“Lori,” John replied, “the Bible tells us that the old age will end in the cataclysm we’ve been talking about. It’s like the birth pains of a new order. Satan understands exactly how this present age will end, so he has set out to trick people into believing that his kingdom will be the surviving kingdom instead of Christ’s kingdom. That’s why the psychics and gurus who take direction from demons are telling us that they hold the key to the New Age, the New World Order, the Age of Aquarius, or whatever else they decide to call it.”

Lori brightened perceptibly. “Carl, do you remember what I told you on the plane from L.A.? This was part of it. One of the things Aunt Josephine told me when I was little was about a time called the Millennium. Jack, isn’t this new age also called the Millennium?”

“Lori, what I’m telling you now is hardly new. Evangelical Christians have always known about most of this. What happened yesterday just snapped the entire picture into focus. I believe the final countdown has begun to usher in the return of Jesus Christ to earth.

Yes, some people call His reign on earth the Millennium. That word comes from Latin—mille, meaning ‘thousand,’ and annum, meaning ‘year’—a period of one thousand years.”

John Edwards picked up his Bible. “I want us now to see exactly what Jesus Christ Himself said would be the signs of the times. I like Matthew’s account of it, so turn in the Bible to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter twenty-four.”

There was a rustling of pages. “We’ve got it,” Carl said. “Where do we begin?”

“Try verse three.” John read aloud. “‘As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said. “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”’

“They asked Him two questions, maybe three,” John said. “So, His answer takes in all of them. What were they asking?”

Carl had already glanced at the preceding verse, so he answered, “It looks like, first, they wanted to know when the temple buildings were going to be thrown down. Then, they wanted to know the sign of His coming. If it’s a separate question, I suppose they wanted to know also what the sign was of the end of the age. Maybe they thought His coming and the end of the age were one and the same.”

“Carl,” John said with a big smile, “you surprise me. But I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that God may have sent you here to learn, so that you can help teach others. You’re very good at this.”