Bar Abba

"I am running out of time. All my forces are gathered to Jerusalem for the feast. The time is ripe. The people are waiting. Never has the populace been so hungry, so expectant of the appearance of their Messiah. It all seems so natural in the course of my own destiny. I cannot ignore that the hand of God has carefully laid every stone of my pathway. But it does not really matter what I believe. What matters is what the people believe. And what my men believe. They need a messiah-someone to give them courage and strength. Someone who will instill in them a will to fight-a man who will lead them to victory."

- Bar Abba's plan

"There, there. You see? I am not a heartless man. But merely a man of passion and conviction. It is my hope, James, that as you get to know me, you will come to understand the forces that guide me. I am, in my heart-as you will doubtless discover-the most peaceful man one can ever know. But alas, the days of peace are at an end. All right. That's enough. Heli, take her away."

- Bar Abba to Jim Hawkins and Jenny Plimpton

Bar Abba is one of the villains who appeared in Chris Heimerdinger's ''Tennnis Shoes Adventure Series. He serves as a major antagonist in Kingdoms and Conquerors and a minor antagonist in Drums of Desolation. ''He is a Zealot who plans to convince his people that he is the Messiah who will save them from their opposition.

Kingdoms and Conquerors
After Jim Hawkins and his sister Jenny Plimpton enter the pillar of energy in the Rainbow Room, they are transported into the side of the hill in the Judean desert. They are dug out by a passing group of travellers, who are amazed to see Jim performing CPR on Jenny (who had suffocated from being buried alive). The travellers bring Jim and Jenny to Jerusalem to meet Bar Abba.

In Jerusalem, Bar Abba is amazed to hear the story of Jim's miracle. He holds a meal for Jim and Jenny at his villa, hoping to grill them for information as they eat. Bar Abba shares his intentions to free Israel from the Romans, Edomites, and the betrayers of the House of Hanan. When Jim asks why Bar Abba is so interested in him, Bar Abba explains his plan. He wants to declare himself to be the Messiah in order to tell the people of Judea that it's time to rise against the opposition. But for many years, he had anticipated a forerunner-someone who performed miracles. Having heard the story of Jim supposedly bringing his sister back to life, Bar Abba believes that Jim is that man.

Jim is incredulous that Bar Abba thinks he's a miracle performer when in reality, he performed normal CPR. He tries to convince Bar Abba of the truth, only to get shot down. Bar Abba, along with his aide Heli, take Jim and Jenny upstairs to Bar Abba's office. Bar Abba shows Jim his treasure trove and promises to give it to him if he serves as a charlatan who will help him cement people's belief that he is the Messiah. Jim flatly refuses, much to Bar Abba's disappointment. Jim stresses that Bar Abba is not the real Messiah, and that that title belongs to Jesus Christ. Heli threatens Jenny's life to convince Jim to accompany Bar Abba, to which he reluctantly agrees. Bar Abba opts to bring both Jim and Jenny with him to Jerusalem, but threatens to kill Jenny if either of them step out of line.