How Long Is The Night

     The alarm went off at 5AM. Darkness consumed the Earth. It was time for George to get up but he decided to sleep a little longer because he was still tired. The idea of arriving at work by 7AM was an after thought. Finally about two hours later, the sun was shining through the window. The alarm clock played that familiar tune and George got up. After taking his shower, he decided to wear a black silk shirt, tan pants, and black shoes. He got dressed quickly because he wanted to be in the car by 7:45AM. It was a beautiful summer day on September 11, 2001. The drive to work was stress free. The traffic moved smoothly. George arrived at work at 8:45AM. He parked in the North Parking at the Pentagon. The Pentagon is a five sided building consisting of five concentric pentagons connected to each other by corridors and covers an area of 34 acres. When he walked into the office, he noticed that there was a gathering around the television. There were expressions of disbelief. At that very moment, across the screen was a repeat of the first plane crashing in the World Trade Center in New York. The first plane hit at 8:45AM. As they stood wondering why someone would play such a horrible joke, the second plane hit the World Trade Center at 9:03AM. This scene still did not feel real. It looked like something from an action movie. Everyone in the office was in shock about the events. There was an announcement that everyone needed to evacuate the building. George's attitude was later for this. He had work to do. There were things that needed to be put into place because of what had already happened at the World Trade Center. It wasn't until George got outside of the Pentagon that he realized it was not a hoist. There was smoke everywhere. At that point, he did not know where the smoke was coming from or even what had happened. Some of the people were not even aware that a plane had hit the Pentagon at 9:40AM. It was after everyone had assembled in his or her designated area that it was made known what had happened to the Pentagon. The section that was hit had recently been renovated and was still partially occupied. The crash caused a gash on the west side of the Pentagon. Three of the five rings were damaged. There were about 26,000 people in the building. People were being carried from the south side to the north side. There were some people in military uniforms as well as civilians covered with blood. Many people were disoriented still not knowing what had happened. George was never in combat, so this experience was the closest that he had ever come. He had never seen anything like this before. Different individuals tried to make calls on their cell phones. Circuits were busy. George's boss was finally able to make a call to his wife. He took other numbers from staff in his office to notify their families. She was not able to get in touch with anyone at George's house. George walked over to his boss' van. He had a television and they were able to monitor what was happening. Another plane was in the air and was headed in the direction of the Pentagon according to the media. This plane, however, crashed in a wooded area in Pennsylvania at 10:00 after passengers on the plane confronted the hijackers.  They were determined that no one else would be harmed. There were no commercial planes flying. The airports had completely shut down. The only planes flying were military planes released to do surveillance. All of a sudden there was an explosion. Some thought that another plane had hit the Pentagon. The explosion was the plane's fuel tank. The employees at the Pentagon still had not been released to go home. People were in cars. Traffic was backed up at the Pentagon. At about 11AM, George got in his car. He had a hard time trying to leave the parking lot. Finally, he was able to maneuver around. Law enforcement officers were in marked and unmarked cars. Some of the officers were responsible for getting the important dignitaries out of the Pentagon. Cars were driving up and down the steps and on the sidewalks. Fire fighters, and rescue workers were everywhere.  Sirens could be heard for miles and miles. Ambulances were racing. Traffic was at a standstill on Interstates 95, 495, 395, 295, all major highways and side streets. You could walk faster than you could drive. George decided to get off the Interstate 395 and take Main Street. He sat on Main Street for about an hour and a half before traffic started to move. Nothing was moving except emergency vehicles. They used the sidewalks to get around because traffic was so backed up. While sitting there George began to think about the scripture that he always heard about the rapture. The rapture is the second coming of the Lord. Matthew 24:36-44 verses from the King James Version of the Bible states, " But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no , not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that wre before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shalt be in the field, the one shall br taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill the one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."