Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Europe (excluding the United Kingdom) (02/19/09)
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TITLE: Sector 13 | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tim Pickl
02/23/09 -
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“It is with great honor and respect to our willing European lenders that we declare our dependence with this merger. Historically and from her beginning, the United States has always sought to be sovereign from tyrannical rulers—but today, through the great strength of simple human diversity; we have grown as a people and now see our need for economic, social and governmental union with our brothers in Europe.
“Hand me ‘The Declaration of our Dependence’--
The unanimous Declaration of Fifty United States of America and her territories—
When in the course of humanistic events it becomes necessary for one people to unite the political systems which have separated them from each other, and agree with the powers of the earth, along with human brotherhood and the Laws of Man entitled them--and in deference to our Dear Leader’s orders--requires that they should declare the truths which impel them to unite.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are evolved unequally, that we are endowed by the inherent Laws of Man to urgently unite and declare this needful merging of the United States with the European Union.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of all of these States, solemnly publish and declare, that this new Union be renamed to the United States of Europe. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the European Armed Forces, we therefore pledge to our Dear Leader--our lives, our fortunes, and our humble honor.
“Mr. President, and the Dear Leader of the United States of Europe, please sign below.”
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“Attention, attention! The United States of Europe Sector 13 Tribunal is now officially in session.”
“Thank you, Officer. In this Tribunal, our Dear Leader will decide the fate of 70 recently captured Christian Rebels. By sealed decree, our Dear Leader ordered that we hunt down the rebels and bring them to swift, decisive judgment. O, Dear Leader of Europe, the Tribunal is now yours.”
“Thank you, Prophet Pariah. It is with great pleasure that I sit in this court today. Sector 13 has always been my favorite place to pronounce judgment. It seems that when the United States and the European Union merged, we were not prepared for the stiff resistance of the Christian Rebel factions who still reside here. The old United States is now just the annoying Sector 13. Oh, but it’s nothing to worry about. We will be rid of the rebel vermin in short order. Who’s first on the docket?”
“We have this man—apparently one of the Christian Rebel leaders. He was caught using his cell phone to text prayer requests to rebels in Sector 14, sir. Crime punishable by death.”
“Christian Rebel pig, what’s your name?”
“John.”
“John….just John? Very strange. What’s your surname?”
“I go only by the name of John.”
“Do you believe in God?”
“I know and believe that Jesus is God.”
“What is it about you people? Why do you hang on to the failed beliefs of the past, of a ‘god’ you cannot hear or see? Tell me, and I may spare your life.”
“Jesus is real to me. He walks with me. He lives in me—“
“Silence!”
“Hitting me only confirms my beliefs.”
“Spare him the beating—for now—so, what do you have to say for yourself, John?”
“You may kill my body, but you’ll never kill my spirit.”
“Perhaps something a little more spiritual will convince you to bow before me.”
“Your trickery will never turn me. Calling fire down from the sky is one of your deceptions.”
“Unbelievable: Beat him to an inch of his life. Then behead him in Times Square.”
“Come with me, rebel scum!”
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“Lay your head there, now! Bow before your Dear Leader--”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
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Reference:
All Scriptures from the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible:
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.
Revelation 13:5-10
Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.
Anyone with ears to hear
should listen and understand.
Anyone who is destined for prison
will be taken to prison.
Anyone destined to die by the sword
will die by the sword.
This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.
Daniel 7:23-28
Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.
Luke 12:4-5
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
Revelation 20:4
Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Luke 23:33-35
When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
Revelation 20:10
Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Matthew 24:23-25
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
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But, of course, the John account works to the same effect. I really enjoyed your entry.
There is too much here for 750 words. Well done.