Deceived (25 page)

“That would explain why he's scratching so much,” Judd said. “Was that why you were so excited when I called earlier?”

“I have more good news, but let me share it with you later.”

Lionel and Sam moved for a better view of the Garden Tomb. The afternoon sun was hot, and Lionel was glad when Nicolae stepped from behind a curtain. The crowd before him didn't cheer or sing. They seemed afraid and many had chosen to go straight to get their mark instead of watching Carpathia's evil spectacle.

“I was never entombed!” Carpathia began. “I lay in state for three days for the world to see. Someone was said to have risen from this spot, but where is he? Did you ever see him? If he was God, why is he not still here? Some would have you believe it was he behind the disappearances that so crippled our world. What kind of a God would do that?”

Lionel glanced at Sam and whispered, “This whole show is supposed to mock Jesus.”

“I stand here among you, god on earth, having taken my rightful place,” Carpathia said. “I accept your allegiance.” He bowed and the crowd applauded.

Walter Moon stepped forward and bent toward the microphone. “He is risen!”

“He is risen indeed,” the crowd replied, less than enthusiastic.

Moon chided them and the crowd responded a little louder. “We are providing you with the opportunity to worship your potentate and his image at the Temple Mount, and there you may express your eternal devotion by accepting the mark of loyalty. Do not delay. Do not put this off. Be able to tell your descendants that His Excellency personally was there the day you made your pledge concrete.”

Moon lowered his voice and added, “And please remember that neither the mark of loyalty nor the worshiping of the image is optional.”

The wind whipped up as a helicopter landed to take Carpathia and other dignitaries to the Temple Mount. Lionel saw many with the mark heading for the holy site, while others rushed to get in line for their mark.

While Vicki waited for Claudia's response, the kids watched the live coverage in Jerusalem. Darrion called the others over when she found an e-mail from Tsion Ben-Judah. Vicki could tell by the way he composed the message that the man's heart was heavy.

I received a message from our sister in Christ, Hattie Durham, composed two days ago. As she was praying in her hotel room in Tel Aviv, God sent the angel Michael to minister to her. He said he had come in answer to her prayers
.

Michael encouraged her to be strong and said, “Those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever and ever. Many shall be purified, and made white and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”

Hattie believed she should speak out against the lies of the Antichrist. She knew there were others who had been believers longer and asked why she should be chosen to confront the evil one. In her note she said, “Maybe this is all silly and will not happen. If I chicken out, it will not have been of God and I will intercept this before it gets to you. But if you receive it, I assume I will not see you until you are in heaven. I love you and all the others, in Christ. Your sister, Hattie Durham.”

Hattie was the one who spoke against Carpathia and his False Prophet Leon Fortunato. She was consumed by fire, but we will see this dear sister again
.

Vicki sat stunned. She remembered her conversation with Hattie years before, trying to convince her that the Bible was true and giving her life to God was the only choice. Now Hattie was dead, another casualty in the war between good and evil. Vicki wondered when all the dying would end. She put her head in her hands and wept.

Lionel and Sam moved cautiously toward the loyalty application facility and the brewing chaos. Hundreds of military vehicles were parked outside the Old City. Sam wanted to avoid them, but Lionel noticed only a few Peacekeepers tending the vehicles. When they came near the Temple Mount, Lionel saw why. Global Community personnel were in line to take the mark themselves. Citizens who rushed to be processed grew angry that they had to wait in the back of the line.

Sam led Lionel to the Wailing Wall where many Orthodox Jews were praying. “These men, even if they are not believers in Messiah, will oppose the defiling of the new temple.”

As Peacekeepers and Morale Monitors took the mark, Lionel and Sam moved to the east-facing steps of the new temple. It sparkled in the sunlight, a replica of Solomon's original temple. As they approached, Sam pointed out the image of Carpathia, an exact replica of the man. People fell to their knees when they first glimpsed the golden statue, some crying or singing softly. Then they quickly moved on and dozens more fell to their knees.

A dark cloud covered the sun and the temperature dropped suddenly. The huge crowd fell silent as the golden statue seemed to rock back and forth. Then a deep voice boomed from the image. “This assemblage is not unanimous in its dedication to me! I am the maker of heaven and earth, the god of all creation. I was and was not and am again! Bow before your lord!”

Lionel froze. If the image shot fire like Fortunato, he and Sam were dead. He didn't want to kneel before the image, but his legs felt shaky.

“Don't look at it,” Sam whispered. “Just move away slowly.”

Lionel kept his head down, but the voice again blasted behind him. With every word he expected a bolt of lightning or an explosion of fire to engulf him.

“The choice you make this day is between life and death! Beware, you who would resist the revelation of your true and living god, who resurrected himself from the dead! You who are foolish enough to cling to your outdated, impotent mythologies, cast off the chains of the past or you shall surely die! Your risen ruler and king has spoken!”

Lionel had made it to the outer edge of the crowd and was glad to be alive. He turned and looked at those in line for the mark. More and more pilgrims took their place behind GC personnel.

“Carpathia's right,” Sam whispered. “This is life or death, but those people have no idea they're choosing death.”

Lionel had seen enough. He and Sam quickly made their way through the streets back to Yitzhak's house.

Vicki watched in horror as GCNN covered Nicolae's appearance at the temple. Carpathia announced he would be watching all night until every citizen of Jerusalem had received the mark of loyalty and worshiped his image. “And tomorrow at noon, I will ascend to
my
throne in
my
new house.”

Darrion yelped and said they had a new message from Claudia. Vicki turned from the scene of Nicolae waving farewell to the crowd and studied the e-mail.

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. If you'll tell me when to expect you, I can arrange to be at a nearby restaurant, if you'd like. I'm at a hotel, but I only have enough money to stay one more night. Please call me or come get me
.

Claudia

Vicki looked at Mark. “What do you think?”

“She gave us a phone number and location. That's a good sign.”

“She seems sincere,” Darrion said, “but it could still be an act.”

“We can't afford to not take her seriously,” Vicki said.

Manny called his friend Hector. After a few minutes of conversation, Manny hung up.

“What did he say?” Vicki said.

Manny hesitated. “Hector said he would help us find out if Claudia is telling the truth. We should go now.”

24

VICKI
called a meeting of the Young Trib Force in Wisconsin. The underground hideout was overcrowded with new arrivals, and everyone knew some would eventually have to move to another hiding place. Vicki explained the situation with Claudia and, though there was intense discussion, they agreed that Mark and Vicki would accompany Manny back to Des Plaines in hopes of bringing Claudia to safety.

Vicki stressed the importance of prayer, and everyone agreed there would be someone in a designated room praying while they were gone.

“We've received another message from Dr. Ben-Judah,” Vicki said.

“Nobody else has died, have they?” Charlie said.

“No. This is a message he wants everyone to hear. I'll leave it for you to read, but I want to stress a couple of his points.

“Tsion says Nicolae has scheduled what the Bible calls the desecration of the temple.” Vicki pulled an Old Testament text onto the huge screen. “Daniel prophesied that the king of this time period in history will ‘exalt and magnify himself above every god' and ‘shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods.' ”

“What are blastomys?” Charlie said.

Vicki smiled. “A blasphemy is making fun of God. It means you take what is holy, and make it unholy. It's like riding a pig down the Via Dolorosa just to make fun of Jesus.”

Charlie nodded. “That Carpathia's a really bad guy.”

“Tsion writes about why people don't believe the truth of God. There is a danger that the people we're trying to reach have hardened their hearts. People who do this won't be able to change their minds.”

“But we don't know who those people are,” Darrion said.

“Exactly,” Vicki said, “so we need to keep giving the message and looking for as many opportunities as possible.”

When she was through, Mark, Manny, and Vicki knelt in the middle of the room. Jim Dekker and Colin Dial prayed first, putting their hands on them. The others prayed and asked God to protect them when they began their travels later that night.