Vicki and the others gathered in the main cabin in Wisconsin and prayed for Sam Goldberg and Mr. Stein. Though most in the group had never met them, they spoke as if they were close friends.
“Please don’t let the GC get to them,” Charlie prayed in his simple way. “And if they do, get them out of there. You know they were trying to help others come to know you, so please help them. Amen.”
Sam watched for any sign of movement from Aron but saw none. He and Mr. Stein continued to pray, then sang a few choruses, even though some inmates seemed angered by their voices.
Mr. Stein walked to the front of the cell. “Gentlemen, I know not all of you can understand me, but I have been sent here to tell you good news—”
“Why do you think we can’t understand you?” a graying old man said. “You’re speaking perfect Hebrew.”
Mr. Stein turned and winked at Sam. “For those of you without the mark of Carpathia, I say this. On behalf of the true King of kings and Lord of lords, you have a chance to turn from your sin and your rejection of God and begin a relationship with him.”
Most of the men turned over on their bunks, but a few seemed to listen. Mr. Stein was careful not to talk too loud and bring in the guards, but he explained plainly how the men could receive Jesus Christ. When he was finished, Sam noticed Aron moving slightly. Sam called for him and Aron stood.
“If you are ready to pray, do it now before it is too late,” Mr. Stein said. “O God, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to be punished for my sin. But right now I reach out to you in faith and ask you to take away that sin through the blood of your Son, Jesus. I believe he died on the cross in my place, took my punishment, and rose again three days later, a victor over death. I give my life to you now. Lead me in the paths you desire. Save me from my sin. And I pray all this in the name of Jesus, the Messiah. Amen.”
Sam kept his eyes shut tightly as Mr. Stein prayed. He prayed for each of the men and that the guards wouldn’t break in during Mr. Stein’s prayer. When Mr. Stein finished, Sam looked first at Aron, but the man was again on the floor.
Of the seventeen men, three had the mark of the true believer on their foreheads. Mr. Stein pointed to them, and the three were amazed he could tell they had believed. He explained the mark of God and how everyone who prayed received one.
Finally, Aron stood and Sam was overcome with emotion. The man had the mark of the true believer as well.
“We may not know where they are taking us,” Mr. Stein said through tears, “but we know our eternal destination. Our home in heaven has been sealed, and one day we will walk there because of the grace and love of our God.”
Mr. Stein asked the three their names and encouraged them with words from the Scriptures. Guards arrived to quiet everyone and turn out the lights.
“Better get some sleep, Jews,” one of the Peacekeepers snarled. “You’ll be leaving before daylight.”
The men grumbled, but Sam settled onto his bunk. Mr. Stein got the attention of one of the guards. “This young man is still a teenager. Tell me you won’t have compassion on one so young.”
“He’s old enough to make his own decisions,” the man said. “He didn’t take the mark, and he’s a Jew. He’ll ride with the rest of you.”
Sam closed his eyes and thought about Petra. He wished he could be there once more to climb the rock formations and say good-bye to the people he loved. He thought of Naomi. Though she didn’t feel the same way he felt for her, she had shown him kindness.
Sam wondered if Judd and the others in the Young Tribulation Force would ever find out what had happened to him. They will, Sam thought, when they get to heaven.
Sam didn’t think he could get to sleep. He imagined the ride to some sickening camp where the GC would put them to work until they dropped. He almost preferred the quick ending of the guillotine to what his mind conjured up.
Later Sam fell into a deep sleep and dreamed of writing a final edition of his Petra Diaries and sending it to everyone in the Young Tribulation Force. In the dream, Dr. Tsion Ben-Judah put Sam’s writings on the screen above Petra so everyone could read it.
Sam awakened, smiling. The main door opened and a bright light shone in his face. It was time to leave.
8
SAM stirred, sitting up on his bunk and watching the guard at the door. The men inside breathed heavily in their sleep and a few snored. Mr. Stein slept soundly, and Sam hated to awaken him.
After the light went out, Sam wondered if the guard was simply checking on them. He glanced at Aron’s cell and saw the man was sleeping or unconscious. Sam lay down quietly and waited.
The guard moved slowly past the sleeping prisoners, his footsteps quiet. It was 4:00 A.M. If they were going to be taken before sunup, they would probably be roused in the next hour, but this seemed too early.
Sam listened carefully and was convinced the man had gone, so he settled back on his pillow and sighed deeply. Before he closed his eyes he glanced at his cell door. A man stood there staring at him.
Sam resisted the urge to scream, but his eyes widened and his heart raced furiously. Sam was sure he had never seen this stranger. He wore sandals, a long, flowing robe, had a short beard and piercing eyes. He had no mark, either of the true believer or of Carpathia.
Sam kept his eyes on the man and sat up. “Is it time for us to go?” he whispered.
“Yes.” The man’s voice was deep, and something about it made Sam want to trust him.
“Are you taking us to the transport?”
The man shook his head.
“Then why are you here?”
“I come in the name of the Lord our God. He is strong and mighty to save. Though the evil one is set on the destruction of the people of God, he will not touch you. There are many praying for you and your friends.”
Sam wanted to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He fell out of bed and onto his knees. Tears streaked his cheeks. “I’m not worthy for the Lord to take such an interest in me. Others have died. Why should I be saved?”
Sam felt a hand touch his face, lifting him up. The angel stood next to him, the cell door still closed. “Write these things as an encouragement to those around the world, young one. Tell of the Lord’s mighty deeds and give praise to the one who lifts those who are weary of heart.”
“You mean my diary—yes, I will.” The angel’s touch ignited a fire inside Sam, and he couldn’t wait to tell Judd and the others. Sam looked at the cell door. They still had to get away from the jail without any guards noticing. And how would they tell Mac about needing a ride without the cell phone?
“Do not let your heart be troubled,” the angel said. “Trust in God and the one he has sent to protect you.”
Sam nodded weakly. He recalled the story of the apostle Peter being set free by an angel while Peter was chained to two sleeping guards. If God could do that, surely he could help Sam and the others escape.
“Awaken your friend and I will get the others,” the angel said. “We must leave quickly.”
Sam put a hand on Mr. Stein’s shoulder and shook him gently. He opened his eyes and gave Sam a startled look. “Have they come for us?”
“Yes,” Sam said, “but not the guards. God has sent someone to rescue us.” He pointed at the man who had moved to Aron’s cell. There was a metal clank on the floor as handcuffs fell from his wrists.
Aron rubbed his wrists and stood. The angel spoke from the hall and without moving so much as a finger, the door swung open and Aron stepped outside.
Sam reached for their cell door, and it unlatched as if someone had flipped a switch in another room. Mr. Stein and Sam moved into the hall as the angel awakened the other believers and motioned to them to get up. Sam and Mr. Stein edged as close to the angel as they could as he approached the main door. In spite of the noise of the six inmates walking out of their cells, the others kept snoring.
The main door opened as noiselessly as the cell doors. Sam walked into a holding area, wher
e a guard sat slumped in a chair and another leaned forward on a desk, his hat covering his face. The angel pointed to a shelf above the sleeping guards, and Sam spotted their cell phone in a plastic bag. The angel nodded, and Sam grabbed it.
Each door opened for them as if it were automatic. When they reached the street, they found a sleek minivan parked in front. Sabir got out, smiling, and welcomed the six. Sam turned to thank the angel, but he had vanished like a vapor.
Sam couldn’t hold back his praise. “We thank you, O God, for your protection and your love for us,” he said, his arms outstretched toward heaven.
“Come,” Mr. Stein said. “We will thank God once we are on our way.”
Sabir explained that he had been awakened from a dead sleep and told to come to the GC station. “I got in my little car and a man stood before me, shaking his head. He pointed to this vehicle, and I found the keys in the ignition. If I had brought the small one, we never would have been able to fit all of you in.”
“Where are we going?” Mr. Stein said.
“To the airport,” Sabir said. “My instructions were very clear. I should accompany you on the flight.”
“You’re going to see your wife!” Sam said.
“I suppose many prayers will be answered tonight. I said I would stay until God directed me, and now he has.”
“Mac needs to know—”
“The angel said everything had been arranged,” Sabir said.
As they drove near where the miracle fair had taken place, Aron touched the window and looked out sadly. “What about Joel? Is there no hope?”
“Your brother made a foolish decision,” Mr. Stein said. “He closed himself to the truth and took the mark of Carp—”
“But I was just as closed,” Aron said. “He took the mark partly for me so I could have food.”
Mr. Stein turned. “We spoke with your brother before you came in. He seemed upset we had even come. He countered our message at every point.”
“He was angry at himself. He knew what you would say about God.”
“He turned us in to the authorities,” Sam said. “I know you love your brother, and your parents will be saddened by the choice he made, but we can’t go back.”
Aron nodded. “I understand, and yet my heart breaks for him.”
The man buried his head in his hands, and Sam put an arm around him. “My father also made a foolish choice and died before I could speak with him again. I’m so sorry.”
Sabir drove to the airfield and parked in the same spot where Sam and Mr. Stein had been picked up the night before. A plane waited on the runway, and they scurried through the fence and quickly boarded. Mac McCullum gave them the thumbs-up sign and had Mr. Stein secure the door.
“When we get in the air, I want to hear all about this,” Mac said.
The GC radioed Mac just after takeoff, but he ignored their call. He motioned Sam forward, and Sam sat in the copilot’s chair.
When Sam had told him everything, Mac said, “I’ve seen a lot of strange things in the past few weeks. Bullets going through helicopters, angels blinding the GC, but when I got the call to come get you guys—”
“Someone called you?” Sam said.
“Figure of speech. I was asleep, waiting to hear about my next flight from Chang Wong or Chloe Williams. All of a sudden I was awake and knew I ought to come here. It was as clear as if you’d sent me a fax or called and given specific directions. I just knew.”
Sam looked around the cockpit, and Mac asked what he wanted. “Something to take notes with. I need to start a new installment of my Petra Diaries right away.”
The reunion in Petra was more than Sam could have hoped for. The four new believers were welcomed warmly as Tsion Ben-Judah announced their arrival at the morning meeting. Several counselors had been trained by Dr. Ben-Judah himself to take new believers and help them learn the basics of the faith. They surrounded the men after Tsion had finished introducing them and whisked them away.
Micah prayed for Jews who were being arrested around the world. “You know, Lord, that these people are being mistreated and killed simply because they have Jewish ancestors. The Global Community considers them traitors, and they are being paraded across international television, humiliated every day. We ask that you would surround these with your love and mercy, and show them the truth that you want them to turn from their sin and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.”
Micah asked the assembly to gather in small clusters. The wonderful sound of voices uniting in prayer echoed off the red rocks.
Sam and Mr. Stein hadn’t had a chance to locate Rabbi Ben-Eliezar and his wife, and Aron was anxious to see them. When the groups finished praying, Tsion Ben-Judah introduced Mr. Stein. “This man’s own child turned to Christ and he disowned her. After her death, he became a true believer and stands before us today to tell of the mercies of God.”
Mr. Stein stepped forward. Sam was proud that he would have a chance to speak to so many. “For those of you who have not yet believed, I plead with you to consider the truth. Christ died for your sins, and he paid the penalty for your disobedience. Do not run from him any longer, but accept his love right now.”
A few people near Sam fell to the ground, wrestling with the truth of God. Sam closed his eyes and prayed they might respond while Mr. Stein spoke.
“I would like to ask Rabbi and Mrs. Ben-Eliezar to come forward,” Mr. Stein continued. “Are you here?”
From the back of the crowd came a faint cry from Rabbi Ben-Eliezar. He and his wife walked as quickly as they could through the masses. Like the Red Sea, people parted and allowed them to walk through and up a steep walkway that led to Mr. Stein. As they came, he described meeting them and their struggle to believe in Jesus.
Finally, they reached the rocky cliff, and Mr. Stein draped an arm around the rabbi. “They spoke to us of their sons some time ago. When Micah talked about praying for relatives and friends who do not yet believe, my young friend Sam Goldberg took him seriously. He began praying and trying to contact Aron and Joel.”
Mr. Stein turned. “Rabbi, Mrs. Ben-Eliezar, behold your son.”
Aron stepped out of the shadows of a cave. The rabbi and his wife were so overcome, Sam thought they were going to topple off the ledge, but they gained their balance and rushed to Aron, hugging him and weeping.
“Their other son was unfortunately caught up in the desire to follow Nicolae Carpathia, but we can rejoice that this one has believed and has returned.”
A great roar rose from the crowd as they yelled their praises to God. When the noise died down, Mr. Stein looked at the struggling group near Sam. “What about you? Will you receive the gift of God now?”
9
THE DAYS passed quickly for Judd and Lionel in South Carolina. Sam’s escape from the GC was all anyone could talk about for a week. Sam’s description of the angel and their return to Petra thrilled the group so much that Judd hooked up a video connection with Sam and had him speak to their group.
As time passed, Judd read sketchy reports of bounty hunters discovering more people without the mark. He sent a message to Chang Wong asking for any information on the identity and location of the bounty hunters in South Carolina.
One afternoon Judd was talking to Luke and Tom about their lives before the disappearances. Luke said he had always dreamed of being a shrimper and having his own boat.
“Is that how you got those muscles?” Judd said.
Luke smiled. “I guess. I’ve always felt like I’ve been cut out for physical stuff, you know, hard work. I like using my hands, where old Tom here—” he patted his brother’s back—“uses his brain, what little he has.”
Tom socked Luke in the shoulder. “All brawn and no brain makes Luke a dull boy.”
Luke picked a long piece of grass and put it between his teeth. “I’ve been thinking more about why we’ve been left here. If those verses about us all being part of a body are right—and it’s in the Bible so it has to be—all we nee
d to do is figure out what part we are and do what we were made to do.”
“Luke just figured out he’s an armpit,” Tom snickered. “Smells like one, doesn’t he?”
Judd laughed and Luke shook his head. “I’m trying to be serious.”
Tom rubbed his face with his hands. “I’m sorry. Go ahead, armp—I mean, Luke.”
“I never got to go into the army,” Luke continued, “or become one of those special-forces people, but I’ve grown up around these rivers and marshes and know them like the back of my hand. Instead of sitting here, we could be out there stopping the bounty hunters and finding people who might become believers.”
“You gonna do this all over the country?” Tom said. “You read what Chang said. Pretty soon the GC will expand the program, and there’ll be more bounty hunters than believers.”
“The point is, we can do something now if we want.”
“Maybe that’s how Lionel and I could get north,” Judd said. “We could go along with you.”
Luke nodded. “The key is finding the bounty hunter network.”
“But what are you going to do once you find them?” Tom said. “Kill them?”
Luke spat the grass onto the ground. “No, that wouldn’t be right. But we can sure slow them down, don’t you think?”
Vicki gathered with the others in the main cabin to watch the latest from the Global Community News Network. A special Web site had been set up to highlight miracles performed around the world. Many miracle workers looked like average citizens wearing regular clothes, while others dressed in weird outfits. One man tried to imitate the sackcloth Eli and Moishe had worn.
Most of the miracle workers were men, but there were a few women as well. All claimed they had come under the authority of the risen lord, Nicolae Carpathia, and all had been given power by him.
“Are these demons dressed like people, or are they real people?” Tanya Spivey asked.
Marshall Jameson pursed his lips. “If they’re not demons, they’re at least humans under the spell of Carpathia.”
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