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Prologue
Wings rustled and pure light surrounded Arach.
The angel dared not look up to see the source of either sound or sight. He knew the rustling was the seraphim, but he had never seen one of his six-winged brethren – unless Lucifer the Fallen qualified. To raise his head while in the presence of the Almighty, even to simply quell his curiosity, was unthinkable. The light – the Shekinah – was so terrible and awesome that should he look fully upon it, the sight would be too much for him.
"Sovereign, " the angel bowed low before his Lord, never once hinting at raising his eyes to meet Shaddai's. "I have come as You decreed."
The only sound was the song of the seraphim as they flew high above the throne of the Almighty.
Then, a voice like thunder, with the majesty of a thousand roaring fountains of water uttered, "Arach, well done."
"I thank You, my Lord," Arach replied, "It is an honor to be a messenger to the world of men. Though its glory has faded since the Beginning, it remains a sight to behold."
Again there was silence, and Arach waited, the whisking of wings through the air and the melody of reverence filling the void between the Almighty and His creature.
That void was suddenly filled when Shaddai announced, "Your face shall not be seen again by mortal eyes until the promise I have made to Earth has been proven to man once again."
"They have tried to test it so many times, Sovereign..." Arach replied, downcast.
To the angel's surprise, Shaddai began to laugh, a melodic sound that could sooth the most tumultuous soul. He felt a hand on his shoulder, a hand marred by men. "A'dam's seed has tried many times to prove its independence from Me."
"Elohim..." Arach smiled and looked into the eyes of the one mortals called Christ. Elohim stood between Arach and Shaddai's glorious presence.
"But they have never and will never be able to separate themselves from Me, for I am their Maker. Shall the thing formed say to the One who formed it, 'Why hast Thou made me thus?'" said Elohim.
At this Arach's face fell, "One has."
"Yes," Elohim nodded, "Yes, one has, just as many others have before him." The Son of Shaddai's expression did not waver. "He will know My reasons someday, Arach. Do not be dismayed by the demands of the one you must now follow. He does not know the mind of Shaddai, nor is he a son of Shaddai that he should have fellowship with Him."
"I know this, Elohim... I simply cannot fathom his reasoning most of the time. It is... troubling to say the least."
Elohim nodded again, "He denies Shaddai; his reasoning will not be sound."
Arach sighed and fell silent for a moment, then asked the question that weighed on his mind ever since he returned from the wilderness of Gamilon, "Is this one so significant, my Lord? Why not put more effort into one a bit less... infuriatingly stubborn?"
Elohim did not reply with words, instead He met His creature's gaze with a look that left the angel in speechless silence for so long that Arach thought he would never find his tongue again, but finally in horrified regret he stuttered, "I – I am sorry my Lord... I did not mean to question such – such –"
Elohim smiled graciously and nodded, "I understand, Arach, you need not apologize. The mind of Shaddai is not something to be easily fathomed by one not a part of Him."
Arach tried to reply, but gave up. Instead, he nodded. "Yes, my Lord..." He bowed his head, humbled again by the words of Elohim. Arach bowed his head as Elohim stepped aside.
"Now, Arach," said Shaddai, "You see a small portion of what I have for my Creation. Are you now content to return to your place in the world of men?" the Sovereign asked, knowing already the answer He would receive.
"I am," Arach breathed, a thrill running through him as he remembered the look in Elohim's eyes.
"Good," the Sovereign replied, a smile in His words, "You will not be alone."
Arach's eyes widened when he heard this. "Who...?" the question still echoed in his mind when he heard his Lord's voice again.
"Arkan," Shaddai summoned.
Almost immediately another angel appeared next to Arach. He bowed low before Shaddai.
"Sovereign," he addressed his Lord in reverence, face towards the ground.
"You will go to the world of men with Arach, but like your brother, mortal eyes shall not behold your face until mankind has tested my promise to them once again," declared Shaddai.
"Why do they test Your promises so often, Sovereign?" Arkan questioned, a bit of fire igniting in the second angel's eyes. "Do they so soon forget that You cannot lie?"
Arach looked over at his brother, agreeing with his sentiments, but though he sympathized with Arkan, he could not share his righteous indignation in light of what he heard from the Son of Shaddai.
The Sovereign did not reply immediately, but when He did, sadness echoed in His voice.
"Men think themselves able to live without Me. So many of them try; and so many of them perish in their rebellion. They do not understand that even the most insignificant one among them is most precious to Me. I gave them so many images of My love for them... and they, with the help of the Fallen one, distort them all so that few see the true glory that still resides in those marred images." Shaddai fell silent after He said this.
Seraphim song rolled on, lending a measure of comfort to the angels after Shaddai's sad words.
"I seem to have heard my name called." An irreverent voice sounded quite suddenly from behind Arach and Arkan. The two immediately whirled and drew the swords of light they always bore when in Shaddai's realm.
"Lucifer!" Arkan spat the name of the rebel seraph, "You've no right –"
"Peace, Arkan," Shaddai stayed the angel, "He is here for a purpose."
Grudgingly, Arkan obeyed and fell immediately silent. Arach never said a word, merely gazing with suspicion at the Fallen one who, to both angels' not-so-secret amusement, grudgingly lowered his own gaze to the ground before the presence of the Sovereign.
"Now," Shaddai's voice thundered, "As all are now gathered, I will make my decree to you."
No one spoke, not even Lucifer, and Arach and Arkan turned to fall on bended knee before the Sovereign; Lucifer still stood, but his eyes remained averted.
Shaddai spoke again, and the very foundation of Heaven rumbled with the absolute authority of His words, "Men have the will to choose whether or not they will come to Me; as it has always been, none of you will force the choice of eternity upon any soul. It is their choice, not yours."
Lucifer visibly flinched at the words of the Sovereign as Arach and Arkan nodded in complete agreement.
"Destroyer!" Shaddai's voice rang through the throne room and the Fallen Seraph's face turned wrathful at his former Lord's address, but he dared not let his anger boil over.
"Yes. Most. High," Lucifer replied through gritted teeth.
"Should you try to force this choice upon any, these, my servants, have My authority to hinder you," Shaddai said, his voice carrying the weight of omniscient eternity.
"Yes. Most. High," Lucifer repeated, unwilling to say anything more.
"Go," the Sovereign bid the Fallen one.
Instantly, Lucifer vanished and the two angels breathed relieved sighs.
"Stand to your feet, servants of Light."
Two pierced feet stepped in front of Arkan and Arach. Elohim.
"There is much I would tell you before you depart for the world of men. Your stay will be long as men measure the creature they call Time, and sometimes there will not seem to be much to do, but you must always be aware of the Destroyer and his servants." Elohim paused and looked first at Arkan, then Arach, "Do not be so burdened, sons of Shaddai. I AM the beginning and the end. I know what was, what is, and what is to come, and My Spirit has already gone before you. He guides My redeemed ones into all truth, and He will never fail to communicate the will of Shaddai to them, for He is a part of the Sovereign, as I AM." A sudden calm fell between the two angels, and Elohim added, "Even though My Spirit cannot live in you as He does my sons and daughters, I AM with you, as I have always been. Now come, and I will prepare you for the task at hand."
Prologue inspired by: "My Eyes Have Seen the Savior" from the Herbster Evangelistic Ministries CD "Expressions of Gratitude." Click the link to listen.