Even though their lives had changed drastically Joseph and Ben stayed friends, but their friendship was only during school hours and it was limited. Ben and a large number of evangelists traveled throughout Israel with Eli and Moshe. Joseph felt restless and alone.

The King's soldiers had tried many times to arrest the two men who had caused them so many problems but they failed in their attempts. Not only had they foretold the complete destruction of Russia, Eli's prediction that there would be no rain had come true. Three and a half years had now gone by since Cindy and the boys disappeared and in that time there had been no rain. Water was scarce. The air was hot and dry and crops failed. Shelves in the grocery stores were never full. In the wake of hunger and poverty crime flourished and gangs of young people roamed the city. The streets of Jerusalem were not safe. Even though soldiers guarded the streets of Jerusalem, gangs of young people roamed the city, attacking and robbing others.

The still unexplained disappearance three and a half years ago had been a staggering blow to the United States and it had never recovered. Deep in debt, America was no longer a world power. Newspapers proclaimed the devastation and depression. AIDS was on the rampage, famine and disease spread. The absence of prayer in school and loss of marriage had finally brought the great United States to the brink of ruin.

As the days went by Joseph stopped often to hear the prophets when they were in the City. Things were so bad that even Joseph's parents stopped and listened to the words Eli and Moshe spoke.

Although Joseph went to the temple each Shabbit he began to understand what Ben had been trying to tell him. Now his mind could accept the fact that perhaps Jesus had been the Lamb of God and had died to take away the sins of His people.

One evening as President Arams was giving a speech the world was once again changed. Joseph and his family were watching the TV that night when without warning a sharp noise split the air and there in the eyes of millions of people the president disappeared.

"The President has been shot in the head," a newscaster said as the cameras tried frantically to get pictures of the gunman. It was useless for the assailant was gone, lost in the crowd. No one had been seen firing the shot. The Kahns watched the drama as it was replayed over and over.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a sober man announced, his voice choking with emotion. "President Arams died at 10:35 this evening. He will always be remembered as Israel's best friend. This news is shocking the world."

As Joseph watched the proceedings unfolding he was filled with confusion. President Arams was dead so how could he have been the Anti-Christ as Eli and Moshe insisted? They must have been wrong. If only Ben lived next door with his parents Joseph would have someone to talk to.

The world mourned their beloved President and came to Israel to pay homage. The funeral was televised and long lines formed. People from all countries wept as they walked solemnly by the casket of the man who had brought peace to them. Little did they realize the surprise that would follow. Joseph listened to the radio as he tried to study.

"Ladies and gentlemen," an excited voice interrupted the music. "We interrupt this program to bring you a very special news bulletin."

Mrs. Kahn turned up the radio as the newscaster talked.

"President Arams has miraculously come back to life," the newsman's voice was sharp and he broke to sob his words. "We repeat -- there has been a great miracle, President Arams who was dead is now alive."

The Kahns once again stayed up late to watch their TV that night, as the news spread. The cameras had caught all of the miracle for as the funeral had started people were beginning to go by the open coffin of President Arams when without warning he suddenly sat up in his coffin and started looking around. He put his arms out and startled the astonished and bewildered mourners. Several women collapsed on the spot.

The President recovered immediately -- even the shot in his head was healed and many people now said that President Arams was the long awaited Messiah.

But Eli and Moshe pointed to Revelation and the book of Daniel in their Bibles and insisted that this proved that Arams was the Anti-Christ. Joseph was now convinced that Jesus was the true Messiah.

It was the next Shabbit that the Kahns went to the temple. As Joseph went with his father to their section, he was surprised to see soldiers with guns standing throughout the temple.

"Dad," Joseph whispered. "Have you ever seen soldiers in the temple or synagogue before?

"Never," Mr. Kahn said. "I have read about them. I don't like it, Joseph."

"Look, look Dad," Joseph pointed to a huge statue in the center of the temple. It stood more than 20 feet high.

"It's President Arams," Joseph's voice came out shrill and loud.

"It certainly is, boy," a soldier turned and looked at him. "He is your long promised Messiah and now you can bow down and worship him."

Mr. Kahn grabbed Joseph's arm.

"Let's get out of here, Joseph," he said.

The loud laughter of the soldiers followed them as they hurried out of the temple.

"You'll be back," a voice shouted, "One way or another, you'll be back."

Joseph's mother was with a group of other women when they met her in the vestibule. She was shaking; tears were running down her cheeks as she ran to meet them.

"Oh, Frank," she cried, "Did you see that horrible looking thing?"

Joseph's father put his arm around her. "Shh," he cautioned. "Not here, there may be spies listening Debbie."

When they got outside they walked as fast as they could toward the car.

"The soldier said we had to bow down and worship that hideous beast." Mrs. Kahn was still shaking, but now her face had some color to it.

"I know," Mr. Kahn said. "We saw it."

"It talked," Mrs. Kahn cried. "It spoke to us. It wants us to call President Arams, God. He says he is the Messiah. I refused to bow down."

"It looked just like President Arams," Joseph shuddered. "But the face and eyes were ugly and mean."

"Vicious," his father said.

"They scared me," his mother said. "They weren't the eyes of a statue -- they looked like--" she was crying again and Joseph reached over and patted her arm.

"It's okay, now, Mom," he said.

"Is it?" Mrs. Kahn cried. "What's to become of us? They looked like the eyes of demons."

"They did." Joseph sighed with relief when he saw the crowd around the two now-familiar figures of Eli and Moshe.

"Let's go see what they say about this, Dad," Joseph said.

"Good idea son." They hurried down the block to join the crowd. There were no soldiers. The Kahns stood in the big crowd and as he listened Joseph's heart beat wildly.

"What you have seen in the days past and again today was prophesied in Revelation 13," Eli was talking. "This is the beast in verse 3 which was wounded and his wound was healed. Today you have seen the image of the beast of verse 15 -- the same one spoken of by Daniel in Chapter 8, Verse 11 and Daniel 9:27, the abomination of Desolation mentioned by Christ in Matthew 24:15."

"Now is the time of Jacob's trouble, a time for our people to have heartaches such has never before happened in the history of the world. Oh, Israel, do not turn your back on your Messiah as you did 2,000 years ago. This is your last chance. Accept Jesus now before it is too late. He is your only protection against King Arams, the Anti-Christ spoken of and feared by so many."

Joseph knew that he could wait no longer. He had to accept Jesus now, had to join Eli and Moshe -- and Ben.

"The mark of the beast, the dreaded 666 is coming next," Moshe added. "Without that mark you will not buy food, unless you have God's protection, through Jesus Christ. Come to Jesus now."

A chorus of singing followed. Joseph had heard it before. "I Surrender All." How many times he had wanted to go forward and had instead walked away, feeling frustrated and depressed. But this time, no matter what the cost, Joseph would give his heart and soul to Jesus.

As he started down to the front Joseph felt a hand grasp his. Turning around he looked into his mother's eyes. Right behind her was his father.

"We'll go as a family." Mrs. Kahn had tears in her eyes again, but a look of happiness spread across her face.

The Kahn family joined the hundreds of people who knelt on the street as Moshe led them in a prayer of salvation. Ben joined them and put his arm around Joseph and his mother as they prayed.