“As you all know only too well, the people of this country are in shock. There’s no money anymore—at least, not as we know it. There will be shortages of everything. In a few months, all of the world’s grain reserves will be depleted. From this, I expect a scarcity of food more severe than this world has ever experienced. People will be rioting and looting. They will give up everything they have to secure peace, employment, and food. Then, the Bible tells us, a world leader will appear who will offer the people those things.

“This new world leader will claim to be a messiah, a savior, but actually he will be a puppet of the devil. There’s also going to be a second figure who has the ability to perform magical feats before the whole world. This second man will eventually control all the money in the world.”

“Wait a minute, Jack,” Manuel said. “Play this a little slower, will you? I’ve never heard of any of this. Is all this stuff in the Bible?”

“That’s right, Manuel. Every bit of it is in the Bible. As a matter of fact, whole books have been written about a diabolical world dictator called the Antichrist. He got that name because he will try to perform for Satan what Christ performed for God.”

“Wow, I hope he fails,” Cathy said.

“Of course he will fail, Cathy,” said John Edwards. “But not before he has done terrible things to a lot of people on earth.”

“And you feel,” Manuel asked, “that this character may be showing up pretty soon?”

“Yes, I do,” John Edwards replied. “Very soon. That’s why I don’t have as much time to talk about it as I’d like.”

“Come on now, Pastor Jack,” said Dave Busby. “You’re not trying to give them the stripped-down version, are you?”

John Edwards laughed. “No, Dave, I’m not. What we’re getting set up for right now are the practical applications. That’s what El Refugio is all about. But Manuel asked if the Bible talks about the false messiah, and the answer is yes, definitely. The apostle Paul called him the ‘man of sin’ who exalts himself against everything that is of God. But the most vivid description was written by the apostle John in the Book of Revelation. As you probably know, this book contains a lot of images that are a bit hard to decipher, but it’s not too hard to understand if you have the key. Want to take a look?”

“Sure,” said Manuel. “Why not? We’ve got some time on our hands!”

John Edwards handed Manuel, Cathy, and Miguel copies of the Bible and suggested the three boys might like to look on together.