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Chapter 5

Seeking Answers

Thursday, February 14–MD minus 25 days

As Air Force One went wheels up and arched its way toward Washington, Williams’ Police Chief Thompson was concluding a press conference regarding the Kingdom Daycare attack and Susan Stafford’s note and journal. He had waited patiently for Officer Sally Johnson to be able to participate after the Memorial Service. The effect of her standing in describing the attack and Susan’s death was only enhanced by Tom Campy’s presence in his wheelchair, and the news that Sam Will was out of surgery and resting in ICU with a good prognosis.

“I frankly cannot explain the note or the journal,” Chief Thompson responded to reporters’ questions. “It is beyond my understanding how anyone who was such a cold-blooded killer could completely change, but she obviously did. I will have to leave that analysis to others. All I know is that the Williams shooter is dead, and that threat is removed forever.”

“I know how,” Barnabas smiled in the invisible, turning to the gathered Lucius, Niger and Manaen. “It is just as Gabriel said to Mary so long ago, ‘nothing is impossible with God.’”23

“Yes,” Lucius responded, “and did you see the light inside burning brightly as Samantha prayed for Paul before he left with the presidential party? Her search has been answered.”

“I did see,” Barnabas answered excitedly. “It is a great victory, but such a large war. Tomorrow is the key. How goes the fight?”

“How can we really know?” Niger replied. “God does not give us that knowledge. I can tell you what I see, but that is only a small part of the whole. Only God knows for sure.”

Pausing to reflect on the enormity of the question, he continued. “I see that the battle is on everywhere around the world because of the prominence God has given to what the Bookseller shared. The worldwide network broadcasts and the protected prayer website all combine together to declare that no one will have an excuse for they have all heard the Truth, and now they must choose.”

“At least the president has chosen. Will that alone be enough?” Barnabas asked Lucius.

“It could be that God spares America during Joshua Strong’s service as president like He did for King Josiah when Josiah responded to the discovery of the Book of the Law and heard its Truth for the first time,”24 Lucius answered.

“Yes,” Manaen added, “but remember, even Josiah’s faithfulness was not enough to ultimately save the nation. Even under a righteous leader, the people did not choose in their hearts to follow God, and they were eventually destroyed.25 I don’t know, I am only an angel, but I cannot believe that God will save America even temporarily if the people ignore the president’s call to stand before God tomorrow and allow Him to reveal what He considers to be their sin. Especially for them to then agree that it is sin because God said it was sin, and for them to be changed and turn away from that sin. To do so is the essence of bowing before a holy God to worship and serve Him.

“I fear that America has become too proud and arrogant to bow down before anyone. It has become its own god. It makes its own rules. The darkness over America has become too great, and its negative influence around the world has become too high a price for God to allow its survival for long as it is,” Lucius responded soberly. “People across the earth are being deceived by America and are being led as fools into the eternity of the second death, separated from God forever. America cannot be allowed to continue unchanged, or God will no longer be God. Either it will change when God’s people change, or God will allow its destruction as a nation, and it will fade into history as has every great world power before it.”

The families and friends of those who died or were injured at the hands of the terrorists had made their choice. They would return to College Church tomorrow morning to join with others to stand before the Lord as the president had requested. They now had a much greater understanding of its significance and wanted to be changed.

Cox’s Assault from Phoenix

Demas Assad and Phygelus Aldar were visibly uncomfortable with the posthumous presentation for Abdul Farsi as the new purported Arab hero who rescued Christians and sacrificed his life. They knew it was a total lie and feared that the more it was publicized, the more likely it would be that the whole house of cards would fall. Somewhere out there was evidence of their involvement together over all these years. They needed to complete the update and transfer leadership so they could assume other identities and get out of the country as quickly as possible, but they could not run until this event ended and the information was passed later tonight to the gathered coordinators.

Former President Cox was almost through his comments when he turned ugly. For decades, he had been one living under the influence of many Tempters including lust, pride, jealousy, hate, and anger. In him, they became a “full house” of evil to which he often willingly surrendered, in their time manipulated his thoughts and actions. Working together with his Keeper, the Tempters were able to make Cox an instrument of the Dark Master’s agenda when needed, and he was needed now to attack the President’s call for tomorrow.

“I must close with a warning and with thanksgiving,” Cox continued, pausing for effect. “Our military forces have attacked Mosques in the Middle East, and we express surprise when a church is attacked here. The book on which so many rely would call a person expressing surprise at such an attack in light of what we have done in the Middle East, a ‘hypocrite.’ Can we truly be surprised or angered when we receive back ‘an eye for an eye’?26 Perhaps it is time for us to look at the log in our own eye before we attack one with a speck in theirs.27

“Listen closely. The public tone of our nation has changed the past few weeks. We now hear much about God and how we must change because He is somehow angry at the way we live. I might pay more attention if those who used His name were addressing how He views the way our government treats others around the world, or even our own people here at home.

“Remember that you heard it from me first — tyranny will come in this nation disguised as a cross wrapped in a flag.” It will look good, even religious and patriotic, but it will be nothing more than a slick, deceptive political scheme to grab your emotions and control your life. It will steal your freedom and make you a puppet.

“We face one of those manufactured moments tomorrow. Our president has called us to stand before God because God is displeased with you — but not with him. I suggest that you comply with the president’s request to spend a few moments before God tomorrow, but spend those moments asking God to open the president’s eyes to his sin and evil before his policies turn the whole world against us.

“We don’t have to be a victim of terrorism. We can be a friend rather than an enemy. We can address the causes of hate rather than giving others a reason to hate. It is there that America has sinned, and that sin is not yours or mine. That sin rests on the president. Don’t allow his call to divert attention from the real sinner. He is the guilty one with blood on his hands.

“Lastly, parents, as the keeper of our children, yours is a sacred trust; it is truly a responsibility before God. Continue to teach and open eyes to the reality of what we have become as a nation. Expose them to the lies of history so that we will move forward in our evolution into a society which protects the rights of all men and women to pursue happiness however they may choose without being subject to the hypocrite’s hate or the Pharisees’ legislation.

“Thank you, and good night.”

“Finally, he is finished,” thought Assad as he left the auditorium with Aldar to begin their room to room gatherings to pass on the Sheik’s message and transfer leadership. Then they could escape while the plan moved forward.

The President’s Return to Washington

Watching the Cox speech aboard Air Force One, the president shook his head as he turned the television set off. “Hard to believe that man was once the president of the United States,” he said to Janet. “It is frightening, frankly. How did we make it through that time in history?”

“We made it the same way we will make through your’s — if we do. It will be by God’s grace and nothing else,” Janet responded.

“You sure have a way of taking a few inches of a man’s height,” the president said, smiling. “Thanks.”

“No charge,” was the response. “A First Lady’s most difficult assignment is always to manage her husband’s hat size.”

“Mr. President,” Tom Knight said seizing an opportunity to get his full attention.

“Yes, Tom,” the president answered turning for the moment from Janet to give him his full attention.

“David and I need a minute.”

“Sure, what do you have?”

“I want to leave this communication from General Hedges with you for your review,” Knight began. “This is the Joint Chiefs’ recommendation on troop redeployment, both in the States and overseas. We will need to move whole units almost immediately from Europe and elsewhere to bases here, as well as redeploy naval taskforces near our coast to be prepared for MD on whatever accelerated schedule we face. Time is short, and the obvious problem is that it takes time to redeploy, and redeployment cannot be done in secret. As soon as major troop and ship movements begin, the Russians will pick it up and not far behind them the press will get a report from somewhere.”

“We have to have a strategy for dealing with the Russians sooner rather than later,” the president responded thoughtfully. “I think I have come to know President Sorboth well enough that I have difficulty believing he understands what Vandenburg and Krenski have been planning with the Iranians. I think I need to deal with him one on one. I am not yet sure how, but I am working on an idea.”

“Is the vice president coming tomorrow for sure?”

“Yes, Mr. President. He will be in Washington before we arrive and will attend the services in the East Room tomorrow.”

“Good. No business tomorrow. I want to devote that day to exactly what I ask the people to do unless there is an absolute national security emergency. Be sure that word is put out, no appointments, no phone calls. I need that whole day. Cancel everything.”

“On Saturday morning, I want to address all of this, and I need the vice president. He has to be involved from now on in case something happens to me.”

“Tom, get with Troy Steed and Eric Besserman. I want to be in a position to make decisions Saturday on our military preparation both here and abroad, how we bring our European allies in, and how we deal with individual nations in the Middle East. I want to know who we can trust and involve and who we must confront. We have to be on board with Israel on all of this, particularly on how we deal with Iran. I will need to meet with the Attorney General, the Joint Chiefs and with the Survival Commission. Keep it all as confidential as possible. Make sure everyone understands this is national security ‘eyes only’ stuff.”

“Yes, Mr. President,” Knight responded. “That will be an ambitious agenda.”

“It will, but we don’t have time to wait. It may be an interesting day for another reason as God answers the prayers raised tomorrow,” the president replied with obvious excitement in his voice. “If the people really take this seriously, I know in my heart that God will move and we will be able to see that movement.”

“Speaking of tomorrow, Mr. President, how do you want to deal with the ITN request to broadcast the Whitehouse service?”

“Have you asked the Bookseller?”

“I have not,” Knight answered.

“Well, then let’s go ask,” the president said, leaving his office for the passenger quarters to find where he was seated.

As he approached, he saw the Bookseller in serious conversation with George Murphy and heard Murphy ask, “Do you believe we are living in what the Bible describes as the last days?”

The group stood as the president approached, and he quickly said, “No, no, please stay seated, and if you don’t mind I would really like to hear the answer to that question Mr. White. Please continue,” the president said, sitting and listening intently.

Ignoring the president’s presence and focusing on George Murphy, the Bookseller continued. “Mr. Murphy, how could I know what Jesus said He didn’t know, and what difference would it make anyway?”

“You are going to have to help me on that one,” Murphy answered.

“Well, Jesus said that no one knows the day or hour, not the angels or even Himself, only the Father.28 If He doesn’t know, then I certainly don’t. One thing you can be sure of is that when any of those self-appointed prophets tell us the end is coming on a date that is certain, it won’t. They don’t know either, but why should it matter if you knew for certain that the end was coming tomorrow and Jesus would be returning at 4:30 in the afternoon?”

“I can tell you how it matters,” Murphy responded quickly. “If I knew Jesus was coming back at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon, I would address things in my life and get ready to face Him.”

“I am sure you would if that were possible, which is precisely why you won’t know the day or time,” the Bookseller responded. “If you knew, you would believe that you could live any way you wanted until near the end, and then decide to change your life. Think about that. If you were God, would you want people to know your schedule so they could ignore you until the end? How foolish. God is not like that, and He isn’t looking for a bunch of last minute ‘conversions’ where people live like hell and then grab for the ‘golden ring’ of fire insurance at the last minute. Do you really believe that Jesus suffered all He did on the cross for a bunch of last minute ‘me too’ commitments?”

Pausing to give Murphy time to find the answer, he continued. “Jesus’ answer to your question is to live every day like He would return. He said you ‘must be ready because the Son of Man will come at a time when you do not expect Him.’29 He said we must ‘keep watch and pray,’30 and that when He returns we are expected to be found actively involved in His business.31 I often think of the character in one of the old religious novels written about those involved in the crucifixion. It tells the story of a follower of Jesus who was always looking up wherever he went. Finally, the main character in the book asks in frustration, ‘why are you always looking up?’ The answer? ‘Because He may return today.’ That is how Christians are told to live. We are to live every day expecting His return that day.”

“But Jesus gave us signs of the end times, and we should not ignore them,” the president interjected.

“He did, but do you honestly believe that as president there is anything you as a man could do to speed those days or change God’s plan? If you do, you are a fool.”

The group became quiet waiting for the president’s response, astounded that the Bookseller would dare to say something like that to him.

“You are obviously correct,” the president responded humbly in a low tone. “I am so thankful that God has given us someone in these difficult days who will speak for Him without fear of the audience. For me, that affirms your words can be trusted.”

“If I ever consider my audience, I am no longer God’s servant,” the Bookseller responded.

“Mr. President, you must be like any other Believer and seek God and obey, leaving the consequences to Him. The fact that you are the president does not change that. You have no different assignment than any other Believer on this plane. We all are to listen for God’s voice and when we hear we are to obey.”32 For you as president, however, there will be a higher standard for to whom much is given, much is required.”33

There was more silence as the little assembled group took in what they had just heard. George Murphy wrote furiously, making notes knowing that what he had just witnessed was important and wanted to be prepared to report it accurately someday when the mysterious crisis passed — if it passed.

“Mr. White, I came out here to ask you a question about tomorrow,” the president said breaking the silence. “ITN has asked to broadcast live the Whitehouse service. Should we do that?”

“Have you prayed?” the Bookseller responded.

“Well, no. I was simply going to ask you your opinion.”

“Nothing without prayer, Mr. President, if you truly want God’s leadership and blessing,34 Let’s take some time to pray and discuss this later. I don’t know how to answer you without asking God for guidance.” And so they stopped and prayed.

“I don’t have a definite direction yet, Mr. President,” the Bookseller said when the prayers ended. “I am sorry, but that decision will have to wait.”

“Of course, I understand. I don’t either.”

“I have a question,” Murphy said, changing the subject. “What miracle do you expect in answer to tomorrow’s prayer? I know that there have been miracles in Williams as people who should not recover do and quickly, but what is the miracle you are all going to be praying for tomorrow?”

“I am not praying for miracles tomorrow,” the Bookseller answered. “You have this all wrong. An answer to prayer is never a miracle. An answer to a prayer in God’s will is what we should expect because that is what is promised.35 If it takes what the world defines as a miracle for the prayer to be answered, that will happen, but it is wrong to call it a miracle. Nothing is impossible for God, so nothing is a miracle to God.36 They are only miracles to man.”

“Have I confused you?”

“You have,” Murphy responded.

“Tomorrow as we pray, I am expecting God to answer our prayers within His will; whatever it takes, because He is God. You can label the answer anything you want, but when a prayer raised within God’s will is answered, that is the norm. It is what we should expect. That is why we pray. Those who don’t pray simply don’t believe that prayer is heard and answered. They are the fools who live by choice outside of the power of God.”

“I am going to have to work with that one for a while,” Murphy said.

The Search for J-14

Returning to the president’s office aboard Air Force One, David Barnes took the opportunity to report on recent developments.

“Mr. President, I have been on the phone with Stephen Hollister, Attorney General Rodriquez, and Darrell Reed. We are close to J-14.”

“I don’t like ‘close,’ I like caught,” the president responded.

“Sorry Sir, I don’t make the news, I just report it.”

“So report, please.”

“Homeland Security got to Carmen, Arizona late by a few days. A group had been using a house as a place for individuals crossing the border illegally to hide and then be transported to their assigned location by over the road trucks. The young man who reported the incident said that the people in the house were Arabs, as were the people who left the house and the drivers of the trucks. Apparently, they abandoned the site. Our best guess is that they left because adequate operatives are already in place for MD. We have a lead on the trucking company, but nothing more at this point.

“After we left Williams, Sally Johnson took Tom Campy back to the hospital, and they got his cell phone. It had a number on it in the directory that Abdul Farsi had given him as a contact number when he joined the Citizen’s Militia. The number had a 617 area code — Cambridge, Massachusetts again, same as Harkins College. The FBI is checking with cell phone companies to get the records for the number. Again, no contract with anyone by the name Abdul Farsi, but the number remains active, and the records are being retrieved. We should have them later tonight and will check for other 617 numbers he called. The physical address is not helpful, a post office box in Boston. It is being watched.”

“And the good news is?” the president asked.

“Actually, there are two pieces of good news. The first is that the return email on the prayer website works, and we have great hope that it will be something that will provide us desperately needed intelligence. The other good news is that the Justice Department lawyers clobbered the Harkins’ President in court today. The Judge has ordered the documents to be produced at 1:00 PM tomorrow and has already sanctioned the lawyer for instructing his witness not to answer a question. The deposition is going to be completed in the Judges’ chambers, and he has threatened them with jail if they disobey any of his orders. We should find out what they know tomorrow and ought to get the lists we have been looking for. There is a good chance we will have the probable identity of J-14 by early afternoon.”

That is good news,” the president responded. “I only hope it will not be too late.”

But it already was too late, as Demas Assad and Phygelus Aldar had completed their series of one on one meetings with the coordinators and had left the Phoenix Westin Kierland Resort under new identities. They would spend the night in the Embassy Suites Phoenix Airport hotel and catch a 6:00 AM flight to Mexico. By the time the deposition convened tomorrow in Cambridge, they would have been in Mexico for hours to help with final preparations at Oaxaca for the great border crossing.