Chapter 32
10:50 AM EST New York - Bear Network Interview Studio
John Roddenburg walked back in and sat in the interview chair. It had been moved to the center, at the end of the two couches. He then simply asked the panel “Is everyone ready?” Then he turned to Jack and asked also, “Are you ready, Jack?”
“Yes,” they all replied, nodding their heads in affirmation.
John stretched his neck and leaned over to me, and whispered. “I will try and control the conversation so it does not get out of hand, but you have seen these before I’m sure, and sometimes the questions become difficult, so you may well end up in the hot seat.”
“I understand. It will be fine,” I responded.
John then straightened back up, stood, turned his focus to the panel, shook each person’s hand, and thanked them for coming. He then sat back down and addressed all of the participants.
“Gentlemen, we are in uncharted waters here and we want to be as civil as possible in this interview. It is important that we keep to some facts and only ask pertinent questions. I will be moderating the conversations as they occur for all seated here. If I change the subject, then the question is closed. In addition, I have the ability to stop taping if the discussion becomes too heated; and will not continue taping again until the situation cools down. We are on a four-minute delay on the taping. That means everything we say does not get broadcast until four minutes later.”
“The other thing is that we do not have enough time to have a complete dialogue on religion, so please keep your questions to a minimum and hopefully more yes and no questions that Jack can answer. Hopefully, we are all in agreement.”
The members of the panel all nodded their heads in affirmation and muttered yeses. I could see though in their individual expressions that they were calculating how far they could go with me before being cut off. The advantage of being in sales for thirty years was that you learnt how to read facial expressions. At this moment, considering the looks I was getting, I pretty well assumed I had six Pontius Pilots in front of me. I was nervous, but as I closed my eyes for a moment, I realized this was my destiny and this was my time, and I relaxed. I opened my eyes and looked at John, then the panel, and smiled. I was ready.
John Roddenburg looked up and saw the countdown. He eventually began speaking.
“Ladies and gentlemen of America and the world, we are in part two of our conversation with Jack South. In our earlier interview, Mr. South made clear to the entire world that God is taking a hand in our affairs and has outlined several serious calamities that will start occurring by tomorrow and even the next month. This is in addition to the carnage we have already experienced in California. We would also like to bring you up to date, if you did not see the earlier interview. Mr. South, so far, has accurately named every event with one-hundred percent accuracy down to the seconds of shaking, which was exactly 422 seconds, with his prediction of the earthquake in California. He also, predicted the exact number of casualties, injuries, property damage, and details about the earthquake. And according to our sources, he is very, very close to being accurate based on current estimates of the death and injury tolls.”
“He was able to win two lotteries with the exact same numbers with a payout of almost a half a billion dollars, after taxes, which Mr. South says is to be used to get his message out for his “ministry,” as he calls it. So now, we have three instances of his abilities and probability that the things that he has predicted will actually occur. So far, although the odds have been zero, he has been right in each instance; the two lotteries, and an accurate prediction of the earthquake in California.”
“Mr. South has also stated that he is a messenger from God. He says he is one of two witnesses as described in the Book of Revelations. God, he has stated, has sent him to us to warn us of things to come. So believers, if they choose, can prepare for these calamities. The other witness, we do not know where or who he is at this time.”
“In addition, in the earlier interview aired a few minutes ago, Mr. South has warned us in the U.S. of several hurricanes that are to hit the Southern and Eastern Coasts of America starting in eight days. Coupled with that, in one day, or Tuesday, tomorrow morning, torrential rains will fall upon the Sahara Desert, the Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia. This rain will be enough to turn most of the Sahara into an inland sea, which is what it was thousands of years ago. He also claims that starting today, at both poles, the temperature will rise eight degrees, melting parts of the ice sheet. These predictions begin today and end in a month. All of these things predicted are unprecedented, and according to our meteorologist, Chester Nichols, are also close to zero probability. But as we said, Mr. South has not been wrong thus far and his predications may well need to be taken seriously.”
“Quickly, before we begin with the panel, we will turn to Chester who is monitoring the weather at the poles and in the Atlantic, and see if Jack is getting it right.”
“Thanks, John,” Chester said. He brought up a temperature reading from 6:00 that morning at the North Pole and compared it to what it was now, at almost 11:00 a.m. He then stated, “Indeed, the temperature of both poles has already risen six degrees above normal so far today and that was not forecast earlier by us. Cloud cover and precipitation in both areas of the Arctic Circle and the North Pole does not exist. It is all clear skies. This activity is unprecedented I can assure you. Now, since the temperature was rising in the poles, cooler air that normally comes off the poles from the jet stream, is warmer from the northern and southern hemispheres. So we are seeing higher than normal temperatures across the globe within only one hour.”
He then turned his attention to the Atlantic where a disturbance was forming off the coast of Africa. “About a half an hour ago, the National Hurricane Center notified the public of a new tropical depression that was developing and currently had thirty-five mile per hour winds with a seventy-five percent chance of formation within the next 24-48 hours. There are also cloud formations starting to occur across most of northern Africa, but no rain now. In addition, today is, I might add, the first day of hurricane season, June 1. As new information becomes available, John,” Chester added, “and the experts analyze the detailed information Jack gave us earlier, we will be able to better calculate the percentages of his chances of being right, as well as the precise time tables, more accurately, and then be able to notify the world as to the current status in their regions. So far, John, Jack is one hundred percent accurate.”
“Thanks, Chester,” John said as the camera focused back on him. “In the second part of our interview, as we have promised our viewers, we have a panel of religious leaders, representing several religions around the world, which has questions for Jack.” John then proceeded to introduce the members of the panel.
He turned back to the camera and continued speaking, “Also, I want to let our viewers know that all of this has come about quickly. It was only less than three hours ago, that Jack interviewed with The Network here in New York and that interview was, stopped. What that means is that today’s interview was not planned or rehearsed in advance. So bear with us and we will try and make the best of it and get the world some concrete answers.”
He turned toward the panel and said, “In advance, I want to thank all of you up front for your immediate response and participation. And also you, Jack,” as he turned towards me.
I looked at the Bishop from New York as I saw one camera pan towards him and the other, towards me. “So we will start with Bishop Ronald O’Keefe, from the Diocese of New York.” John nodded at the Bishop and said, “Bishop?”
“Thank you John,” he paused for a second and then looked up at me. “Hello Jack, I am Bishop O’Keefe from New York. I would like to thank you, and also John, for inviting me here to represent the millions of Catholics worldwide and help put some perspective on your claims.” He smiled and looked directly into my eyes.
“For now, I am the Pontiff’s eyes and ears regarding this new development about God and His plans, as you describe them. Therefore, I have only a few questions. The first, are you God yourself?”
“No, I am not.”
“Then are you Satan?”
“No, I definitely am not Satan, Lucifer or any other names associated with him.”
“Have you spoken to the Archangel Gabriel?”
“What I have said Bishop, is that I spoke with a messenger from God who calls himself Gabriel. I do not know if he is the same angel in the Bible named Gabriel, or another Gabriel. I have no way of knowing.”
“Did you ever leave earth like Ezekiel or Elijah and get your revelations in heaven?”
“No, Bishop, no chariots of fire took me anywhere. I have already stated how I was chosen and the circumstances.”
“You are Catholic. Am I correct?”
“Yes I am.”
“Were you born Catholic?”
“No, I converted in 1985 through RICA, which is the Rite of Christian Invitation of Adults.”
“Yes, I know what it is Jack. I taught the class earlier in my youth. So, why did you convert?”
“The woman I wanted to marry was Catholic and it was required that I attend RICA prior to marriage.”
“So, did you like becoming Catholic?”
“Yes and no. There are some parts I like and others I do not.”
“So since you are Catholic, do you believe in all things about the Church?”
“No I do not.”
“So, you believe in God?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you believe in the Holy Catholic Church?”
“No, I do not.” I could see the Bishop hesitate and appear disappointed.
“So you believe in the Holy Spirit.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you believe in the communion of saints?”
“No, I do not.”
“Do you believe in the resurrection of the body?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”
“Yes, I do.”
The bishop hesitated then asked, “Mr. South, based on your answers, you seem to have definite opinions on the church and could possibly be excommunicated.”
“For what?” I responded. “Am I on trial, that you would threaten me with excommunication? That is a problem that I have with the church. Only God can deny me, not you, or any other person on this earth.”
“No, Mr. South. I am not excommunicating you or threatening you. I am just trying to understand what you believe in.”
“I have just told you what I believe in. I go to mass. I do my penance, I pray, and I talk to God, on my own terms, not yours; or based on the rules or regulations of any other organized church here on earth.”
“Okay, I understand.” He paused again, forming his next question.
“Are you one of the witnesses of the end times?”
“Yes I am, Bishop O’Keefe. That you can be assured of.”
“So does this mean then that this is the start of Tribulation today, as described in the last week of Daniel and what John prophesied on the Island of Patmos?”
I saw each panel member lean towards me and noticed the sweat forming on John’s brow. I looked directly into the Bishop’s eyes. For some reason, I felt that he was evil. I said, “I am surprised you would even ask that question Bishop. It is my understanding that the church’s stance on end times, especially Revelations, is that all of this took place a long time ago. Actually, several Catholic scribes have in the past, detailed an outline of what happened in John’s Apocalypse and directly related them to the Roman Empire. Therefore, with all due respect, are you questioning your own church’s stance on end time prophecy, and if so, does that mean you do not believe in the teachings of which you are a high ranking officer?” I sat back.
“Well, you are right. Your assumptions are correct, but I still want your opinion on my question?”
“I have no opinion. Opinions are not facts, they are opinions, and in this scenario, I do not give opinions. I give facts, and the facts I give are directly from God, not man.”
“So, do you have an answer to my original question?”
“No. I will not answer that question. It is not I who starts or ends tribulation; God sets the timetable. However, you can assume anything you want. But based on your belief prior to today, you and the Church have already said that this time will never exist.”
John, seeing that this was going nowhere and possibly sensing my irritation, interrupted and said to the Bishop, “Thank you, Bishop, but we need to move onto other questions.”
He then turned to Reverend Marks and said, “Reverend?”
The camera then moved to Reverend Marks. He turned to me with no “hi,” “how are you,” or anything, before going into his questions.
“Do you have any formal religious training, theology school, classes, Sunday school or any other credentials in regards to organized religion of any sort?”
Hmm, I wondered where he was going with these questions. “Sunday school, yes. Religious training, some; but mostly RICA with the Catholic Church, as previously said, and various religious books about prophecy that I’ve read in the past. Otherwise, if you mean did I go to theology school, no I did not. Am I a pastor with credentials, no I am not. I assume that with your high rank in the Southern Baptist Church, you have. Am I correct?”
“Yes Mr. South, you are correct. However, what I am trying to get at is how, with no training and no prior experience in religious laws and theology, would you expect anyone to believe God picked you to be one of the final witnesses? It seems to me that others would be better suited and that you are quite an unlikely choice.”
I closed my eyes. I needed inspiration. I soon found the answer I needed, just as Gabriel told me I would. “Reverend Marks, how well do you know the Bible?”
“I know my Bible well.”
“Alright Reverend, please give me one prophet of God in either the Old or New Testament who went to theology school like you did and had to show those credentials to a panel to verify who they were. And Reverend, I might add, with your knowledge of the Bible, I think the same question you just asked me was asked of Jesus by the Sanhedrin in the temple, specifically when Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas and then off to Pontius Pilot, if I am correct. I think the issue then, based on what you’re asking, is do you have any credentials?”
It went dead quiet. I could see that the Reverend, all two hundred and eighty pounds of him, was pumping blood to the brain and his face and his anger was getting him to the point of calling me names and losing his composure. I calmly sat back and awaited his answer. He finally said, “You are evil, a blasphemer, and a product of Satan himself.”
I looked up and stared into his eyes while I spoke, “See Reverend, now we have an opinion again, like the Bishop here, not a fact. Moreover, this is the problem with organized religion today. Too much structure, with buildings that are shrines to men, not God; and not enough faith.”
John, seeing that there was going to be an issue here, interrupted and said, “We need to break for a commercial. We will be right back.”