I
will not be removed. You may hinder me for a short time, but I will destroy
this country from the inside out. You cannot stop it. It is already well
underway.”

The creature
reached down, drew its sword from its sheath, raised it high in the air and
taunted, “I may not be able to kill you now,” motioning to Jack, “but I can do
away with this one,” turning his attention to Frank. Frank’s eyes grew wide and
he found himself completely unable to move, still frozen by some kind of
outside force.

Jack
cried out, “Father! Remove this demon from this place!”

At
that, incredible, bright streams of light began to penetrate the darkness and
fill the room. They seemed to be coming from every direction and flying in at
imperceptible speeds. The reddish-orange mist quickly began to dissolve as the
pure bright light filled not just the basement, but the entire building. The
creature jerked backwards, holding his sword out in front of him in a defensive
posture as another figure emerged. It was a gleaming bright angel of light
holding his own sword in his hands; only this sword pulsated with light as
bright as the sun. They could hardly look at it - it was so bright.

Although
he was clothed in spectacular glory, Jack recognized his face as the hitchhiker
he has picked up in the car that day. He didn’t have much to reference given
that it was the only angel he had ever seen, but he had a strong feeling it
was.

Jack
and Frank stared in amazement. Frank was still holding on tight to his weapon
and could finally feel his arms and legs coming back to life. Jack reached out
and guided Frank’s arms back down to his sides. There was clearly no need or
use for earthly weapons here.

The
creature moaned in disapproval, “
Uriel,
we meet again.”

“Yes
, Dante. T
he Lord sent me to
remind you that
,
once again
,
you hav
e overstepped.
These belong to H
im.”

Dante
growled
and indicated Frank.
“Not this one.”

“You
do not kn
ow the plans of the Lord. Only H
e can read the hearts of men.”

“Why
does he bother with such fools?”
Dante
retorted.

“His
ways are not our ways and they are definitely not your ways.
The Lord is reclaiming what is His, for His glory and His
honor.” Uriel then commanded the creature
with
authority
, “
Be
gone f
rom this place and never return!
”

Dante
winced in disgust
,
but added
, “I will have my
day and this world and all the fools who live in it will obey me.”

“That
may be
,
but
your time is not
yet.” Uriel raised his
sword,
glared into Dante’s red glowing eyes and
declared loudly, “The Lord God has spoken!”

Dante
s
hrieked
in
frustration and anger
. T
he sound of his voice rattled every loose board and pane of
glass in the building. Then suddenly
,
he was gone. Uriel stood there alone, looked at Jack and
smiled
,
confirming in Jack’s heart that he was
in
fact
the one who talked with him
in the car
.

Uriel
glanced at Frank
,
raised his eyebrow and looked back at Jack. He smiled again
and shot up through the building like a rocket into the sky. 

Jack
looked at Frank and said, “
You
might want to consider making that commitment to the Lord
we’ve talked about.
”

Frank
stared at him in stunned silence. A slow smile began to
form
on Jack’s face
growing wider and wider
until
he couldn’t hold it in any longer
. He
broke out in laughter and, l
ike a dam burst
ing, he released all of the tension in the room.
Frank slowly began
to
laugh as well,
but
his
was a very nervous laughter. 

Not
another word was spoken until they got outside and were standing in the parking
lot. Frank
,
still tingling all over
,
took a deep breath and said,
“Okay,
so what do I have to do?
I mean
, besides change my underwear?”

Jack
continued laughing, partly
because
of what
Frank
said
,
but more because
the tension was still there.

Becoming
more serious, Jack said,
“I
’ll tell you what -
I
know this is an extremely private matter for you
,
considering you
r
Jewish roots and all. I know you pretty well
,
so I think you should
get in your car and talk to the Lord just like you would talk to me or anyone
else. Reflect on your life
. Ask H
im to forgive you for every sin and wrong thing you have ever
done. A
sk H
im to
give you a new start and to come in and fill yo
ur
heart with the assurance of H
is mercy and
love.  I guarantee you will feel the change. Cal
l
me and let me know how you do
.”

At
first
,
Frank
just stared at him
and said, “Okay. Geez,
t
his is a night I will never forget. Do you
think the prayer group will get to come back now?”

“Well
,
if I were a betting
man
,
I’d
be all over that one. I don’t know when or how
,
but my money is on God.”

Barely
hearing what Jack had said, Frank stood and stared
at the church
almost as if he
were
in a trance. Jack
reac
hed over and gave him a man hug. H
e looked like he needed it.