“For someone out of favor with the government,” he continued, “the credit balance could be reduced to zero by the powers that be. Then the individual couldn’t buy, couldn’t sell, couldn’t eat, couldn’t travel. He would be at the mercy of the dictator. And just as you say, Carl, until the scientific breakthroughs of the nineties none of this would have been possible. Now, the Antichrist and his religious, financial cohort can control the population of the entire planet.”

“Except us,” Charley whispered.

“Hopefully,” said John Edwards, “and not just us. Many people like us all over the world will resist the Antichrist. Charley, why don’t you read Revelation seventeen for us, the fourteenth verse?”

“‘They will make war against the Lamb,’” Charley read, “‘but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers.’”

“Folks,” John said somberly, “during the next few years, the Satanic forces are going to do everything in their power to destroy God’s people. It will seem for a time that they’re winning, just like it seemed for a time that Adolf Hitler was winning—or, more recently, that the Communists were winning. But, the forces of the Antichrist will lose because Jesus Christ is more powerful than Satan.”

Lori overheard little Juan Quintana whispering something to his brother, Ricardo, and asked him to say it out loud. “Go ahead, Juan,” she said. “Tell everyone what you said. That was good.”

Juan’s lips were moving, but he had his head down, and no one could hear him, so Lori asked him to repeat it again, louder.

“Good is stronger than evil!” he boomed out, and everybody smiled or laughed at the sudden exclamation.

“Whoa, Juanito!” Dave Busby laughed. “Right on, pal. Good job. How do you know that?”

“’Cause the Bible says that God is good,” he said, “and God is stronger than the bad guys.”

As the adults remarked about this delightful insight from the group’s youngest member, Lori placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder. “That’s right, Juan. That’s the best part of all, isn’t it?” All three boys looked at Lori and smiled.

“Thank you, Juan,” said John Edwards. “I’m so glad you know that, and I think it’s important for all of us to remember that God is the one who will win in the end. One time Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid of those who can kill only your bodies—but can’t touch your souls! Fear only God who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’ That comes from the Gospel of Matthew, and it’s very important. Right, Juan?” The boy nodded.