‘Many graves and tombs were opened, Papa – over twelve thousand; it is the talk of all Jerusalem. Simeon, the high priest ... his sons, blood brothers Karinus and Leucius ... their graves were opened. Annas and Caiaphas joined with Gamaliel and Nicodemus and found them in the city of Arimathea – alive! Alive, Papa! Resurrected. They swore by the God of Israel that they had arisen from the dead. They wrote of what they had seen – that they were in deep, shadowy darkness and suddenly Hades was alight with royal purple light shining on them. John the Baptist was there, and the prophet Isaiah! The Hebrew resurrected them, Papa!’
Aretas stood to his feet, hunched and in that moment very, very old.
‘I cannot take it.’ He stared at her in fury. ‘These lies sicken me. Leave me alone!’
Jotapa ran, clutching his robes, but he pulled himself away from her.
‘Leave me, Jotapa!’ he cried. ‘Get out!’ He pushed her away from him. She tripped over the hem of her garments and fell to the floor. Aretas stormed into his bedchamber, leaving his daughter sobbing on the marble floor.
The doors ricocheted shut behind him.
Chapter Forty-four
Echoes of Eternity
The seven pale lilac western moons glimmered softly on the horizon of the First Heaven. Indigo lightning struck the seventh spire, far above the rock face of the Holy Mountain. Seven hidden chambers in the mountain ascended into the inner sanctum of the labyrinths.
The secret entrance to the throne room, accessible only by the ancient ones from from the seventh spire, was barely visible, wreathed in the glistening mists that rose and fell in the dawn zephyrs.
Michael stood a thousand feet below, in the gardens that lay behind the rubied entrance to the throne room, outside the western labyrinths of the seven spires. Seven scorching columns of eternal white fire blazed fiercely and unrelentingly at the seventh entrance to Yehovah’s palace, underneath the immense flaming rainbow.
‘Jether was summoned to the seventh chamber before the western moons arced in the heavens,’ Michael said.
Gabriel tethered his white steed to one of the great gnarled willows that flourished on the lawns of the western labyrinths. ‘Yehovah delivers His pronouncement concerning the fate of Lucifer,’ he said.
Michael clutched his gauntlets in his hand. ‘His Judgement hastens.’
‘The First Judgement,’ replied Gabriel. ‘The judgements of the damned...’
‘And the one who instigated their damnation at the start,’ Jether said softly.
The princes turned.
Jether stood at the base of the labyrinths, holding a flaming eternal torch, his head and crown covered by his white mantle.
‘It is time, Michael, chief prince of the royal house of Yehovah – He commissions you to leave for Perdition immediately. You will return with Lucifer before the grand councils of Yehovah, for the First Judgement. At the Great White Throne, in Eden, on the plains of the Great White Poplars.’ He placed his hand on Michael’s shoulder.
‘Bring Lucifer to his old chambers in the West Wing. Ephaniah will be waiting with his ceremonial regalia.’
Jether pushed the mantle back from his head wearily.
‘He damned the Race of Men in earth’s Eden. Heaven’s Eden will be where he is judged.’
* * *
Lucifer stood, his hands and feet shackled, outside the huge golden doors of the Western Wing of the Palace of Archangels. Michael pushed open the doors, then pushed Lucifer through into the centre of the enormous chambers. Michael nodded to Sandaldor, one of his High Command, who immediately unshackled Lucifer’s hands and ankles, then bowed and took his place with twelve of Michael’s command outside the doors. Lucifer stood in the centre of the enormous chamber, dressed only in a stark grey tunic, studying his old chambers. Everything was untouched, exactly as it had been the night before he was banished. The magnificent frescoes, his collection of pipes and tabrets – his viol and bow still lay on his writing table. His Sword of State was placed back in its magnificent jewelled sheath. The enormous rubied palace windows were flung open, and the sounds of the angelic orations from the Mount of Assembly echoed throughout the chamber.
He stared up at the soaring vaulted ceilings with their spectacular panoramas that covered the ornate carved ceilings of the chambers, then walked to the tall casement doors that led onto the shimmering white beaches in front of the Palace of Archangels. A company of white-winged stallions thundered past across the beach and soared into the firmament past the twelve pale blue moons that were now rising from the Eastern horizon. Michael watched, silent, as Lucifer stared after them in exhilaration. Lucifer turned, catching Michael’s gaze. He walked over to the writing table, then stood beneath the hundred blazing frankincense tapers and inhaled deeply.
He stared at his ceremonial regalia laid out before him. The ceremonial silver half greaves, intricately carved with the emblems of Perdition. His ceremonial jacket of embroidered white silks, his gauntlets of soft white leather. The silver and gold medals. The great diamond crown.
‘It is all as it was...’ Lucifer murmured, a strange smile flickering on his lips.
He picked up his viol, thrumming the viol’s strings as he walked back out onto the balcony. He drew the bow across the viol’s bridge with nimble fingers, his eyes closed in rapture.
A dazzling, pulsating light fell across Lucifer, blinding him and completely covering the pearl balcony. He let out an agonized scream, the viol smashing to the marble floor. He stumbled into the chamber, then fell to his knees, desperately making futile attempts to shield his eyes from the blazing light.
Michael slammed the casement doors closed and drew the immense velvet drapes over the latticed windows until the chambers were engulfed in semi-darkness. He stared down at Lucifer, who lay trembling in horror on the floor.
‘Nothing is as it was, Lucifer.’
Michael rang a golden bell that hung from the velvet curtains.
An old, wizened angelic courtier entered through the door and bowed. ‘Ephaniah,’ Michael said. ‘Dress my brother as you used to in aeons past in his ceremonial regalia of the House of Yehovah. Then deliver him to Sandaldor. He is to be judged. To stand before our King.’
Michael strode through the huge golden doors which slammed behind him.
Chapter Forty-five
The First Judgement
The magnificent translucent Pearl Gates of Eden in the First Heaven slowly opened, revealing the vast, lush white plains that were filled with thousands upon thousands of great white poplars. Each exuded a soft, milky radiance. Their trunks and branches were a transparent white, the diamond markings on the trunks spawned real diamonds. Their healing leaves were a pale green, white on the underside, and their branches hung heavy with glistening white blossoms with diamond stamens that were filled with spikenard. The exquisite fragrance filled the plains. A fitting memorial to the One who had been anointed in lavish devotion by one of the Race of Men.
The Great White Plains radiated with the soft white light that hung in the blazing white mists rising from the immense lush lawns of white lilies and foxgloves that grew below the poplars.
In the very centre of the plains stood a thousand colossal ivory columns, holding up a great canopy of the finest spun gossamer. Beneath this diaphanous roof, millions of the angelic host were seated on carved silver thrones divided by a great nave of glistening sapphire panes, leading to the great White Sacrosanct altar. On the altar stood the Carnelian Chalice.
In the centre of the nave the waters of life, bright as crystal, cascaded from the throne room, watering Eden and the Great White Plains. Hundreds of stately white swans drifted down the flowing stream towards the Crystal Sea.
A hundred angelic heralds blew their shofars.
‘We herald the holy council of the ancient ones, stewards of Yehovah’s sacred mysteries,’ they proclaimed.
The blinding white mists cleared, revealing Jether and the twenty-three ancient kings of heaven. They walked sole
mnly, majestically, through the soaring Pearl Gates towards the twenty-four golden thrones that stood behind the great carved white altar. Jether seated himself on the centre throne, the twenty-three remaining ancient kings following his lead.
Again the herald blew the shofar.
‘Gabriel the Revelator, prince of archangels,’ he proclaimed, ‘long may you reign with wisdom and justice.’
The angelic host’s refrain reverberated through the chamber as Gabriel followed the kings through the gates, carrying the sword of justice
‘Michael the Valiant, chief prince of archangels, long may you reign with justice and valour,’ the angelic host proclaimed.
‘Lucifer the Light-Bearer, fallen prince of archangels, son of destruction.’
The entire assembly fell silent. As one they turned towards the pearl gates.
Lucifer stood next to Michael in his full white ceremonial dress of the First Heaven. His long raven hair was plaited with white pearls and diamonds. His ceremonial jacket glistened with embroidered white silks, and his gauntlets were of soft white leather. He wore his silver and gold medals on his chest. He held the royal golden sceptre of Perdition. On his head rested a great diamond crown. His wrists were manacled with heavy silver shackles, as were his ankles. Michael held his arm in a vice-like grip.
Lucifer turned his head to him.
‘This is scandalous, brother.’ He looked at Michael with thinly veiled loathing. ‘You treat me as an insurgent.’
‘The insurgent we know you to be.’ Michael pushed Lucifer forward roughly. Lucifer turned his head mockingly to the angelic host. Every head stayed bowed; every mouth kept silent. There was no sound on the vast plain. Doggedly, step by step, Lucifer walked up the great nave of gleaming sapphire panes that led to the Great White Throne. Michael’s knights in arms fell into step behind them, solemnly bearing the banners of the royal house of Yehovah. Michael and Lucifer stopped next to Gabriel, a distance away from the ancient elders and the place of the throne. Michael and Gabriel bowed low and knelt in the burning mist that poured over the white plains. Lucifer’s attention was strangely drawn to a tall noble figure exuding a glorious light, standing to his right. Slowly the figure turned his head to Lucifer, holding his gaze fiercely for a long moment. ‘Zadkiel...’ Lucifer gasped. He turned to Michael, bewildered, then bowed his head, his hands trembling with fear and rage.
‘Behold, O God our defender, and look upon the face of thy chief princes, for one day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.’
Jether watched Lucifer intently. Lucifer stood imperious, refusing to kneel. He stayed silent for a long moment, his face down, then closed his eyes. Ashen.
‘His memories return to the days before he fell, to his days of glory,’ Jether murmured to Lamaliel in wonder.
‘When he was Light-Bearer – all-glorious,’ Maheel murmured.
A great thundering and lightning sounded, and the blazing white light of the plains transformed to dazzling sapphire, then to amethyst. ‘Yehovah descends,’ the herald announced.
Lucifer stared ahead, expressionless, though Jether noted that his hands trembled visibly, uncontrollably as the Great White Throne descended.
Before Yehovah’s feet, the seven blazing torches burned as seven flaming columns of white fire, and in the midst of each torch were the flaming coals of the Spirit of Yehovah. A rainbow descended also, which stretched across the white plains, surrounding Yehovah’s presence.
Ear-splitting peals of thunder shook the plains of Eden.
Then all was still.
Lucifer stared ahead to the Great White Throne, pale. He bowed his head from the radiance.
There, seated on the Great White Throne of incandescent light, was the One from whose presence, and from the sight of whose face, earth and sky fled away – the great King of the universe, Yehovah.
But now, a second throne, to Yehovah’s right, became faintly distinguishable through the glowing mists. Then, through the Pearl Gates, twelve holy Watchers in ceremonial dress walked in procession up the nave, holding the golden casket carved with golden cherubim on their shoulders. The Ark of the Race of Men. They placed it down directly on the altar before the throne.
Gabriel nodded. Raphael walked forward with a large golden key resting on a velvet cushion. Gabriel picked it up and reverently opened the casket. The twelve golden codices filled the ark, their covers embedded with jacinth, diamonds, sapphires, chrysolite, and multitudes of other precious stones. ‘The earth and its solar system, the Second Heaven above the earth, is this day returned to Yehovah, throughout eternity of eternities,’ he declared.
Jether stood. ‘According to Eternal Law, the Ark of the Race of Men is no longer property of Lucifer, Son of the Morning. It is once again restored to Yehovah’s keeping. The great and terrible sacrifice at Golgotha has delivered the Race of Men from the rule of the son of destruction...’ He paused. ‘...if they accept the great sacrifice.’
He bowed his head in supplication, then turned to a man, great of stature, his body glowing with a radiance unnatural to the Race of Men.
‘Yehovah calls Adam, the firstborn creation of Yehovah.’ The tall man, perfect in his symmetry, walked out from the angelic host and flung himself prostrate before the thrones.
Then a glorious imperial figure walked majestically through the white fires, from the throne at Yehovah’s right hand. The mists started to fade as the breathtaking form became visible. It was Jesus.
‘I accept the great sacrifice of Golgotha,’ Adam uttered in awe.
‘Rise, Adam, first-created son of man,’ Jesus declared.
Adam rose from the floor. Gabriel removed the lid from the Carnelian Chalice, and Jesus dipped His forefinger in the sacred blood.
‘The Race of Men, lost by the tree of transgression,’ Jesus said softly, anointing Adam with the sign of the cross in blood, ‘is regained through the tree of the cross of sacrifice.’
Jesus smiled, clasping Adam tenderly to His breast. Tears flowed down Adam’s cheeks.
‘He is reinstated,’ murmured Xacheriel, ‘through the blood.’
Jesus raised His hands to Yehovah. ‘The First Judgement commences,’ He proclaimed.
Zadkiel rose, followed by twenty-four White Holy Watchers, who carried six monstrous silver and garnet caskets engraved with the seal of Perdition. They placed them before the altar, then raised the lids, revealing six hundred and sixty-six enormous codices sealed with the seal of the House of Perdition.
Lucifer’s expression darkened.
‘The Books of Iniquities of the Race of Men seized from the archives of Perdition,’ Zadkiel declared. Jesus nodded and immediately a hundred youngling scribes swiftly lifted the codices from the caskets until all six hundred and sixty-six codices lay upon the mammoth white altar.
Jether walked over to Jesus.
‘Every generation of the Race of Man is registered, Your Majesty. Lucifer and his archivists have meticulously recorded every darkened act, every act of iniquity of the Race of Men against Yehovah.
‘Open the Books of Iniquities,’ Jesus commanded. The youngling scribes swiftly opened the books.
‘I, the slain lamb execute the First Judgement.’
Lucifer stood silent as Jesus picked up the Carnelian Chalice and held it over the open books, watching him.
‘Former prince of the world of men, you are already condemned, and sentence is already passed upon you.’
Lucifer’s hands shook visibly, the appalling comprehension of Jesus’ actions dawning.
‘Every drop of blood shed at Golgotha – I shed for the Race of Men – for their reconciliation with Yehovah – for their deliverance from hell and the Lake of Fire.’
Jesus held the chalice high–
‘Noooooo!’ Lucifer screamed, his eyes wild with horror. ‘Every man’s soul is mine – to burn with me in the Lake of Fire!’ Michael grasped his arms in an iron grip, his fingers digging fiercely into his flesh. Lucifer stared, riveted at the Carnel
ian Chalice. Droplets of sweat ran from his temple onto his cheeks.
Jesus poured the blood from the Chalice over the Books of Iniquities. As each drop of blood fell down, the pages blazed ferociously with intense black flames that contorted to a blazing white inferno.
Jether dropped to his knees. ‘The First Judgement.’
‘The Lamb that was slain,’ Gabriel mouthed in wonder.
Michael grasped Lucifer’s hair, then brought his mouth up to Lucifer’s ear.
‘Slain by your own hand.’ His whisper reverberated in Lucifer’s head. Lucifer stared down in dread at the darkening crimson stain on his right palm. He clutched his hand in agony from the searing pain.
The angelic host all across the plains fell prostrate.
Gabriel fell to his knees. ‘Jesus of Nazareth has died as the Lamb – He arises the great conqueror!’
‘All power, honour, dominion above the earth, under the earth is Yours,’
‘All hail – King of kings – Lord of lords – Your reign is forever!’ the multitude of angelic hosts thundered.
‘Yehovah would issue His decree.’
A great thundering issued from the throne, through the mist – the roar of a thousand waters. Then the mists rose and the gracious, noble voice resounded through the plains.
‘We receive the blood sacrifice of Golgotha for the Race of Men. All who reject My Son remain under the kingship of Satan and his damned – never to enter these gates. All those of the Race of Men who receive the great and terrible blood sacrifice of My Son shed at Golgotha, I now set free from the tyranny of Satan. I declare Myself their Father and their God. I shall set My royal seal upon their heads.’
The mists rose and, through the golden hues, the dim outline of a form of immense stature could be seen through the golden undulating mists. Torrential waves of compassion and unending mercies flowed from His being like a vigorous living deluge over the plains. And then, for a moment, a moment so fleeting, Yehovah’s face became visible. The whole of heaven fell prostrate, as though dead, in the very majesty and awe of Him. Lucifer stayed standing for a moment, then collapsed like stone onto the sapphire floor.