They were about to turn back to shore when they noticed an empty surfboard floating nearby.

“Lev, look!” cried Rebekah as she searched the surface for the rider.

“You look for him on the surface, while I go underwater …. He must be somewhere in the water!” Lev shouted. Just as everyone was seated and fastened in, an announcement came over the radio. “Attention, Lev Aron! Some people have climbed near the top of the Matterhorn and they see the clouds settling in. They are requesting that you pick them up before they get stranded. Over.”

Lev replied, “Lev Aron, here. I see their location. How many are there? Over.”

“Four. You must act quickly. Over”

“We’re on our way. Over and out.” “Yeah,” Jacques echoed sullenly. “I’ve heard that unless a person is standing on his head being miserable doing a job for someone that ought to be doing the job himself, you become irritated, Lev.”

Tobias spoke confidently, “We did more than our share of work and it’s time for other people to pull their own load.”

“No, thank you, Lev. Dinner was sufficient. I think I will turn in for the night. Remember that the purpose of our visit is to be shared with no one else, not even your family. You will not hear from us any further. I will leave in the morning immediately after breakfast. Shalom.”

Lev tossed and turned throughout the night, having the assurance that the end of the Millennium was so near at hand. His secret commission to represent the Ancients weighed heavily upon his thoughts.

Lev heard his instruction center turn on. That was strange, for he remembered quite clearly turning it off before retiring last night. It came on all by itself. No picture was on the screen, but the voice he heard was awesome and commanding.

The next morning the same thing happened. All information centers lit up again, and Christ declared all industry would close down operations for one week. Everyone traveling was to return home as soon as possible. It was a time for families to gather together. No business, however important, was exempt. Even air services would close down when everyone was home. Something profound was to take place, and everyone was in a very grave mood.

“How does it feel to be a winner?” a voice asked.

“To whom am I speaking?” Lev inquired.

“Does it matter?” the caller said roughly.

“Yes, it matters to me,” Lev said. “I like to know to whom I am speaking, if you don’t mind.”

“Apparently you are speaking to a loser,” was the reply.

Lev listened to the man and thought he was hearing the footsteps of Satan.

“Lev, you must have been a lawyer in your previous life—one that managed to defend and exonerate the guilty,” she quipped.

“You still have not asked my reasons for declining to join you. I see no reason for discussing the matter any further. Shalom,” Lev said forthrightly.

Lev was willing to be cast in the role of an ungrateful servant. Being faithful did not require the praise of others. He knew that while they had given proper praise to the Ancients, it was to gain credibility in the eyes of the people seeking them to retire from office. The whole thing lacked sincerity and the “fear of the Lord.”

August and his thousands of protesters arrived on August 17, full of placards and enthusiastic people eager to spread their message. Their signs read: IS IT TIME FOR CHANGE? — SHOULDN’T YOU PREPARE REPLACEMENTS? — WE WILL MISS YOU ANCIENTS — WHEN YOU ARE GONE WILL BE TOO LATE — GIVE US A CHANCE TO HELP — WE WILL STILL LOVE YOU WHEN YOU EXIT OFFICE — NO ONE IS IRREPLACEABLE — THE THOUSAND YEARS ARE ENDED — HOW ABOUT HELPING US IN TRANSITION?

August was furious to find he’d been outmaneuvered. He accused Lee Fairfielding of unfair coverage of the news. He demanded to know how Lev had access to information as to where the cameras would be located.

One morning Lev’s phone rang loudly waking him from sound sleep. It was 2:00 a.m. What was going on? Lev managed to rouse himself and pick up the phone. As he cleared his throat to speak, a voice interrupted him, “Shalom. This is Moses. I am sorry to call you at this hour, but I need to advise you not to interfere in any way with the forthcoming protests. Thank you.” Then there was silence.

Lev now sat on the edge of his bed fully awake.

Both stood owl-faced. August replied, “Thank you, Lev, this is quite a treat. I must say you are full of surprises. First you don’t form your usual opposition and now you’re even feeding the enemy.”

Suddenly the sky grew very dark. The air became heavy and the hair on the people’s heads began to prickle as though charged with electricity. It was almost like the day of Armageddon. Silence filled the streets as their situation became apparent.

Moses lifted up his hands to heaven as he spoke. “Ye rebels and followers of Satan must share in the judgment of God this day. You are being destroyed because of your sinful and rebellious hearts. You have reached the end of your treachery and rebellion.” There was no microphone, but his voice was heard clearly and loudly throughout Jerusalem.

On the final day, the Ancients all walked out of the city taking nothing with them. As they neared the old city of Bethany, they paused for prayer and a few hugs and farewells, and then they rose from the earth into a cloud and disappeared, just as Jesus had done at his ascension from the Mt. of Olives. A silence came over the earth and tears filled every eye.

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