Charles Kelly, a former Vietnam veteran who works as a news reporter for a Los Angeles TV station, is piloting a news chopper to cover a story. While in flight, Kelly's chopper suddenly goes out of control when it appears the chopper has hit an object in the sky. Forced to land the chopper in a desert clearing, Kelly staggers out of the helicopter and sees before him a figure of a man standing in front of him. The man introduces himself as 'The Messenger' and tells Kelly not to fear him because he's been sent by Jesus Christ to address the people of the world about their fate, which they will endure for the next three days.