Joseph and Ben Eshkol walked slowly towards home. It was too nice to hurry so they stopped at the new temple site and watched the workmen. The magnificent huge building was close to being finished. The pictures of Solomon's temple hadn't prepared Joseph for this. It was so large it sprawled over the entire temple mount. The grand opening was less than a month away.

"Wow," Ben said as they looked at the huge building. "It'll seem strange to go to worship there, won't it Joe?"

"Yeah," Joseph answered, "And how about the sacrifices? That'll be something really different."

"I'll tell you something, Joe." Ben's eyes grew dark and serious. "I don't like it."

"Don't like what?" Joseph asked.

"I'm going to be a veterinarian, I love animals." Ben said. "I don't want to see a lamb die to pay for my sins."

"Yeah," Joseph said. "I guess I never thought about it."

"I have," Ben said. "And I can't stand the idea."

"Well, you could keep going to the synagogue on Shabbit," Joe said.

"No, my parents insist we're going to the new temple to worship." Ben put his hands in his pockets and turned his eyes to the ground.

"Did you tell them how you feel?" Joseph asked as they neared Ben's home.

"Sure," Ben said.

"What'd they say?"

"They laughed and said, 'You'll get used to it'."

"Well, maybe you will get used to it," Joseph said.

"Never," Ben grunted.

"But it's commanded," Joe said.

"Not for Christians." Ben's eyes were black.

"But we're not Christians." Joseph looked at Ben in surprise.

"Joseph," Ben lowered his voice. "What do you think of Jesus? You've heard Eli and Mosche talk. What do you think?"

"I don't know." Joseph stopped. "I've been confused ever since R.J. and Cindy and the boys disappeared. I just try not to think about it."

"Not me," Ben confided. "I've been doing a lot of thinking and I think Jesus was the Messiah."

Joseph walked silently. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to talk about something else, so he changed the subject.

"Did you hear that they're rebuilding the Roman empire?" He asked.

"No," Ben said in surprise. "When did that happen?"

"It's been awhile. They have a lot of the city built," Joseph said. "It's almost as surprising as them building the City of Babylon."

"Yes," Ben said slowly. "I've been reading the Christian Bible too, Joseph and all of what's been happening for the last several months is part of prophecy."

"What are you talking about?" Joseph asked.

"Rebuilding Babylon, just like they're doing," Ben said. "And the Roman empire. It's all there, Joe, in the book of Revelation."

Joseph was uncomfortable. He wished Ben would stop talking about it. He tried again to change the subject. "What are you doing with the money you've earned from the clean-up?" he asked.

"I'm saving it," Ben said. "I think I'll need it."

"Yeah," Joseph said. "I'm saving mine for college."

"See you in awhile," Ben said as he left Joseph.

Try as he would Joseph couldn't forget the conversation with Ben. It haunted him and when he went to sleep that night he dreamed that he could see the cities being built. Ben stood in front of the cities.

It was the next day that the world changed for Ben and for Joseph too. The boys stopped at the temple site again to watch Eli and Mosche as they spoke. They listened and when Mosche stopped talking he gave an invitation.

"Give your heart to Jesus," he coaxed. Ben started to move and Joseph tried to stop him.

"No, Ben, don't," he said, but Ben pulled away.

"I have to go forward, Joe." Ben pushed Joseph's hand away from him.

Joseph waited for Ben to return. He knew that his father would never accept Ben if he became a Christian. The time passed but Ben didn't return and finally Joseph turned with a heavy heart to go home feeling as if he'd lost another friend.

Ben was absent from school for a week and when Joseph tried to call him his parents told him that Ben was gone. Finally at the end of the week Ben came to school. His eye was black.

Noon came and Joseph joined Ben for lunch.

"You told them, didn't you?" Joseph asked.

"Yeah," Ben said.

"Why?" Joseph asked.

"I don't know," Ben replied. "I tried not to tell them, but had to -- I can't be ashamed of Jesus, Joseph."

Joseph didn't say anything. He was at a loss for words. He knew that Ben's father had a bad temper.

"They kicked me out," Ben said. "I'm not living with them anymore Joe."

"Where are you living?" Joseph asked.

"In a cave," Ben answered. "Outside of town."

"A cave?" Joseph asked. "By yourself?"

"No," Ben said. "I'm living with a group of Christians and Eli and Mosche. There are a lot of us."

"But you came to school today," Joseph said.

"Yeah. Eli and Mosche told me to come to school." Ben sounded as if he was going to choke. "My parents say I'm dead now, Joe. They kept my things."

"Maybe if you took it back, -- told them it was a big mistake," Joseph said. "They'd forgive you. You could keep it a secret."

"Never," Ben said. "You don't know how great I feel. I may be messed up outside, but inside I feel wonderful -- except for my folks and I have to pray for them."

After school they walked together for two blocks.

"This is where I leave you," Ben said.

"Where is the cave?" Joseph asked.

"About a mile outside of town." Ben pointed toward the hills.

"I wish you were still living at home," Joseph said. "I miss you."

"Me too," Ben said.

"But I understand," Joseph said. "I just wish it could have been different."

"Joe, think about it," Ben said. "I think you'll come to the same conclusion I have. Jesus is the Messiah and the time is very short."

"I don't know, Ben." Joseph shook his head. "I just feel like the whole world has turned upside down."

"Me, too, Joe." Ben said good-bye and headed up toward the caves. "I'll see you next week."

"Yeah." As he walked Joseph wondered if he would have the nerve to do what Ben had done. He didn't think so, and he shook his head. He wondered what it felt like to be considered dead by your own parents. He didn't think he wanted to try it.