Authors: D. Brian Shafer
162 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"No matter," said Lucifer. "I must say though, it is one of the
chief flaws of our Lord that He takes an interminable period of time
in making up His mind. I promise you, Kara, I shall not rule like
our Lord!"
"I hope that this was a good idea," Kara said, nervously look-
ing around. "I don't trust Crispin. And where is Michael...and
Gabriel? Surely they are attending such an important event."
"You worry far too much, Kara," purred Lucifer. "Michael
will be here, I am sure...and wherever Michael is Gabriel won't be
far behind. They'll be here, encouraging their dear Crispin. This is
the chance for which so many have been waiting, Kara."
"Yes, I know," answered Kara. "I am ready to be done with it
all. In my opinion this is not a good idea. Suppose Crispin is victo-
rious? What happens should Pellecus falter in some way? We will
be made to look ridiculous!"
"Then in humble attitude I will concede defeat," responded
Lucifer, "while knowing that my destiny cannot be altered." Kara
looked at him puzzled. "You see Kara, when one is confident of his
destiny, one must not allow events to dissuade him from that even-
tuality. Whatever happens today will have no bearing on our
designs. If Pellecus does well, then we will have convinced more
angels to our side. If he does not do well, then we become a mere
distraction in the eyes of those who are suspicious--a philosophi-
cal nuisance which will soon go away.
"So long as our plans proceed I have no care whether the
angels take me seriously or not. It is in fact to our advantage to
remain a hazy distraction rather than an obvious contender for the
loyalty of others. Remember this, Kara--true power dictates events
whether or not those being influenced are aware they are being
manipulated. Win or lose this day, we continue on course. And our
numbers continue to grow."
Kara began to say something but Lucifer held up his hand to
stop him. "It is starting," he whispered.
----------------
"You are certain Lucifer is at the Academy?" asked a very
shaken Serus.
"If there is a rebel spirit in Heaven it flows from the Throne, not toward it." 163
"Quite sure, Serus," answered Michael, who, knowing
Lucifer's ability to show up unexpectedly, was himself looking
about him. "Very well," said Serus. "But not here."
Serus led Michael away from Lucifer's house through the lush
garden in the rear. They walked down a path past the many vari-
eties of flowers and shrubs. Michael followed Serus a few paces to
the rear. Serus stopped now and then to surmise the area, and then
move on a bit further. Finally he found a place he deemed suitable
and secure and motioned Michael to sit next to him in the soft
grass. Michael obliged and waited an awkward moment or two for
Serus to speak.
"I know what you and the others think of me," Serus began.
"Please don't protest, Michael. I know. And it is for good reason
that you think the way you do. I am not, after all, the most popular
angel in the Host!" He laughed a slight laugh.
"Serus," Michael said. "Please don't..."
"Of course being in the service of the greatest angel in Heav-
en," he continued, then catching himself added, "apart from your-
self of course, Michael..." Michael grinned. "...has its advantages.
Advantages that help make up for the lack of fellowship with the
other angels." He paused and added, "or so I thought."
Serus picked a flower and began plucking its petals off one by
one. "You see Michael, I have always been somewhere to the rear of
the ministries of the Host. It is quite true that I could have been a
wisdom angel of great import--perhaps a teacher in the company
of Crispin and Pellecus." He looked at the flower, now bare of all
but a single petal. "But instead I wasted my time of preparation in
petty grievances. I chose to be hurt and was passed over until I
eventually was attached to the ministry of worship and soon found
myself in Lucifer's service."
He motioned in the direction of the gigantic dwelling. "The
finest angelic dwelling in Heaven and the most important angel of
the Host. Who could not be satisfied to serve under such circum-
stances, hmm? It was a tempting offer, Michael. And one that made
me feel that if I could not prove my merit on my own, then at least
I should serve one whose merit I could benefit from. This was my
164 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
thinking, Michael, when I entered the services of Lucifer. I found,
however, that things are not often as satisfying as one might
believe--even to the point of emptiness." He plucked the last petal
off of the flower that he held and threw the bare stem away.
"Serus, you know that our Lord never abandoned you,"
Michael said tenderly. "Your place in the Host remains should you
ever return to it. But you must return with complete confidence in
our Lord's love and determination to obey Him. He is our Com-
mander and we are His servants."
A look of stark fear came over Serus. "No. No, you must not
say that," he said, looking around as if he was expecting someone
to break into their private conversation at any moment. "I will
never be able to leave Lucifer. Do you realize what he would do to
me? Why, if he knew you and I were talking at this very minute..."
He looked at Michael with renewed defiance. "I am bound to
Lucifer as surely as you are bound to the service of the Most High."
He looked to Michael for some sort of comfort...sense...reason...
"Serus. We serve different masters, you and I. I am bound to
my Lord out of love. You are bound to yours out of fear. Yet I assure
you that our Lord's love vastly outweighs whatever fear Lucifer
might hold you with. Lucifer cannot really harm you except in your
heart and mind. He holds no power over you except that which you
allow him influence. Some of these angels who have taken to him
have surrendered themselves to him...but it was their decision. Just
as it is Lucifer's decision to..." He stopped himself and looked at
Serus. "Why did you want to speak to me, Serus? It was not to reaf-
firm your service to Lucifer. Was it?"
"No," whispered Serus, who looked around the garden nerv-
ously. "It was to question it."
165
Chapter 12
"This nonsense has gone
far enough, Lucifer!"
Gabriel could not make out the features of the four figures
who stood before him. He only knew that they were extremely
sacred to the Lord, giving off a purplish aura as he had never
before seen on a creature in Heaven. He began to feel a little fool-
ish as he stood there, wondering how to proceed. Suddenly the
purple aura brightened and the faces of the four could be clearly
seen. Gabriel recognized three of the faces as coming from creatures
that God had recently created on the earth:
"Gabriel," said the beast with a face similar to other angels,
"your task is not to question the ability of the Most High God to
reign, but to serve Him in humility."
"Gabriel," sounded another beast, this one with the face of an
eagle, "the Lord is well aware of the events unfolding in the King-
dom. It is not your place to prevent, but to believe."
"And," continued the man-faced creature, "allow the Most
High in His wisdom to deal with all the affairs of this Kingdom
forthrightly."
"For behold," added the creature with the face of a calf, "the
time will come when all things will be made right; when all things
166 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
will be exposed; there will be nothing hidden which shall not be
made known. There is nothing unknown to the Most High."
Then in chorus the four creatures said, "So be it! Holy, Holy,
Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come!"
Gabriel was overwhelmed by the presence of these beings
whose ministry to the Lord brought them to His very presence. Still
he needed to satisfy the questions that prompted the visit to the
Zoa in the first place. Before he could ask, the calf-faced Zoa spoke:
"You may ask what you will, Gabriel," he said. "And without
fear. For behold, the Lord Almighty is aware of who loves Him and
who is obedient to His name."
"You have found favor in the sight of God," added the lion-
face. "And He commends you for your passion and perseverance."
The silence that followed was awkward to Gabriel. He took it
as his cue that now was the time to approach the Zoa with his ques-
tions. He began with a recount of all the recent events, from his ini-
tial conversation with Michael to the recommendation by the
Elders of Lucifer to the Most High. As he concluded he added, "I
know, lords, as you have spoken, that nothing escapes the Most
High. I know that none of the events that have unfolded and as I
have relayed to you are unknown to you. That He will indeed pre-
vail, we know. What we don't understand and must know...forgive
me...what we desire to understand is, where is the Lord through-
out all of this? At what point does He prevail before too much dam-
age is done?"
"You seek answers, Gabriel, and that is good," spoke the man-
faced creature. "And you attribute to us knowledge which is
beyond us. Indeed we sit at the very throne of the Most High God.
But we, like you, are merely creatures whose task is to worship the
Lord God and to serve Him."
"We do not understand the mysteries of God," said the eagle-
faced Zoa. "No creature can ever attain the knowledge of its Creator."
"This then is the error of Lucifer," said the calf-faced Zoa. "He
has indeed transgressed the boundaries of his creaturehood and is
assuming truths that are his alone, while attributing them to a more
enlightened interpretation of the sacred teachings."
"This nonsense has gone far enough, Lucifer!" 167
"Knowledge apart from the Holy One is presumption,
Gabriel," said the man-faced Zoa. "Those who would presume
upon the Lord's knowledge must also be prepared for the conse-
quences of such a presumption."
"But that is exactly our concern," said Gabriel. "It seems,
lords, that the Most High is distant from this dark affair. Where are
the consequences of such blatantly arrogant behavior? Law we
know exists in Heaven--but where is order?"
"The law, Gabriel, is within your heart," said the lion-faced
one. "The Most High has created the Host with the capacity to
choose freely to obey Him, just as He will create man with freedom
to choose him as well. (This was the first use of the word man that
Gabriel had encountered.)
"Man?" asked Gabriel, his curiosity overcoming his discretion.
"Yes, Gabriel, man--who will inhabit the earth in the name
and authority of the Most High God. To man the Lord will give
stewardship and dominion. With man he will have fellowship and
enjoy holy communion. Earth is to be a place where the Lord will
inhabit the very praises of man, and man will in turn worship God
in the beauty of a perfect world."
Gabriel could not help but think of all the efforts of Lucifer.
"And what of the idea that an angel might rule over earth in the
Lord's name?" he asked timidly.
"Earth is not for angels," said the eagle-faced Zoa emphatical-
ly. "The Host have a home and a ministry here in the Kingdom God
has created for them. No, Gabriel, earth is for men. Not angels.
Earth shall be ruled by men. Not angels."
"But Lucifer..." began Gabriel.
"Lucifer will not rule earth, nor shall any angel rule on earth.
Earth shall be stewarded by men. Earth is not a completely spiritu-
al world--it is also a material world. God in His wisdom shall cre-
ate a being who is both physical and metaphysical--a material
being with an immortal spirit. Angels, Gabriel, have no place in
such a world--at least not in the capacity which Lucifer envisions."
"But what will Lucifer's response be when he discovers all of
this?" asked Gabriel. "He shall be devastated."
168 CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile of Lucifer
"I am sure you will do well in telling him, Gabriel."
"What do you mean, lord?" asked a grim-faced Gabriel.
"Naturally, as Messenger to the Kingdom, when the time
comes you shall carry the news. Lucifer will hear and understand
on that day. How he reacts only the Most High would know. But
that will be the choice and responsibility of Lucifer alone. Your
duty however is not to Lucifer, but to the Most High."
"Then tell him I will, when the time comes," Gabriel respond-
ed. "But from a distance I hope, my lords, from a distance." He
smiled.
And suddenly they were gone.
Gabriel was very much alone. He was also surprised to find
himself in one of the outer courts again. He looked about himself
dazed and drained from the experience. He thought about the
encounter as he walked through the complex. The message was
both clear and puzzling at the same time--but the indication was
that come what may the Lord would prevail. It hit Gabriel swiftly.
Of course! Of course the Lord will prevail, he thought to himself.
How very weak was the faith of those who were attempting to protect the
interests of the Lord! We must not question the Lord's wisdom in this but
draw back and allow Him to work! And what an inspired work of creation
man would be!
Gabriel sensed a liberty he had not sensed in some time since
dealing with the whole Lucifer question. No angel can hope to
compare himself with the Lord's ability to handle any situation.
The Zoa had prudently but decisively rebuked him in this regard.
The task of the creature was to depend upon the Creator--to follow
His instructions and not question the circumstances. From this
point forward they must trust fully in the Lord's ability and wis-
dom! The weight of the burden suddenly shifted from angel to the
Maker of angels as Gabriel, refreshed from the meeting, fell to his
knees and began to worship the Most High with a freedom he had
never known before.
----------------
The discourse between Pellecus and Crispin was to be a schol-
arly presentation of viewpoints. There was to be some limited
"This nonsense has gone far enough, Lucifer!" 169
debate, but mainly the idea was to clarify the major issues of con-
tention, chief of which were the ideas of freedom and responsibili-
ty in the Host. Polias, the librarian of the Hall of Record, was
chosen to mediate the event. He now took center stage as the hall
became very quiet.
"Brothers! Greetings to you in the name of the Most High God,
praise forever unto His name!"
The crowd responded, "So be it forever unto the Lord!"
While Polias went on, Lucifer scanned the hall. He watched as
Gabriel entered the rear. He was obviously looking for someone.
Michael, no doubt, Lucifer thought to himself. Kara also was watch-
ing for Michael, who had not as yet appeared, and then glanced at
Lucifer to see if he had noticed Gabriel enter. Lucifer indicated that
he had seen him. Gabriel finally settled himself near the doorway
and focused on Polias' opening statement.
"...thus it behooves us, who are the custodians of the great and eter-
nal knowledge of the Most High God, to responsibly dispense such
knowledge..."
Lucifer ambled over to Kara. "Polias always did like a platform--
he should have been given more opportunity to speak in the past so
his present ramblings might be more tolerable."
"Polias is a fool," Kara responded, still watching Gabriel. "But
Gabriel is not."
"Ah, Gabriel," said Lucifer. "Our dear friend...archangel and
chief Messenger to the Kingdom. Sometimes, Kara, one can be so
close to the source of truth that one misses it. Gabriel has no idea of
the events that will soon overtake him. Never fear." He stared long
and hard at Gabriel, noticing something about his appearance--a
look of vitality and freshness as he had never seen before. "Does he
look somehow different to you?"
As they spoke, Pratia, another of the Elders friendly to Lucifer,
came up to Kara and whispered. Kara's eyes shifted to Lucifer as
Pratia spoke and then, after a brief, friendly exchange with Lucifer,
slightly bowed his head and walked away. Kara looked carefully
around to make certain that those around them were listening to the
droning of Polias, and then spoke in hushed tones to Lucifer.