THIS PRESENT DARKNESS - WEEK 7 - CHAPTERS 21 - 24

THIS PRESENT DARKNESS by Frank Peretti

The sky is dark and ominous out the window as I write this book post. Fitting for the chapters we are about to step into. The darkness is accumulating around Ashton, and we are hurtling towards our first major spiritual confrontation. Before we get there though..

We have the juxtaposition of the Omni Corporation/Omni International and The Remnant throughout these chapters. Omni, the Greek word for "all," desires to lose any form or individuality and meld into a "universal mind." The buying up of all the properties, the fingers stuck not only into every area in Ashton but nationally and internationally is troubling. At the helm of it all, in Ashton, is Langstrat. But we have to wonder how real that is. I found the messenger scene fascinating. The blonde-haired girl appearing in Langstrat's semi-conscious, spirit-world connected mind Rafar waiting for the bidding to move. How long do you think Langstrat will be calling the shots? (I think we see the real hierarchy of power in what happens to Ted Harmel. Do you think at one time Harmel felt like he was controlling his destiny? That the "messengers" were at his command? )Then the blonde charade falls away, and we see who the messenger really is - a demon. Now compare this to The Remnant. To use a sports term, they are clearly the underdogs, but as we see the prayers begin, all I could think was "Where 2 or 3 are gathered,,," The ones who are trying to control it all versus the ones who are trying to give it all up to their Heavenly Father. However, we learn in the angels' discussion that Hogan and Busche will fall for a season. Note that God's not causing the fall, but it will be used none the less.

I have to mention Kate here for a moment. Can we understand as women her frustration? The hope of having her husband back when they moved to the small town of Ashton, and now the mistress (work) is back.

Then we have the kicking of the beehive by Marshall and Bernice. The metaphorical picture of the sandcastle about to be swallowed up by the wave sets the stage for what comes next. I'm not going to cover it all, but we all knew what the stillness meant, didn't we. The calm before the storm. Ted Harmel's call was horrific, wasn't it? The heart pounding terror Marshall feels as he steps into the house. The picture of the demons clinging everywhere. The opening of the bedroom door and the discovery of Ted Harmel's body unleashes the war between the spiritual beings. The demons circle around Marshall, and the angels fight back in their glorified state.

Without saying much more, Peretti leaves us in an unexpected position when he closes the chapter. Hogan arrested, Strachan and his wife missing, their house a picture of destruction. The fall of Hogan Marshall begins.