57. August 29 - Beheading of John the Baptist

Poppy and I flew straight back to earth, no acrobatics, no fun. Along the way I wondered how the Bride will end Her year. If it began with creation, would it end with annihilation? What could possibly top the departure of Mother Mary? That was spectacular, even by my standards. I wondered what She and God were saying to each other at their meeting. Thinking and flying go well together.

As we approached earth I could see right away that we were headed straight for Jerusalem.

When we landed within the city walls, I asked, "Now what?"

Poppy replied, "It may make you happy to know that the last event of the year falls out of chronological time. Jesus is still around teaching and performing miracles, but we will go to be with John the Baptist who was taken to prison yesterday for shaming Herod the ruler."

Acknowledging the surprised look on my face with a nod, Poppy continued, "The man married his brother's wife, and did not want John telling him that it was not lawful. Ironic how rulers and lawmakers don't mind at all breaking God's laws."

Together we entered a dark and dirty jail cell where John was praying peacefully.

Poppy approached John who looked up at us and said, "Greetings angels."

She replied, "John, we have come to tell you that your remaining days on earth are few. Herodias told her daughter to have you beheaded. Prepare yourself."

John looked at Poppy and then straight at me with tears welling up in his sky blue eyes.

"Of course," he said, then solemnly bowed his head. "Even King David from time to time killed the messenger. I will not be the first prophet who was put to death. How could I expect anything less. Angel...

"My name is Poppy." she interjected.

"Poppy, go and tell my disciples to find Jesus and follow Him."

She nodded and added to comfort him, "Oh, John! You will be brave! Keep your heart at peace. You have been a good and sober servant of The Lord; you will be rewarded."

Suddenly two muscular and hairy men approached the cell gate. The short one unlocked it. "Come with us prophet." barked the larger most fearsome one and tied John's hands together. Then both strong men flanked John to take him to the chief centurion who told him what he already knew, that he was to be beheaded immediately. John peacefully approached and without ceremony rested his head on the tree stump as if it were a pillow and he was going to sleep after a very long hard day of labor.

Seconds before the ax fell John's spirit popped out of his body. I grabbed it and said, "Don't look, come with us."

Obediently John's spirit flew between me and Poppy. I had never encountered a man like this before. I could sense a peace and depth in him that was at once profound and innocent. He was ready for whatever would happen next.

We flew in silence. Saturated by the power of the moment my racing mind stopped in silence.

Instead of going to heaven as I assumed, I noticed that Poppy was headed into southern darkness. Then it occurred to me that we were aiming for Hades. Of course! I had forgotten that for John, there was no choice. 'Oh, the Bride is certainly having her fun with time now', I thought, and wondered why.

Poppy and I safely delivered John to Hades. Before we left, Poppy told him that it wouldn't be long before Jesus will come to set everyone free. John smiled and nodded as if he already knew why he was there, and bid us both a smooth journey back.

After John the Baptist had been safely installed in Hades, Poppy and I slowly flew back through increasingly luminous blue skies. I asked Poppy why the year ended that way.

She was keen to show off the knowledge she gained from years of earthly life and said, "At the very end of the year the Bride slides back to remember the age that preceded the Resurrection when no one was allowed to enter God's presence in heaven."

I chimed in to show that I was not altogether ignorant, "...because of their cursed exile from Paradise." Then I smiled proudly.

Poppy smiled back at me, happy that I had learned something of the history of earth, and then she added, "God, in His infinite wisdom allowed the evil Herodias, her daughter, and the pathetically weak Herod to perpetrate their crime in order to send John to Hades to proclaim there also the coming of the Messiah who would soon set them free. What the devil means for evil, God uses for good."

"Oh, I get it!" I responded,"John was the front-man both on earth and in Hades! But I still don't understand why the Bride ends her synchronic year with that horrible event. "

Poppy explained patiently, "This last note echoes through the centuries, John the Baptist warning humankind to repent and prepare themselves, each and every person, for the coming of The Lord.

Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest 'among all those born of women' and yet he was least in the kingdom of heaven... Why?

It was because he did not witness the crucifixion and resurrection that reunited fallen man to immortal God, so he was not given the opportunity to act on that knowledge." Poppy paused and looked deep into my mind to see if I had fully understood her, then she shrugged and continued in her typical cheerful manner.

"Let me try to explain it this way: The year closes with the man who came to pave the way of The Lord by admonishing people to repent, to change their self-centered way of thinking and behaving. John wanted the people to think like God, not like animals.

To think like God is to think like Jesus. Jesus tried to make it as easy as possible to be like Him, to regain the original design of humankind in the image and likeness of God, by following His clear and straightforward commands.

Angel friend, this is not just the end of one year that starts all over again; it is the end of time. Don't you see! When time ends..." And then Poppy shot me the biggest brightest smile I have ever seen.

"the blessed humans will go to the new heaven and new earth where they will live happily ever after! The Second creation happens!" Poppy was so excited by the concept of a brand new timeless world that she could barely contain herself.

"Did you read the last chapter of the Book, angel? John the Evangelist 'saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And he saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And John heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be His people, and God himself will be with them, He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things will have passed away.' " Poppy stopped quoting and was still and silent.

I sat there dumbfounded and in awe. My God created time and matter as a medium for the creation of a world with a whole new kind of time without end. This I could accept! This was brilliant; it was magnificent; it was amazing.

From the depths of beheading and crucifixion had arisen the pinnacle of life, the nearness of the ever-loving God, the Father. The Father of the Bride! The revelation was nothing less than awesome.

"Poppy, I've got to go." I said hurriedly, "It's been great knowing you, but I think They will let me back in heaven now. Thanks for everything."

I flew to heaven as fast as my soul could go to apologize to God from the bottom of my angel heart for not being able (or willing) to recognize the grandeur of His creation.

The angel's last words:

Thousands of revolutions of light and darkness have gone by since I wrote those words, but not once have I complained again. Now I know how dense and meaningful each day is, and I know the end of them too, and that has made all the difference.

Like the Bride, I can hardly wait for Her wedding day.