The Castle by Lorilyn Roberts

Author:Lorilyn Roberts [Roberts, Lorilyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996532204
Publisher: Lorilyn Roberts

* * *

“You, O Lord, are mighty forever, you revive the dead, you have the power to save…”

* * *

A low-pitched rumble shot up from underneath the ground. Suddenly the earth moved beneath my feet.

“Earthquake!” a man shouted.

Crowds swarmed around me as they tried to escape the perceived danger, fleeing into the countryside away from the affected area. Seconds later, the cemetery next to the condemned men split open.

Terrifying sounds poured out of the temple as boulders fell. Thunderclaps bolted through the darkened sky. I fell to the ground as frightened observers fled. The blackness spread.

As I lay on the ground, I watched the temple shake. Then I saw him. He stood on the precipice. His deep reddish coat shone despite the darkness—as spectacular as the lion I saw when I first arrived—the lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, and the fourth son of Jacob. I glanced at Yeshua—if he was the son of David, could he be—

A Roman soldier shouted, “Hey, you, Daniel, the Charioteer!”

I jumped. Too late, I realized my mistake. The Roman soldier aimed the spear at me, but I scrambled to my feet and bolted. The dusty air from the quake settled in my throat, making me panic. What if I couldn’t breathe? Only when I reached the entrance to the city did I glance back. The soldier had stayed with the garrison. It was only a matter of time.

The sooner I left Jerusalem, the better. There was nothing keeping me here. Pesach would be over soon. If the Roman soldiers caught me, they would crucify me—the death sentence for runaway slaves. Having just seen how they relished that task, I had no desire to join them.

In the outer temple courtyard, boulders had fallen on the stone pavement and pillars had crumbled. Columns lay in ruins. Dust and debris covered everything.

Temple priests brushed past me into the Court of the Gentiles blabbering, “The temple veil is torn, top to bottom.”

More chaos followed.

I tiptoed closer. The earthquake had obliterated the Chamber of Hewn Stone—the meeting place of the council. I knew the chamber would never be rebuilt. An epiphany revealed a deeper truth—the last order the council issued from the temple was to crucify Yeshua.

I stepped over fallen boulders and balusters littering the mount. I could barely get my breath. I hurried through the Court of the Women, up the stairs, through the damaged Nicanor gate, and into the Court of Israel.

Terror stricken, more priests fled. Hundreds had been in the cloister sacrificing animals when the quake struck.

The desolation in the temple area reminded me of the deserted streets in Israel following attacks on our people—a grisly reminder of the tenuousness of our existence.

Squalls of wind that sounded eerily like temple shofars blew dust in my face. A few crows circled overhead. I peered into the Court of the Priests covered in sacrificial blood. Beyond it, the torn veil revealed the Holy of Holies.

I drew nearer and closed my eyes, hoping to feel God’s presence.

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