There had been no rain for many months. The days were hot, as the drought grew more severe. Crops failed and ration books were issued. Debbie had to stand for many hours in the hot sun in long lines of people to buy groceries in the new government controlled stores.

"It took four hours this morning," Debbie remarked at the supper table. "Then when I got in half of the things I needed weren't there."

"Kids are roaming the streets," Frank said. "I feel sorry for them, they're so ragged and dirty, but many are on drugs and they scare me."

"They're so thin it seems like you can see right through them," Debbie said.

"It's not safe on the streets," Frank said. "I don't think you should go to the store anymore, it's not safe. Do your shopping on the Internet."

"All right, I feel like a prisoner," Debbie said. "What happened to the peace and prosperity that King Arams promised us?"

"Gone," Frank said. "Joseph I don't think you should go to school anymore. We'll enroll you in computer classes, you can fax your lessons."

"Dad," Joseph said. "I'm not afraid, the street gangs haven't bothered us." He didn't mention the fact that he had been giving all of his lunch and money to one of the gangs for protection. "What good does it do to go to school if we can't go outside?"

"Where is it all going to end?" Debbie asked. "Yesterday as I came home I saw kids out on their hands and knees in the fields, digging up vegetables." So there was no more school and Joseph and his mother spent their time watching television or reading. Ben came to the house for Bible studies and kept them informed on the places where Moshe and Eli could be found.

The day was cool and the streets quiet one early morning when the Kahns went to the old city to hear the two prophets. Ben waved at them and ran to join them his face full of concern.

"Have you seen my Mom and Dad?" He asked.

"We saw them the last Shabbit we went to the temple," Joseph's father said. "But we haven't tried to go since we found the Lord. It's too dangerous."

"I'm so worried about them," Ben said. "They refuse to see me."

"We don't go outside much," Debbie Kahn said. "No one works in their yards. We don't see any of our neighbors."

"Oh, they must accept Jesus." Ben looked about desperately. "Before it is too late."

"They will, Ben." Mrs. Kahn put her arm around him.

"Will you pray for them?" Ben asked.

"You bet," Frank Kahn agreed. They didn't see the soldiers marching toward the crowd until screams echoed in the air. Joseph heard the crack of a gun and saw Eli fall. Another shot rang out and Moshe fell on his face beside his partner.

Ben ran to the two men as the crowd scattered. Joseph followed him.

"Come back, Joseph," his mother cried. "It's dangerous," but Joseph's long legs had already brought him to the fallen bodies.

"They - they -- they're dead!" The man who knelt beside them stammered.

"They can't be." Joseph shook his head in disbelief. "They can't be dead."

"Yes, they can," Ben said to Joseph as he squeezed his shoulder. "This too was foretold."

"It was?" Joseph looked at the two bodies lying in the street, blood oozed from their wounds.

"Yes," Ben said. He had a Bible in his hand. "Come on, let's go to your house. We need to have a study."

The family hurried home and sat as Ben showed them the verses in Revelation that told about the death of the witnesses. Ben stayed with Joseph that night, but he returned to the caves the next day.

Stores were closed and a three-day holiday was declared to celebrate the deaths of the two enemies of King Arams. The television kept the Kahns informed of the turbulent times. "It's disgusting," Debbie said as they watched crowds walking by the two dead bodies lying in the streets of Jerusalem.

"Everyone's celebrating," Frank said. "You'd think it was Christmas."

"Look," Joseph pointed to the screen. "It's King Arams."

The cameras followed the evil man and his constant companion, Lucias as they walked to the bodies and gave the bodies several hard, swift kicks.

"That's horrible," Debbie cried she watched them. King Arams stood with his foot on the body of Eli, one fist held high in a gesture of triumph.

"How could I have thought he was wonderful?" Debbie cried. "He's so terrible it makes me sick."

Mr. Kahn turned the TV knob to another channel but there were only pictures of happy people walking past the dead bodies of Eli and Moshe, lying in the warm sun. The camera showed men and women exchanging presents as they celebrated the killing of the two prophets. In an elaborate ceremony prizes were given to the soldiers who had shot the two men. They were cited for their heroism as crowds cheered.

"How can they be so cruel?" Debbie asked. "Why don't they bury them?" Mr. Kahn turned the TV off. "You'd think they'd start stinking in the sun. We need to pray for strength." The little family bowed their heads to pray.

The bodies of the two prophets were left in the streets of Jerusalem for the three-day celebration. King Arams wanted to be sure that everyone had a chance to view what had become of his enemies. On the evening of the third day the phone rang.

"Turn your TV on," Ben's voice ordered as Joseph answered the phone.

"Okay." Joseph ran to turn on the TV again just as a stuttering man spoke into the microphone. Open mouthed he watched as he saw the two bodies stand. "Ben," he cried. "It's Eli and Moshe."

"That's right," Ben agreed. "I'll talk to you later."

"It's unbelievable," a reporter exclaimed.

"Mom, Dad," Joseph said. "Come quick. Moshe and Eli are alive again."

Debbie was drying her hands as she ran into the living room. Joseph's Dad came bounding up the stairs from the basement as they watched what was happening. The dead men were standing up!

"They're alive." The newscaster grasped a fence as if trying to prop himself up. Behind him was a huge crowd who had minutes before been celebrating the deaths of the two men. There was only silence now, the cheering had stopped.

A peel of loud thunder sounded and as the whole world watched Eli and Moshe began to float into the air.

The newscaster probably for the first time in his life was speechless and said nothing. Screams filled the air and the TV screen showed women falling in a faint. No one picked them up.

Up and up, farther and farther they went until the two prophets were nothing but small specks in the sky.

"Just like Jesus must have looked," Joseph said. "The book of Acts describes that."

"Ladies and gentlemen." The newscaster had found his voice again. "Please remain calm--" but widespread panic had taken hold of the large crowd of former celebrators and with that panic came something else for the ground began to rumble and the newscaster was thrown to the side as he yelled, "Earthquake, earthquake."

"Look," Joseph said as they felt their house move. The buildings on the TV screen crumbled like paper houses in a windstorm and then the screen went black.

"There's an earthquake downtown," Frank Kahn cried as he ran outside. Joseph and his mother followed him and they watched as the houses down the block crumbled. They fell on their knees in prayer in the street too frightened to run.