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March 13, 2021I have had Elijah in Jerusalem on my bookshelf for years, probably since it came out in 2015, but only reached for it this Lenten season because I am fasting from social media and am looking for actual books to read.
In 2015, the apocalyptic circumstances of this novel might have seemed a bit far-fetched. Today, however, after a year of pandemic lockdowns, coupled with the World Economic Forum’s plans for the Great Reset, and growing persecution of Christians around the globe, the novel’s description of a new one-world President set to establish a new one-world religion seems more chillingly close than ever.
Fr Elijah, now Bishop Elijah, and a monk named Brother Enoch believe they have received a mission from God to go to Jerusalem to confront the Antichrist, aka. the new President who is on the verge of establishing a one-world religion with the help of highly-placed religious leaders from a whole range of faiths. However Bishop Elijah is never completely sure exactly what his mission is or what it entails. He knows the Book of Revelation can be interpreted in deeply-layered and nuanced ways. He wonders if he and Brother Enoch are to be the two witnesses described in Revelation 11. Here is the biblical text:
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
Bishop Elijah constantly examines his conscience to ensure he is not being presumptuous or deceived. All he knows for sure is that he and Brother Enoch must go to Jerusalem to confront the President.
But he doesn’t know what he is supposed to say or how, in the midst of massive surveillance and security, he and Brother Enoch will get the opportunity to get close enough to say what they expect Holy Spirit will tell them to say in the moment.
In the process of trying to carry out his mission, Bishop Elijah relies on prayer, patient waiting and childlike trust in God that he persists in attaining, despite being assailed by doubts, by demonic attack and physical violence. He constantly examines his own motives.
At unexpected moments he receives words of knowledge giving him supernatural insights into people he encounters, or he receives internal impressions that he should enter this restaurant or turn into this or that street. But often he is left in a state of darkness or unknowing. An angel had given him the mission, so he was certain he must carry it out, but how remained murky.
“He was a Carmelite, and thus it was appropriate that he would be called farther on the path of unknowing. No details had been given, no specific instructions—only the essence of his task. The angel had said he was to go to Jerusalem to give witness for Christ against the Man of Sin, who sought to usurp the throne of God.
“Obedience. Simplicity. Trust. These would guide him.” (p. 149)
The novel describes a world overwhelmed with lies, confusion, and disinformation---reminding me very much of the media environment we are living in today, with disinformation coming from all sides. The novel also describes great division within the Catholic Church, including among cardinals and archbishops. How like today where so many Catholics seem intent on attacking each other.
What struck me about Bishop Elijah was his comfort with spiritual unknowingness. He knows he does not have all the answers, yet at the same time he knows he can trust God.
At a Mass he celebrates at a small communal farm in Israel, he tells the believers in his homily: “Soon the great dragon will make war upon all those who follow Jesus. The enemy will hate you and bring all manner calumny against you because of his envy. Remember always that the One who is in you is infinitely greater than the dragon. Within you is the power of the Lamb who was slain and lives again. Yours is not strength as the world understands it, yet it is greater than all earthly powers.”
He goes on: “When you see things are about to happen, do not let yourself fall into despair. Look up! Look up, for your redemption is near at hand.” (p. 195)
Look up! Trust God. Resist despair. Choose not to be confused, even if you do not understand or know for sure what is going on around you. All very helpful and salutatory spiritual direction for this troubling time we live in.
The novel had me reflecting on the Blessed Virgin Mary and her trust in God. When she received the message of the angel Gabriel, I doubt he laid out everything that was to happen in minute detail. He probably did not let her know she would give birth to the Son of God in a stable or that she and her precious Son would flee to Egypt with Joseph to escape Herod’s murderous plans.
During this time, I am so grateful for the Daily Offices of our patrimony to help me take thoughts captive to Christ, to feed my soul so that it is not corrupted by the junk food of propaganda and misinformation that tempts us to fear, anger and a constant state of being scandalized. Shut that stuff off! And how beautiful the Rosary is at helping us tame our imaginations that are so often in a negative default mode, imagining the worst, or allowing unbidden images to come to mind.
If you haven’t read Elijah in Jerusalem's prequel, Father Elijah, then you are in for a treat---a page-turning thriller that also touches on apocalyptic themes. However, one does not need to read Father Elijah first in order to enjoy Elijah in Jerusalem. It’s been years since I read Father Elijah but I think I need to reorder it and reread it.
Deborah Gyapong is president-emerita of the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society.
