Angel of the Apocalypse Read Online Free PDF Page A

entire church congregation
sat quietly in fold-out chairs, waiting patiently on the pastor to
start his eulogy. From time to time, soft cries were heard from the
small crowd, from family members mourning their loss.
    Pastor
Justin D. Abrams walked towards the podium that was situated in front
of the twenty-three coffins. He paused for a moment as he passed by
the coffin of his wife Sarah, and briefly touched the edge of the
wooden casket. He then got behind the podium and look at his
congregation with sad, weary eyes.
    He
could see his son quietly sitting in the front row. Isaac was
slightly bent over in his chair, looking at the ground. The pastor
didn't think his son understood the full weight of what had happened
to his mom...or the rest of the world, for that matter. The rest of
the congregation looked expectantly at him. The pastor cleared his
throat.
    “ What
is a life well lived?” asked the pastor. “We are born
painfully into this chaotic world. We are born helpless and
screaming. It is only through the love and grace of our parents that
we eventually find our place in this life. The guidance of a father,
the love of a mother, the hope provided by a son or daughter. It is
family that first binds us to each other.” The pastor looked
into the eyes of his congregation, who were so desperately looking
for words of comfort.
    “ Our
families then reach out to friends, and the community,” the
pastor continued. “And the community and our friends become our
second family. It is these interlocking relationships that bind us
all together, that make us one.”
    The
pastor paused for a moment, as he heard one person from the
congregation burst into tears. “When one of the people in our
family dies, whether it's our biological family, our family of
friends, or even a member of our community dies, death takes a part
of our soul with them. We physically and emotionally feel this loss
within ourselves. In the last week, our community, our family ,
lost twenty three souls. That leaves each of us with twenty three
empty rooms in our heart. Rooms that were filled with love and
laughter only one week ago. They were souls that were taken away from
us too soon, and left us with unanswered questions.
    “ These
are truly difficult times, and in these times it might be easy to
raise your fist at the sky and scream at God, 'Why? Why would you do
this to your children?' But the souls of the twenty-three loved ones
behind me were not yours to keep. They are God's souls. They are His
to give and take. And even though it is sometimes beyond our
understanding, we must have faith. For it is in His greater purpose
that he called our loved ones back to Him, and it is in our greater
purpose to remain strong in our faith.
    “ It
is thought that these are the end times, and I have heard whispers of
doubt. 'Why were we left behind?' I have heard people say. 'Why are
we forsaken?' As believers, it is our duty to remain strong, to be
God's soldiers. If these truly are the end times, then now more than
ever before, it is our duty to remain strong in the face of doubt. It
is our duty to remain strong in the face of evil.”
    The
pastor stopped his speech and glanced over his right shoulder,
looking at his wife's coffin once again. He then looked at his
congregation. Sad, weary eyes looked back at him. He could only wish
that he was able to provide a brief glimmer of hope to those who were
left behind. “Let us bow our heads and pray.”

    Arrangements
were made to bury the bodies in an open field, out in the country. At
this point, nearly ten percent of the world's population was
decimated by the disease. Cemeteries were overflowing with bodies, so
local governments across the country made plans for designated burial
sites.
    Normally,
funeral homes provide comfort and guidance to families that were
dealing with loss. Unfortunately, since all the funeral homes were
booked for months, families had to take it upon themselves to bury
their dead. It