“These demons,” he continued, “will have no power over those people who belong to God—those who were previously sealed by Him. But, to the non-Christians still living in the world, the demonic torture of their minds and bodies will be so intense that they will beg to die. Death by floods and earthquakes cannot begin to compare with the inhumane torture that people will go through for five months.”

Lori cried out, “Jack, please stop it! I can’t stand the thought of what’s coming next. Why would God let all this happen?”

“Lori,” John Edwards said solemnly, “our hearts cry out in pain to think about it, but you’ve got to understand. God is letting all the survivors experience for just five months what hell will be like for all eternity. You see, my dear friend, in hell, people can never die. They will beg to die to escape the torment. They will scream for death, but death will elude them—forever.”

“During these five months on earth, in order to escape they have only to call out to God, admit that they are sinners, and ask for His pardon. Then, they, too, will be sealed and never have to face hell.”

“But, Lori, please read what John says their reactions will be. You’ll find it in verses twenty and twenty-one.”

Lori’s hands were trembling; tears were rolling down her cheeks. She was overwhelmed by the enormity of what was about to happen. She could hardly comprehend it, yet she knew these kindly men were telling the truth. Her eyes were blurred with tears, and she had to wipe them before she could turn to the page.

Finally, she began to read, “‘But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.’”

Lori looked up. “It says they would rather keep on rebelling against God and breaking His laws than change the way they were living and be forgiven. Jack, why are people like that?”

He smiled at her and took her hand. “I suggest you ask the that question when you meet Him, Lori. That’s too much for me. But,” Lord he added thoughtfully, “there is something else. After the attack by the horde of demons, people will no longer be thinking rationally. They’ll be willing to give political power to anybody who’s able to restore order and get the world moving again. Then, the devil will bring out his satanic savior, the man of sin we call the Antichrist. For a short time, he will rule the world.”

“Then comes the fourth quarter,” said Dave Busby, jumping to his feet, “and the good guys win!”

Chapter Eleven