“It includes all those who belong to Jesus, Lori, and who refuse to worship the beast. But there will be many who will resist him. I hope that includes all of us. That is the reason for El Refugio. I’ve built this place as a center to encourage resistance to the evil that is coming. This is something I’ve been planning for the last five years.”

“And you want me to help out?” Manuel exclaimed. “It sounds like you all are planning to get yourselves killed.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But, one thing is certain if you play ball with the Antichrist.”

“What’s that?”

“The Bible says that everybody who goes along with the Antichrist will share his fate,” John replied.

“What fate is that?” Manuel asked.

“God said the fate of the Antichrist is a lake of fire forever.”

“Doesn’t sound like too great a choice, does it?” Manuel shook his head. “Either take a chance on getting killed by the beast if you resist him, or burn forever in a lake of fire if you decide to go along. That one’s gonna take a little thought!”

“Charley,” Dave Busby interrupted, “what about this character with all the money? Tell us about him.”

John Edwards laughed. “Okay, Dave! Take a look at Revelation thirteen. Here is a picture of another beast. In some ways he appears to be like Jesus, but he talks like the devil. Read verse twelve.”

Dave read: “‘He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast.’”

“What do you think that means, Dave?”

“Well, it sounds to me like there’s going to be a second beast who comes on like a religious dude. In reality, he’s also a big honcho—a political leader or maybe a prime minister. He acts in the name of the big guy, but like his helper . . . a surrogate.”

“That’s right,” John Edwards said. “But, if you read further, you will find that this religious dude, as you say, can do spectacular magic tricks that make people on earth think he represents God. Then, he plays the ultimate trick and tells them to worship a statue of the Antichrist, which he has made to talk.”

“Wow!” Miguel Quintana said, quickly covering his mouth with his hands. “Sorry!”

Everyone exploded with laughter. “That’s okay, Miguel.” John Edwards chuckled. “That’s exactly the reaction people will have when it happens. Talking about some powerful beast who does magic tricks sounds like Saturday morning cartoons, doesn’t it?” The boys laughed as John Edwards made a sinister face and mimicked the movements of a robot. “But it will be worse than anything on TV. His magic will be very real, very powerful, and very deadly.”