The story below is written over 200 years into the future about Jesus' return to earth. I first wrote this in high school for my creative writing class. Years later, I somewhat revised and reused it for another creative writing class I took while in college. Though I believe there is still room for revision, here is the product I presented to my professor and class. They apparently enjoyed it so I hope you do as well! If you have any suggestions on how to make this story better, I would appreciate the feedback :).

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” – Revelation 3:3 KJV

I descended from heaven and immediately took the disguise of a thief in the night. Matched with the description of a burglar, I wore a black sweatshirt with the hood covered lowly over my eyes, baggy pants and a frightening scowl on my face. I looked around the earth with anger, shocked at how much had changed since I first left. My children had ruined my creation. I created the earth for My glory and they turned it in into a bottomless pit of sin.

It was nearly midnight, and I stood on the sidewalk, disgusted at the view before Me. People – My children – passed by Me and looked at Me in confusion. I guess it was odd to see a Man standing on the side as He glared at the world without explanation. However once midnight struck, I sprinted into action. As a woman passed by Me, I quickly snatched her purse and ran. “Hey! Someone help me, he took my purse!” she yelled. I could feel the stare of a few onlookers burning through My back as I continued to run; a man soon ran after me. The street quickly became crowded as more and more people came to see the situation unravel before their eyes.

Trying to catch My breath, I hid in an alley for a few seconds as My legs burned. I thought that I had outran the man who chased me but quickly realized I hadn’t as a fist connected with My face, the impact knocking My head back. “The hell is your problem, man? What type of person steals an innocent woman’s purse?”

“You speak as if you’re innocent yourself, Jordan,” I said as blood ran down My nose.

His eyes widened greatly. “What the f- how do you know my name?”

“Your Father in Heaven knows all things.”

“Man, you’re crazy. I already called the cops and they’re coming for you.”

“Jordan, don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them. You can see the speck in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the log in your own eye. First, take the log out of your own eye. Then you can see the speck out of your friend’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-3, 5 CEVUK).

I slid down the alley’s wall onto the floor, waiting for my sentence. Jordan retrieved the woman’s purse and gave it back to her. He looked at me uneasily, debating on whether I was truly crazy or telling the truth. His stare down was cut off when the woman approached Me and asked, “why did you steal my purse?”

“Woman, you broke every commandment I gave to Moses to share with the world. Go home and read Revelation 3:3 and beg for forgiveness before it is too late.”

She gave Me a disturbed look and rapidly walked away. At that same moment, I heard sirens blaring up from above, becoming louder and louder every second, as the car descended. After two officers spoke with Jordan and other onlookers, the pair soon came to arrest me; déjà vu moment. As one of them approached me, I smirked and said, “Hello, William.”

William looked a bit shocked that I knew his name. “Sir, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.”

“William, My son, repent. You’ve upset so many people, leading them towards a life of sin. You can’t pray to Me every night and not change your ways, son. Repent.”

He looked at his partner and sighed, mumbling, “another crazy one.” He looked at me and said, “sir, I advise that you get in the car and shut up.” I obliged. Soon, we were up in the air, flying our way to jail.

When we arrived at the jail, I was led into a cell. Officer William told me that I would be questioned “in a few.” I looked around and couldn’t believe that some of My children would commit crimes and purposely end up in a place like this. Was hell not enough? “Sir,” I said trying to get the attention of the officer on duty.

“What?”

“Is that anyway to talk to a human being?”

He laughed, “funny that the criminal who stole a woman’s purse would even think about respect.”

“Jeffrey, last I checked, you shouldn’t be lecturing anyone on respect.”

“Excuse me?”

“You shall not commit adultery. You go to church every Sunday praying to Me, yet you consistently disobey My commandment and disrespect your wife.”

Jeffrey looked as surprised as Jordan did. “Who the fuck are you? Stalking is another charge, you know?” he yelled, turning a deep shade of red.

“Jeffrey, why must you lie?”

“Look man, you don’t know me or my life for that matter. If you’re stalking me, I will have you persecuted.”

“Ah, Jeffrey, My son, that’s where you’re wrong. Your Father in heaven knows all things. If you do not repent, you won’t live with Me in paradise.”

As I finished my sentence, another officer came in. Jeffrey motioned him to come over and said, “take this one out for some fresh air. He’s delusional.” The officer obliged and took me outside, making sure to keep a close eye on me.

While taking in some “fresh air,” I saw a visibly troubled teen, walking back and forth, deep in thought.

I went up to him and asked, “son, what is wrong?”

“I’m in this hell hole for no reason.”

“No reason, you say?”

“Yeah, that’s what I just said, man.”

I laughed bitterly, “oh My children, I wish I could save you all from the pits of hell. Son, getting arrested and thrown in jail for stealing food is a valid reason. You must pay for your sins.” He gave me the same reaction I’ve gotten all day: widened eyes with a shocked look on his face. “Brian,” I continued, “I know your heart, and I know why you stole.”

“What? How do you know what happened? You weren’t even there when it happened...and how do you know my name?”

“Your Father in heaven knows all things. Brian, I am everywhere. Confess your sins wholeheartedly and your Father will forgive you.” With that, I walked away and looked up into the sky in time to see a spaceship fly by. When did earth evolve so much? When did it turn into this sinful place?

In the corner of the yard, I saw a middle-aged man on his knees, praying. I went over to him and tapped his shoulder. I noticed that he was crying. “Michael, stop crying,” I said, “your sins are forgiven.”

He looked up at me with his mouth agape and tears streaming down his face as he asked, “are you-“

“Yes, it is Me. I have returned.”

“But why are You talking to me of all people? I’ve done nothing but sin most of my life. Look where it’s gotten me.”

“My son, if you’ve read My Word, you should know that I forgive any and everyone that asks for My forgiveness. Go in peace and continue to love and serve the Lord.”

“Amen.”

The officer that was appointed to watch Me called Me over.

Waiting longer than I expected, I was finally questioned. “Sir, who are you?”

“Jesus of Nazareth.”

I heard a burst of laughter, “you’re seriously delusional, man!”

“That’s not what some of you were saying on Sunday.”

“If you’re really Jesus, then prove it! Poof on out of here,” they said as they continued to laugh.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing for what things soever he doeth, these things the Son also doeth in like manner” (John 5:19, ASV).

“And? You just quoted the bible. Anyone can do that.”

“Yes, everyone can quote My words but not all can be welcomed into My kingdom.”

“You belong in a mental institution.”

I sadly shook My head, “it’s 2250 and My children still have a hard time believing the truth.”

“Shut up, that’s enough talking and jokes for the day.”

He gestured towards his partner and said, “put him in his cell. We’ll call to put him in a psych ward in the morning.” My anger grew. So many years have passed, and the world is even worse than when I left. The world is littered with corruption and abomination. The faith of My children is weak, and they disappoint Me. During the middle of the night, I left my cell and began to destroy the earth.

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels and then He will reward each according to His works (Matthew 16:27). Fire started to disperse around the earth. The living know that they shall die but the dead know not anything…their love and their hatred, and their envy is now perished…Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do it, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, not knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither how goest (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10). Fire struck the whole earth.

Those who obeyed My commandments throughout their lives will ascend to heaven with Me, and will live in never-ending paradise. Those who went against My will, will burn in the pits of hell. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and fornicators and druggers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). My will has been done.