04 The Edge of Darkness Read Online Free PDF

into place! It must have taken many years.”
    “Yes, those are magnificent buildings, Peter. But I will tell you a truth. One day these buildings will be completely demolished. The destruction will be so great that there will not be one stone left on top of the other.”
    Zerah looked at Eshban and shook his head in disbelief at what they had just heard. He opened his mouth to speak, and Eshban motioned for him to remain silent. They were within earshot
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    Eshban and Zerah followed, blending in with the other people going to and from the city. Their dirty and torn clothing made it easy to remain inconspicuous. No one paid them any attention
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    The climb up the Mount of Olives took about thirty minutes. Eshban and Zerah watched as the teacher and his four disciples sat down on a cluster of rocks overlooking Jerusalem and the temple courtyard. They concealed themselves behind an olive tree within hearing distance
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    “Who is the one talking to the teacher now?” whispered Zerah
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    “One of the other followers called him Andrew.”
    “Master, you mentioned that the temple would one day be destroyed.”
    “The temple will fall. The rivers will boil. The Day of Judgment will come, and it shall be a sign of my return.”
    “Can we tell when the end of the world will come?” asked Peter
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    “Others will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah. They will lead many astray. Wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. Kingdoms will wage war against one another, and earthquakes will swallow up entire nations. Terrible famine shall follow. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.”
    Eshban and Zerah looked at each other in disbelief
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    “It sounds terrible, Master!” said one of the followers
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    “Will anyone survive this devastation?” asked the fourth member of the group
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    “Who are those two followers?” whispered Zerah. “They bear a resemblance to each other.”
    “They are brothers. Their names are James and John. I’ve seen them on the seashore of Galilee. I think they are fishermen.”
    “Yes, people will survive. But when these things begin to happen, be
cautious! You will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. You will be accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me. And the Good News must first be preached to every nation and then the end will come.”
    “It sounds as if it will be a terrible time of tribulation.”
    “Yes, Peter, it will be. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive the majority of people. Even some believers will be tempted to follow these false teachers who seek financial gain, glory, and power
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    “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don’t pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit
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    “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day, many will cry out, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.’ Be warned, Peter. I have told you ahead of time so that you might be prepared.”
    Eshban leaned over and whispered into Zerah’s ear. “I am sure that the high priest will want to hear about all of this. It almost sounds as if there is going to be some sort of