The Ultimate Revelation

Prompt: Start or end your story with someone opening or closing a book.

The Ultimate Revelation

My given name is Pierre. Friends (or so they claim to be) call me the “hoover” because I vacuum up books. I thirst and hunger to read books. Books of any genre, any length and by any author. I would say it is more than a hobby. It’s more than a mere preoccupation. It has been and continues to be an obsession for me. I was born this way. My mother told me she would read simple fairy tale stories while I was still in the womb. Right after my mother birthed me, she read “Cat in the Hat.” On that day I became an avid Dr. Seuss fan. My childhood was void of actual flesh and blood contact. In other words, I had no living and breathing friends as I grew up. My relationships were in the pages of a book bound cover to cover. Tom Sawyer, Captain Nemo, Frodo Baggins, Huckleberry Finn and so many others were more than fictitious characters. I saw them as living, breathing beings filled with emotions and dreams just like myself.

When I reached school age, I tended to keep my head buried in my books. Yes, even textbooks. My teachers were duly impressed and more so with the incredible high achievement scores I obtained on my tests. Unfortunately, the other students shunned me. They made no attempt to befriend me, but I told myself I didn’t care. At the time, I likely ignored my true feelings. I overheard them say he is a worm, a nerd, a geek, a dweeb, and a weenie. So many word types inflicting deprecation.

The aura of negativity surrounding my reading obsession exponentially increased from grade school to high school and even into college. The taunts and ridicule were unrelenting. Despite my best efforts I could not rid myself of low self-esteem generated by these awful onslaughts. Sadly, time was not a healer of my wounded ego.

I continued immersing myself completely in books much like tea bags steep in a cup of hot water. I permeated each event and every conversation in every book that I read much like the air that engulfs us. Like my childhood, I would identify with a character (human, animal, fictional or nonfictional) regardless if he or she was a protagonist or antagonist. My imagination transported me to the time and place written in the books. One could say I was living in the moment, but under the content and constraints of the book.

As the insults from others grew louder in my head, my self-esteem eroded away. I heard malicious voices telling me to seek retribution. The choices of my books became focused on the dark arts, the occult and even demonic possessions and rituals.

One day as I was searching for other cryptic, sinister writings in the archival library stacks, an unusual book caught the corner of my eye. But it was not on the shelves. It lay on a table beside an old man who was snoring with his head laying on the table. The book’s cover seemed to come alive. It was coated in vivid colors and letters that squiggled when you looked at them. I would swear that they looked alive like little worms vibrating on a multicolored tray. The site of this mystified me. I just had to check it out without disturbing the sleeping man. I snuck behind him peering over his resting head. Was I imagining this? This was too surreal and I discounted its actual existence.

What I thought did not matter. The cover was changing colors rapidly. The letters were scrambling even quicker. The squiggly motion of the letters still made it impossible to read. I was mesmerized and shocked. I had read enough books on the dark arts and wizardry to know stranger things can happen. Perhaps the old man was a wizard who fell asleep reading a book on magical potions or the like. I just had to find out what this was all about.

I was breathing rapidly. I think my large exhalations stirred the old man. His snoring was interrupted with a phlegmy gasp. He abruptly lifted his head.

“What do you want,” he tersely said.

I was speechless being caught up in my own disrespect for his privacy.

“I am sorry sir, but I am fascinated by your book in front of you. I was wondering what the title is. I am an avid reader. Your book seems to have a unique character about it. Would you tell me the name of it is sir so I could read it as well?”

“I know who you are, Pierre. I know about your life. I know written words are important to you. Your reading has filled your life with amazing adventures, heartfelt friendships, memories for several lifetimes and more. Now you have become distraught. Evil voices within you are trying desperately to take hold of your soul. Now you seek a respite from the harassing voices and eyes. Your intentions, however, are dishonorable. You seek retribution not forgiveness.”

The old man paused. So many questions flooded my mind. I quickly asked him “who are you? How do you know me? What makes this book dazzle and alive?”

The man turned his head looking directly into my eyes saying “I am from the heavens above; not an angel, but a servant of the Most High God. There once was a time I roamed this earth with the purpose to spread the Light into a very dark and cursed world. I became an exile from humanity.”

Now I am here to give testimony to you with the hope you will see that Light. The Light offers forgiveness to you. Your consumption of words and books have interfered with your ability to be yourself. There is one book which would change your life forever, but you have failed to read it. It happens to be the most important book ever written. You have neglected to read His Holy Word. So, open your ears and your eyes to the wonders you will witness. Do not seek vengeance for the Lord says ‘For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” Hebrews 10:30 NKJV

The old man pursed his lips. Then He said,

“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Revelation 1:9-11 NKJV

John continued. “And when I saw Him, (The risen Christ from the dead) I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” Revelation 1:17-19 NKJV

After John finished his account, I saw a double-edged sword literally rise from his book followed by a blinding light.

And John said “He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” Revelation 1:16 NKJV

I was incredulous. In disbelief I rubbed my eyes nearly out of their sockets. The sound of trumpets blared from the book. A plume of smoke smelling like incense rose from it. Terrifying and hideous locusts hopped out and back into the book. A dragon’s head briefly emerged spouting flames so intense they singed the table. But what fascinated me beyond anything I could ever witness was the appearance of a beast with seven heads and ten horns. Finally, from the book came a crescendo of majestic music and words:

‘…singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” Revelation 15:3 NKJV

I was so enthralled. I hungered to be a part of what was happening inside the book. I wanted to learn forgiveness. I wanted to experience forgiveness and unconditional love. Uncontrollably I stuck my hand inside it. Instantly I was sucked inside like a vacuum disappearing from sight. As I vanished inside, I heard these words:

“…Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5: 12 NKJV

As I looked back, I saw the book cover close behind me.

-END-

NJKV=New King James Version

Author: Pete Gautchier

Acknowledgement: Reedsy.com Prompts