ANGELS AT WAR

CHAPTER 2

ARCHANGEL QUERIDA

THE ANGEL SAID TO THE WOMEN, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I KNOW THAT YOU SEEK JESUS WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN…” (Matthew 28:5, 6)

            I had never known such despair as Vida and I watched the Son of God cry out as he hung upon the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

            We wanted more than anything to take Him down from the cross and minister to Him. Just like we did after His forty days and nights in the wilderness. After this extreme trial, the devil fled and we strengthened and encouraged Him. (Matthew 4:11)

            “Querida, we have to do something!” my companion said as we watched the Savior on the cross.

            I understood his desperation, but there was a clear message from on High. “I know how you feel, Vida, but we must let Him be.”

            “I can’t stand this, Querida!”

            I turned to speak to my dear friend, but a demonic roar interrupted me. I saw Vermillion and his companion, Adbeel with a company of about two dozen demons celebrating. The gaze between my one time close friend and I connected. The ugliness in his vindictive grin made witnessing the scenes of Calvary all the worse. It was hard to believe he and I had been so tight before the cosmic conflict had begun. Now he was a major nemesis.

            Ironically, Vida and Adbeel were once as tight as Vermillion and I had been. After the fallen angels were cast out of heaven, Vida and I had discussed our similar situations with our former friends. He, like me with Vermillion, had tried to council Adbeel against siding with the Luciferians. However, Vermillion had a more persuasive effect in Adbeel’s ear than Vida. So the four of us had inadvertently switched roles as best of friends.

            Have you ever thought certain sporting participants looked crazed and even evil as they lorded over their opponents? The shouting, flexing, and pounding of chest. Well, that had nothing on the fallen angels as they celebrated the violent, cruel death of the Son of God.

            There’s no point in me trying to describe the demonic seen. Both good and evil angels are invisible to humans unless we purposely manifest to the physical. The best I can suggest is to imagine what I said about poor sportsmen and multiply it tenfold.

            I really loathed the phrase ‘lesser of two evils.’ But that was exactly the position Vida and I were in. Either witness the bloody, beaten form of the Son of Man dying on the cross, or watch a demonic host gloat over it. Something occurred to me as I painfully watched the Prince of Peace in torture. “Jesus can’t see through the portals of the tomb, Vida.”

            “What do you mean?” Vida asked.

            “He’s tasting, not just physical death, but eternal death for humankind. He’s thinking His separation from God the Father will be permanent. Yet He’s submitting to it anyway. What wondrous love!”

            “We must have misunderstood Jesus when He said the third day He will rise again,” Vida replied.

            “It’s not the third day,” I told my companion as I also felt the first glimmer of hope. “He just can’t see it right now. What amazing love!”

            “Absolutely amazing!” Vida agreed.

            The diabolical roar intensified and Vermillion, Adbeel and their fiendish host charged Vida and me. Like the rush of a powerful storm, they came at us. Had things changed with the death of the Son of God? So far we had been untouchable to the fallen angels. Our warfare had been spiritual. We fought over the souls of human beings.

            Vida and I held our position, trusting in God’s protection. It wasn’t in vain. Several of our angelic colleagues rushed up to us like a mighty wall, and the evil forces reeled back. They retreated as if a great tsunami were about to crash down upon them.

            Gabriel, a superior of ours, approached Vida and me with a greeting humans would consider a hug. Then he said, “Vida, Querida, come with me.”

            In a flash we were at the temple, a dozen of us in total. Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. Then Gabriel gave the command, “Tear the curtain in two, from the top to the bottom!” (See Matthew 27:50 and 51)

            One of us could have completed this task, despite the veil of the temple being about five inches thick. But it was assigned to several of us so the great honor could be felt by more than one. For the gesture signified an end to sacrifices. For Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, accomplished an end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new covenant. The beginning of righteousness by faith.

            The earth quaked and a centurion that had been guarding Jesus declared, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

            “Vida,” Gabriel petitioned. “Go to the Roman guard that just acknowledged Jesus as Messiah. His heart has opened to truth. Do what you can, Adbeel is trying to close in on him.”

            “Aye, aye,” Vida replied enthusiastically, and my partner in righteousness was off.

            Gabriel then assigned some more angels to the women who had been ministering to Jesus. (Matthew 27:55, 56)

            Then he sent another to Joseph of Arimathea to inspire him to ask for the Savior’s body. I was starting to feel left out, yet I knew I wasn’t. I was simply anxious to serve the Son of God however was seen fit. Gabriel’s gaze turned to me. “Querida, I need you to return to heaven briefly.”

            I would have been disappointed if it hadn’t been for the word briefly. This told me I was to be assigned an important task and was going there for a special blessing. When I came back to earth, I did it with such gusto that the earth quaked. I rolled away the large stone that blocked the entrance to Jesus’s tomb. He had risen from the dead!

            I caught a glimpse of Vermillion, Adbeel, and a few of their cohorts. They were singing a different tune now. It was a song of silence, confusion, even despair. I didn’t gloat as they had done. But my heart, if you please, rejoiced over the Son of God’s victory over death! Imagine that, the only human being in history that raised Himself from the dead!

            I was sitting on the large stone when two women close to the Savior’s heart arrived. They looked beyond stunned to see me. I couldn’t help grinning as I reassured them. “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen as He said He would. Come see the place where the Lord lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Behold I have told you.”

            Trembling with excitement, they ran from the tomb to tell the disciples.

            (Matthew 28:2-8)

            Different perspectives on the resurrection are given at the end of all four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. At the end of Matthew, Jesus gives The Great Commission, to take the Good News into all the world.

            John sums up his Gospel by expressing a thought about the amazing existence of Jesus.  ‘There are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.’ (John 21:25)

            Forty days after Jesus’s resurrection, He ascended up to heaven in a cloud. (Acts 1:9) Just before He parted ways with His disciples, He gave them some words of encouragement. Mainly He promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit with power.

            As Jesus arose from the earth, Vida and I stood by not far away and watched a couple of our colleagues. They assured these followers of Jesus of His eventual return, which was to be recorded for posterity in the Word of God.

            “Men of Galilee,” the two men in white apparel said. “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

            It’s been more than two thousand years since God became a man. As a ministering spirit (Hebrew 1:14), I have experienced many victories. Unfortunately, working in a fallen world, with sinful humans, thereby competing with demons, I have also experienced numerous defeats.

            One of earth’s gifted writers said this quote. Actually he wrote a lot of brilliant things under the inspiration of God. But this particular quotation pertains to the battle human beings faced with sin. His name is C. S. Lewis, and I quote, ‘There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God, and counter claimed by Satan.’

            I could use up your whole lifetime telling stories spanning several thousand years. So where do I begin? I’ll start off with a young woman close to the present time who gave in to a few too many of Satan’s counter claims.

            Using the hope of love, Vermillion led her to a state of despair. I in turn led her to something that ultimately gave her hope in Christ. You could say we angels lead a person to the water, while the Holy Spirit motivates them to drink. But it is up to the person to say yes. For God is a gentleman. He doesn’t barge in unwanted; He stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20).

            Words are powerful. That’s one reason why Jesus is called the Word (John 1:1). What I put in front of the young woman’s eyeballs was another quote from C.S Lewis. It came at a time when I knew she was despairing of crossing some spiritual line into eternal ruin. She felt her sins were too grievous to go on. She thought to solve her problems by breaking the sixth commandment. (Exodus 20:13)

            The quotation I put in front of her was just the spark needed to light a fire in her soul. The quote said, ‘You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.’

ANGELS AT WAR

CHAPTER 1

ARCHANGEL QUERIDA (Pronounced Kay-Reeda)

JESUS SAID TO THEM, “I SAW SATAN FALL LIKE LIGTHENING FROM HEAVEN.” (Luke 10:18)

            “Yes, my Lord,” I said as I bowed before the Son of God. “You wish to speak with me?”

            With a gentle touch, He bid me to arise and look at Him. His countenance was pure peace, pure love. “I give you the name Querida, which means beloved,” He told me.

            My eyes turned downcast from His gaze as I replied. “Dear Lord, I don’t deserve that title.”

            “Yes, you do,” He corrected. “You did everything you could to convince the rebels of the heavenly throne of their error.”

            This encounter I had with the Son of God came on the heels of Lucifer becoming Satan. It happened right after he was cast out of heaven with one third of the angels who sided with his position. His view, simply put, being that God was unjust. That God’s law was too restrictive and prohibited liberty.

            But that was a turning point for me. God unjust? No way! And what law? Before Lucifer’s campaign to overthrow the government of God, we were so in harmony with our Maker that I didn’t even realize there was a moral law. This law I speak of would basically become known as the Ten Commandments on earth.

            “But Lord, I was one of the first to petition my fellow angels that they ought to give Lucifer a chance to explain his position,” I admitted.

            “But then you saw the light and walked in the light,” He countered. “You then influenced ten times that number to remain loyal to the Godhead after you discovered the nature behind his agenda.”

            Like most I was dazzled by Lucifer’s majesty and his rank. He was second only to the Son of God. He was charming and very persuasive. One in particular that I had persuaded to listen to Lucifer was my closest friend, Vermillion. And listen we did. But with opposing results.

            Vermillion’s first time listening to Lucifer was my second. Before speaking, the anointed cherub dazzled us with incredible music. But something was different with this second speech I heard.

            The first time around he spoke of a recent meeting the Creator had had with the heavenly host. During this meeting God the Father established something that we had already known. That being, His Son was equal with Him and would be prominent in carrying out God’s purposes. Lucifer’s critique of the declaration regarding the Son of God seemed to be favorable. And I do say ‘seemed.’ With this next go around, there was an air of slyness in his banter. Later, watching him with Eve in the Garden of Eden, reminded me of his early campaign in heaven.

            Not long after Creation came the temptation and fall of man. Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field (Genesis 3:1). And that is what I’m talking about. Even as Lucifer, he was more cunning than any angel in the heavenly host. But that was after iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15). That is what took me off guard. Not only had there been perfect harmony in heaven, there had been no deceit.

            Lucifer was the first to bring about iniquity. This transgression was all foreign to us. We didn’t know what sin was, let alone all of the different aspects of sin. We didn’t know what deception was. We didn’t know what vanity was. We didn’t know what envy was. We didn’t know what greed was. We didn’t know what violence was. I could go on, but this should get the point across.

            My first clue came when he insinuated that he would have been better at the position than God’s Son. He implied that the working out of God’s purposes was assigned to the Son of God  only because He was, well, God’s Son. He then suggested that God’s government denied us liberty and freedom. He indicated that God’s low key, benevolent Son would only make things worse. He couldn’t have been further from the truth!

            As we parted from what would have been a spectacular political campaign speech on earth, I apologized to Vermillion. “I’m sorry.”

            “For what?” he asked with surprise.

            I returned with my own surprised expression. “For what! He openly defied the Son!”

            “Not really.”

            “How can you say that? That last thing he said. That if he can get at least half the angels to side with him, God will have to let him prove his ways are better.”

            “What’s wrong with that?”

            “What’s wrong with that! It’s disrespectful! Lucifer is a created being like us…”

            “But much more exalted, much more intelligent.”

            “I’ll give you that,” I acknowledged. “But not more than God or His Son!”

            “Look, all he’s asking for is to be given a chance. If God’s fair, he will allow it.”

            And God was fair. He allowed the debate to continue. At one point Lucifer almost did have half of the angels on his side. But as the war of words continued, the Son of God, who would astound all of the holy angels in the future by becoming the Savior of fallen mankind, never lost his cool. Lucifer on the other hand became increasingly testy, and then violent.

            Early on in the scriptures, readers are told of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). This forbidden knowledge would be the plague of humanity. During this war in heaven (Revelation 12:7), the angelic host also learned of good and evil as well. The fallen angels firsthand, and the unfallen by observation.

            God bore long with the rebellious. But being God, He knew what was best. He declared deviation from his government would ultimately bring about degradation, strife and discord. He pointed out that we could already see this with the attitude of Lucifer and his sympathizers. And could we ever!

            I made one last plea with my dear friend Vermillion when I could tell God’s forbearance with the rebellion had culminated. “God’s right, you can see already the unrest that Lucifer’s agenda is bringing, and it hasn’t even been implemented.”

            “There’s unrest because the master hasn’t been given a chance.”

            “Did you just call Lucifer the master?”

            “That’s right,” he said defiantly, wearing an angry countenance I had never seen on him before. We were all becoming aware of so many new concepts and characteristics, and none of them were good.

            “You know you’re gonna be cast out,” I warned.

            He snorted. “So much for freewill.”

            Freewill. Although this was a concept we had been vaguely aware of, it was now foremost in everyone’s mind. We had always had the God given right to choose. But living in harmony with God’s government had been so natural, we never gave freewill a second thought.

            Oh how I wish this discord had never come about! What a sad moment when Lucifer, who had been the ‘morning star’ the ‘light bearer,’ but now brought darkness, was cast out as Satan (Revelation 12:9). And a third (verse 4) of the angels were cast out with him.

            God could have destroyed them with a word. But wouldn’t that have proven Lucifer’s argument correct? After all, he said God was a tyrant that restricted liberty. No, Satan and his evil host would have their chance. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of earth would have to live under his rule after their first parents failed the test of obedience described in Genesis chapter three.

            The result of sin soon showed its colors when one of Adam and Eve’s sons killed another in Genesis chapter four. The ripple effects of sinful natures passed on since the first parents down through the ages has been catastrophic.

            But after the rebellion in heaven, we soon found out that God and His Son had a plan. The Son Himself would become a human being! A baby no less! And this four thousand years after sin had entered the planet. The Gospels not only tell the most remarkable story ever told, God becoming a man to redeem a fallen race, it is the greatest story that ever COULD be told!

            It has been an honor and a privilege to serve The King of Kings for more than six millennium, going to and fro from the earth as a ministering spirit (Hebrews 1:14). But that’s according to your time. For with God a thousand years is like one day (2Peter 3:8 and Psalm 90:4).

            We of heaven truly do rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). We long for this nightmare of a sin experiment to over with like you do. But I have to admit that there’s been an adventurous side, and I’ll tell you what I can.

            Like most soldiers on earth, we ministering spirits will be glad when the war is over. This ‘battle against the rulers of the darkness of this age’ (Ephesians 6:12). With our earthly family that serve God, we agree, come Lord Jesus, come!

BLACK SABBATH

CHAPTER 30

SEVEN SALLIE

FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL DESEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF AN ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMPET OF GOD. AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. THEN THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. AND THUS WE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD. (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17)

            “Hey everyone, I’d like you to meet Querida,” I said as I attempted to introduce the angel that caused the angry mob to flee.

            “Where’s your friend?” my wife asked.

            I had just stepped onto C. S. Lewis’s deck after negotiating about twenty steps. I had assumed that Querida was behind me. I turned to my right and kept turning until I did a three sixty. “Where’d he go?”

            “Who was that old guy with you?” Inga asked.

            “It was angel who went by the name Querida,” I replied, as I still looked all around.

            Everyone looked at me like I had two heads. “I’m not crazy, that truly was an angel with me.”

            “Now Seven, don’t bear false witness,” Inga said sternly.

            “I’m not, that truly was an angel!”

            “I’m referring to the part about not being crazy,” Inga said sympathetically as she placed a gentle hand on my forearm. To my chagrin, my wife placed a hand over her mouth to hide amusement.

            Inga continued, “Clearly there was angelic intervention. There’s no way you and an old man would cause two dozen angry guys to fall all over themselves fleeing from you. How did he do it?”

            It didn’t go beyond my notice that she credited Querida and not the two of us. Which was fine, since it was he that caused them to flee. “I don’t know how he did it. He just raised his hand, and they couldn’t get away fast enough.”

            “It looked like he was just giving them a friendly wave from back here,” C. S. Lewis  interjected.

            “What did you see?” Inga asked. “Was there like a laser coming off his hand or something like webbing, like Spiderman?”

            “No, I didn’t see anything like that. He just lifted his hand, like C. S. said, and poof, the mob fell over themselves trying to get away.”

            “Speaking of poof, where did he go?” Zella asked. “He was right behind you.”

            I opened my mouth to say what amounted to nothing, for I did not know. But before I could say anything, there was a noise like a trumpet. I noticed my wife and Inga looking at me with wide eyes and open mouths as if the sound of the supernatural horn was coming from me.

            For God’s people the majestic sound was beautiful. We had all been homesick for heaven for quite some time, and the noise was like pulling into your driveway after a long trip. For we all instinctively knew that it was I Thessalonians 4:16 beginning to be fulfilled.

            For those that rejected God, the sound was ominous. For them it was multiple times more eerie than an air raid siren. So much so it was a fulfilment of Revelation 6:15, 16 and they tried hiding from the noise and the atmosphere. Even to the point of wanting mountains and rocks to fall on them to hide them from the approaching wrath.

            “Look!” Inga declared, pointing to the east. “That small black cloud!”

            With one accord, we all gazed at the eastern sky. We all saw what Inga noticed first. It was indeed an unusual cloud like shape. It seemed to sparkle and twinkle, but not like an aircraft. Our eyes stayed glued to the heavenly vision. As students of the Bible we knew what it was, the long awaited second coming of Christ!

            In solemn silence we gazed upon it as it drew closer to the earth. As it did so it became lighter and more glorious until it was a bright white cloud. Its base was like a consuming fire, and above it was the rainbow of the covenant. And there was Jesus, riding like a mighty conqueror!

            No longer was He a ‘Man of Sorrows,’ to drink the cup of bitter shame and woe. He was coming, victor of heaven and earth to judge the living and the dead. Revelation chapter nineteen was happening right before our eyes!

            Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).

            His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns (Revelation 19:12).

            He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God (Revelation 19:13).

            In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).

            And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses (Revelation 19:14)

            And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16).

            The sky seemed filled with radiant forms. They were countless angels! No human pen could describe this scene. No mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendor. As the living cloud came still nearer, every eye beheld the Prince of life. No crown of thorns now marred that sacred head. A diadem of glory rested on His holy brow. His countenance outshone the brightness of the noonday sun!

            Before we knew it, we were rising in the air to meet The Lord! My wife and I were hand in hand as we arose higher and still higher. Zella and I both didn’t like heights. But we had no fear whatsoever! No, we were filled with joy and excitement like we had never experienced before!

            Just as Querida reassured me, I would see my kids again soon. My daughter Sevenia held hands with her husband as they floated toward us. Somehow we instinctively knew how to make our way to each other. Her other hand was clasped with her half-brother, Zella’s and my son.

            Several of our church family joined us as well. Family and friends who had passed away too! Right there on our journey in the sky we were able to reunite and exchange hugs. We continued on our voyage with our Savior as we did so. True to His word in the first few verses of John chapter fourteen, Jesus led us to our heavenly homes!

 THE END.

ACTUALLY MORE LIKE THE BEGINNING!

BLACK SABBATH

CHAPTER 29

SEVEN SALLIE

BECAUSE YOU HAVE KEPT MY COMMAND TO PERSEVERE, I ALSO WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE HOUR OF TRIAL WHICH SHALL COME UPON THE WHOLE WORLD, TO TEST THOSE WHO DWELL UPON THE EARTH. (Revelation 3:10)

            “There they are!” The leader of an angry mob of about two dozen men yelled.

            Inga and C.S. Lewis were sprinting out of the woods with the mob on their tail. They came toward the small group of us that were sitting on Lewis’s deck overlooking his back yard. Between their hostility and the side effects of the loathsome sores from the first plague (Revelation 16:2), they looked like a band of demons.

            All of us offered up prayers on the order of ‘Lord help us!’

            There were about twenty steps leading up to the large deck. No sooner had Inga and C. S. taken them two at a time, when a being that glowed bright white suddenly appeared at the foot. He waved a laser like sword that blazed with a brilliant silvery hue.

            The angry group fell back in a manner that reminded me of John chapter eighteen when the mob was seeking to arrest Jesus. Our Savior had asked who they were seeking. When they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth,” our Lord replied, “I am He,” and they all fell back.

            Sin makes people stupid. Instead of fleeing, the mob still pursued Jesus. Although He could have annihilated them with a word, our Lord allowed Himself to be taken. Not only that, when one of his disciples cut off an ear of one of Jesus’s captors, Jesus healed it. Yet another element that should have given them pause.

            Not unlike those responsible for the death of our Redeemer, this mob stood their ground. Well, actually they did take a couple steps back. But then the hair on the back of my neck raised when the leader barked, “Just give us Seven Sallie!”

            “We’re sorry, Seven!” Inga said, a look of consternation on her face. “We were running scared, we didn’t mean to lead them here.”

            “It’s not your fault,” I replied. Then I frowned as I realized that wasn’t true. Nonetheless, I didn’t hold it against them.

            A chill ran up my spine when the angel looked at me and said, “Come on, Seven.”

            “You’re gonna give me up!”

            The majestic being smiled reassuringly and said, “Fear not, I will approach them with you.”

            “Cool!” I replied confidently. But it turned out to be a similar experience like Peter’s. I’m referring to when he walked to Jesus on the water in Matthew chapter fourteen. Only my experience happened as we walked in C. S. Lewis’s backyard.

            Between the result of their loathsome sores and their open hostility, the mob truly looked like a pack of devils. Yet for every step the angel and I took, the angry mob took two steps back as their fuming countenances turned to fear. Then something changed. The group stopped. Their expressions changed to vengeful delight and bloodthirsty hunger.

            I looked toward my angelic companion, but he was gone! In his place was a feeble looking old man. With a long white beard and kindly eyes, he reminded me of Captain Kirk, our Pastor at Cotton Creek Fellowship back in eastern Iowa.

            “Where’s the, ah…” I frantically looked around! I was about to do a quick retreat when the old man grabbed my forearm with surprising strength. He calmly declared, as if we were out for a casual stroll, “Once again, you need not be afraid. Do you believe me?”

            I could tell by the strong grip on my arm that this was no ordinary geriatric gentleman. I nodded and as the mob descended upon us, the old man simply held up a hand in a stop gesture. I don’t know what the demon inspired group saw. I saw nothing out of the ordinary. But they not only stopped on a dime, they turned and fled, falling over each other in their haste.

            “Who are you?” I asked in awe as I went to one knee and bowed my head.

            “Stand up,” he ordered. Then he quoted the last half of Revelation 19:10 as he gave me a gentle rebuke. “I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

            “Yes, sir,” I conceded. Then I tried again. “Who are you?”

            “The name the Savior gave me is Querida,” the old man told me with a gentle smile as he offered me his hand to shake.

            I paused, looking at the hand that caused two dozen men armed with clubs, knives, and even a couple guns, to flee. Still cautious, I raised my eyes from his hand to his eyes. They seemed to be laughing. As I took his hand in my right, I pointed with my left toward the area where the mob fled. “How did you do that?”

            “Would you have asked that if I had remained in my heavenly body?” Querida, pronounced Kayreeda, asked. I found out later that his name means ‘beloved.’

            “You know, I don’t think I would have,” I admitted.

            “Do you not believe that the Lord’s strength is made perfect in weakness?” he asked, quoting a portion of 2 Corinthians 12:9.

            “Until now I would have said yes,” I replied, feeling humbled. Then I cast my gaze that was upon him downward. “But my behavior a moment ago proved otherwise.”

            He patted my shoulder. “Well done.”

            “Well done? I just admitted failure. I just acknowledged that when you transformed from a brilliant angel into a feeble old man, my faith wavered big time.”

            “Just like courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear, going forward in faith doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of doubt. When I asked if you believed, you nodded and went forward. This despite wondering whether I was of God or of the ruler of this world. What convinced you to go forward?”

            (To reference ‘ruler of this world’ see the Gospel of John 12:31, 14:30, and 16:11)

            “Well, I tended to believe you were from God. But I suppose I figured if you weren’t, I trusted what Jesus admonished in Matthew 10:28. They would be able to kill my body, but my soul was safe with God.”

            “Splendid!” Querida beamed.

            “But why an old man?”

            “You mean as opposed to somebody like Brock Storm?” he asked, referring to my cousin who was built like a linebacker who became a pro wrestler.

            “You know of Brock?”

            He arched an eyebrow.

            “Oh right,” I replied to his unspoken insinuation that he was a supernatural being. “How long can you stay in a human body?”

            “It’s human like, but not quite like you. It’s more like a cloak I can only wear for a short time.”

            “Do you always use an old man for a, um, cloak.”

            “Actually, I became an old man this time because I’m tired of this world. Just plain wore out!”

            “You get tired?”

            “Not in the same way you do.”

            “Obviously the second coming of Christ is closer than ever now that the seven last plagues have fallen. So do you know exactly when Jesus will return now?”

            He shook his head. “Matthew 24:36 will be in effect until 1 Thessalonians 4:16 happens.”

            “I see, makes sense. I just thought, well, you know…”

            “I can tell you this much. Between the destruction of the plagues and the very nearness of Christ’s glorious appearing, I’m afraid you won’t be able to go home.”

            I was stunned. “You mean I won’t see my daughter and son again?”

            “Not on this earth, I’m sorry to say. But I’m happy to say you will meet them as you rise into the air to meet Jesus.”

            “And so shall we ever be with the Lord!”

            “Amen, brother!”

            An angel called me brother! “How often have you made yourself known to us humans?”

            He shook his head. “With the seven last plagues having fallen, things are different. There are many cells of believers, like you here, who have obeyed the law of God rather than the laws of men. They need reassurance and sometimes protection.”

            “Acts 5:29,” I added happily, quoting the scripture about obeying God. “So is this the first time you’ve appeared as a person to a person?”

            “Oh no,” he said shaking his head. “But always before, the person I’ve assisted either couldn’t see me, or they thought I was a fellow human.”

            “I feel privileged.”

            “Your friends look worried,” Querida said, pointing. Everyone on the deck was standing at the railing looking concerned. “Come on, let’s go back to our soon to be heavenly, eternal family and reassure them. The dark night of this earth’s history is almost complete.”

(Writer’s note: FYI, next week will be the last installment of ‘Black Sabbath.’ The next story I plan to write will be about angels. They are mentioned numerous times in the Bible, even the fallen angels. I’ve always been fascinated contemplating the angelic realm and want to explore in imagination what angels, even fallen ones, might think about our world, etc. I plan to do this mainly through the character you just met, Querida. As always, I thank you for your interest! And I pray God blesses you and yours!)

BLACK SABBATH

CHAPTER 19

INGA LIKAS (AKA INGA COGNITO)

THEN I, JOHN, SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD (Revelation 21:2)

            Sevenia Sallie and I were both pumped with positive adrenaline. Yet as we anticipated a supernatural encounter, possibly even meeting an angelic being, we had butterflies flittering in our midsections. The young woman I walked along beside voiced my own concern. “Inga, I feel unworthy for what we may encounter.”

            The positive adrenaline flipped to a negative panic attack. The flitter of happy butterflies turned to a flutter of angry bats. I stopped dead in my tracks. Sevenia Sallie, who as a teenager was known as the girl prophetess felt unworthy? How much more a woman who had thus far spent most of her adult life as a homeless vagabond feel? A woman who several months ago had been arrested for shoplifting.

            Sevenia took two more steps without me by her side. Then she turned and took a step back toward me. Her Emerald eyes were wide and expressive. “Inga, what’s wrong?”

            “If you feel unworthy, then I have no business proceeding to our destination. You better go without me.”

            “Inga, remember what Captain Kirk told us? If we follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, we will be blessed. If not, well?”

            “You know my background Sevenia. I was thief, a liar, a…”

            “Did you hear what you said?” she interrupted with a gentle smile. “You was. Hand me your Bible.”

            She put out an open palm. I pulled the small New Testament from the pocket of my blue flannel shirt. I meekly asked, “What for?”

            She opened it to first Corinthians chapter six and read some verses describing different manners of sin. Then her almond shaped green eyes looked into my round arctic blues as she read verse eleven. “Such WERE some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

            This is why fellowship is so important. The Bible instructs us to exhort one another daily. (Hebrews 3:13) Sevenia’s encouragement chased away the devil’s discouragement. Like the song, I turned my eyes upon Jesus and looked full in His wonderful face. I felt the comfort of the Comforter ooze into me. The precious gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus also called the Helper in John chapter fourteen.

            “Thanks for that,” I told Sevenia.

            “Just doing what you’ve been doing for countless others,” she said with a grin. I had thought the song ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,’ but now Sevenia began to sing it. I joined her and when our choir of two finished, we hugged. Then we proceeded to the two hundred year old oak tree behind the big, faded red barn.

            Brock Storm had tied a bench swing to a thick limb that jutted out horizontally from the large tree. The limb was about as large as a full grown tree itself. Sevenia and I watched the beautiful multicolored sunset as we sat side by side. As talented as many artists are, nothing can match the living art from God’s orderly Creation.

            This was a special sunset, set apart from the previous six that week. For this sunset signified the beginning of the Sabbath, representing the rest God Himself took after Creation. (Genesis 2:2, 3) Then He commanded us to do the same every week in Exodus 20:8-11 and  Deuteronomy 5:12-15.

            Sevenia led us in a prayer, thanking our Lord for the Sabbath as the big orange ball slipped beneath the horizon that Friday evening. For we believed the Biblical Sabbath was from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. (See Genesis 1:19, 23, 31)

            Many had called us legalists, especially those who were angriest as the seven last plagues fell. But were we who kept the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus legalists? (Revelation 14:12). I should say not! Were we saved because we kept the law? No, we kept the law BECAUSE we were saved. We didn’t keep the law TO be saved.  

            It’s called righteousness by faith. In other words, we are saved by grace through faith, it is a gift from God, and not by our works (Ephesians 2:8, 9). However, in Romans 6:1 the Apostle Paul asks if we continue to sin because we are saved by grace. In verse two he answers his own question. Certainly not!

            So why do we who are saved keep the commandments, the one part of the Bible God wrote Himself with His own finger? Jesus put it as simply as He possibly could in John 14:15. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” And when you spend time with Jesus, examine and contemplate His life through study and prayer, you tend to fall in love with Him.

            The interesting thing is the only one of the ten commandments that mainstream Christianity seemed to have a problem with is the fourth. Maybe that’s why God allowed it to be the test of love and loyalty. He says in Jeremiah 17:10 that He searches the heart and tests the mind.

            The other interesting thing to consider is why exactly did Satan seek to change this aspect of the law of God. Quite simply because it was the one commandment that recognizes God as Creator. Isaiah chapter fourteen tells of the fall of Lucifer, who would become Satan. He declared in verse fourteen that he wanted to be like the Most High.

            So the seal of God or the mark of the beast came down to the Sabbath of the Bible verses the sabbath made popular by the Roman Empire, Sunday. Mankind, through religious and political leaders, would attempt to change the Bible Sabbath, that element of time, which is also part of the law (Daniel 7:25).

            Because of this, Sunday would become what most of the world would embrace as the sabbath, centuries after the Bible predicted that it would think to do this in the book of Daniel. But just because mankind declared it changed, does that make it so? God says of Himself that He does not change. (Malachi 3:6)

            If you followed the world, or the majority, you received the mark of the beast. The mark in one’s hand or forehead that allowed you to buy and sell. Was this referring to a computer chip? It played a part, but it wasn’t what the scriptures were actually warning of. The mark represents what we think, forehead, and what we do, hand.

            Thankfully Jesus called us out of the world (John 15:19). He wanted to give us the seal of God by doing so. But He doesn’t force us to follow Him. Satan does, simply by using our selfish human natures. But Christ stands at the door of the heart and knocks, politely asking for entrance. (Revelation 3:20).

            So the majority of the religious world had blamed us Sabbatarians for the seven last plagues. This was primarily due to false prophets and teachers doing miracles (Matthew 24:24). They sanctioned Sunday observance in the process. The biggest swing was when Satan himself appeared as an angel of light and deceived the vast multitudes (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). We needed to become like the noble Bereans who searched the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11).

            When Sevenia ended her prayer, we both said amen. She had a look of delightful expectancy on her face after we lifted our bowed heads. I wonder if I had the same, because when she turned her gaze upon me, the wattage of her lit up countenance only increased.

            In only a few minutes of prayer, the beauty of the setting sun had shifted colors and patterns. The sparse clouds went from an orangey lavender to a radiant hot pink. Sevenia emitted a happy sigh. “That beautiful sky sure is a welcome site.”

            “It sure is,” I replied with a strange mixture of calm excitement, wondering what we were welcoming.

            As twilight began to fade into darkness, it happened. It was as if the sun reversed itself. But it wasn’t the sun that lightened our eyesight. It was an angel, a messenger from God that took Sevenia and I off into vision. It was like the ultimate good dream. Yet we were fully awake. I think.

            Our heads tilted up, and our arms extended palms up. Our necks were powerless to move our heads down and our arms powerless to retract to our sides. But we cared not. We were completely enthralled by the vision before our minds.

            It was as if it was happening in the sky. I even wondered if our friends back at the house were seeing the same thing we were. Our guide was a bright light, the voice like a rippling stream, beautiful and melodic as it spoke. “This is a little preview of the city of God, the New Jerusalem. This is to strengthen your resolve.”

            This spectacular city, spoken of by John in the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, had been moving toward us. It had stopped as soon as our guide said, ‘little preview.’ Then our guide became a little like a realtor showing us a house. But this was the heavenly city that was described in Revelation. It was three hundred and seventy five miles on each side. Plus instead of studying every room of a house, we got quick glimpses of different aspects of the city structure, both from near and afar. Zooming in and out.

            The walls were over two hundred feet high and eighteen inches thick. They were made of solid jasper. There were twelve gates made of pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The aforementioned foundation had twelve layers of precious stones: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. It was beautiful! How often is that said about a foundation?

            The music, oh the music bringing praise to our Savior! It was like nothing ever heard on earth! We could feel the love all around us, although the images of inhabitants were vague, maybe even veiled. Then as quickly as we were whisked away in vision, we were back on the swing on the oak behind the old barn. The last remnant of twilight was giving way to the stars. It seemed time had stood still while we made this little trip. If that’s what you call it.

            Our guide had been as it were a beam of light. But now in the coming night, he took on a shadowy human form.  We could make out no features, but his voice, before heavenly, unearthly, was now that of an older man. Not unlike our beloved Pastor, Captain Kirk.

            “I suppose you are wondering why you two were giving a glimpse of what is to soon come,” he said.

            Sevenia and I, both speechless at first with awe, simply nodded. Then she said, “You said something about strengthening our resolve.”

            “Yes, okay, I will fill you in. It is really quite simple,” he told us. “You both have proven faithful and highly favored. You both have proven to be a blessing to others, especially those who have come to the truth of late, during the loud cry.

            “But many are experiencing wavering courage since the falling of the first plague. Many do not understand how they avoided the first plague. They have very limited understanding in spiritual things. But when push came to shove with mandatory worship, they simply obeyed God rather than men. When you return to the house, you will discover the second plague had fallen. The seas have become as the blood of a dead man.”

            “Oh my,” Sevenia and I said at the same time.

            “Inga, you will need to leave the safety of this refuge for a while. Are you willing?”

            “Yes.”

            The angel laughed. “I figured as much. Your mission is relatively close, Sevenia. You will be needed here to keep believers encouraged, so you will remain close by.”

            I never felt so alive in my life. I would try to run through a wall if asked. Then his next words would humble me. But strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9).

            “You will be needed to pay a visit to one of Bryson Bronx’s nephews.”

            This was where I was humbled. At the name Bryson Bronx, the cult leader with whom I partially grew up under, I felt a wave of anxiety. I didn’t like any of Bronx’s family members, especially any of his four arrogant, entitled nephews. Was it even possible even one of them avoided the first plague? But who was I to judge? Only God knows the heart. With great apprehension I asked, “Which one?”

            I silently prayed that it wouldn’t be Jackson. It certainly couldn’t have been him. He was as dark and brooding as the other three combined, and they were all bad enough individually. But it wasn’t the Lord’s will.

            Almost apologetically he said, “Jackson Bronx.”

BLACK SABBATH

CHAPTER 14

SEVEN SALLIE

NOW WHEN THEY BRING YOU TO THE SYNAGOGUES AND MAGISTRATES AND AUTHORITIES, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT HOW OR WHAT YOU SHOULD ANSWER, OR WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY. FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH YOU IN THAT VERY HOUR WHAT YOU OUGHT TO SAY. (Luke 12:11, 12)

            “You just don’t get it!” the Congressman barked. His silver hair was perfectly coifed, and his capped white teeth seemed like a tight fit in his mouth. “It’s been proven that the Sunday laws have brought peace out of chaos. Mandatory worship has brought reverence back to God from a disrespectful and sinful society.”

            “Reverence to the god of this world, and of this age,” I replied.

            “What’s that supposed to mean?”

            “The Bible says, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17). When you tell someone they HAVE to worship a deity, where is the liberty in that?”

            “Do you have children, Mr. Sallie?”

            “You know that I do. It was my daughter that arranged this hearing.”

            “When you instruct a child to say their prayers before bed time or at a meal, is that removing their liberty?”

            “Are you saying the citizens of this state and this country are like children that need their elected representatives to parent them and order them to say their prayers?”

            “Part of my campaign when I ran for office was supporting the agenda to bring our country back to morality. So you see, Mr. Sallie, you are not just rebelling against the authorities, you are rebelling against we the people.”

            “Well, if the majority of we the people want to take away my freedom to worship God according to my convictions, then I guess that would be rebelling. I obey the government of the God of the Bible first and foremost.”

            “Ah, and that’s where you missed the boat.  Don’t you see? We have joined our government of this fine country with the government of God.”

            “Poppycock.”

            “Poppycock?” he laughed mockingly. “Who uses poppycock in this day and age?”

            “It seems I just did.”

            “I suppose an archaic term goes with archaic reasoning.”

            “My reasoning comes from the Bible.”

            “With all due reverence to the Holy Scriptures, that’s part of your problem. Even the newest portions of the Bible were written two thousand years ago. That’s why Jesus gave authority to the church. Societies change and evolve, and then they need to adapt to those changes through the democracy of the ecclesiastic.”

            “Help me understand, Congressman. Are you saying the church has authority over the Bible?”

            “It does indeed.”

            “Not in my religious convictions, Sir. The Bible warns of an apostate religion. It predicted the dark ages, and it warns of persecution once again at the end of time. So the Bible has absolute supreme authority over the church. ”

            “And you have a right to those beliefs, Mr. Sallie. But you also have an obligation to obey the law of the land. The view that these Sunday laws will bring about persecution is ludicrous. The majority of we the people have concluded that Sunday reverence and worship is for the betterment of society.”

            “The majority killed Jesus. The majority refused to get on Noah’s ark. The majority bowed down to Nebuchadnezzar s golden image, save for Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego. Now you’re trying to force Bible Sabbath keepers to bow down to your idol of Sunday.”

            “How dare you call the holy day of God an idol! I think our patience with the obstinacy of you anti-Sunday rebels has run its course. I think it’s due to your irreverence that we haven’t eradicated natural calamities, famine and strife. Maybe it might be best if you all were eradicated.”

            “Seriously? You just said Sunday laws wouldn’t lead to persecution.”

            “I miss spoke, I do apologize,” he back tracked. “Scratch that from the record.”

            “So by eradicated, you mean that it is expedient that Sabbath keepers be eliminated for the good of the country? Kind of like what Caiphas said regarding Jesus in John 11:50?”

            The Congressman looked around puzzled. I suppose he didn’t know what I was referring to. But he quickly regained his composure and made an attempted at a joke. It did obtain a few snickers when he declared, “Maybe they should bring back the frontal lobotomy for you fanatics.”

            The joke was tasteless, so I wondered if he was trying to lure me into something I said when I was a well-known, polarizing talk show host, during my pre-Christian days. I’m not proud of the many things I said and did back then. Especially of my reputation as a carouser, which led to my comment.

            So I will fill you in, because he was in fact trying to entice me with a well-known quote of mine from my syndicated show from the past. I had a guest on my show that was discussing realms of psychiatry. After he shared the history of the frontal lobotomy, and how it turned so many into zombies, I had said, ‘I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.’

            The Congressman smirked at me in anticipation, but I didn’t take the bait. I calmly asked, “Congressman, do you understand the rebellion in heaven? Do you understand the reason we exist in a sin filled world?”

            “Since you seem to have all the answers, why don’t you enlighten me?”

            “With all due respect, Congressman, you are very public with your profession of Christianity. Would you mind explaining your view on the fall of mankind?”

            “Your agenda is the one under scrutiny here, Mr. Sallie. I have simply been selected by my colleagues to lead this inquiry, which was, as you know, requested by your daughter. My personal views are irrelevant. I am here to uphold what has become the law of the land, and to stop people like you from thinking they can make their personal views the law of the land.”

            “That’s absurd!” I replied. “I am in no way, at all, expecting or even wanting my personal views to be the law of the land. I am simply arguing for the right to exercise freedom of religion, established by our founding fathers. And part of that freedom is not being required to observe a day contrary to the Ten Commandment Law of God.”

            “Objection!” the Congressman barked.

            There was a judge presiding over our conversation, but up until now he had been a silent observer. “Congressman, this is an informal hearing, not a trial, so there are no objections. On the other hand, Mr. Sallie, be careful not to defame other persons’ convictions of faith.”

            “Have I done such, your Honor?” I asked.

            “No Sir, but you are getting close.”

            “May I ask how?”

            “By insinuating that the sabbath of the majority is not part of the Decalogue.”

            “With all due respect, your Honor, it is not.”

            “That may be your truth, Mr. Sallie. But you need to respect the truth of your fellow citizens.”

            “In reality, is there such a thing as your truth and my truth? Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the Holy Bible is the book that testifies of Him. So anybody’s personal, so called, truth is irrelevant. The Bible is the only source of genuine truth. Creation is truth, while evolution is a theory.”

            “Can you explain Creation, Mr. Sallie?” The Congressman asked.

            “Only from the perspective of the Bible. God created in six days and rested the seventh, establishing the Sabbath.”

            “Very well, Mr. Sallie. But many of us believe in a combination of Creation and evolution. There’s no way you can prove it was six literal days. The six day account is likely a hypothetical situation.”

            “Is that why the accuracy of the real Sabbath is unimportant to your side? Because you view Creation as hypothetical?”

            “I do not view Creation as hypothetical, only the duration. But you are getting side tracked. We may just need to agree to disagree. I say the church has authority to declare what is the sabbath, and you say it doesn’t. But regardless, of what you or I want, the Sunday sabbath has become the law of the land.”

            “Yes, it has become the law of the land,” I agreed. “And the Bible predicted this would happen. In the Old Testament book of Daniel no less (verse 7:25), it says that man would arrogantly intend to change times and law, as well as persecute God’s people. The Sabbath as well as Creation represent time, and obviously the Sabbath also represents law.”

            “Once again, Mr. Sallie, you interpret the Bible one way, John Doe another, Joe Smith yet another. That’s why the church, now finally combined with the state, has supreme authority over the Bible and all of its interpreters. This is now the entity that has moral authority, and you might as well get used to it. Signing in with a worship service, of your choice mind you, once a week every Sunday is not a tall order. There are some services that are not even a half hour long. That’s easier than paying taxes.”

            “My church doesn’t have a Sunday service.”

            “Well maybe it should.”

            “Why don’t you make a law requiring that?”

            “It’s not a bad idea, Mr. Sallie. You know, you ought to be grateful. In some places people like you are imprisoned and even put to death.”

            “I am grateful. Because I have no fear of what man can do to me (Matthew 10:28). I have eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

            He emitted a sarcastic snort. “Maybe you and you fanatical supporters should start having some fear.”

            I had noticed his face getting a hot pink. I assumed it was because he was agitated with me. Then he suddenly appeared to have a bad case of acne. He started grunting and scratching his face. Other observers in the court were doing the same, including the judge. A foul smell filled the court room as the rashes became loathsome sores (Revelation 16:2).

            I glanced at my companions, Brock Storm and Louis Lewis. They looked as baffled as I felt. We were the only three in the courtroom without sores. Cries and shrieks echoed from the tall dome like ceiling. Then we started to hear a few of them blame us Sabbath keepers for the plague.

            My eyes locked with Brock’s, and he gave a wave of his head, communicating ‘let’s get out of here.’ I made my way to my compadres, and the three of us headed for an exit. Everyone was so discombobulated by the pain of their sores and so freaked out at seeing them on everyone else, we slipped out unnoticed.

            Former Lieutenant Louis Lewis drove a former squad car. It was a dark blue Ford Crown Vic. Lou gunned the engine as we left the city post haste. Brock rode shotgun and I leaned in between the seats from the back. Then with a racing heart, I said, “That was the first of the seven last plagues. Do you know what this means, fellas?”

            Lou glanced at me with uncertainty. He was still new to the study of eschatology. Brock glanced at me with certainty. “We are getting closer than ever to the second coming of Christ.”

            “That’s right,” I replied. “Now we need to get back to the group and pray earnestly for direction with our next move.”