Short Stories

---

Beloved Apostate
© 2004 Josprel Perrello (Josprel)
[email protected]

Who is the Antichrist?
by
Josprel

An excerpt from Josprel’s up-coming novel, “Beloved Apostate.”


Doctor Paul Ladner pushed back from the dinner table. "Lela, your meals are
works of art!" he exclaimed.

"See, dear, Lela lets me eat all I want; so should you!" he teased Naomi, his wife.

"Well, that bay window of yours certainly proves I haven't starved you!" she shot
back, winking at Lela.

Darnel chuckled. "Time to retreat, Dad. Let's take our coffee to my study; it's safe there."

Browsing through the volumes in the book-lined study, Paul casually pulled one.

"Full of Fresh Wine!" read the dust-cover. He noticed Darnel's name as the author and quickly shelved it.

"Keep it, dad. Highway Publishers printed it earlier this year. Its already sold about 12,000 copies, with no end in sight. The proceeds go to the church. Read it; you'll enjoy it."

"Now, son, let's not get into anything controversial. We've had a good visit and
tomorrow your mother and I will be leaving for Montreal to see your sister Marge. Let's leave things on a good note."

"But that's just it, Dad. I don't want you to leave tomorrow. Please stay and speak for me at the church. You preached for me when my church was small. Our attendance has now climbed to over sixty-five thousand. Were celebrating with a special service and I want you to be the guest speaker, but you won’t even attend our services."

"Now Darnel . . ."

"Just hear me out, Dad. We've got to tear down this wall between us. We used to be so close and I miss that.

"I know that you preach for Chuck when you visit him, but you won't preach for
me. Is the Fresh Wine Movement that repugnant to you?"

Paul gave a helpless gesture.

"Come on, Dad! I'm your son; speak to me! I want to know!"

Tears welled in the older man's eyes; anguish etched his distinguished features. A twinge of remorse stabbed Darnel.

"I know this hurts, Dad; I feel it, too. That's why we've got to settle it. Tell me why you're so opposed to the Fresh Wine Movement that you won't even attend my services."

Paul sidled toward the door; but, with quick strides, Darnel blocked his path. "Not this time, Dad; you’re going to tell me!"

Heaving a sigh, Paul shifted his glasses to his forehead, quickly dabbing a
handkerchief at his eyes. For a long moment, he stood staring in anguish, as though seeing his son for the last time.

Clamping his jaws, Darnel ignored the urgent scream welling from deep within; an insistent scream, demanding he stop his father from speaking!

Finally, Paul settled into a seat, motioning for Darnel to do the same. His voice
heavy with grief, he said, "It's obvious you won't drop this. You should, you know; you've no idea how my words will hurt.

"I can take it."

"I doubt it. So, you demand to know why I'm opposed to your movement. Let me begin by saying that my views have not lessened my love for you. Is that a given?"

Receiving a curt nod, he continued. "I am not unfamiliar with the literature of your movement. I've studied all the mailings Highway Christian Center has sent me. I've read many books written by Fresh Wine authors - yours included. I've heard your radio programs and watched your telecasts. And, to my distress, I've sat in the services of your Fresh Wine churches and listened to Fresh Wine talks, for I will not dignify what is said by calling it preaching."

At this, Darnel's lips parted, as though to speak.

His father lifted a protesting hand. "Hold on, Darnel! You forced this issue! Now
you're going to hear it out!

"Your movement has the arrogance to affront an entire generation of older
Pentecostals by publicly referring to them as people who love God, but who refuse to mesh with what He is doing in this generation. These include many people who have made great sacrifices and endured tremendous sufferings to hand the torch to your generation. Some of the very organizations with which you align yourself have inflicted heavy persecution on these Pentecostals.

Indignation flashed from Paul's eyes; they raked his son. "I know of your "old
wineskins" joke – the tag by which you refer to my generation. You accuse my
generation of fighting the Holy Spirit's move on the Church of your generation. What audacity! I believe I'd know if your movement was of God. We've . . ."

Darnel interrupted, "Just a minute, Dad! Whoa!"

Improvising an amused grin, he made the football time sign, "Time out, Doctor
Ladner! I have something to say!

"You claim you'd know if the Fresh Wine was of God. There hasn't been a revival in the history of the Church that the status quo hasn't rejected. You're a professor of Church history and theology. You know that's true. Why should your generation be any different?"

For a moment silenced reigned, and Darnel thought he had bested his father. The older man's face softened into a smile. "That's a tremendous observation, son. And your question deserves an answer. What you've said is true. The established churches always have fought genuine revivals. Throughout Church history, those who allied themselves with a move of God were ousted from their denominations, persecuted, and often martyred.

"As you noted, genuine revivals always have been unpopular with the status quo; yet, this doesn't apply to The Fresh Wine Movement. It's well received by the very church organizations that have rejected and persecuted past revivals. They acclaim you as being God's man for this generation. Why, the entire country - I'd venture to say the entire world - is elated about the planned visit of the Pope to your church and your traveling with him on his American tour. The media is filled with glowing reports about you and your movement. Is that your definition of persecution?

"Even in our denomination the overwhelming majority has accepted your movement. The voices of those who, like me, oppose it are drowned by the deafening shouts of approval you receive. Does that constitute persecution? I think not. So, if opposition is your measure of genuine revival, where is it?"

"Maybe you don't see it, Dad, but I do."

"Are you opposed by those in our denomination? Do any of the other
denominations oppose you? Answer me this, Darnel: If a resolution against The Fresh Wine Movement was introduced at our upcoming General Council - even if the entire Executive Presbytery supported it - do you think it would pass?"

Darnel stared at his feet and said nothing.

"Well, son, I'm waiting for your answer."

Darnel glanced up. Woodenly, he responded with forced emphasis, "No, I don't
think it would!"

"Of course not; the overwhelming majority of ministers are with you. As you know, since our retirement, your mother and I have traveled through much of the country. We've visited many of our churches. Very few of them reject your movement. And just as it happened at Highway Christian Center, the "old wineskins" such as your mother and me are pushed out.

"Since you forced me to speak, I'll conclude by saying what I know you don't want to hear. Every church we've been to that embraces your movement conducts itself in an unscriptural manner. They have become entertainment halls and cells of apostasy. They ignore the Gospel that I have cherished and preached - the Gospel under which you sat - and they teach another gospel; one foreign to Scriptures; a compromising gospel that is intended to spearhead a union of all religions and governments. You know it and so do I! Even the seminary in which I taught is now a hotbed of your Fresh Wine Movement.

Paul paused, waiting for a response. None was forthcoming, so he continued. "I
give you this, Darnel. You have undermined our denomination with expert skill.

"Because of your movement our churches are flooded with souls not interested in the true Gospel, and they need have no fear that they'll hear it. The congregations no longer pray. Their pastors do not preach sound doctrine. There's no seeking after God. The atoning work of Christ is ignored. The need for man's cleansing from sin through Christ's blood is minimized. One Fresh Wine pastor actually informed me that man should no longer view himself as a sinner because, when God finished His creation, He declared that it was good; therefore man is not a sinner; he is good."

"Whoever said that was voicing his individual opinion. The Fresh Wine Movement adheres to the basic doctrines of the Christian Church. You've said you've read our literature, you must know that!"

"I have never heard them preached or presented on any of your telecasts or your radio programs or expounded in any of your literature I've read. In our travels, Mom and I have visited many churches that espouse your movement. In none of them did we hear a presentation of sound Christian doctrine. What we heard were harangues on Church and world unity that amounted to doctrines of devils."

Darnel's face tightened. His fists clenched and he pressed his back against a
cushion. "I can't control what others choose to preach."

"Everything in your movement is done in your name. You're willing to accept the
accolades, so the responsibility is also yours. Your words are gospel to your
followers. They'll listen to your correction. You know that's true; still you administer none."

"You talk like I'm some sort of guru!" Darnel angrily responded, "They're not my followers!"

"Oh; but they are! And you know it! How can you condone such blasphemy? You can't have sat under my ministry all those years and not know that you're fostering a unity that's from the spirit of Antichrist!"

Darnel leaped to his feet. The blood drained from his cheeks and his facial muscles twitched! "Don't say that!" he shouted, "If you want me to remain your son, don't ever say that to me again!"

He fanned the air with his hands in a gesture of disgust. "Who are you to infer that the old wine-skins of your defunct generation have a corner on truth? I believe in an unfolding revelation! And the success of my work verifies that my credentials come from God!" he roared.

He struggled to regain his composure. "Antichrist!" he snorted, "Every Church age concocted its own unique views on the Antichrist to satisfy its particular
circumstances; you know this! The Early Church said that Caligula was the
Antichrist because he desecrated the Jewish temple by trying to place his image in it. When Nero began persecuting the Christians, he was awarded the title. Then the Apostolic Fathers taught that the Antichrist would be revealed soon after the fall of the Roman Empire. When the Goths sacked Rome, Jerome believed the Antichrist was at hand. But the guy never showed!"

Darnel laughed, derisively. "Imagine that! Old Jerome, the Western Church's
greatest scholar - stood up by the Antichrist!"

Paul's face had frozen into a gape of rank disbelief! He sat staring, unable to counter the venomous tone that was assailing him! His consternation was lost on Darnel, who continued his tirade.

"So the Church's teachers have always interpreted the Antichrist relative to their
immediate situation! It's all been speculation! And it's always been wrong! First the Roman emperors who persecuted the Church were seen as the Antichrist. Then the Roman Empire endorsed the Church under Constantine and politics blasted a favorite pet doctrine to smithereens. Right, Dad?"

Again Darnel chuckled, sarcastically. "But there's no shortage of antichrists in
Church history, is there, Dad? Athanasius taught that the Antichrist's coming was imminent. He said that the Church would spawn the Antichrist's false prophet. According to him, Emperor Constantius was the Antichrist's forerunner. Others claimed that the Antichrist would be Emperor Constans, The First, raised from the dead. And then, most of the leaders of the Reformation smeared the Pope as the Antichrist.

"You were in the Second World War. Didn't some Bible teachers claim that Hitler
was the Antichrist? And now you're warning me of the Antichrist! Who is he?"

Darnel's voice took on the tone of a challenge. "Tell me, Dad! Who wins the
Antichrist nomination today? Does the Pope still qualify, or someone in the
Euro-Mart, or a child already born in the Mid-East? Will he rule from the rebuilt city of Babylon? Come on! Tell me! Who is he?"

Paul remained silent.

"I see; you won't join the prophets!" Darnel ridiculed, "Well, other generations
fragmented the Church with their divisive tactics and yours is no better. The old
wineskins of your generation want the Church divided so that they can feel secure - like big fishes in small ponds. However, God has called me to unite the Church! It's my ministry!"

He aimed a finger at Paul. "You should be overjoyed that I'm obeying God. You're not; which shows I love Christ more than you do!"

Paul made a feeble, placatory gesture. "Then let's pray together and let Him resolve our problem."

"I won't pray with you, knowing how you feel about my work! I'll never let you
preach for me now!"

Paul felt a tremendous exhaustion. Never before had he experienced such numbness of mind as he now did. He wanted to flee the room, but this was his son; he couldn't leave matters on this note! With a silent prayer for wisdom and strength, he began to speak, groping for words. His tone was weary, his pace slow, as though he was weighing each word before uttering it.

"Darnel, what you've said about the Church's history on the Antichrist is true. I'll not dispute it. In every age, the Church has been composed of fallible men, just as today. Until the Holy Spirit chooses to reveal the Antichrist, no one should put a name on him. Past generations should not have done so, nor should we. The Bible doesn't name him. Where it remains silent, we must be silent. But it does warn us to guard against the spirit of Antichrist. And that's what I was warning . . .

"There you go again! I don't want to hear it! In fact, I want you out of my house! Now! Tonight! I don't want you contaminated with the Antichrist's spirit!

"Leave!" he almost screeched, pointing to the door, "I want you out of my . . ."
At that moment, the door pushed opened and the women burst in, wide-eyed with terror.

Lela recovered first. "Stop it, Darnel! What's come over you? You've already said too much!"

"But sweetheart, he . . ." Darnel began, crimson and still trembling with rage.

“Don’t you sweetheart me! How dare you order you Dad from our house?
Apologize this instant, or I’ll that the baby and leave with them!”

Darnel stopped shaking. Jaw set, he looked away and remained silent.

"A forced apology is none at all; so I think it's best we do leave," Naomi said.

Embracing Lela, she added, "No need for you to leave, dear. This matter's between Dad and Darnel. I'll be happy if you’d stay here."

Eyes hooded with weariness, Paul nodded his agreement. "I may have been too blunt. If so, I'm sorry, but we should leave. We'll take a room in a motel."

"You can stay the night," Darnel mumbled, coldly, "Anyway, you're leaving
tomorrow.”

"No, it's best we leave tonight," Naomi said.

Paul nodded in agreement. We should leave."

End of Excerpt

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE