by Donovan Neal
"Do not speak to defend him," said the Grigori. "The record of his tome is clear, for despite the inept handling of his Grigori, Raphael has left much in disarray among the Grigoric order. There is much that must be done to remove the stench of explication that now rises to me. I would see restoration to the tomes that occupy this hall. Even now, those Grigori that roam free unfettered by the laws of our people, defile these records with their editorialized version of the cosmos. I would see it end."
Jerahmeel eyed his brother curiously. "And what do you propose to enact such cessation?"
"There can be but one course of action—dissolution. The 'Fallen' cannot be restored, thus they must be extinguished."
Jerahmeel was shocked at the coldness of his brother's response. "Would you wage war with thine own people? Hast not the realm seen enough bloodshed?" He stared hard at Argoth pained that violence would once again be used to confront their people.
"I am ruler of my people," said Argoth. "And must give account to El. I will not see the records fall to the taint of Lucifer's schemes. I therefore will that he be extinguished from the realm. And if not; then I will see to it that the records of my people are purified. They who write must cease to do so. Their tomes must be recovered, their pens silenced. There is no other way."
He faced Jerahmeel and added sarcastically, "But perhaps thou thinkest that I might reason with them and speak pleasantries that they might turn from their wicked ways? Nay, the 'Fallen' will not of their own accord cease and desist. Nor will they surrender their tomes. There is but one word alone, one record of history, and it must be rightly divided. Disunion must cease. There can be no other course. In the name of the Lord I will execute a purge of the tomes."
Jerahmeel winced, stung by the ease with which Argoth would speak of further assault, and taken aback by the angel’s willingness to enter into conflict and spoke.
"I would adjure thee by the love of God that thou first seek permission from El, before you let loose your people. Lucifer's actions have already brought Heaven loss to much of her children: to lose more in a battle that is not—"
Argoth snapped at Jerahmeel. "I will do what Raphael was want to do. To preserve the word of El, we must be resolute. Raphael failed and he hast paid the price for his failure."
Jerahmeel became incensed at the apparent accusation, "You purport as if Raphael did something amiss? Raphael is dead, yet even in his absence you would attribute him to be cause of his brother’s own actions?"
Argoth replied unflinchingly, "Raphael was loath to do what must be done. He was Sephiroth. To pen creation’s record was his to command. Now he is not. To be Sephiroth is to uphold the Word. To see the realm with the eyes of God. There can be no corruption in this task, thus Raphael hast failed. It now falls to me to bring all things into conformity. Indeed, he was a prince Lord, as are you. You and the counsel are the best of us, and were expected to bring peace, wisdom, power and honor in all things. El be praised, that this hall remains inviolate. I could not imagine the damage Lucifer could have done."
Jerahmeel’s anger grew at his brother’s suggestion of fault in Raphael.
"The only error, if there be any, was in our brother Lucifer's thinking that he could bring down El. A thought that apparently was not unique to him alone, but eventually agreed upon by members of thine own kind. Judge not lest you be judged. For with the same measure you judge shall it be returned unto thee. Your words sound of Lucifer before his fall."
Argoth stiffened, "You would compare me to the Usurper? Would you charge me as betrayer to God?"
Jerahmeel was unwavering in his reply. "I mean no offense, Argoth, yet you—were asleep. Dozing whilst the rest of Heaven was under siege. Lucifer was haughty. His pride is what lead to his downfall. Not a failure from any of the Lumazi to rebuke him. You would be wise to remember that. I consider you now equal among our brethren, but alas...so was Lucifer. Beware that ye not abandon the spirit of meekness lest ye be overcome by temptation to pride. In the interim, Michael now holds command of the Host. He will give us command, or El will do so."
And upon the mention of El, the Hall of Annals flashed to reveal the colors of the Throne room, and the Lord God sat on the throne, and round about him were floating images that projected everywhere throughout the room. And the Holy Spirit in the form of a giant eagle hovered over the throne, and another form as unto a man, Yeshua son of El, was seated next to El.
Jerahmeel and Argoth beheld as the images relayed wars and pictures of death, and they saw great nations rise and fall on the planet El had named Earth, and the throne glowed, as the Trinity beheld millions of pictures at once. The Hall of Annals struggled to project all the happenings within the throne room, for each image changed in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, a scarlet thread burst forth from El to one image, and then between three images and then split. Suddenly the red line latticed the room in a web of scarlet, racing from El through projection after projection, and wound its way between countless images and weaved, as the faces of men and women shown across the floor of the room. The images moved from the east to the west of the throne and then encircled the throne.
Moreover, in various imageries, Jerahmeel saw Lucifer and the Fallen, entwining their deeds throughout the cosmos. Nevertheless, within the midst of the display, Jerahmeel beheld birth, laughter, and singing. Yet the pace of the spectacle was too much for his mind to capture and comprehend, for the panorama careened at a speed beyond his mind’s ability to grasp. His eyes incapable of capturing but glimpses of the entirety of what El saw.
The Hall struggled to keep up with the swiftness that which the triune God moved the events of history, and the images became blurred as the room attempted to relay the visualized thoughts of the Creator. For in the blink of an eye each image changed, but El saw all things at once, and the Godhead was quiet watching the images and arranging them.
The line that moved from El then became clearer, and both Jerahmeel and Argoth knew that they witnessed the creation of 'time', and were privy to watching the Godhead at work planning the outcome of the universe. The images slowed in their relentless haste across the room, then coalesced to but a few. The scarlet line also emerged from a incomprehensible lattice woven through persons and events and blended into one thread of scarlet that returned to the Lord and ended at the Lord's bruised heel, and in that final image El’s heel bled no more. Then He who sat on the throne spoke. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." And the images ceased.
Jerahmeel and Argoth eyes slowly adjusted to the room's ability to keep up, and when their sight attuned to see; they beheld that there was but one that sat on the throne and El said,
"We shall aid the Man and bring to naught the plans of the Enemy.” The Lord then turned to look in the direction of the duo as if He could see them, and spoke.
"Jerahmeel, the time hast come to bring wholeness to Heaven; you and Argoth call thy brethren to court.” Then all images into the throne room were whited out in a great flash, and faded to black.
*********************
Each of chief princes of the seven angelic houses bowed before the God of all things and seated themselves before the throne. Argoth took it upon himself to speak.
"My Lord, you have summoned us, and we are thine to command."
El replied, “Come and witness the elevation of Michael Kortai.” El motioned for Michael to rise. “Come my son, and I shall anoint thee with power, and will lay my hands atop thy head, and ye shall be Chief Prince.”
Michael stood and spoke, “Lord, I ask permission for my ascension to be placed on hold; is such permissible?"
God looked upon His son and replied, "You would have another stand in your stead as Chief Prince?”
Michael looked upon his Father and lingered to speak. “I...I..am unsure if I am ready to lead the Host my Lord.”
Gasps and whispers echoed among the Lumazi. "The thing hast never been done. Who would deny promotion from the Lord?" Argoth said.
Jerahmeel studied his brother. "Michael, are you sure?"
Michael nodded in silence.
Jerahmeel put his hands on his hips then opened his hands to wave to those behind him. "And what of your people? El hast chosen thee for promotion because He knows that you are best to lead. How are the people to fare if you refuse God?"
Michael remained silent; he had not considered how the people would fare. He only calculated El's absence in all his decisions. Never his own. Never had it occurred to him of his own importance and how it might impact the people. And for a moment, he was aware that his decision mayhap was not to protect El, but to satisfy his own selfish desires.
"I—I—Lord I ask that another stand in my stead," stammered Michael finally.
The Lord looked at Michael, and all looked at El, and all present knew that at that moment He gazed into Michael's heart, and saw all possible futures. Michael bowed his head as the Lord studied him.
"The thing will be as you say," said God.
Metatron then spoke, asking what they all wondered. "Who then will we call Chief Prince? Who wilt thou appoint to lead us?"
"To be Chief Prince requires faith," said El. "Neither fealty nor obedience alone shall suffice, but submission is what I require. For faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. For by it ye might obtain a good report. But lo, although all might lead, only one shall hold title. For the gifting of God hast been rejected, its offer rescinded, and must now be earned. Therefore, he who would command the respect of Eladrin shall cede Lucifer as Chief Prince. He who desires to lead desires a good work, therefore whosoever wills, let him step out from among his people, that he might earn title of Chief Prince."
Mouths dropped. For Eladrin was seated high above the mountain of God, and nested at the ceiling of Heaven. He looked down below and was called only at the command of God. It was he who chose which of the four Ophanim would serve as rest for the throne of God. Nestled in the clouds of the mountain, Eladrin had only been seen once, by Lucifer himself at the creation of all things.
Many thought Eladrin was a myth, perpetrated by Lucifer. For Lucifer alone did the Ophanim respect, yet Lucifer breached their trust when he attacked El, and they now bar him from the presence of the Almighty.
Each of the princes turned to leave the throne room, and Talus looked at Michael and spoke as they exited. "I hope you know what you are doing, Michael."
Michael nodded and whispered, "I hope so too, my friend. I hope so too."
Talus stopped and turned to speak to El. "And what of the Kiln, my Lord? Will you rebuild it?"
El frowned, and spoke. "The Kiln hast been destroyed. Nor will I set my hand to restore it. For Michael in his wisdom knew what must be done, and I will not upend that which my son hast wrought." And El looked at Michael knowingly.
Michael nodded in acknowledgment, for none but he knew that the Kiln had held the Primestone, the gem of which if commanded would have given his kind the very power to be as God. El had set the Kiln as test of his children. An exam to the best of them, to see if he might add them to the Godhead. Michael knew that they were not ready. Knew his kind was too much awash in pride. For there was much competition of whom would be the greatest among them. The Godhead would remain a Trinity. Stripped from the chest of Lucifer, the Primestone would stay forever tucked within the folds of El until the end of days, unless He saw fit to do otherwise.
Talus and Argoth frowned at Michael.
He knew their thoughts were sour; sour over how he had destroyed the womb of their kind. That because of deeds done by his hand no more Elohim would be birthed from the flames of the Kiln. Thoughts of resentment and of anger had seeded in their hearts.
El knew their thoughts as well and spoke. "The Kiln is of no importance. Know ye not that he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house? And who hath made thy mouth, and hath breathed upon the embers of thy stone the breath of life that ye might live? The Kiln is but a gourd that was and is no more. I AM the Kiln. Nay, my sons, our thoughts are to the man whom now I must tutor, that they too might be called the sons of God."
"Lord, permission to speak freely," queried Michael.
"Granted, my son."
Michael approached El and knelt before his Lord in submission.
"Lord, I appeal to thee to consider your course of action. The vision you shared—the cross—I know—I know what you have shown me. Please do not do this. I beg of you."
El smiled at His son, and spoke to them all. "There is a path that must be followed, a chain of events that will stretch unbroken even unto the end of days. Until all things are placed underfoot. Would thou favor the things of Lucifer or of God? There is one that can bring down thy brother. Only one that can purchase the blood of Adam. He is Shiloh. For Shiloh shall be born of the seed of the woman, and upon his back shall He carry the sins of three heavens. He shall smite the enemy that man might no more fear death. And through death He will destroy him that has the power of death, that is, the Devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For Shiloh shall not take the nature of angels, but be born of the seed of Abraham, who is yet afar off. For Shiloh shall be as his brethren and a faithful high priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For He must himself suffer temptation that He might succor them that are tempted."
The group stood confused as El spoke of events that had not yet transpired when El suddenly winced.
Michael noticed his Lord's reaction and bowed. "Thou art wounded my king. How might your servant attend unto his Lord?"
El smiled, "It is of my choosing that this wound bleeds, that all might know that the Godhead is not without feeling, for the acts of our sons bring pain to the Father. Yet cease from concern. We are Alpha. We are Omega. I AM that I AM. It must be thus, that all might act according to plan. For there will even come a time when this temple will be destroyed and in three days I will raise it up again."
The Lumazi each looked upon the Lord in collective gasps. Thoughts of oncoming attack filled each one as the words sunk deep into the ears of all present.
El then paused and suddenly stopped speaking. "Ughhh...," he said.
"My Lord," said Talus. Expressing the concern that all now had. El was visibly shaken. He bowed his head, and rubbed His forehead as if relieving tension.
El then slowly rose to his feet. He staggered and reached out to touch the throne to keep from stumbling. The Shekinah, the veil of living light that surrounded Him, slowly changed, changing from a bright white to light grey, then darkened to jet black, and the God who was light was temporarily surrounded in darkness and the stars and galaxies could be seen within him. Then without warning, the Shekinah screamed, and it’s wail filled the throne room.
The screech blew out the windows of the palace and each angel covered their ears as the Lumazi bowed in both submission and fear. The mountain quaked from the shock wave of the blast and those who beheld the palace from afar wondered as to the rumblings that came from the mountain. All of Heaven then heard the concentric spreading of the shrieking sound, and writhed in pain at the scream that came from the Shekinah. Michael, head down and ears covered, wondered to himself how light could make sound.
El staggered and braced himself on his throne. He wiped drops of blood from His forehead, straightened himself, and stood erect.
"We must go down for the man hast corrupted himself." El grimaced, then spoke again. "It has begun."
Then before He even finished speaking, El faded from view and disappeared. Michael looked down to where the Lord had stood, and all that remained was a small pool of crimson blood on the crystal floor of the palace. He did not move from where he stood, but he swore he heard the blood whisper. He looked to see if his brothers could hear, but they hurriedly sought to leave the throne room and follow El. He looked back at the pool of blood, and it whispered in hushed tones that he alone could hear. Words that had only been heard when Luc
ifer's own sin was revealed—iniquity.
*********************
Lucifer watched Eve from a distance. She touched several macaws stroking their colored feathers, while rabbits clustered themselves to play at her feet. She delighted in the warmth of the noonday sun: oblivious to the looming shadow of he who had challenged God. Mountain lions walked by her side, and Lucifer took note that the man had gone to the river to drink. The Shekinah the living breathing light of God enveloped her, and she shown in brilliance.
Lucifer saw that the woman was alone and slithered towards her, and spoke. "Greetings princess, you are as lovely as the morning star."
The woman bowed in recognition of his words and reached out to touch him. Lucifer restrained himself from recoiling from her touch, and allowed her to stroke him. The woman rubbed his head and slid her hands across his wings. His scales were as a kaleidoscope of light and she was entranced at his beauty.
"It would seem, serpent, that God has not given beauty to me alone."
Lucifer smiled and his tongue darted from his mouth. "You do me great honor, princess. It would seem that here within the garden, beauty is awash in abundance. Would you be so kind as to lift me to this tree?"
The woman obliged him and placed Lucifer softly within the branches of a melon tree, and he coiled himself around a branch and bit from a melon that he might taste it.
"I have seen the variety of trees that fill our home, my princess. The Garden is lush in all manner of fruit. Yet the tree in the midst of the garden glistens, and illuminates, calling to us all to partake in its succulence. Yet why doest thou not partake of its fruit? Hath God said ye that shall not eat of every tree of the garden?"
And the woman said unto the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’"
Lucifer smiled and said unto the woman, "Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."