Facing the Future (8 page)

“The people who have hated these two men will wildly celebrate their deaths. But after three days, God will audibly call them into heaven by simply saying, ‘Come up here.’ ”

Lionel leaned forward and shook his head, laughing. “That ought to change a few minds real quick!”

“Remember what I said about God raising up 144,000 Jews who would believe in Christ and begin to evangelize around the world?” Bruce said. “I believe these two will be leading the way.”

Bruce turned the tape on again. A CNN anchorwoman had turned to national news. “New York is still abuzz following several appearances today by new Romanian president Nicolae Carpathia. The thirty-three-year-old leader wowed the media at a small press conference this morning, followed by a masterful speech to the United Nations General Assembly in which he had the entire crowd standing and cheering, including the press. Associates of Carpathia have announced that he has already extended his schedule to include addresses to several international meetings in New York over the next two weeks and that he has been invited by President Fitzhugh to speak to a joint session of Congress and spend a night at the White House.

“At a press conference this afternoon the president voiced support for the new leader.”

The president’s image filled the screen. He said, “At this difficult hour in world history, it’s crucial that lovers of peace and unity step forward to remind us that we’re part of the global community. Any friend of peace is a friend of the United States, and Mr. Carpathia is a friend of peace.”

CNN broadcast a question asked of the president. “Sir, what do you think of Carpathia’s ideas for the U.N.?”

“Let me just say this: I don’t believe I’ve ever heard anybody, inside or outside the U.N., show such a total grasp of the history and organization and direction of the place. He’s done his homework, and he has a plan. I was listening. I hope the respective ambassadors and Secretary-General Ngumo were, too. No one should see a fresh vision as a threat. I’m sure every leader in the world shares my view that we need all the help we can get at this hour.”

The anchorwoman continued: “Out of New York late this evening comes a report that a
Global Weekly
writer has been cleared of all charges and suspicion in the death of a Scotland Yard investigator. Cameron Williams, award-winning senior writer at the
Weekly,
had been feared dead in a car bombing that took the life of the investigator, Alan Tompkins, who was also an acquaintance of Williams.”

“I need to tell you about this young man, Williams,” Bruce said.

“I know who he is,” Lionel said. “He called me on the phone once, looking for my mother.”

“And he was on the plane with me the night of the Rapture,” Judd said.

“Well,” Bruce said, “he’s a friend of Captain Steele, and he has spoken directly to Carpathia. He says Carpathia told him that Israel needs protection the United Nations can provide. Israel has a formula that makes the desert bloom. In exchange for that formula, Carpathia says the world will be content to grant them peace. If the other nations disarm and surrender a tenth of their weapons to the U.N., only the U.N. will have to sign a peace accord with Israel. If Cameron Williams is right, the agreement with Israel, in my mind, would signal the start of the seven-year tribulation period.

“Our time is up for this evening, but next time I want to start teaching you what I have been teaching a small adult group. I have drawn out a time line from several different sources that should give us a rough outline of what to expect during this, the most difficult period that will ever be recorded in the annals of time.”

Judd, for one, couldn’t wait to return and learn more. As he drove home that night, he could hardly get a word in edgewise. The other three were chattering away about what they had heard from Bruce. Finally, Ryan said, “Judd, what do you think Bruce expects us to do with all this stuff? I mean, we can’t go to New York and fight this Carpathia guy, can we?”

“Of course not,” Judd said. “I think Bruce just believes we’ll be better off knowing our enemy than not knowing him. Our job is to bring as many people to Christ as possible over the next seven years, and you know that’s not going to make us popular with any of God’s enemies, especially the Antichrist.”

T
HE
next morning, Judd had two problems on his mind, and they both had to do with females. He had wrestled in the night with an idea for Talia Grey. And just after he thought he had the perfect plan to bounce off Bruce, he was awakened by the telephone.

Of all things, the call came from inside the house. Judd’s father had had two phone lines, so he could run his computer and fax machine when he worked at home. “I’m sorry to bother you, Judd,” Vicki said, and it was obvious to him that she was crying.

Judd rolled up on one elbow and cradled the phone while glancing at the alarm clock. It was after three in the morning. He had just dozed off after coming up with his Talia Grey idea. “It’s no bother, Vicki,” he said. “What’s up?”

“I was just wondering if I could talk to you for a while?”

“Sure. You mean on the phone right now, or . . . ?”

“I thought maybe face-to-face, like in the kitchen. That is if you think it would be OK.”

“Is it an emergency, Vicki?”

“No,” she said sadly. “I guess it can wait until tomorrow.”

“No!” he said. “If it was worth calling in the middle of the night, it’s worth talking about now. I’ll meet you in five minutes.”

Judd changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, splashed cold water on his face, and headed down to the kitchen.

A few minutes later he and Vicki sat sipping milk while she unburdened herself. “I just feel guilty, I guess,” she said. “I mean, I love Bruce just like we all do, and his arguments are really convincing.”

“I’m not following you,” Judd said. “What is it you’re feeling guilty about?”

“I don’t believe him, that’s all!” she blurted.

“Don’t believe him about what?”

“The Antichrist!”

Judd slid his chair back and looked at her, brows raised. “After all Bruce has told us and explained to us about prophecy and the characteristics of the Antichrist, you don’t think Nicolae Carpathia is the guy?”

Vicki was fighting tears. “Don’t put me down about it, Judd, please!”

“I’m not! I’m just stunned. Tell me why.”

“I don’t know, and I’m afraid to tell Bruce. I see this Carpathia guy on TV, and he’s so charming and smooth and convincing—I guess I’m one of the deceived. I can’t seem to get into my mind that he’s a bad guy.”

“You know what Bruce would say, Vicki. He would say that that alone almost proves that Carpathia
is
the Antichrist.”

Vicki nodded miserably. “I know,” she said. “I feel like such a fool. But I can’t just decide something is true only because the people I know and love and respect say it is. I want to agree with Bruce and all of you, but that’s why I feel so guilty. I guess I need to be convinced.”

“Are you looking to me to convince you? It’s true I agree with Bruce on this, but I’m no more of a student of it than you are. If Bruce can’t convince you, I sure can’t.”

“I know,” Vicki said. “I guess what I’m looking for is just some sympathy and someone to talk to.”

“I can do that,” Judd said. “But what do you think it will take to convince you?”

“I don’t know, but I sure wouldn’t mind talking to that
Global Weekly
writer.”

“Cameron Williams?”

“Yes.”

“I thought he was based in New York,” Judd said, “but he must have been around here. He talked to Bruce, and Bruce says he’s a friend of the Steeles.”

“If he has actually talked to Carpathia,” Vicki said, “I think it would be fantastic for him to come and talk to us. In fact, I think it would be great if he came and talked to the whole church.”

“Slow down there, Vicki. Bruce hasn’t even said whether or not Williams is a Christian. And if he is, he sure can’t be talking about Carpathia in public, especially if he believes Carpathia is the Antichrist.”

Vicki slumped in the kitchen chair, her arms folded. She looked down. “I know,” she whispered.

“But, hey, it sure wouldn’t hurt to ask Bruce about him. You want me to?”

“I can ask him myself,” Vicki said. “I just don’t want to tell Bruce yet that I am not convinced about Carpathia.”

Judd rinsed their glasses in the sink. He turned and looked expectantly at Vicki, who still sat there, staring at the floor. “You think I’m awful?” she asked.

“Hardly,” he said. “The truth is, I think you’re pretty special.”

She looked up at him shyly. “I wasn’t looking for a compliment,” she said. “But I appreciate that.”

Judd had not planned to say anything like that, and he had nothing to follow it with. “I’m good at keeping secrets,” he said, “if that means anything to you.”

“Of course it does, Judd. It means a lot to me that I can talk to you without the fear of being quoted.”

Judd had trouble getting back to sleep, and early in the morning he felt the need to talk directly with Bruce. He would not betray Vicki’s confidence, but he agreed that getting a chance to meet Cameron Williams would be a great thing for him and his friends. Also, he wanted to talk about his idea for Talia Grey.

When Judd called, Bruce told him he had another appointment in half an hour, but that he could see Judd right away, if he was available. “If I’m available?” Judd said. “It seems all I have is time. If they don’t reopen our high school soon, what else am I going to do but talk to you?”

“Frankly, Judd,” Bruce said, “time is something I wish I had more of.”

Judd hurried to the church. Bruce’s secretary, Loretta, ushered him into Bruce’s office, where he found Bruce hunched over his Bible and several commentaries. “I know you don’t have much time, so let me get right to it. I was wondering if you’ve already found a lawyer to help Talia Grey.”

“As a matter of fact, I have. That’s my next appointment.”

“I don’t suppose it would be possible for me to talk to him.”

“Sure it would. Why not? But why are you assuming it’s a
him?”

“Oh, it’s not?”

“Her name is Beth Murray. If you can hang around, you’ll meet her in a few minutes. What else was on your mind?”

“This one might be tougher, Bruce. When you said you spoke with Cameron Williams, was that on the phone, or was he at the church here?”

“He was here,” Bruce said. Bruce sat studying Judd, his eyes narrowing. “Why do you ask?”

“Is he a Christian?”

“As a matter of fact, he is. And he just happens to have one of the most incredible stories I’ve ever heard. The only problem is, I’m not sure he’s at liberty to share it widely.”

“Will he be back? Would he be able to meet with us? I think we’d all love to hear his experiences, especially if he’s actually talked with Carpathia.”

“Let me think about this for a minute,” Bruce said. He stood, turned his back, and strode to the window. He peered into the parking lot for several seconds. When he turned back to face Judd, he appeared to have come to a decision. “You know what?” he said. “This is going to be totally up to Mr. Williams, of course, but I think I’m going to give the Junior Tribulation Force the true test.”

“I hope you know I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Judd said.

Bruce sat on the edge of his desk and looked down kindly at Judd. “It just so happens that Cameron Williams has been reassigned to Chicago. He had been headquartered in New York for several years, but he will be living in this area now for a while.”

“And he’ll be coming to this church?”

Bruce nodded. “He’s become the fourth member of the Tribulation Force, along with the Steeles and me.”

“And what’s this about some sort of a test?”

“Yes, a true test for you kids.”

“By the way, Bruce, we don’t mind being referred to as kids, because that’s what we are. But I don’t think any of us would be excited about the term
Junior Tribulation Force,
or whatever.”

“Sorry. It’s just that your adult counterparts, the four people who make up the inner core of serious Bible students here, as I’ve told you, refer to themselves as the Tribulation Force.”

“Call us the Kids Tribulation Force then,” Judd suggested.

“Fair enough,” Bruce said.

“And this big test . . . ?”

“No promises now,” Bruce cautioned, “but I think I’m going to ask Cameron Williams to tell you kids his story. The reason I call that a big test is that if you are going to be called the younger version of the Tribulation Force, it requires keeping life-and-death secrets. Buck Williams—”

“Buck?”

“That’s his nickname, yes. Buck Williams is privileged to have personal access to Nicolae Carpathia himself. As a new Christian, that puts him in a very dangerous situation. All I can do is ask him to tell you his story. If he chooses not to, we’ll all have to accept that. If, however, he does decide to entrust you with the story, it must never be repeated to anyone anywhere without Buck’s express permission. Is that understood?”

Judd nodded, his pulse quickening.
What in the world might the story be?
“Can I ask you something else, Bruce?”

“Of course.”

“You did say that Williams believes Nicolae Carpathia is the Antichrist?”

“The fact is, Judd, Buck believed Nicolae Carpathia was the Antichrist even before Buck became a believer. In fact, I believe his coming to that conclusion helped persuade Buck to come to Christ.”

“Wow! Do you think Buck would have any trouble convincing someone that Carpathia is the Antichrist?”

“Absolutely none,” Bruce said. “Why? You know someone who needs convincing?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But I asked you that.”

“Let’s just say I could use some more convincing myself,” Judd said. “It seems this is an important enough deal that we should all be very sure about it. You have to admit, we could sure use somebody like Carpathia, I mean if he was for real.”

“He appears as an angel of light,” Bruce said, sighing. “Don’t ever forget that.”

Loretta poked her head into Bruce’s office. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” she said. “Pastor Barnes, your next appointment is here.”