Once upon a time, there was a wise king of a great kingdom. He was revered by all. Whenever anyone talked about the king, they did so with honor and respect. Whenever he passed by, people would humbly bow and acknowledge his authority.
The ancient law of the land stated that anything the king said while sitting on his throne was to be carefully written down. The sole task of the scribes was writing down everything the king said. It wasn't a difficult job, though, because the king was careful in everything he said while sitting on his throne, and he was not a man of many words. When the king finished speaking all that he wished to say, he ordered the scribes to bind the pages into what was called the King's Book.
Everyone in the land had a copy of the King's Book. It contained everything the king wished the people to know and to do. You would think that people would take it seriously, especially since they honored the king. But such was not the case.
While the king was highly esteemed, the King's Book was not. Some said the Book was filled with errors. Others laughed at the stories, poems, and parables contained in the Book. The scholars of the land questioned its authenticity.
Teachers throughout the land refused to teach the King's Book to children. It was used in the Universities, though, but not in the way you would expect. The professors made fun of the King's Book in each and every class until every university student learned to do the same. The professors were careful to fail any student who believed the words contained in the King's Book. Even the artists and writers joined in the derision through their art, plays, and books.
Some took the King's Book seriously, however. They believed a person can't be honored, let alone a king, while at the same time laughing at what he said. They were called dumb, stupid, and dull-witted because they not only believed what was written in the King's Book, but they sought to obey what was written in its pages.
As you can imagine, they suffered a lot in this kingdom. They were accused of worshipping the King's Book and were renounced by the pastors as heretics. Some were beaten. Others were thrown into prison. Not a few lost their lives, not because they dishonored the king, but because they would not disgrace the King's Book.
Contained in the King's Book was a prophecy that the king would punish everyone who did not honor him and his Book. Of course, hardly anyone took this prophesy seriously since few took anything the king said to heart. After what seemed like an eternity, the day came when the king carried out his prophecy.
At first, no one believed when the soldiers came and ordered them to stand before the king to be judged according to his Book. As they gathered, the king stood to speak. He read his own words written so many years ago. Some people laughed as the king read. Others mocked, booed, and jeered. Still, others cried out in anger as they tried to drown out the king's voice as he read from his Book.
The noise was so loud that the people could not hear anything that the king was saying. If they listened, they would have heard the king read that he would pardon all who both honored him and his Book. He told them that it is impossible to honor him without honoring his words. Sadly, no one listened. They refused to believe that honoring the king had anything to do with dishonoring his written word. Finally, the time came to pass judgment. All who refused to listen were cast out of the kingdom and exiled forever.
Next, the king released from prison all who had honored him and his word. They were given a place of honor in his kingdom. All the lands, houses, goods, and possessions of those in exile were given to them.
The last prophecy in the King's Book was the promise that all who were killed would be brought back to life and given special places of authority. However, no one was surprised that this happened because they had already read about it in the King's Book.
And they lived happily ever after.
