The Remnant Book Left Behind Series
RAYFORD STEELE had endured enough brushes with death to know that
the cliché was more than true: Not only did your life flash
before your mind's eye, but your senses were also on high alert.
As he knelt awkwardly on the unforgiving red rock of the city of
Petra in ancient Edom, he was aware of everything, remembered
everything, thought of everything and everybody.
Despite the screaming Global Community fighter bombers larger
than any he had ever seen or even read about he heard his own
concussing heart and wheezing lungs. New to the robe and sandals
of an Egyptian, he tottered on sore knees and toes. Rayford could
not bow his head, could not tear his eyes from the sky and the
pair of warheads that seemed to grow larger as they fell.
Beside him his dear compatriot, Abdullah Smith, prostrated
himself, burying his head in his hands. To Rayford, Smitty
represented everyone he was responsible for the entire
Tribulation Force around the world. Some were in Chicago, some in
Greece, some with him in Petra. One was in New Babylon. And as
the Jordanian groaned and leaned into him, Rayford felt Abdullah
shuddering.
Rayford was scared too. He wouldn't have denied it. Where was the
faith that should have come from seeing God, so many times,
deliver him from death? It wasn't that he doubted God. But
something deep within his survival instinct, he assumed told him
he was about to die.
For most people, doubt was long gone by now . . . there were few
skeptics anymore. If someone were not a Christ follower by now,
probably he had chosen to oppose God.
Rayford had no fear of death itself or of the afterlife.
Providing heaven for his people was a small feat for the God who
now manifested himself miraculously every day. It was the dying
part Rayford dreaded. For while his God had protected him up to
now and promised eternal life when death came, he had not spared
Rayford injury and pain. What would it be like to fall victim to
the warheads?
Quick, that was sure. Rayford knew enough about Nicolae Carpathia
to know the man would not cut corners now. While one bomb could
easily destroy the million people who all but Rayford, it seemed
tucked their heads as close to between their legs as they were
able, two bombs would vaporize them. Would the flashes blind him?
Would he hear the explosions? feel the heat? be aware of his body
