Act 1: Scene 3
The Division of the Church (Israel)
When the curtains open, the stage is set as the inside of a church. There is a podium set at the back of the stage where the preacher will preach. There are numerous pews lined up on both sides of the stage with the backs of the pews facing you. There is a center aisle that leads up to the podium. Above that center aisle is a sign that hangs over the aisle. The name upon that sign reads “Babylon”. Below “Babylon” are the names “Egypt”, “Assyria”, “Persia”, “Greece”, “Rome”, “Kingdom of God”.
There is a huge dull red chair that resembles a chair of royalty, or a throne. It is very tall and dwarfs the podium and pews. In the back right corner there is a small structure that resembles a barn. The doors of the barn are open.
There is a christmas tree standing on the right side of the preacher’s podium. On the left side of the preacher’s podium stands a pedestal with a large easter basket sitting upon it. Upon the back wall are two large wall hangings that have script writing upon them. One says “The Jews are the Chosen People, Pray for them.” The other says “The Rapture is at the Door. Be Ready” The characters begin entering the stage.
The character that is dressed as the devil enters first. He climbs the large chair and takes his seat overlooking the podium and pews. A red spotlight is turned on and settles upon this character. It portrays this character in a reddish glow.
A large cast of characters enter the stage. Their costumes are interesting. There are some dressed with wearing red robes that has a serpents tail protruding out of the back of their costumes. Others are dressed in black robes with the tails of scorpions with stingers protruding out of the back of their costumes. They also have four wings coming out of the back of their costumes. It appears to be insect wings; they look like the wings of a locust.
The rest are wearing white robes. But these robes are not clean. They have spots and blemishes upon them. Their robes are dirty and stained. The interesting part though, is they have tassels of wheat affixed to their heads with a band. Each person in this group is carrying a small bag, brown in color, dangling by a drawstring, hanging from their belts All three groups of characters are carrying bibles.
They walk up the aisle and begin to settle into the pews. There is no order amongst them. Some dressed as serpents are sitting next to those dressed as scorpions. Then a character with the wheat tassels is sitting next to them. They are all mingled together. The preacher then appears on the stage.
This character has a very interesting costume. The robe he is wearing is an off white with black splotches all over the robe. It looks to be wooly. Upon his head he is wearing what looks to be the top part of a wolf’s head. Ah…’A wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ He walks up to the podium and begins to speak. They all begin to sing, stand up, raise their hands, and sway to the music being played in the background. They take their seats and listen to the preacher for awhile. They all bow their heads when the preacher is done, say a prayer and stand up.
Meanwhile, the one dressed as a devil is sitting upon his ‘throne’ looking over the crowd. Smiling and nodding his head. He is thoroughly enjoying what he is influencing and witnessing. None of the characters on the stage are aware that he is there watching over them. Not the preacher, the serpents, the scorpions, or the ones with the wheat tassels.
As the crowd of people stands up, they start forming into three groups. To the left of the stage, all of the actors and actresses with costumes of serpents are gathering. To the right, all of the actors and actresses dressed as scorpions are coming together as a group. In the center between these two groups that are forming, the characters with the wheat tassels come together as a group. They are all actresses.
As they come together and assemble into groups, you can now count how many are in each group. There are seven dressed as serpents. Likewise, there are seven dressed as scorpions. But there are only five with the wheat tassels. You then notice that the ones with the wheat tassels are facing the back wall and carrying old fashioned oil lamps. The lamps are not burning. They also have some type of container hanging from their side that is tipped upside down. It has no oil in it to refill the lamps.
As this is occurring, a large plumb-bob on a cord is lowered from the ceiling. It is lowered and stops a few feet above the group in the middle of the church scene. It hovers over the group with the dirty robes and wheat tassels.
A thing to note is the facial expressions of these groups. The group dressed as serpents appear to be very angry. They are looking at the group with the wheat tassels with looks of disgust. Those that are dressed as scorpions, are looking not angry, but appear to have expressions upon their faces of anticipation. They are all pointing at the group with the wheat tassels.
The group in the middle with the wheat tassels has a look of fear upon their faces. Each one reaches into a bag that is hanging at their side and pulls out a burlap sack with a hole cut in the top and two holes in the sides. They all slide this over the dirty robes they are wearing.
They are now standing there with burlap sacks over their dirty white robes. Their expression of fear is still there, but there is a change in their facial expression. They start to cry and sit down or kneel down onto the floor. Some bend over and put their face to the ground. They each reach into their bags and pull out a handful of what appears to be ashes. They sprinkle it upon themselves as they are crying.
The group of those dressed as serpents are looking at this group sitting or laying on the floor, smiling, and standing very straight and tall. They have their hands on their hips with a look of defiance and you can clearly see that they have no pity for the group with the wheat tassels. They look proud and haughty.
The group of serpents walks over the group with the wheat tassels towards the group of scorpions. As the walk over to the group of scorpions, they are not looking where they are stepping. They step on some hands or bump into some knocking them over. As they approach the group dressed as scorpions, they reach into the pockets of their costumes, pull something out and hands it to each one that are dressed as scorpions.
The ones dressed as scorpions puts out one hand and shakes their hand and accepts what was given to them by the ones dressed as serpents. They each put what they were given into their pockets.
Once the ones dressed as serpents has handed over something to the ones that are dressed as scorpions, the ones that are dressed as serpents huddle together but stay standing close to the group of those that are dressed as scorpions. You count the number of characters dressed as serpents. They number seven. You count the number of characters dressed as scorpions. They also number seven.
The group dressed as scorpions are looking at the group with the wheat tassels with smile upon their faces. They then turn their backs to them and reach into each of their pockets. They pull out a handful of coins. Some begin flipping coins in the air and catching them. Some are just looking at the handful of coins and smiling. Some are counting their coins. All of them have looks of joy upon their faces and appear giddy.
Another character enters the stage. This one is dressed as an angel. He has a rope in his hands that is coiled. He approaches the groups of serpents and the group of scorpions. He begins to encircle them with this rope. He goes around and around. As the angel circles around these two groups, he is tightening the rope. Around, and around he goes.
The two groups are still two groups but are being pulled closer and closer together until there is no gap between them. They now turn to face the audience. They have numbers on their foreheads and upon their right hands. They also have some writing on the front of their costumes.
The group dressed as serpents had the number 660 upon their foreheads. Upon their costumes, one had ‘Egypt’ written in bold letters at the top of the costume over their chest. Another had ‘Assyria’, another ‘Babylon’. The others each had different names written. ‘Persia’, ‘Greece’, ‘Rome’ and the last one had ‘Kingdom of God’.
The group dressed as scorpions had the same names written on the top of their costumes; ‘Egypt’, ‘Assyria’, ‘Babylon’, ‘Persia’, ‘Greece’, ‘Rome’, and ‘Kingdom of God’. They didn’t have any number on their forehead but on the outside of their right hand was the number 6.
Meanwhile, the character dressed as the devil is obviously enjoying what he is observing. A large smile is upon his face. You can see that he is very happy with what is being portrayed on the stage. As he looks at the ones with the wheat tassels, his demeanor changes to looks of disgust and contempt. As his gaze turns to the ones dressed as serpents and scorpions, his face breaks out into a smile again.
At the same time, the group with the wheat tassels are still on the floor, another two actors enter the stage. They are also dressed with dirty white robes and wheat tassels. They are wearing burlap sacks over their robes. They join the group that is sitting on the floor. They reach into their bags and grab a handful of ashes, sprinkling it upon themselves.
This is the time that this play becomes interactive. The character dressed as an angel has now finished binding the group of serpents and scorpions together. He approaches the audience and gives the audience a nod. Seven members of the audience stand up and approach the stage. They climb the stairs off to the right of the stage and approach those that are crying dressed as wheat tassels. As they step up onto the stage, there are seven spotlights that settle upon each of the seven audience members. The spotlight follows them wherever they walk, shining upon them.
Each of the audience members go to one of the characters that are kneeling or sitting on the stage. They each place a hand on them and begin speaking to them. Each one of the audience members then begin to point to something. The ones on the floor follow their hands and pointing finger to what is being pointed at. Their gaze turns to the wall hanging on the back wall that says ‘The Jews are the Chosen People, Pray for them.’
All of the audience members then begin pointing to the christmas tree by the podium. The gaze of the characters sitting and kneeling on the ground then looks at what they are pointing at. They then point to the easter basket sitting on the pedestal. The characters on the ground turn their heads and look at the easter basket.
And finally, their fingers then point to the other wall hanging “The Rapture is at the Door, Are you Ready?” When they look at the last one that is being pointed at, the ones sitting or kneeling look up at them with tears in their eyes and lower their heads. The audience members then take each one by the hand, lifts up their hand and motions for them to stand up. They hug them, brush their hair back from their face and wipe their tears.
All the while, the members of the audience are speaking to the characters with the wheat tassels. The faces of fear are gone. The tearful, repentant faces are still there but they then begin to smile and look up.
The audience members make their way off the stage and return to their seats. As they exit the stage, the spotlights are turned off.
The characters with the wheat tassels then turn around and face the audience. Upon the front of the burlap sacks, there is writing and a picture. The picture is of a golden candlestick. The writing on the burlap sacks say ‘Ephesus’, ‘Smyrna’, ‘Pergamos’, ‘Thyatira’, ‘Sardis’, ‘Philadelphia’, ‘Laodiceans’.
They turn around, and one by one, they begin walking towards the open doors of the barn.
They have a different look about them. They are standing very straight, their heads held high, and a look of determination about them. They are no longer in view as they disappear into the barn, exiting off the stage. The audience members make their way off the stage and return to their seats. As they exit the stage, the spotlights are turned off.
The curtains close.
There is a huge dull red chair that resembles a chair of royalty, or a throne. It is very tall and dwarfs the podium and pews. In the back right corner there is a small structure that resembles a barn. The doors of the barn are open.
There is a christmas tree standing on the right side of the preacher’s podium. On the left side of the preacher’s podium stands a pedestal with a large easter basket sitting upon it. Upon the back wall are two large wall hangings that have script writing upon them. One says “The Jews are the Chosen People, Pray for them.” The other says “The Rapture is at the Door. Be Ready” The characters begin entering the stage.
The character that is dressed as the devil enters first. He climbs the large chair and takes his seat overlooking the podium and pews. A red spotlight is turned on and settles upon this character. It portrays this character in a reddish glow.
A large cast of characters enter the stage. Their costumes are interesting. There are some dressed with wearing red robes that has a serpents tail protruding out of the back of their costumes. Others are dressed in black robes with the tails of scorpions with stingers protruding out of the back of their costumes. They also have four wings coming out of the back of their costumes. It appears to be insect wings; they look like the wings of a locust.
The rest are wearing white robes. But these robes are not clean. They have spots and blemishes upon them. Their robes are dirty and stained. The interesting part though, is they have tassels of wheat affixed to their heads with a band. Each person in this group is carrying a small bag, brown in color, dangling by a drawstring, hanging from their belts All three groups of characters are carrying bibles.
They walk up the aisle and begin to settle into the pews. There is no order amongst them. Some dressed as serpents are sitting next to those dressed as scorpions. Then a character with the wheat tassels is sitting next to them. They are all mingled together. The preacher then appears on the stage.
This character has a very interesting costume. The robe he is wearing is an off white with black splotches all over the robe. It looks to be wooly. Upon his head he is wearing what looks to be the top part of a wolf’s head. Ah…’A wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ He walks up to the podium and begins to speak. They all begin to sing, stand up, raise their hands, and sway to the music being played in the background. They take their seats and listen to the preacher for awhile. They all bow their heads when the preacher is done, say a prayer and stand up.
Meanwhile, the one dressed as a devil is sitting upon his ‘throne’ looking over the crowd. Smiling and nodding his head. He is thoroughly enjoying what he is influencing and witnessing. None of the characters on the stage are aware that he is there watching over them. Not the preacher, the serpents, the scorpions, or the ones with the wheat tassels.
As the crowd of people stands up, they start forming into three groups. To the left of the stage, all of the actors and actresses with costumes of serpents are gathering. To the right, all of the actors and actresses dressed as scorpions are coming together as a group. In the center between these two groups that are forming, the characters with the wheat tassels come together as a group. They are all actresses.
As they come together and assemble into groups, you can now count how many are in each group. There are seven dressed as serpents. Likewise, there are seven dressed as scorpions. But there are only five with the wheat tassels. You then notice that the ones with the wheat tassels are facing the back wall and carrying old fashioned oil lamps. The lamps are not burning. They also have some type of container hanging from their side that is tipped upside down. It has no oil in it to refill the lamps.
As this is occurring, a large plumb-bob on a cord is lowered from the ceiling. It is lowered and stops a few feet above the group in the middle of the church scene. It hovers over the group with the dirty robes and wheat tassels.
A thing to note is the facial expressions of these groups. The group dressed as serpents appear to be very angry. They are looking at the group with the wheat tassels with looks of disgust. Those that are dressed as scorpions, are looking not angry, but appear to have expressions upon their faces of anticipation. They are all pointing at the group with the wheat tassels.
The group in the middle with the wheat tassels has a look of fear upon their faces. Each one reaches into a bag that is hanging at their side and pulls out a burlap sack with a hole cut in the top and two holes in the sides. They all slide this over the dirty robes they are wearing.
They are now standing there with burlap sacks over their dirty white robes. Their expression of fear is still there, but there is a change in their facial expression. They start to cry and sit down or kneel down onto the floor. Some bend over and put their face to the ground. They each reach into their bags and pull out a handful of what appears to be ashes. They sprinkle it upon themselves as they are crying.
The group of those dressed as serpents are looking at this group sitting or laying on the floor, smiling, and standing very straight and tall. They have their hands on their hips with a look of defiance and you can clearly see that they have no pity for the group with the wheat tassels. They look proud and haughty.
The group of serpents walks over the group with the wheat tassels towards the group of scorpions. As the walk over to the group of scorpions, they are not looking where they are stepping. They step on some hands or bump into some knocking them over. As they approach the group dressed as scorpions, they reach into the pockets of their costumes, pull something out and hands it to each one that are dressed as scorpions.
The ones dressed as scorpions puts out one hand and shakes their hand and accepts what was given to them by the ones dressed as serpents. They each put what they were given into their pockets.
Once the ones dressed as serpents has handed over something to the ones that are dressed as scorpions, the ones that are dressed as serpents huddle together but stay standing close to the group of those that are dressed as scorpions. You count the number of characters dressed as serpents. They number seven. You count the number of characters dressed as scorpions. They also number seven.
The group dressed as scorpions are looking at the group with the wheat tassels with smile upon their faces. They then turn their backs to them and reach into each of their pockets. They pull out a handful of coins. Some begin flipping coins in the air and catching them. Some are just looking at the handful of coins and smiling. Some are counting their coins. All of them have looks of joy upon their faces and appear giddy.
Another character enters the stage. This one is dressed as an angel. He has a rope in his hands that is coiled. He approaches the groups of serpents and the group of scorpions. He begins to encircle them with this rope. He goes around and around. As the angel circles around these two groups, he is tightening the rope. Around, and around he goes.
The two groups are still two groups but are being pulled closer and closer together until there is no gap between them. They now turn to face the audience. They have numbers on their foreheads and upon their right hands. They also have some writing on the front of their costumes.
The group dressed as serpents had the number 660 upon their foreheads. Upon their costumes, one had ‘Egypt’ written in bold letters at the top of the costume over their chest. Another had ‘Assyria’, another ‘Babylon’. The others each had different names written. ‘Persia’, ‘Greece’, ‘Rome’ and the last one had ‘Kingdom of God’.
The group dressed as scorpions had the same names written on the top of their costumes; ‘Egypt’, ‘Assyria’, ‘Babylon’, ‘Persia’, ‘Greece’, ‘Rome’, and ‘Kingdom of God’. They didn’t have any number on their forehead but on the outside of their right hand was the number 6.
Meanwhile, the character dressed as the devil is obviously enjoying what he is observing. A large smile is upon his face. You can see that he is very happy with what is being portrayed on the stage. As he looks at the ones with the wheat tassels, his demeanor changes to looks of disgust and contempt. As his gaze turns to the ones dressed as serpents and scorpions, his face breaks out into a smile again.
At the same time, the group with the wheat tassels are still on the floor, another two actors enter the stage. They are also dressed with dirty white robes and wheat tassels. They are wearing burlap sacks over their robes. They join the group that is sitting on the floor. They reach into their bags and grab a handful of ashes, sprinkling it upon themselves.
This is the time that this play becomes interactive. The character dressed as an angel has now finished binding the group of serpents and scorpions together. He approaches the audience and gives the audience a nod. Seven members of the audience stand up and approach the stage. They climb the stairs off to the right of the stage and approach those that are crying dressed as wheat tassels. As they step up onto the stage, there are seven spotlights that settle upon each of the seven audience members. The spotlight follows them wherever they walk, shining upon them.
Each of the audience members go to one of the characters that are kneeling or sitting on the stage. They each place a hand on them and begin speaking to them. Each one of the audience members then begin to point to something. The ones on the floor follow their hands and pointing finger to what is being pointed at. Their gaze turns to the wall hanging on the back wall that says ‘The Jews are the Chosen People, Pray for them.’
All of the audience members then begin pointing to the christmas tree by the podium. The gaze of the characters sitting and kneeling on the ground then looks at what they are pointing at. They then point to the easter basket sitting on the pedestal. The characters on the ground turn their heads and look at the easter basket.
And finally, their fingers then point to the other wall hanging “The Rapture is at the Door, Are you Ready?” When they look at the last one that is being pointed at, the ones sitting or kneeling look up at them with tears in their eyes and lower their heads. The audience members then take each one by the hand, lifts up their hand and motions for them to stand up. They hug them, brush their hair back from their face and wipe their tears.
All the while, the members of the audience are speaking to the characters with the wheat tassels. The faces of fear are gone. The tearful, repentant faces are still there but they then begin to smile and look up.
The audience members make their way off the stage and return to their seats. As they exit the stage, the spotlights are turned off.
The characters with the wheat tassels then turn around and face the audience. Upon the front of the burlap sacks, there is writing and a picture. The picture is of a golden candlestick. The writing on the burlap sacks say ‘Ephesus’, ‘Smyrna’, ‘Pergamos’, ‘Thyatira’, ‘Sardis’, ‘Philadelphia’, ‘Laodiceans’.
They turn around, and one by one, they begin walking towards the open doors of the barn.
They have a different look about them. They are standing very straight, their heads held high, and a look of determination about them. They are no longer in view as they disappear into the barn, exiting off the stage. The audience members make their way off the stage and return to their seats. As they exit the stage, the spotlights are turned off.
The curtains close.
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