might begin their lives in adoring fellowship. Kara had only just
happened on this information and found it quite amusing that the
very creatures that were to have been taught by Lucifer how to
worship the Most High would now be learning how to worship
Lucifer. He would enjoy telling this amusing detail to Lucifer.
"Discouraged to the extreme, I should say," said Michael. "I
really think that he exceeded discouragement, don't you?"
"Of course," agreed Kara. "Lucifer is far from perfect, though
the Lord created him with a divine beauty that reflects a sort of per-
fection. I'll admit he has strayed a bit--acted out of sorts--but what
angel has not?"
Michael was surprised by Kara's attitude. Recognizing that
Lucifer had "strayed" was one thing, but making excuses for him
was inappropriate for an Elder. "Of course angels are far from per-
fect," Michael retorted. "But an angel with such responsibility as
Lucifer must behave in a decorum befitting his rank. Lucifer is high-
ly exalted--the Anointed Cherub--and must behave responsibly!"
"Agreed, Michael. That is why the Council spoke with him.
You didn't know that, hmm? You see Michael, I have not been idle
since I met with you and Crispin and the others. The Chief Elder
and I and a few select others ministered to Lucifer and allowed him
to purge himself of these attitudes. So now the matter is in its final
stages."
"Except for the fact that nothing has changed," Michael
answered. "Lucifer's attitude hasn't improved. If anything it has
gotten worse. And the horrible situation at the Academy must be
addressed as well."
"I can tell that the news is overwhelming." 119
"I tell you, Michael, that both Lucifer and the Academy are
well on their way to recovery. Things sometimes do change in
Heaven." He smiled.
"Well I certainly see no change in Lucifer's attitude," Michael
responded.
"Yes, as this letter you handed me reveals," Kara said with a
touch of sarcasm. He held up the letter. "Is this not the writing of a
contrite spirit, Michael?" He looked deeply into Michael's eyes.
"Perhaps you have been pursuing Lucifer for so long you have for-
gotten that he might in fact have a change of heart. You must give
him the benefit of any doubt. Just as some of the Council has in its
move to recommend him to the Lord."
"Recommend Lucifer?" asked a weary Michael. "For what?"
"That should be obvious, Michael. We are recommending
Lucifer to the Lord as steward of the earth to rule in the Lord's
name and authority. Or at least we will be shortly as soon as the
matter has been deliberated. Decorum, you know."
Kara enjoyed the effects of his words upon the archangel of
whom he was becoming less and less fond. Michael was astonished!
All this time he had been investigating an alleged plan by Lucifer to
somehow work his way into an authority which, should the Elders
have their way, would now be handed over to him. It didn't make
sense. Even if Lucifer was told that he might be appointed to some
great promotion, the fact that he was working with such venomous
fervency to realize such a possibility was at best unwise--at worst,
unholy. Either Michael was the worst judge of character in all of
Heaven or the Elders were completely taken in!
"I can tell that the news is overwhelming," said Kara. He
placed his hands on Michael's shoulders and faced him with great
compassion. "Michael, you asked me to help you as an Elder. I did
that. I spoke with Lucifer and brought him into the Council for dis-
cipline. I believe he was forthright with us. He indicated that he
had been misjudged in some matters and judged rightly in others.
But he assured us that he was in no way involved in any plan to
have himself honored. Lucifer promotes only the Lord and not him-
self. You can be sure of that, Michael."
120 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
Michael looked at Kara, deeply troubled. Suddenly the issue
of Lucifer and the Academy and the turmoil in the Host seemed
insignificant compared with this arrogance being displayed by the
Elders. He was almost trembling with revulsion at the thought of
mere angels approaching the Most High with this or any other rec-
ommendation as to how something should proceed. Creatures
appearing before the Creator without invitation in order to pro-
mote one of their own! Abominable!
"Kara. The Council cannot seriously consider such a move,"
Michael finally said. "The Elders have no more right to present a
petition to the Lord than I do! On whose authority would they
make this...this suggestion?"
"Why it would be on our own authority, Michael," answered
Kara, who knew that he must step delicately in this matter. "You
see, we believe the time is coming when angels will have a
greater...involvement in the Kingdom. The Creation bears this out.
A steward to be named bears this out. We are merely expediting the
fact."
"On your own authority?" Michael asked. "You have no
authority except that given to you by the Lord! This makes no sense
to me at all, Kara. Is the Chief Elder in agreement with this?"
"Quite," answered Kara smugly. "Wholeheartedly, I believe.
As are most of the others." He looked slyly at Michael and added,
"At some point, Michael, you must decide too whether or not you
support the authority and wisdom of the Most High as we do. I
assume you are with Him?"
Michael reared back. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I am most loyal to the Lord. I am the Chief Commander of the
Host and completely dedicated to the wisdom and authority of
God! This you know, Kara." Michael's sword began to shimmer as
a bluish aura began emanating from it. Kara looked at the sword
and back again at Michael.
"Well then," said Kara quietly, composed once more and feel-
ing the advantage of Michael's anger, "you must know that the
Lord in His wisdom provided for the Council of Elders and vested
them with His authority to act in the best interests of the Kingdom.
"I can tell that the news is overwhelming." 121
If you disregard the wisdom and actions of this body, you demean
the wisdom and authority of our Most Holy God by implying that
He has selected angels who are unwise--a most unwise thing for so
wise a God to do. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I suppose," said Michael, recalling his conversation with
Crispin at the Academy. "But even the wisest angel can choose
wrongly, even if his intentions are pure. I suspect they can also
choose wrongly with the most impure of intentions."
"I would only say the Lord have mercy on that angel," said
Kara, haughtily. "But I suspect, Michael, that were something foul
in Heaven, the Lord would have dealt with it by now. Yet I see
Lucifer still in his office. I see the Elders in order. In fact, I see no
angel in any danger of the Lord's judgment!" He laughed.
"Nor do I, Kara," answered Michael. "But then you and I a
re
merely angels."
123
Chapter 9
"One day it will be the Son
casting the shadow, not us!"
As Michael made his way to the Academy he thought of his
disappointing conversation with Kara. How could Kara be so
enamoured with Lucifer? Or was he? Maybe Kara was right. Per-
haps Lucifer had been the quarry for so long that perspective had
been skewed. Still, as he reflected on the meeting he began to see a
disturbing logic that Lucifer and his proponents all seemed to rally
around: that the Lord's apparent inaction was a validation of their
progress. Kara alluded to this notion; Berenius was stirring it up at
the Academy; Sangius admitted that the Council of Worship found
comfort in it. Several times Michael had had the question posed to
him: Why hasn't the Most High acted if there is something amiss--even
wickedness occurring in Heaven? Why would He tolerate such behavior?
Crispin's answer to the question was couched in rather vague
terms that offered nothing but the fact that the Lord is sovereign
and will act when He deems it appropriate. But by not intervening,
could God be encouraging such behavior within the Host? Was He
ignorant of the affairs of Heaven as Lucifer thought; or was He
merely a longsuffering God who held out for final reconciliation as
Crispin held?
124 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
Michael entered Crispin's study deep in the heart of the
school. Gabriel was already there, as was Sangius. Crispin looked
up and greeted Michael warmly. "Well Michael, welcome back!
How did the meeting with Kara go?"
Michael recounted the conversation with Kara, telling them
everything. When he had finished there was a moment of silence.
Finally Gabriel spoke up. "Are you quite certain that the Elders
have spoken with Lucifer?"
"I am only certain of what Kara told me," said Michael. "He
said that Lucifer was disciplined and they were convinced that he
was repentant."
"It is possible, I suppose," said Sangius, "that he is changed."
"Of course it is possible," said Crispin, who was seated at his
book-filled desk. "But we are dealing with an extremely cunning
individual here. You were with him, Sangius. You should know bet-
ter than any of us."
"Yes, I know," said Sangius. "But it is possible for one to
change. That's all I am saying. I had lost my passion once. Remem-
ber, Michael? Shortly after I left Lucifer's service we talked."
"Of course. In the Grand Square," answered Michael.
"Now the Lord has graciously restored that passion. I know
that an angel can change--provided he has not crossed too deeply
into darkness."
Michael admitted, "Kara did point out that perhaps I have
been hunting Lucifer to such a degree that I have lost the ability to
see him in another light. Maybe he has changed but I just don't
know."
"You all talk as if Lucifer wants to change," Crispin argued.
"Hear me now. One can only change if one is willing to change. I
see no willingness to change on the part of Lucifer or any of his fol-
lowers. Not unless it buys them something."
"Crispin, I love you as my teacher," said Gabriel. "But you
have become hard toward Lucifer. Have you no hope at all that just
perhaps he could have had a change of heart? Did you not teach
that the Lord has given us the ability to choose freely and therefore
one might change one's mind?"
"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!" 125
"I taught you well, Gabriel," Crispin said warmly. He sat
back. "Yes, perhaps I am a bit of a doubter where Lucifer is
involved. And Pellecus to be sure."
"And Rugio," added Michael.
"And Serus," chimed in Sangius.
"And about one-third of the Host of Heaven by your latest
count," Gabriel threw in. Everyone laughed.
"I see the point, dear students," Crispin said. "Very well.
Speak with Lucifer, Michael. Feel him out. I truly hope it helps
resolve this matter so I can get back to my studies."
Sangius spoke up timidly. "Why can't we simply take this
directly to the Most High? If He truly knows all then perhaps He
expects us to come to Him with this."
"Your intentions are good, Sangius," answered Crispin. "But
to do so would be to invite the same disgrace that the Elders are
inviting upon themselves by approaching His Person. As I have
always told my students, we angels are blessed and holy creatures--
but that is all. We are in relationship to the Lord on His terms and
according to His desires. Perhaps one day He will create a being
with whom He communicates on the more intimate level of which
you speak."
Sangius spoke up again. "I hate terribly to agree with Lucifer,
but if we cannot go to the Lord with this, and we assume that the
Lord in His wisdom knows and understands all that occurs in
Heaven, then why has He not dealt with this? Lucifer frequently
boasted at the conferences I attended that the fact that the Most
High does nothing indicates that He is limited in His ability to
know or act. I am telling you this lack of response on the part of the
Lord emboldens Lucifer to carry on."
"It all goes back to the critical aspect of our ability to choose
freely," said Crispin. "As I told Michael recently, the Lord will not
violate our ability to choose. To do so would be to admit that He
cannot govern in His own authority." Crispin began talking now
with a dreamy look in his eyes. "If only I had been allowed to
debate these issues with Pellecus. Perhaps we could have avoided
all of this!"
126 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"Crispin against Pellecus in open debate. That would be
astounding," said Michael.
"Yes, but it will never happen," Crispin remarked. "Not
unless there is some benefit attached to it that Lucifer sees. He
keeps Pellecus fairly close to him."
Michael paced the room as if searching for the answer. He
looked at the others for some sort of reassurance but saw none.
Finally he threw up his hands. "We need wisdom in this, good
teacher," said an exasperated Michael. "We need wisdom from
someone who we know is loyal to God."
Crispin looked up from his chair. He thought a moment or
two about what he was going to say. "Perhaps then a visit to the
wisest and holiest creatures in Heaven is in order. We cannot coun-
sel with the Elders at this point because we can't be sure of their
intentions--or at least of their wisdom--while such an appalling
recommendation is going to be deliberated."
"The Zoa?" asked Gabriel.
"Yes," said Crispin, looking up at Gabriel as if surprised that
Gabriel understood his reasoning. "Those mysterious beings who
move in and out of the Lord's Presence and who are more keenly
held there than any other creature. Recall that Kara said that the
Zoa brought the news of the Creation to the Elders, right? I am sure
that if anyone
can shed light upon this dark subject the Zoa can.
And they are the only creatures in Heaven I feel certain that even
Lucifer could never influence."
"But who has access to them?" asked Michael. He was hoping
he could finally see one of these legendary creatures.
"Not simply an archangel, I'm afraid, Michael," answered
Crispin, anticipating Michael's desire to visit the Zoa. "Besides,
you have that letter from Lucifer. You must visit him."
"So the question remains: Who can visit the Zoa?" he repeated.
"Me," said Gabriel. "Though I've yet to see them. And the
Chief Elder at times."
"Quite right," agreed Crispin. "As the Lord's chief messenger,
Gabriel has access to the Zoa."
"One day it will be the Son casting the shadow, not us!" 127
Sangius was getting a little lost in the discussion. "But what
are they?" he asked. "I have heard of them, of course, but..."
Crispin sat back in his chair and assumed the role of profes-
sor. "The Zoa are marvelous creatures--very strange, very wise,
very holy. Mind you I have never seen one, but in the Chronicles I
have read that they are like the cherubim in that they are connect-
ed in close proximity to the Throne of God. They are full of eyes,
front and back--a symbol of their wisdom I suppose--all-seeing
and so forth. I know that there are four Zoa who have four faces of
four different creatures of some sort. The Zoa cry, "Holy, holy,
holy" to the Lord day and night and are constantly at the Lord's
side except on the rare occasion when they dispense some vital
holy decree such as the Elders received."
"And you believe that a visit to these creatures by Gabriel is
in order?" asked Michael. "Will protocol allow such a thing--I
mean unannounced and without invitation?"
"They will not turn the Lord's Messenger away," said Crispin.
"My suggestion is that Gabriel visit the Zoa and you, Michael,
attend Lucifer."
"Then it's settled," Michael said. "Gabriel, you will see the
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