2) What is the name of Nicolae�s only living relative? What is the cryptic significance of her name?

3) What is the name of the hotel where Buck takes Chaim to hide out after Chaim assassinated Nicolae?

4) How many of the regional potentates were incinerated by Leon Fortunata at Nicolae�s funeral service?

5) What part of his body did Nicolae first move as he was beginning to experience his resurrection?

6) From which verse in the Bible does Nicolae steal the first words he speaks after his resurrection?

Prayer
7) Rayford comes to his senses after having been filled with rage for a long time (see p. 71). While reflecting, he wonders what happened to his love for the Bible and prayer, and for the guidance he had once found there. When we are separated from God by sin, we stop praying and reading the Bible. What role does daily prayer play in your relationship with God? Recall times when you have avoided prayer and share the reasons why with each other.

8) While Tsion prays for Rayford, he experiences an overwhelming presence of the Lord (see p. 78). How has your persistence in approaching the throne of grace occasionally resulted in a staggering encounter of the Lord�s closeness?

Boldness
9) Languishing in the Night Visitors hotel, Chaim asks Buck to explain how God can be so unloving as to abandon someone who rejected him beyond a point of no return (see p. 186). Buck doesn�t become defensive, feeling like he needs to make excuses for God. Instead, Buck says that he doesn�t understand it but it�s in the Bible. How can we boldly overcome our tendency to feel the need to defend what God has said?

10) Pastor Demetrius Demeter conducts himself with great humility and grace. He is also a man who has been given tremendous gifts of evangelism and discernment (see pp. 109-110). Describe how Pastor Demeter approaches Rayford by offering the gift God has placed within him, while carefully respecting Rayford�s situation by treating him with dignity. How have you boldly offered the gifts God has placed within you? Does this model of behavior and approach provide any new ideas? Share your thoughts.

Sharing Faith
11) After Chaim assassinates Nicolae, he and Buck hide at the Night Visitors hotel in Jerusalem. Buck continues to urge his friend to receive Christ. Each time Chaim must concede that Buck has a legitimate and logical point, Chaim retreats into the quicksand of self-pity and despair (see pp. 183-188). When you are presenting the gospel, how have you handled this kind of reaction?

12) On page 197, Chaim admits that he is lost and Buck tells him that he doesn�t need to be. The Good News has been presented to Chaim before, but he is still wrapped up in himself. What are some ways that you have tried to help unbelievers realize that they need to focus on what God has done rather than on what they have done?

Prophecy
13) Finally Chaim admits that the overwhelming evidence of the prophecies�those predicting the first coming of Jesus and those surrounding his second coming�is enough to convince him (see pp. 225-229). But in the end Chaim is embarrassed that his fear has driven him to Jesus, that he cannot come with more dignity! His pride holds him back. How often have you explained the prophecies in the Bible, convincing someone that God exists and everything he says will come true, only to discover that the real stumbling block is this person�s pride? Share some of these examples. Nevertheless, what role do the prophecies play in bringing someone to the point of surrender?

14) Buck asks Albie how he became a believer. We learn that the prophecies were an important component in convincing this man about the truth of Jesus Christ. After understanding the crucial difference between religion and Christianity, it was Albie�s review of the prophesied plagues and judgments and the prophecies about the coming Christ that further confirmed his faith (see p. 277). He now admits that anyone who can think through the implications of the fulfillment of those prophecies would be literally bound to convert. How can prophecy be used to confirm someone�s faith?
15) Believers were expecting Nicolae to rise from death (see p. 54), but most people are astonished and overwhelmed when it happens. The crowds had just seen Leon Fortunato call fire down out of the sky to punish disloyal potentates and now they witness Nicolae�s resurrection (see p. 366). Why do you think the church has tended to avoid the study of the end-times prophecies?

Fellowship
16) When Laslos and Pastor Demeter rendezvous with Rayford and take him to the cottage hideout, Pastor Demeter uses his gift of discernment to give Rayford the chance to unburden himself (see p. 111). This powerful time of fellowship helps restore Rayford to the body, and Rayford feels a kinship with this brother attributable to God alone. In the kingdom, we need each other to become whole. How have you been able to share your gifts to make others in the body of Christ whole? How have others shared their gifts with you?

17) Flying alone in the Gulfstream over the Mediterranean on his way to Greece, Rayford thinks about many things. Out of all his brotherly relationships, Tsion holds a special place in Rayford�s heart (see p. 49). Relationships that vary in regard to interest, intensity, and trust are simply a part of being human. How has the Holy Spirit used various brothers and sisters and different kinds of fellowship to help you grow, heal, or minister in someone else�s life?

God�s Sovereignty
18) The Trib Force learns that the safe house in Mount Prospect might be compromised because of Hattie. David already confirmed that Chicago is not radioactive, so Chloe wants to look into the possibility of finding a new safe house there (see p. 171). As Chloe prepares to leave, she obsesses about the GC finding Tsion and Kenny. Chloe insists that it would be better for Tsion to kill Kenny than to allow his capture. Why do we find it so hard to trust God when we face the unthinkable? How and when have you noticed this tendency toward dismay in your life or in your friends� lives?

19) At the Night Visitors hotel in Jerusalem, Buck patiently explains to Chaim how the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ is much more than acknowledging the existence of God. Buck pleads with Chaim to consider that a time might come when God will harden Chaim�s heart. But Chaim is still determined to hang on to his notion that death is the end and there is no heaven or hell (see p. 187). Even today, people do not know if they will live another day or not. There are certainly no second chances once a person dies. If you can, discuss how this concept has played itself out in your life and in the lives of others.

1) The name of the doctor who was asked to perform the autopsy on Nicolae Carpathia is Dr. Eikenberry. (see p. 27)

2) The name of Nicolae�s only living relative is Viv Ivins. (see p. 61) The first six letters of her name, VI VI VI, are Roman numerals for the number 666.

3) Buck takes Chaim to the Night Visitors hotel. (see p. 123)

4) Three of the ten regional potentates were incinerated by Leon Fortunato. (see p. 350)

5) Carpathia�s left index finger lifts an inch off his wrist for an instant, then falls again. (see p. 364)

6) Nicolae steals the words of Jesus as recorded in Mark 4:39. �And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, �Peace, be still.� And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.� (KJV) (see p. 366)