Final Confrontation (5 page)

“Greetings, O highly favored one!”

Mary dropped the lamp, which broke at her feet.

Standing before her was an angel of the Lord. She had often heard stories of visiting angels—even dreaming of them on occasion. But she never thought she would actually see one. Angels visited holy men and kings—not ordinary people! After a few seconds of studying the figure that stood in front of her in her little home, she began to question not only why he had come, but what he had just said.

“Highly favored?” she whispered.

Gabriel spoke to her in a soothing voice full of compassion and joy. He wanted her to understand completely what he was about to tell her. He continued.

“Mary, do not be afraid—you are indeed highly favored of the Lord!”

She remained silent.

“You are to give birth to a Son and shall call his name Jesus,” Gabriel said. “He will be great and will be known as the Son of the Most High! He will be given the throne of David and shall rule over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom shall see no end!”

Mary was staggered. A baby? She had never been married or even been with a man before. She was engaged to be married! How could this be? Overcoming her fear of the situation, she spoke to Gabriel.

“But how can this be? I am a virgin.”

“It will not be by man that you shall conceive but by the power of God,” answered Gabriel. “The Holy Spirit of the Most High shall create in your womb this coming Son—this Son of God.”

“But…”

“Listen! Your cousin Elizabeth, who has been barren, is also going to have a child.”

“Elizabeth?” Mary responded, a rush of joy beginning to supplant her fear.

“She is already in her sixth month,” said Gabriel. “You see? Nothing is impossible for the Lord!”

Mary considered everything that had been spoken to her. It was impossible to drink it all in at once, and yet she knew in her heart it must be true. If this was of the Lord, then she was indeed highly favored. She looked up at Gabriel.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” she said. “May everything you have said about me and Elizabeth come true.”

Gabriel smiled at her and could not help but contrast her willingness to believe with Zacharias’ disbelief. He vanished as quickly as he had appeared. Mary was left with her thoughts. She was to carry the Son of the Most High? But why? What was the Lord doing? What did Elizabeth have to do with it all? Most of all—what was Joseph going to think?

She decided that she must go and see Elizabeth at once.

Lucifer’s leadership was meeting to discuss the recent appearances of Gabriel concerning the birth of the One who would be called Jesus. Lucifer had reconvened many of the Council members that had been with him in the days before the rebellion, before the Council of Worship had become the Council of War.

The chatter around the table was a mixture of reminiscing over the old times in Heaven to the new threat posed by Gabriel’s intrusions. Many of these angels had not spoken to or seen each other since their expulsion from Heaven. It was quite a different arrangement around the table now—stripped of their offices and former prestige, they vied for whatever bits of power Lucifer tossed their way. The memories of this group were both bitter and sweet.

Lucifer strode in and the room became quiet immediately. They met in an abandoned temple on Crete, in deference to Pellecus, whose principality over the Graeco-Roman world was now a brightly shining star. The temple was a Minoan structure dedicated to a long-forgotten sea goddess. The great civilization at Knossos, which once flourished here, had been destroyed in a violent earthquake. All that remained were pitiful ruins and relics of a glorious past.

“Not exactly the same surroundings as when we met in Heaven,” said Lucifer, noting the ruined temple. “But an appropriate setting to be sure.”

The angels looked at each other knowingly.

Lucifer stood at the end of the long bronze table that had once served as a Minoan priest’s place of offering. He eyed each angel individually: Rugio, Vel, Nathan and Prian, his warrior commanders; Fineo, Drachon, Sar and Rega, former angels of worship; and Tinius, Pellecus, Lenaes and Kara, angels of wisdom, now turned angels of deception. Lucifer smiled faintly.

“Brothers, it is good to have you back again as in the beginning,” he said. “We represent the future of this planet and the strategy of this present war. Of course we will have to do without Sangius, who betrayed us. But all in all we are united and represent the most powerful and resourceful angels in our realm.”

Lucifer gestured at their meeting place.

“I called this place fitting because it was once a place of greatness and glory. You are well acquainted with the former priests of this land who performed all manner of sorcery and conjuring.” He paused for a moment. “But the glory of their day faded and they have become dust awaiting judgment at the end of the age.”

Lucifer ran his fingers along the ornately carved altar. He was brooding and melancholy. Finally he began speaking, looking more at the altar than at the angels staring back at him.

“Like these once-proud Minoans, who have come and gone, we are on the threshold of a faded glory. We have fought and fought and fought. We have seen the destruction of countless humans and overthrown many nations. We have planted our lies deep into the hearts of men who seek the glory of the Most High in things He created for their amusement. And yet the war goes badly for us. The Child who was foretold has now been conceived by His mother. The Seed has been delivered.”

The group, whose mood was becoming increasingly desperate, looked to Lucifer for some note of hope. Lucifer smiled and continued, “I have no answer for you.”

The angels remained silent for a few moments. Finally, Tinius stood to speak.

“My lord, are you saying the war is lost?”

“Did I say that, Tinius?”

“No, lord,” stammered Tinius, whose doubtful mind often played into Lucifer’s harsh disposition. “I’m not doubting your ability to lead us…”

“I said I have no answer for you…at this time.”

He produced a scroll.

“When waging war it is wise to learn as much as you can about your enemy. In the case of our enemy, He has given us much intelligence with which we might surmise our next move.”

He began unrolling the scroll before them.

“The prophet Isaiah, among others, has given us ample information on what we are to expect from this…this ‘Son of the Most High who is to be called Jesus,’ as Gabriel put it. We have discussed some of this before. But more recent prophecies bring new light to this reference. I often wonder at the wisdom of the Most High who seems bent on giving it all away.”

He took the scroll and began to read:

“The throne of David,” muttered Kara. “The same old dream. When will these people ever give up on that dreary idea?”

Pellecus scoffed at Kara’s ignorance.

“Why should they give up on the idea when the prophet Isaiah and others fan it for them?” he asked. “More importantly, why should they give up on the throne of David being established again when the Lord Himself places such hope before them?”

“David’s throne was destroyed,” grunted Rugio, whose bitter memory of Goliath’s defeat still gnawed at him. “He is dust now.”

“David is dust,” agreed Lucifer. “But his legacy survives. Don’t you see what this means? It is exactly as we feared. There shall be born in the derelict house of Judah the One who will regain the throne of David and establish it forever. Who could do this but the Lord of Hosts? And who but the Lord would be bold enough to foretell it?”

“But there are so many prophecies being bantered about these days,” Kara said scornfully. “This nation thrives on them. What is another prophecy more or less?”

Lucifer looked at Kara.

“I would agree with you, Kara,” he began. “This is certainly a people from whom prophets spring forth constantly. This is different. The circumstances of His birth, the description of His form, even the mentioning of the city in which He shall be born—these and many other prophecies are too detailed not to have the Lord’s sanction.”

He looked dramatically at the council as he continued.

“And remember Jesus was not the only one who was prophesied over.”

“John,” muttered Kara.

“Exactly,” said Lucifer. “Recall that Zacharias, upon the news of the coming birth of John, was told his son would be the herald of the Messiah, that he would preach repentance to all the people and pave the way for the coming King.”

“Then this John must die as well,” said Rugio.

“Patience, Rugio,” said Lucifer. “The one thing we can count on in this land gripped by unscrupulous people like Herod, is that there will be many who will receive neither Jesus nor His prophet. When the right moment arrives, we can count—as always—on those who believe they understand the Most High best, to do their worst.”

Rugio nodded in agreement, looking at his warrior aides.

“As for Jesus, He represents another problem,” Lucifer continued.

“How then is He to be treated?” asked Rugio. “The woman is under constant guard by the strongest warriors among the Host.”

“Then this is really it,” said Tinius, grimly. The others looked at him. “I mean, the girl Mary and all. She truly carries the Seed of Eve. After all this waiting it is finally happening.”

“Yes,” snapped Lucifer. “Such a subtle plan. So marvelous and yet so simple. The Seed of Eve emerges from a virgin womb, retakes the throne of David and establishes the Lord’s Kingdom on earth. It is nothing short of a brilliant invasion. Quiet, subtle, but brilliant!”

“Through Mary,” grumbled Tinius, still in disbelief.

“Yes,” said Lucifer, barely able to contain his growing contempt for the girl. “Recall also that the prophet spoke of a virgin giving birth. Mary is betrothed and has never known a man. Gabriel made it quite clear that she was to conceive—and she did.”

“But how?” asked Kara. “If indeed she is a virgin, how then can she conceive? Humans are marvelous creatures, but when it comes to reproducing themselves they are as carnal as any other beast.”

“By the Holy Spirit of the Lord,” said Pellecus. “He created life in her womb. The same Spirit that gives life to every woman has given extraordinary life to Mary.”

“And thus we must take extraordinary measures to deal with the situation,” said Lucifer. “Through measures just as thoughtful and subtle as those which we are facing.”

“How shall we attack her?” asked Rugio, ready to strike.

Lucifer smiled at his warrior chief.

“I suggest we begin our attack elsewhere,” he said. “Mary will never be swerved from her conviction. She is convinced God has indeed favored her, which of course He has.” He smiled. “But Joseph presents an interesting possibility. The innocent, unsuspecting betrothed. Who knows what might enter into the mind of a suspicious lover? We have seen it all too often among humans. There is nothing so fierce as the jealousy and rage of one who has been the victim of unfaithful behavior. Should he expose her, she would be stoned according to their bloody law. And the Child would die with her.”

He looked at Kara.

“I believe Berenius is suited to this task.”

“I will see to it at once,” said Kara, who vanished.

Lucifer laughed.

“I had always believed one day we would carry the war back to Heaven.” His eyes became vacant for a moment. “Instead, the Lord is carrying the war to us.”

Joseph was busy with the accounts from his business. One of the best and busiest carpenters in Nazareth, Joseph was taking advantage of a rare lull in his work to balance his financial affairs. He was doing very well—and this was important for a man about to be married.

He thought of Mary, and how beautiful she looked when they were betrothed. He could hardly wait until the day of their wedding. The place that he was preparing for her was going to make her very happy. He continued working a while longer, hoping Mary was enjoying her visit with her elderly cousin, Elizabeth. He began to pray for her.

“Lord God, grant Mary a safe journey from her cousin’s house and bring her back to me. And thank you O Lord, for giving me such a wonderful wife!”

“And a faithful wife, too,”
entered a thought.

Yes indeed, Mary would not only be a beautiful wife and bear him many sons, but she would be a faithful wife as well.

“A woman who can be trusted…”

Joseph wondered why he was thinking such things, but again, yes, Mary was indeed a trustworthy woman.