by Donovan Neal
The members of the Lumazi came near to look upon Satan who yet laid under the Lord's foot with bloodied features, gritted teeth, and hissing contempt as they stared at him.
Jerahmeel walked past first, and he lowered himself down to speak to his brother.
"You have an eye that belongs to me. I want it back." He reached down to gouge Lucifer's eye, but the Lord grabbed his hand.
"If I forbade Peter to draw his sword to protect me, how much more must thou learn this lesson of vengeance? Stay thy hand, for this one shall have his reward." The Lord nodded toward Charon who walked toward his triumphant master.
Jerahmeel nodded in obeisance and backed away, and when he did, the Lord reached into the dust and spit into it and placed His hands over Jerahmeel's face, and Jerhameel's eye was restored to its place and he was made whole.
Jerahmeel felt his face and smiled. "I thank you, Lord."
Lucifer laughed, and when he did the Lord pressed harder on his neck, and he became silent once more. A flying spirit flew over across from the Lord and when it landed within Lucifer's sight, the Lord blew His own breath upon the ethereal creature and before the eyes of all, the ghostly apparition changed and solidified, and Gabriel stood before them whole as before. He bowed to the Lord, and the Lord nodded in acknowledgment. Gabriel rose and walked where Lucifer could see him more clearly, and spoke, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Did you think me so slow, brother, to be caught by thy blow to dissolution? I but obeyed the King and met with those held prisoner by thy sword, that upon their release they might be convinced to plague thee. To my surprise, they needed little convincing to plague thee. Imagine their joy when I told them that at the last day they would one day accost thee in flames of fire." Gabriel then shook his head and walked away.
More of the royal host, and David and Abraham and others stared upon Lucifer, his face still in the dirt.
Michael walked through the crowd and spoke aloud to his brother.
"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning? How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, that I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; and I will be like the most High. Yet look at you now, brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. And who are these that narrowly look upon thee and consider?"
Turiel then picked up, commenting where Michael had stopped, "Is this the man that made the Earth to tremble, and that shook kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; the one that opened not the house of his prisoners?"
Lucifer squirmed under the sole of the Lord's foot and growled like a trapped animal.
Talus then flew over and looked at his King. The Lord nodded His approval and Talus knelt on one knee to look at Lucifer. He stared into his eyes, and Lucifer tried to look away but Talus would have none of it. He squeezed his cheeks and made him look at him and spoke in authoritative victory as he narrowed his eyes, leaning close for Lucifer to hear. The Lord loosened His foothold so Talus could raise the Adversary's head enough to glare into his eyes. Talus looked at him in defiance and whispered in triumph, "I see four lights."
He then spit on the ground and released him and Lucifer's face fell into the moist earth where Talus had spit.
Yeshua nodded as His son walked away, then raised His voice and spoke to all. "It is time to return home."
The towering figure of Charon then created a shadow over them as he drew closer and he spoke to the Lord.
"Am I alsooo tooo retunnn hommmme?"
The Lord smiled. His eyes grew soft and He shook His head lovingly to curtail His creations disappointment.
"Nay," Yeshua said. "There will be a time that fire, yea even a lake of fire will house this one, and then thou shalt be home to do what thou wast charged to do. Until that day, go to, and arrest those this one made thee release, and return them captive to captivity. And whence I am returned, I will make a home where in the next creation, my vengeance can be fulfilled on this one here." And the Lord looked at Lucifer crossly when He spoke.
Charon bowed and turned, and as he walked away, the sounds of chains and the smell of fire and ash trailed him as he marched to parts unknown.
Abraham then came to the Lord. "And what of us, my King?"
Yeshua smiled. "It is now time to enter into rest." And when He spoke, the funnel that Hell had created grew wider and the Lord looked up. And when He did, El and El Pneuma were standing in shining garments and looked down from Heaven.
Then Yeshua shouted up in the hearing of all. "El Pneuma, I am ready."
El Pneuma nodded and spoke one word.
"Resurrection."
And a tremor shook within Hell itself. The righteous dead began to glow, and many looked at their hands as the Shekinah began to overlap all of them. Then in flashes of blinking light, each one rocketed into Heaven through beams of light. Hundreds, then thousands, then billions took to the air in illuminated bursts of light. As rain that fell upward, the people of Paradise emptied and the righteous dead were no more to be seen in the Underworld.
Michael and the all the Host watched as their human brethren lifted into Heaven and he said, "Come...let us welcome our brothers and sisters home. We have much to celebrate!" His halo glowed, and Eladrin began to twirl in sparkling light, while Nephanos covered the Chief Prince with his body and he rose to return to the realm immortal. The Host also looked to the sky and lifted themselves into the heavenly portal to return home.
Yeshua stood alone, still holding the keys to Death and Hell. Whispered sorrows and old screams still lived there, as well as the unrighteous dead and daemons. He sighed then whispered one word to Hell. "Feed."
The creature immediately roared to life. Millions of maggots, tendrils and lava burst into the cavern, and the Lord looked up and lifted His foot from off Lucifer's neck. The Adversary coughed, rubbed his throat and struggled to his feet. Yeshua began to fade and be drawn back into the realm of men.
Satan shook a fist and screamed, "We are not done yet Yeshua!"
Lava poured behind Lucifer who stood defiantly watching the rising Lord, ignoring the calamity about him as well as the screams of his own people.
Yeshua smiled as He exited the cavern and replied to His wayward son.
"My child, it was over from the foundation of the world."
The spirit of Yeshua rocketed to the roof of Hell and exploded through the floor of the Earth, racing through rock and crust to join once more to His physical body. The rejoining of body and spirit sent tremors through the earth, and a white-hot column of light flashed over His body, irradiating the area. The inside of the tomb glowed in incandescence, and the Lord's lungs breathed the cool air of the tomb. Blood pumped through His beating heart and coursed through His body. He opened His eyes to see Azaziel standing guard with sword drawn, over him, and the Lord spoke through the linen shroud. "It is good to see you, my friend. A faithful son thou hast been."
Azaziel blinked as his eyes adjusted to the great flash of light that heralded the Lord's return, and a full-faced smile erupted as he helped the Lord to His feet.
* * *
Azaziel had waited patiently for the Lord to return, standing as a silent sentry over the human body of his master. His eyes pierced the physical confines of the sealed tomb to the brethren who stood guard outside. The sun would rise soon.
Suddenly an earthquake rocked the region and the inside of the tomb glowed in brilliant incandescence. The head of House Issi covered his eyes. The body of the Lord shone as a star, the light of which breached the contours of the boulder rolled in front of the tomb's entrance, and burned through the sealed ropes that lined the stone. Angelic guards stared at the epicenter that came from inside the tomb.
Cassiel revealed himself and came down in a great light in front of the sealed tomb. Roman guards struggled to keep their balance on t
he rumbling ground, watched the stone roll away, and fainted in fright. Azaziel blinked repeatedly to dismiss splotches of blues and morphing shapes that danced across his eyelids.
Cassiel noticed the Lord's chest rose and fell. His lungs breathed in the cool air of the tomb as blood began to circulate through His resurrected system and color slowly returned to the body of the Lord. His fingers moved, and the linen covered head turned toward Azaziel. He spoke through the shroud. "It is good to see thee, my friend. A faithful son thou hast been."
Smiles wreathed his face as he helped the Lord sit up and tenderly removed the cloth from His face.
"Your plan? The keys and righteous dead...are they well?" Azaziel said.
The Lord opened His hands where the open wounds of His nail scars still remained, and within His right palm lay the two recaptured keys of Death and Hell.
Azaziel gasped in joy. On looking angels beamed at one another and bowed to their King.
Azaziel helped the Lord to His feet, steadying his King as His body returned to full function and they exited the tomb. The sun broke over the horizon...the dawn of the first day of the week, and Yeshua and His guards laughed and strolled the surrounding countryside.
"My Lord," Azaziel said, "thou hast breached the stronghold of the Enemy and spoiled his house. What wilt thou do now?"
Yeshua looked at him and replied, "There is yet much to be done, for an army of men must be raised to undo that which Satan hath done. The final battle is yet to come. Even now in Heaven thou wilt have many new siblings and there are even more that I must bring into my Father’s house, but for now, come, I must shew myself to my disciples and gather my sheep into the sheepfold. Take me to them."
Yeshua then masked them all in invisibility, and Azaziel then lifted his King into his strong arms and flew off with the angelic royal guard trailing them.
Yeshua, seeing two of His female disciples walking toward the tomb, commanded two of the angelic guard stay at the tomb to bring glad tidings to them. Women who were moments from a discovery that would soon change the course of mankind.
* * *
Now after forty days of showing Himself in infallible proofs in the course of time, the Lord called His disciples together, and they asked Him, saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
And He said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon thee: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."
And when He had spoken these things, they beheld as He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Azaziel watched the men and noted that they looked steadfastly into heaven as He went up, and given leave by the Lord, the angel revealed himself to the disciples.
"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Yeshua, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
And when they heard those words, they were quick to be about the Lord's business, and Azaziel watched them depart, knowing the war had turned and in the resurrection of the Lord, he saw the death throes of the war, and that the final push of righteous men had now begun.
The End
Epilogue
Having escaped the clutches of Hell, Lucifer and Ashtaroth watched from afar as the disciples of Yeshua departed and Azaziel lifted himself into the sky.
"My king, many of our kind still remain trapped, consumed alive by the beast. How shall we recover from such a defeat?"
Lucifer scowled at his words. "Is the thing not known? 'Smite the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.' Fear not, my faithful friend. In time, I shall seed my presence so much within the accursed 'body of Christ' that it shall be as a canker. And in the last day, I will follow the pattern that El Himself hath revealed and will raise up a man – an Anti-Christ, and I shall use him as El hath used Yeshua. We will undo His influence. Yea, fear not, for we are not without a hope and a future. And then we shall see what the end shall be for this wretched pestilence of Adam's kin. Come now, for they will assemble in Jerusalem, and I will hunt these disciples, this...church...and we will see how she fares when exposed to trials of fire."
Lucifer smirked as he looked away from the disciples. His eyes rested upon the city of Jerusalem and the temple dedicated to the worship of El. He recalled the daemon's report:
"Sire! Sire! Yeshua hath prophesied saying, 'Dost thou not see all these things? Truly I say unto thee, not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.'"
Lucifer spat and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Yes, let us go from this place, Ashtaroth, for I intend to see the words of Yeshua come to pass, for I will cast every stone down. Go to and move Caesar of Rome! Bring him here that I might descend with my man-servant like a whirlwind."
Ashtaroth bowed himself to his Lord and flew toward Rome.
Lucifer looked to the horizon and muttered through clenched teeth. "We are far from done, you and I, El. As long as I draw breath, we will never be done."
* * *
Heaven held numerous celebrations over the victory of Yeshua. And Yeshua interceded for the saints on the Earth standing before the Father making intercession for them. And in the course of time Micheal summoned all of heaven to worship as was the way of the Chief Prince.
El sat upon his throne and in the right hand of El was a book prepared by Argoth and written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Micheal then proclaimed to all Heaven with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?"
Enoch then saw a man who the Lord had allowed to see into Heaven and Enoch noted that he was in Heaven, but was not. And Enoch saw that the man wept sore and approached him and spoke.
"What is thy name and what is this that you shed tears in Heaven?"
The man replied to Enoch, "My name is John and I weep because no man is found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon."
Enoch replied, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
John then noted that in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sung a new song, saying,
"Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
And the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard them saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
And the four beasts said, "Amen." And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever.
And after the Lord had shown John all that was to transpire in the last days, Enoch bid him farewell.
El then summoned Elijah and Enoch into his presence and spoke on this wise. "Go to, for after long last mus
t thou now witness to my wonders and get thee down and make way for my coming. Witness to all within the Earth, that the end hast come. And when they kill you. Thou shall take your place with your brethren and we shall go down and bring righteousness, and recoup all that the Enemy hast stolen."
Elijah and Enoch nodded and the duo left the presence of El to show men that Lucifer had deceived them. And that God---God was coming to bring recompense in the Earth.
Grigoric Glossary of Terms: Scroll Three
To: Enoch
From: Argoth
To wit, the Lord hath given me word to make thee understand by scrolls the ways of Heaven. I have determined it incumbent to tutor thee of the races that populate her midst. Know that though thy people hath acquired some information through observation and encounters with our kind, there is yet much that thou must still learn. This scroll hath been prepared for thy reading and translated from our tongue that ye might grasp our number. I will expand upon your instruction in future lessons. As you hast advanced in learning, I have now amended thy scroll to provide thee access into the tomes of the great houses, and Celestial history concerning the Schism, and the Articles of War which governs our kind.
Commit the knowledge given to study and see my attendant if thou dost require additional resources.
Note: It hath been brought to my attention that thou hast made inquiry regarding the Books of Seals which El hast commissioned me to prepare. Note that this book is for El alone, and He will reveal it at His choosing.
Furthermore, your request to access tomes concerning the Mists, the Ophanim, and the Seraphim have been denied by El Pneuma. His word He would have me relay to you, and I quote, "The anointing which ye have received of Me abideth in thee, and ye need not that any man teach thee: but as the same anointing teacheth thee of all things, and is truth and is no lie, and even as it hath been taught thee, thou shalt abide in Him."