The Resurrected Ones: A Story of Life, Death, and Resurrection

Contents

Dedication

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One:

The Roman Soldier Dikmari

Chapter Two:

The Jewish Merchant’s Daughter Cheba

Chapter Three:

The Old Greek Scholar Genova

Chapter Four:

The Resurrection and the Resurrected Ones

Chapter Five:

The First Mission

Chapter Six:

Rescued on the Road to Emmaus

Chapter Seven:

Visited by a Stranger

Chapter Eight:

To the Ends of the Earth

Chapter Nine:

Mission at the Monastery

Chapter Ten:

The Witch of Cape Ann

Chapter Eleven:

Lost in the Darkness of Midnight

Chapter Twelve:

On the Coastal Plains of Nome

Chapter Thirteen:

The Angel of Longmont

Epilogue

About the Author

References

Dedication

This book is for

My parents, who taught me the virtue of commitment and the value of competence. You made it easy for me to believe in the providences of my Father in Heaven. I love and appreciate both of you!

My dear wife, Marilyn, who has taught me about the providences of God by showing me such loving care and kindness down through the years. You have been by my side through all the major projects.

I love you dearly, Marilyn!

My children—Andrew, Kenneth, and Bethany—each of whom has made me so very proud as an earthly father. You have allowed me to see your trust, faith, and love for the providences of God in your personal lives. This has allowed each of you to successfully reach your professional life goals and objectives. You are truly loved by God. You have made a difference in this world. God is so good. Thanks for being my kids. I love you!

My dear sister, Deborah, who so faithfully and lovingly has stayed nearby our dear dad and has done so much to keep him healthy, well, and comfortable in his elderly years. You have truly exemplified the providence of God with your loving and uncomplaining care to your family. Thank you. I love you!

My many teachers, who have inspired me through the years to develop a love for learning and a commitment to the pursuit of knowledge. I have a deep sense of gratitude for those who taught me to humbly seek the blessings and providences of God early in my life and to seek His guidance daily;

All my dear friends, to whom I owe deep, heartfelt gratitude. It is my hope that the words I have written in this book will inspire all who read it. May you ever strive to develop a deeper appreciation for the providences of Almighty God manifested in your life. They are freely offered to all who will humbly come and ask of Him.

May each of us love justice, show compassion, and humbly walk with God each day and always.

How excellent is thy loving kindness, Oh God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Psalm 36:7

Preface

This story came to me, rising from the shadowy mists of spiritual inquiry. It came to me gradually over time. Writing this tale has been like walking down a pristine mountain trail just before dawn. In the predawn darkness, there is a heightened awareness that there are things close by, in the shadowy surroundings, which cannot be seen. Yet their presence lingers on the crisp mountain air. The fragrance of evergreens and the aroma of a smoldering campfire prevail. As the first hints of rosy morning light break on the distant eastern horizon, out of the rising mists in the meadows alongside the trail, dark clusters of alpine grasses and dwarf evergreens take shape. Suddenly one is aware of the vast spaces across the mist-laden valley below. The towering mountains are dimly outlined in the haze beyond. This is how each chapter of this story came to me.

The account you are about to read is a story of the great providences of God. "Providence is an interesting word. According to the Oxford University Dictionary, it means The protective care of God." So this is a story that concerns aspects of God’s divine resources and His protective care. This is a story of how Christians may have been nurtured in their times of need. It would not surprise me to learn that God used means, such as those described in this story, to assist in fulfilling His plans and purposes through the course of history. After all, God’s resources are limitless.

This is a story that has emerged from my imagination. However, it is based on, and is made fertile by, the distinct possibilities of certain historical and Scriptural facts. The ideas recounted here may appear novel. However, as you will find, these ideas are very real to life! They are distinct possibilities! Admittedly, the historical and Scriptural facts, as we have them, are sketchy. We do not have all the details. We know the record is incomplete. In certain areas, only hints are offered. However, we do have some facts to work from. So, from the facts we do have, I would suggest that some definite observations can be made. And from our observations, some conclusions can be drawn. We know, for instance, that certain saints were resurrected from their graves, following the crucifixion of Christ. The Scriptures say that this is so. But what has been the role of these Resurrected Ones in the Kingdom of God? After all, they have been among us now for more than two thousand years! I have contemplated this question for some time. First, I believe that their role has been that of witnesses. They have been observers. "Ye shall be My witnesses." Second, I believe that their role has been to provide protective care. They have assisted believers in their times of need.

I invite you to read this account. You may agree with the ideas presented on the pages ahead. In fact, they may very well encourage your faith. I hope that this narrative will expand your concepts of the greatness of the divine resources that our gracious Creator uses to bring about His plans and purposes in this man-made world of chaos and confusion. To say the least, I think your imagination will be challenged.

One thing I can say with absolute certainty: God does have witnesses of truth scattered throughout the far corners of the earth, and indeed, throughout the vast universe. Some of these are mysteries mankind does not comprehend or understand. Perhaps we never will fully comprehend or understand all of God’s resources and means of providence. Nevertheless, as you read the pages of this story, please be aware and conscious of this central truth: Almighty God, who created the world with all of its magnificent attributes, is keeping a record. Today, in the midst of all the man-made chaos and confusion, God Almighty is in total and complete control!

Furthermore, He has strategically placed His witnesses in every age of history. The witnesses of the Eternal Creator will, at some glorious moment in the not-so-distant future, accurately recount the events of the ages. In that moment, they will, for all eternity, set the record straight.

You may ask, Why is the historical and eternal record so important? Why would God need witnesses to keep the details of historical events and the eternal record?

There are at least two important reasons: First, the record will demonstrate that the providence and loving care of God has been extended, without prejudice, to each and every dispensation of human history.

Second, the Scriptures clearly state that there will be a final judgment. The Judge of all the Earth shall require an accounting of the resources and abilities given to each and every man, woman, and child. All the opportunities gained, and all the opportunities lost, will be accounted for. As in any other judicial proceedings, the historical record and witnessed details will be of high importance. The historical record and witnessed details are what the outcome of the judicial proceeding is based upon.

So, what are the details of the historical and eternal record? What will really matter? What should we be concerned about? The historical details that concern each of us are very simple. When we read the snapshot of the final judgment (Matthew 25), we see it is all basic simplicity, at its very best. We will be asked about the simple and basic circumstances that surrounded us every day and how we took time to respond to those circumstances. For instance, we will be asked these questions: How many glasses of water did you offer to the thirsty, in the name of Jesus Christ? How many of the poor did you clothe, and how many of the hungry did you feed? Did you visit those who were imprisoned or those who were isolated and lonely? Did you show yourselves friendly to strangers and make them your friends? Did you take care of the sick and provide for their comfort? You see? This is why the details are so important!

We are told that, if we do any of these simple acts of kindness for those in need, it is like we have done it for the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is to those who actually do these things that the King will say, You are blessed. Please enter into My eternal Kingdom, and come live with Me for eternity. This judgment scene is a picture of those who have lived out God’s loving and protective care, in behalf of others.

Please notice that these are all very simple acts. High intellect and unlimited resources are not the criteria. One glass of water at a time, one pair of pants at a time, and one hour to visit the lonely or the sick; these are the basic requirements. We are to do these things in gratitude for the manifestation of God’s loving care in our own lives. We are to do these things to show God’s love to a needy world. This has been the central purpose of The Resurrected Ones.

So, the Truth of the Ages shall be known! Every knee shall bow. Every tongue shall confess. All shall know the Eternal Truth of the Lord God Almighty! What an awesome day that will be!

Richard K. Thomas, Ed.D.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

February 1, 2012

Acknowledgments

This book has been many years in the writing. It has finally been set on the great swirling currents of literature. There will be those, no doubt, who will view this as a frail little craft. And they may be right. Only time will tell. As you may guess, I hope that this little vessel endures! And here is the reason. There are many individuals who, over the years, have contributed to the building and final production of this little vessel. This manuscript is an outcome of personal influences that have touched my life and have assured me of the providences of God. They all, consciously or unconsciously, have helped. Some have assisted in setting the foundational framework and structural timbers. Many of these, sadly, have now passed into the far regions beyond. Others have helped lay the deck, plank by plank. Still others have patiently stood by my side as I shaped and polished the final ideas stowed in this tiny craft. I wish to acknowledge some of these who have been so influential and so gracious, and for whom I am so very grateful!

My original intent was to write a story for my children of God’s providence and loving care. I began writing this little tale one winter while living in a beautiful log cabin overlooking the Kenai River in Alaska. A baby moose would walk across my deck each morning and nibble browse from the shrubs that surrounded the deck. As I sat by the window, the little guy would look in and give me a brief nod before lumbering off. With this great source of affirmation, day by day, I continued to write.

Early in my life, I had many affirmations. As I think back, I must first say that my dear mother was a source of such inspiration. My mother did not have the privilege of pursuing formal higher education. She nevertheless was a lifelong student and had a keen mind. She loved Latin. It always amazed me what she remembered from her own four years of high school Latin, many years prior. Night after night, during the long winter evenings in northern Ohio, she would sit at the dining room table with me and work through the Latin assignments of my high school years. She loved the ancient tales and inspired me to love them too.

My Latin teacher, Mrs. Anna Talbot McPherson, was also a great inspiration. Mrs. McPherson had been raised in a Quaker community and was such a gentle, loving little lady. She would patiently spend time with each of her students, aiding them in their comprehension of the ancient language. She was always generous in praising her students’ accomplishments in translation and diagramming difficult assignments. Thank you, Mrs. Anna McPherson! You were one of the shining examples of the Lord Jesus Christ in my early formative years. Your memory still blesses me! And, in part at least, all those Latin translations have inspired me in these later years of my life to write this manuscript.

My history teacher, Mr. Leroy Adams Sr., was an exceptional man. He was such a kind and thoughtful man. He lived his life with a sense of excellence that seemed to radiate goodness to all! His eyes twinkled and his face shone with the joy and quiet exuberance he seemed too have for living. I can see him now, wearing his bow tie and wire-rim glasses. He was a genteel gentleman from the West, having lived in Kansas and Colorado for many years. He was older when he came to Ohio. However, being such a keen and ardent student of history, he fell in love with the rich history of the Ohio River Valley. During one spring semester, Mr. Adams introduced us to the Zane Grey historical writings of the settling of the Ohio River Valley, by Colonial Ebenezer Zane. As I look back over the many intervening years, I would say that high school spring semester left an indelible, profound, and lasting impression upon my mind. The stories of the brave frontiersmen and women who settled the western Virginia territory have come to mind and have inspired me many times. The hardy and daring actions of these who settled the American frontier are truly noteworthy and unforgettable. I occasionally still read the Zane Grey historical literary novels, such as Betty Zane, The Spirit of the Border, and The Last Trail. Thank you, Mr. Leroy Adams Sr., for nurturing such a love for history within my young mind! You have truly been an inspiration in my pursuit of excellence and one of the most influential teachers in my life. You so nurtured my own imagination that I had to write this manuscript that is also related to certain historical and Scriptural facts. I know you are listening—so, again, thank you.

Mrs. Gruse was my piano teacher. What a marvelous little German lady she was! She, in her younger, professional years, had been a concert pianist. She knew the art. She had perfected the art. Furthermore, she insisted that her students perfect the art. It was Mrs. Gruse who instilled within my young soul a love for the piano classics. To this day, I will often have the old familiar classics playing softly in the background. Over long, quiet evenings, and often into the late-night hours, these melodies have been there as I have written and rewritten different segments of this book. So thank you. Thank you, dear Mrs. Gruse, for nurturing within me a love for great music. I am truly blessed with these treasures! They have inspired me as a writer.

The list of dear friends is long. I wish to mention two in particular. My dear friend Dr. George P. Buchert, PhD, has been a lifelong friend. We were kids together in New Jersey. The special thing about George is that his mother and my mother were close friends, and our grandparents were dear friends. I remember how I loved to go visit George. It seemed to my young, childish mind there was always something exciting to do when I went to visit the Bucherts. George went on to have a distinguished career in forestry. He married his high school sweetheart, Ellen. Together they have seven fine children. And I still love to visit them at their home in Provo, Utah. Thanks, George! You have inspired me over the years with your great love for nature and the marvelous outdoors. I hope that my love for nature and the beauty of creation is reflected throughout this manuscript I have written.

Another wonderful friend is Mary Salsman-Buckley. At heart and professionally, Mary is an educator and a dedicated teacher. I have spent my professional career in the field of justice. I have studied treatment issues and protocols related to troubled youth. Mary and I work together in researching, brainstorming, and implementing program improvement plans and strategies related to state agency children and youth. Mary is one of the few friends, outside of my family and manuscript editors, that I shared the rough draft of this manuscript with. It was because of her occasional prompts and urging that I finally decided to actually publish this book. I was content for this to be a story enjoyed by family and a few friends. At any rate, I owe a debt of gratitude to Mary for pushing this manuscript into the publishing stage. Thanks, Mary. You demonstrate your love for God and your fellow humans in so many gracious ways.

I would also like to acknowledge my team at WestBow Press. Each of my team members has been professional, patient, and gracious in assisting me through the publishing process. My thanks to David Roushia, publishing consultant, who was so helpful guiding me through all the preliminaries; to Amanda Parsons, check-in coordinator who was so prompt in assisting in the executive review of the manuscript; and to Brian Martindale, marketing consultant, who has been so helpful in preparing a finished manuscript. My thanks also to the editors who so professionally completed the line editing to correct the errors I simply could not see. The WestBow Press team has been wonderful to work with, and without their assistance, this manuscript would still be on my shelf.

Introduction

The Scriptures record that, following the crucifixion of Christ, certain saints were resurrected from the dead. From a historical perspective, I have often wondered what the role has been of those who were resurrected on the day of the crucifixion of Christ, following the earthquake. We are not specifically told. The Scripture reads, The earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city, and appeared too many Matthew 27:51b-53 (NKJV).

Think of this! Saints who had passed from this life into death were resurrected from the grave and were returned to life in the world from which they had been taken. They crossed the bridge twice; what an unusual and unique event! This Scriptural account has intrigued my imagination for a number of years. As I considered these collective events, a series of possibilities formed in the back of my mind and lingered there. Then one day, I began to write, and the following story began to emerge. This story is based upon some basic thoughts in answer to this lingering question: What has been the role of those saints whose resurrections from death have been recorded in the Scriptures? The Scriptures state, It is appointed unto man, once to die … Hebrews 9:27 (KJV). That means that these resurrected saints are still with us, right? So this is a story of perhaps another way the record is being kept and how the members of the body of Christ, which is the church, are observed and cared for during their earthly sojourn. This idea clearly fits with the concepts related to the providence of God and how He shows His loving protective care.

Jesus addressed large groups of people following