by Donovan Neal
Suddenly the booming voice of El shattered the silence of the Maelstrom. "Jerahmeel," said the Lord, "Come up hither, I have an assignment for thee."
Jerahmeel replied into the air. "Yes, Lord."
Jerahmeel looked at Michael and spoke. "We will talk again after I return from my assignment. Know that my love for thee is strong. Now go in peace, the Lord be between me and thee while we are absent." Jerahmeel then lifted himself into the air, and Michael watched him disappear towards the mountain of God.
*********************
Argoth entered Enoch's bedchamber and awoke him from slumber. "I am loathe to disturb you, Enoch, yet the Lord bids me teach you the ways of Heaven."
Enoch yawned and stretched his arms, "Your presence is of no disturbance angel of God. I am at the Lord's bidding. I will follow thee."
Enoch dressed and he and Argoth walked to the Hall of Annals.
Enoch marveled, for the thing was wondrous to behold, for roundabout were images of galaxies, and peoples, and worlds too countless to imagine. Enoch noticed that the room portrayed on its very walls the happenings of all things he spoke and asked Argoth, "Can it show me my family?"
"Aye," said Argoth. "Indeed it can."
"Show me."
Argoth then gave command to the room and it imaged Methuselah, Enoch's son. Enoch could see that his once little boy was now a grown man, though he had only left him but moments ago. Enoch stood astonished at the thing and spoke. "How is this that my son is now a man? For I have not been gone a day?”
Argoth replied, "El is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Time as you understand it doest not exist in our realm. For we are immortal within the presence of God."
Enoch continued to stare at the images of the wall, fascinated that the world he knew had changed so much, and he looked upon his son, proud that Methuselah also called on the name of the Lord. Enoch watched his son fend against the child-sacrificing tribes of the plain, and lo when Methuselah called on the name the Lord, he beheld that surrounding his son and the plain were legions of angels with swords that battled creatures that were twisted and deformed in body. Anorexic with maggot-infested skin, and they were animated by a power not known to men.
"Are these your fallen brethren?" asked Enoch.
"Aye," said Argoth. "They are but shells of their former glory. Lucifer commands them now and he hast unleashed them as a scourge upon your people. They are less than angelkind but yet far more powerful than Adamkin. We call them Daemons, for they feed and possess thy people to supply Hell's villi. If not, the creature would quickly turn on both angel and man alike. Lucifer now satiates the creature with your people's spirits."
"What is Hell?" asked Enoch.
Argoth waved his hand, and an image of the living mountain showed across all walls, and Enoch watched as the record of the creature displayed the anger of the living God. Anger that created a living realm to consume alive beings of such power that they would forever experience eternal life apart from the God of Heaven. A life of fire, pain, and darkness.
Enoch continued to look at the image and watched as Methuselah and his men prayed to the God of Heaven, and their prayers were as vapors that penetrated the realms, and El moved in the Earth mightily when his people prayed. But where there were no intercessor, Lucifer and his armies were left to unleash all manner of destruction.
"The Almighty walks with thee," said Argoth. "You are the first of your kind to see the realm immortal. The first of all humans to bask on the glory that is Heaven. Yet I must admit that it is…” he paused, considering his words, “…unsettling to see El move in such a manner toward your people. Yet we obey Him in all things. Even the protection of thy kind."
Enoch turned to Argoth and said, "So you watch? That is all your people do?"
"Yes,” said Argoth.
"There is not much use to watching. To act when one sees injustice——that is noble. What you do has no glory in it."
Argoth scowled at him, angered over the impudence of Enoch to tell him that his work was of no worth. Then remembered that Enoch was but a man and limited in his understanding.
"You think that to record the moments of all things is of no consequence? To evidence Lucifer’s obliteration of the image of God in the Earth is of no worth? For all play their part in El's plan. Even you. For the time will come when people will call on the name of the Lord and it will be as if He hears them not. But lo, the Almighty hast moved times and seasons that people might be born. He has lifted detail after detail that your progeny would exist. To deviate from His plan would cause whole generations of men to never be birthed. He has foreseen all peoples, and moves even now that generations to come would be of such faith that a door would be made for El to directly intervene. But none yet carries the power to hold the Almighty. But there is one of the daughters of Eve that shall give birth to Shiloh. And when God walks the earth, men will know, and the Kingdom of God will be restored to your kind, then we will have beachhead to foul the purposes of the enemy.
"El will bring nations to rise and others to fall—all that One might come. For in the fullness of time He shall bring life again to all, and there will be recompense for the deeds done. We record Adamson for the day when the records must be read and the images shown. That no man might say, 'see, how then doest He find fault? And who hast resisted His will?' For even we do not fully understand the power He hast given thee as clayborn, but He is faithful that has promised. But the soul that sinneth it shall surely die."
Enoch bowed. "I apologize. I meant no offence," he said, then held his peace on the matter.
"Come,” said Argoth. "I will see you to you quarters, for you must rest before you may begin to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom."
"Rest?" questioned Enoch. “Will I be tested in some manner that I will be fatigued?"
"No," said Argoth. "Yet El hast charged me to train you in the mysteries of the Kingdom that you might have knowledge to learn what must be learned. For you shall stand as Grigori for thy people, and as lampstand before the Lord - intercessor for thy kind."
Enoch replied, “Nay, if I am to stand as a light before the Lord, then let me be lit now. There shall be time enough for resting. Let us commence with my instruction."
"I have bade thee rest, would you not yield to my suggestion? If you cannot hear angels, what hope have thee to hear from God?"
Enoch laughed. "Angels are the creatures that tempted man, and angels were the first to rise against God himself. What stock should I put in an angel's judgment when ye yourselves stand a third judged?"
Argoth winced when he heard this, for though he was angry over the insolence of Enoch, he could not find fault with his words. "You seek to be tested, so then come, for thy first test awaits you."
Argoth then took Enoch to the door of the Hall of Annals, and there he spoke.
“To enter the sacred Hall and be as Grigori for thy people, you must be as I, and walk the path that I must walk. For within the hall are the secret things of God. If you can make it to the door across this void, then you might gain access to its secrets, and your mind will be ready to receive instruction. Do you accept this challenge?"
Enoch looked at the door. There was nothing but squared titles on all the floors; the room seemed immense and he could make that across from him was an outline of a door. "All I have to do is make it across and touch the door and it will open to me?"
"Aye,” replied Argoth."
Enoch nodded, "Then let us begin."
“There is one thing before you begin,” cautioned Argoth. “Above you are the Zoa. As long as you remain behind this line, you cannot be harmed. However, the moment you seek to enter the room they will fall upon you if you fail to cross the barrier beyond." Argoth smirked, then continued, "Now you may begin."
Enoch looked across the hallway. There were four nondescript squares off to a side and eight squares deep. At the end was a door with a handle, presumably opened only upon stepping on the correct sequenc
e of squares. He looked above him, and saw suspended from the ceiling dozens of creatures with tentacles, each barely perceptible to the eye. What he did see, however, was that each one was filled with eyes. Their jaws were in their belly and they walked with tentacles on the rafters of the hallway, ready to drop on the unsuspecting. They quietly hissed and slithered along the ceiling.
Enoch looked back at Argoth. "And these creatures...what purpose do they serve?"
The angel replied, "They protect the secret things of God."
Enoch nodded and proceeded to cross the floor, walking confidently into the middle square. A Zoa dropped to the floor behind him as he continued his pace unabated. Turning neither to the left nor to the right, Enoch continued as more Zoa dropped behind him and began to move to follow him.
Argoth raised his eyebrow and bit his lip, in wonderment if El would hold him responsible for the human's death.
Enoch continued his fixed march towards the door ahead of him, walking without concern for the squares the lay before him. A Zoa dropped ahead of him and opened its mouth and raised it tentacles as if it might grip the intruder. Those to his rear had not closed the distance to him. Enoch, unmoved, walked coolly towards the Zoa. Its mouth was open, dripping spittle, and the group's collective hiss now echoed across the corridor. Argoth looked on in terror, for the Zoe now had touched the man, and the angel knew that within moments Adamson would be devoured.
Enoch touched the Zoa's snout and it roared but did not move away, and Enoch spoke.
"You are in my way, servant of God. El himself bids me come. My purpose is to learn the secrets therein. We are kindred, for I am also guardian of that which is within. I am Zoa, and you shall let me pass."
The Zoa surrounded Enoch and looked at him for a moment. The beast before him sniffed him, and spittle oozed over Enoch's shoulder as the creature snorted in his face. Slowly the circle of monsters that surrounded him opened to reveal the door ahead.
"Thank you," said Enoch. He walked forward between them as they towered over him, and reached to turn the handle and walked inside. Enoch turned back to look at Argoth, annoyed.
"Are you coming?"
Argoth looked on in wonderment his mouth open, his eyes blinked repeatedly and simply stared.
*********************
Argoth released Enoch to Jerahmeel's supervision, and Jerahmeel showed Enoch the capital, from the royal palace to the suburbs to the blast furnaces of the armories of Heaven. They walked and came upon Michael and Gabriel sparring, and stopped to observe.
Michael arched his back, spreading his wings wide. He unsheathed the sword of Ophanim and spoke to his brother. "I am ready."
Gabriel looked at Michael. "Are you sure about this?"
Michael paused and then said, "Yes, I must be ready when the next battle comes. I know not what Lucifer will bring, and I know my eye cannot hold mercy to spare him if we engage. Attack me."
Gabriel launched into his offensive. His staff in hand, he disappeared from Michael's view, and immediately attacked from Michael's rear. Before he could react, Gabriel smote him in the back of his head and Michael landed hard in the dirt.
Enoch looked at Michael as the angel dusted himself off, and whispered to Jerahmeel. "He is your preferred leader? He was just bested in combat by one of lower rank. How then should he be leader of the Hosts of God?"
Jerahmeel smiled at him and said, "Michael is not our desired leader because he is strong. He is neither unqualified to be leader because he is weak, as you understand weakness. He is leader because he has been chosen by El. The way of Heaven is not to elect, appoint, or to select our leaders. El is our leader. He determines among us who shall lead us. He has selected Michael; so then because we value the decision of El, we will when he is ready give to Michael all that we have, all of our knowledge, all of our skill, all of our strength, that we might fulfill the command of El when Michael gives it. Therefore, we train him, that he might exceed us. He studies at our feet that he might learn from us and we from him. So that when El gives command, Michael might look upon the Host of Heaven and choose from among us who best may assist in executing the cause of El. Only he, who would serve all, can lead all. This is the way of Heaven. Do you understand this, Enoch?"
Enoch looked upon Michael as Gabriel pulled him to his feet, and replied. "I'd still rather have a leader who doesn't get knocked down as much." Enoch grimaced as he watched Michael take another blow to the skull.
Jerahmeel nodded and replied, "Yet it is sometimes necessary for a leader to take a good blow to the head."
Away in the throne room of God, El looked past form and shadow to see His sons spar with one another. He watched as Michael struggled to compensate for Gabriel's speed and spoke. "Jerahmeel prophecies of things to come and knows it not,” said El.
Yeshua smiled. "Father do you think that I need a blow to the head?"
El grinned. "No, but of a surety Mary will want to take a swipe at you, especially when you cannot be found."
Yeshua looked into the future and saw how His destined mother would scold Him when she and Joseph could not find Him, and He smiled. "She will indeed." The Trinity continued to watch as the two angels sparred with one another.
Gabriel lifted Michael from off his rear.
"Remind me to never engage you in battle," Michael said, his chest heaving from exertion.
Gabriel smiled.
Michael rose to his feet and shook himself raised his sword and shouted, "Again!"
Immediately Gabriel disappeared from view and Michael launched into the air, and with his thoughts commanded the sword of Ophanim to split, and the sword obeyed. Gyroscopically, the seven swords moved about him, and Michael could feel Gabriel's presence to his flank and set himself to face his brother. Sword clashed with staff, and bright light engulfed the two, as the staff was made from Cadmium and smelted by the hand of God. Then the staff split and Gabriel held two staffs in his hand, and Michael attacked his brother who blocked and repelled sword after sword. He leaped over Michael, who spun to follow with the swords. Faster the blades pursued him, and when Gabriel turned to his left a sword was there, when he moved to his right a sword was there. Each angel moved in what seemed a deadly choreographed waltz, and the clang of steel against cadmium was thunderous, for Michael was as seven attackers against Gabriel. Michael moved to corner Gabriel against a stone wall, causing his brother to retreat. Their sparring caught the attention of those roundabout and many flew to the square to watch them spar.
Michael and Gabriel ducked and weaved and deflected staff and sword, and cheers rung out from the now-gathered throng. But the two were oblivious, and Michael motioned for a sword to open a way that Gabriel might find passage, for Gabriel defended himself against Michael’s onslaught but could not attack in kind for the number of the blades that swished and moved about him. Gabriel saw that a blade had ascended to open a path of travel, he feigned to rise through the opening but instead flung his baton at Michael and hit him squarely in the head and knocked his brother flat on his back. Immediately the swords fell to the ground and Gabriel jumped over his brother and stood over him.
"Do you yield?” Gabriel asked.
Michael shook himself and rubbed his forehead. "Aye, I yield."
Gabriel reached down, lifted Michael from the ground, and spoke to the newly assembled crowd.
"What error did the Prince make in tactics?"
All looked at one another, but none replied. Each shrugged their shoulders until Michael himself broke the silence.
"In battle there can be no quarter given. There can be no hope for escape."
Gabriel looked at his brother with admiration and bowed. "Thou hast spoken wisely. For you were able to press me into a corner with my back against the wall. To cede that position robbed thee of victory. Lucifer would do more than hit you on the forehead if you engage him again."
Michael's brow grew tense in remembrance of his battle with his brother. "Lucifer would have had my head."
> Gabriel nodded. "He would indeed."
Suddenly a sound as of a great bell rang from the mountain of God, and its chimes called all to take note. For the tower bells had not been rung since before the war, when Lucifer had last arrived in Heaven. All turned to see who would go to the mountain of God, yet none dared to go, as it was the summons of the chief prince. All looked at Michael, and he lowered his head. "I am not chief prince." A dispatcher then came from the palace and landed in front of Michael, exhausted, and spoke.
"My Lord, you are summoned to El's presence. El hast charge for thee."
Gabriel looked at him and smiled.
"Don't even say it," said Michael.
"I told you so," said Gabriel.
Michael sighed, then lifted himself into the sky and turned toward the mountain of God. He loved the feel of the wind against his face as he soared along. It was not long before he landed in the presence of the Seraphim. Immediately, they boomed into their chant of HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, and Michael walked past the burning ones unto the crystal stairs and through the linen curtains into the Holy of Holies, where the Virtues floated about the room. Michael stopped to see the Lord standing, and roundabout the throne were vials and stars. Each star was a Son of Adam yet to be born, and the Lord plucked a star and when its light went out, another appeared, and the Lord took each star and placed it within the vials, and the vials glowed from the stars that shown within.
And all three persons of the Godhead were visible, and they talked with one another and the words spoken were as the sound of waters upon the shore.
"There will be many that will die if we commit to his salvation," said the Holy Spirit.
Yeshua immediately spoke. "Yes, but many shall live to life eternal. Though all paths lead to our glory, not all will restore the man and Creation to wholeness."
"Kenosis," said El. "It is Creation’s only hope."
The Holy Spirit then spoke. "There is still time Yeshua to reconsider—are you sure you?"