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The Turning Point
The Mortal Coil
It was an ordinary day. An ordinary celebration was taking place among the jews. It was the day of Passover, and on top of that, the Romans were going to crucify some criminals. The jews had gathered for these executions where they normally were held, in front of a hill on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
The condemned were making their way up from the jails, each carrying the parts of their demise. The crowds took part in their ordinary jeering of the criminals. Two of the transgressors looked as felons have looked for time immemorial: jaded, unhappy, and doomed. The third was different both in physical appearance and in attitude. He was crowned with a garland of thorns, and he carried fresh whip-marks upon his back. He looked as if he was only partially aware of what was taking place, and was niether happy or sad. He appeared as though his spirit was already communing with its maker.
As they were climbing, the third had some trouble with his cross, and one of the crowd was pressed into service to help. The summit was gained shortly after, with each of the cross-bearers stained with bits of garbage and spots of spittle. The roman guards assembled the crosses and began to nail the world’s criminals to the beams.
At each nail strike for the first two the surrounding crowds cheered when the criminals screamed. The ringing of the hammers set a curious and stolid harmony to the jubilation surrounding it. As the crowned man was set to the cross, there was a striking difference. The crowd had no screams to cheer, for the third man was silent as the nails bit through the flesh and into the wood. For the crowd nearest him, it looked as if the pain had brought him back fully into the flesh. No longer did he look temporarily away, in great contrast he looked painfully and completely awake. Before the romans raised the crosses, they nailed a sign proclaiming the third’s crimes above him. The sign read "The King of the Jews".
The Heavenly Realms
The plains of Elysium were silent. No angels sang, no souls rejoiced in the nearness of God, no bliss was taking place. It was also empty throughout the majority of Heaven, for the greatest thing to happen to mankind was taking place on the mortal coil. The plain closest to this coil was where the entire population of Heaven was assembled.
The mortal souls stood off to one side, weeping for the future of humanity. This was its darkest hour, and they were uncertain of God’s holy anger. In the past when humans had done things that were smaller evils, His anger had destroyed them. The flood, the raining sulfur, the destruction of the Canaanites, all were examples of what happened when humans flouted His commands. With the sin that was taking place now, the entire world was just as likely to be destroyed. The coming hours would show either God’s everlasting mercy, or his terrible, righteous wrath.
The lesser angels stood next to the mortals, and their singing and praises were mute. They had tried, but on this day the horrible sadness permeating the air silenced these voices that had never been quiet before. They awaited the outcome, nervous and wary.
Beside them, the Seraphim were armed and ready. On the call of God, or the call of His Son, they were prepared to storm the mortal world and show them the awesome fury that by their actions they deserved. The were armed with flaming swords of light, and rode upon steeds of holy ether. The numbers of them were ten thousand. At their front, God Himself watched the proceedings. He stood the closest to the mortal coil, and watched silently in His glorious light.
Two of the Seraphim were speaking in hushed tones behind Him. The Archangel Michael and the Holy Messenger Gabriel were discussing what was happening and what was about to take place.
"Why does He not call upon us?" Michael asked no one in particular.
"Because He is committed to saving this creation, and loves them, unto the death of His body. He does this, simply because He wants them to live with Him and know Him." Gabriel replied.
"God is good."
"Aye. I would have preferred He show himself to them in this instance, instead of dying for them."
"Who can know the future actions of God?"
"None but God, but still...."
"I know, Gabriel. I know. Such a gift is free will, that only something as monumentous as the death of the Son of Man and the Son of God intertwined will satisfy it. It is a cruel gift, one that should not have been given." Michael slumped.
"It is indeed a harsh gift, for such as us. These mortals have been given it to show that even though some choose against Him, the majority of His creations will know Him and come to Him. As angels, we already know the Truth, and as such, to choose against it would be folly." Gabriel looked into his flaming sword.
"As the Morning Star who has fallen exemplified. Pride is a wrongful influence."
"As if we all have not felt its pull."
"Yes we have, but to rise against God is pure folly. God gave us all the ability to feel, but He also gave us Logic, without which we would be no better than the animals that crawl the Earth. If only these mortals would use it more than they use their feelings, we should not be witnessing this act." Michael shook his head, "But we are, and He is there, and He knows at the slightest call we will save Him from the cross."
"He does know this. Mortals though must have feelings, for otherwise pure logic would turn them all from God. For free will has destroyed the direct influence on their choices, the influence of God. Albeit, they do have the conscience, but even that in them is muted by free will"
"Therefore an act such as this is needed to change logic, feelings, and free will towards God. An act such as this, for God to put His being into a mortal body, and then die. To free humans of sin, who can love like God?"
"No being can."
They fell silent as they watched the tableau taking place before them. They watched as the two condemned with the Son of God spoke. The heard the exchange and the ending of it.
Gabriel turned to the Keeper of the Book of Life.
"Write the one’s name in the book of life, for it is as God has said. He shall dine in paradise. All who have ears, let them hear!"
The Seraphim shouted back at these words "AMEN!"
The slow hours passed with difficulty. None in Heaven could watch and not weep, for the Creator, the Maker of All Things, was being put to the death for the humans. The end was nearing.
God turned back to heaven, and began to move towards His throne.
From the earth, in the final hour of sin, came the shout.
"MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
All of heaven wept.
The Burning Rings of Hell
The air was heavy with sulfur, and the lower rings of Hell were silent. This one day, out of all eternity, the damned souls were untormented. All demons, evil and nefarious, were gathered on the top ring of Hell, watching humanity’s last great mistake. As was their way, they stood in chaos. No orderly ranks were seen in the army. Their weapons: axes, maces, and burning brands hung by their sides. The denizens of Hell looked forward to destroying mankind for once and for all.
The closest to the edge was Lucifer, the fallen morning star. He stood alone, draped in darkness while waves of anger flowed from him. Farther back his two top demons stood and discussed the end of humanity, they were Baal the Commander of the Infernal Armies, and Moloch the prince of the land of tears.
"Are we certain that this man really is the Son of God?" Baal asked.
"Do we care? Lucifer has stood in His presence and he confirms it." Moloch replied. "And Lucifer seems intent on us storming the Mortal Coil and purging the land of these humans. "
"As we should have done long ago."
"Agreed, though God did not seem to. I think that because we voiced these opinions, He was looking for any reason to throw us out. Lucifer spoke against God in this, and..." Moloch was stopped by Baal’s upheld hand.
"Yes yes, no need to go into THAT again. What I am wondering, if that man is truly the Son of God, why He does not call down the Seraphim? He could be saved from this torment."
"Maybe He isn’t the Son of God."
"Lucifer seems to think so."
"Which brings up another point. Why are we even here? I agree that it is high time to rain destruction down upon the people of the world, but shouldn’t we be cheering them instead of punishing them? If that man is indeed the Son of God, they are killing our enemy! Why does Lucifer think this is a reason good enough to destroy them?" Moloch wondered.
"I think that he respects Him. He did spend a considerable amount of effort to tempt him away. This is the first man who spurned his temptations. Even if He isn’t the one, Lucifer admires him enough to avenge his death upon the human race. I, for one, don’t care why we rage forth and destroy them, just as long as we do." Baal laughed.
"You’re right. They are worthless maggots who get far more than what they deserve. Plus we will have all eternity to punish them! Lucifer’s plan is flawless. Surely God won’t stop us from going forth, even if He is not the one, He is still blameless. Murdering innocents should be enough to truly unleash the fury of hell on mankind." Moloch’s eyes gleamed red in their sockets.
They heard the criminals on the cross address the One. Baal looked over his shoulder and shouted, "ASMODEUS!!! Keeper of the book of the dead! Mark that man’s name down! He will rot in the pits this evening among his disembowled organs."
Asmodeus wrote the name in a gigantic book that looked to be made of entire human bodies, that were hideously alive. Baal nodded his permission to go. Asmodeus took the book back to where he had come from.
Moloch turned to Baal once again. "Shall we ready the army? It looks as if the souls are about to be released."
"Aye. UP YOU DEMONS!!! We ride forth today to make the area around Golgotha run not with just the blood of criminals, but with the blood of ALL MANKIND!!!"
In response to Baal’s statement, the demonic hordes stood up and waved their weapons in the air. Their war cries and shouts were terrible to hear. Lucifer stood silent and still at the head. The demons fell as silent as their leader as the minutes slowly ticked by.
The Son of God let forth a shout that was heard through all the rings of Hell, and beyond.
"MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
They saw Him slump back on the cross. Lucifer stood up straight and held his darkling sword forward to signal the charge. They would rend humanity’s influence from the earth for this unpardonable crime. His sword fell and the realm-curtain opened. As he leapt forward, a beam of light landed in front of him. This was the first time in eons that the demons had felt the presence of God.
They all fell immediately to their knees. They all had tears streaming down their faces, having forgotten how glorious the sight of God truly was. Lucifer looked through his own tears up at the Son of God and of Man, and asked, "What is Your will of me, O Lord?"
Jesus signaled Lucifer to rise and walk with him. The realm-curtain fell back in place as the two of them went to discuss the future of humanity and the defeat of Hell’s designs.