THE LAST ARK

CHAPTER 33: PROPHETIC RIVALS

Oval Offi ce, White House T h ree Days Before Temple Ceremony

Matt Adelson sits in the Oval Offi ce meeting with the president, Security Advisor Dominic, and CIA Director Russell to discuss complicated topics with no simple solutions—a perfect storm of politics, foreign threats, and social unrest. With so many other hot priorities, escalation of the Middle East is not a welcomed development. “Sir, today the Ayatollah threatened to level Jerusalem rather than allow a Jewish desecration next to the Haram al-Sharif,” Secretary Dominic says. “Iran makes threats all the time, so why take them seriously?” questions the president. “Th e king of Jordan has agreed to relinquish control of the WAQF to Arabia,” responds Russell. “Th e Saudi king has agreed to share the Mount with Israel, which will enrage the Ayatollah, a sworn enemy. Mutual Iranian-Saudi distrust and animosity, currently a proxy war in Yemen, could spill over to Israel.” “Why would King Hussein agree to such a move?” questions the president. “COVID has ravaged his tourism-based economy, driving unemployment to over thirty-five percent. He arrested the crown prince in 2021 for a coup plot. Then Pandora Papers reported that the king had stashed hundreds of millions offshore while he sought foreign aid. An unconfirmed story has just emerged that the king embezzled the money. The king desperately needs the cash infusion from the deal to prop up his economy and stay in power,” replies CIA Director Russell. Secretary Dominic sits forward. “The issue is far deeper than Jordan. T he animosity between Iran and Arabia ties back to a fourteen-hundred year-old Shia versus Sunni split. It began after Mohammad’s death and has carried through to how they view Islamic end-time prophecies. The Shi’ites believe the Twelfth Iman, or the Mahdi, the Islamic version of a messiah, will arise after a great conflict, such as the one they plan against Israel. Before the conflict, a false Mahdi, called the Dajjal, will arise to deceive many and create havoc.” Russell shakes his head. “These animosities still play out today. In 2020, when Ayatollah Khomeini handed over power to his son, Mojtaba, speculation arose the son would rise to Mahdi after he swore an oath to liberate the Haram al-Sharif from the infidel Jews. Likewise, when the crown prince assumed power in Arabia, posts went viral on how the Quran claims the Mahdi will come from Mecca. Many speculate the new Saudi king will lead the Muslim world to a new era of peace and reform. Starting in 2018, the crown prince engaged in a multi-year campaign to downplay the significance of the Temple Mount, pointing out that the Quran does not mention the site by name. He’s been preparing to share the site for years.” “Look, the bottom line is that both kingdoms believe the time of the Mahdi has come and that he will come from their ranks. And both kingdoms point to the other as the source of the Dajjal. The peace deal with a Jewish tabernacle on the Temple Mount is a fourteen-hundred-year-old prophetic powder keg ready to blow,” Dominic states. “Mr. President, I recommend we stand back from Israel to focus on the strategic threats from Russia in Ukraine, Moldova, and Poland.” As Matt expected, the debate instantly flares up. “Are you suggesting we abandon a seventy-five-year ally? That’s political suicide,” barks Russell. “The evangelicals will crucify me,” bemoans the president. “As you said, peace efforts have failed for decades,” responds Dominic. “There’s no upside.” “War in the Middle East could ignite a firestorm that could send the price of gas as high as ten or eleven dollars,” argues Russell. “We depend on the stabilizing value of Israel. Engaging in the peace process would be in US strategic interests.” “Sir, the peace deal is a distraction,” Matt says. “Our focus should be on persuading either Israel or the Saudis to extradite the FPOTUS before Putin out-negotiates us.” Intelligence reports that Yuri Yankovic arrived in Israel yesterday, raising Matt’s concerns. Among them is the purpose of such a trip and how Yankovic evaded sanctions. “What are the options?” questions the president. “Limited,” replies Dominic. “We’re still in negotiations with Israel and Arabia. If that fails, we can look at sanctions, but our allies are expressing zero support. We could withdraw military aid, but that could have serious implications if Iran attacks. We’ve already postponed future Saudi weapon sales, but again, that strategy could backfire with both Russia and China actively soliciting the business.” “What about an extraction?” asks the president. “It would be a disaster on every level,” replies Director Russell without a moment’s hesitation. “We would alienate our allies, find ourselves in a conflict with Israel, and look like a police state. That scenario will play into the right wing narrative.” “So instead, we look weak and impotent,” complains Dominic. “Which also plays into the right-wing narrative.” “Why not offer support for the peace deal in exchange for extradition,” offers Matt. T he president takes a deep breath and nods. “Make the offer. In the meantime, freeze the FPOTUS assets. Recall the diplomats from Arabia and Israel for consultation. Fix this mess.” Weariness drains the eighty-year-old career politician who waves them off, ending the meeting. Steering the most powerful nation on earth through a perilous time of history is not a job for an old statesman. Matt has always believed in both term limits and age limits for service at the federal level. On that basis, he would also be out of a job. T he measures the president just ordered will probably fail. Putin understands only power. Warnings without consequences are meaningless. Putin skillfully manipulated the former president and routinely thumbs his nose at the current one. Now Putin’s cornered, desperate, and irrational. The most dangerous type of enemy.