Exile of Lucifer (4 page)

26           CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile          of Lucifer
"Let him who has been created to serve, serve with all his heart.
This is the will of the Lord!"
The entire room responded, "So be it!"
----------------
Outside the Throne Room many angels pressed forward to
congratulate Gabriel. Michael watched his friend humbly accept
the polite affirmations. Angels of every rank and station gave
hearty words of encouragement to their new archangel, who
seemed a little dazed by it all.
In the haze of white cloaks and the noise of many conversa-
tions a figure in a dark blue coat discreetly made his way out of the
Great Temple. Lucifer decided not to stay around for the customary
fellowship. Instead, he walked to a door saying as little as possible
to anyone. Just as he reached for the golden handle on the door, he
looked back into the mob of angels pressing around Gabriel. His
eyes met those of Michael, who was watching him from the midst
of the crowd. Lucifer nodded courteously to Michael, who
acknowledged Lucifer and nodded back as Lucifer exited.
----------------
Serus had informed the Council of Worship that Lucifer
intended to meet with them immediately following the ceremony.
The Council had been developed by Lucifer as a means of support-
ing the ministry throughout the Kingdom by authorizing these
angels to enact certain provisions regarding ceremonies, special
services and worship at large. They acted in an advisory capacity--
although lately they had been taking much more advice than they
had been dispensing.
Because the worship before the Lord was an ongoing ministry,
one Council member was always present in the Temple to ensure
that worship was being carried out with the proper attitude and
decorum. Lucifer referred to this person as his "Temple ears" and
often called upon him for the latest information from the Throne.
The angels selected for the Council considered it a great honor to

"Let's make an archangel, shall we?"                 27
have been chosen and served with unbridled enthusiasm. They
represented all the different functioning classes of the Host. Lucifer
purposely designed the group to be a balanced team of warring,
worshiping and wisdom angels. They were divided this way:
Warring Angels:
Rugio--Captain of the Fiery Host
Vel--Commander of the Legion of the Son
Nathan--Captain of the Legion of the Lord's Holiness
Prian--Chief Angel of the Watch
Worshiping Angels:
Sangius--Minister of the Holy Flame
Fineo--Minister of the Incense
Drachon--Keeper of the Door
Sar--Singer of Praises
Wisdom Angels:
Tinius--Recorder of the Holy Annals
Pellecus--Esteemed Teacher
Lenaes--Angel of Light
Belor--Angel of Light
Lucifer did not usually call a meeting without prior notice
given. The members arrived in groups of twos and threes and took
their seats at the conference table, talking reservedly about the
service they had just attended. The hushed tone of the room gave
away the intense curiosity that everyone was experiencing as they
all held one question in their minds: Why is he calling this meeting?
When Serus saw that everyone had arrived he announced to
Lucifer that the assembly was ready to receive him. All eyes turned
to Lucifer as he entered the room, dressed now in a simple white
cloak. The angels began to stand.
"Please, my friends! Be seated! After all we're not here to
install an archangel," he said smiling at everyone. They laughed.
"Aren't we?" asked Tinius in mock seriousness. The room
burst out in even greater laughter and Lucifer nodded to Tinius and
sat down.

28           CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile            of Lucifer
"Yes, yes," said Lucifer as he sat down at the head of the table.
"It is no secret among my closest friends that I contemplated offer-
ing my services to the Most High as a ruling angel. But you all
know I serve my Lord in whatever capacity He deems appropriate.
I am quite content to be His humble leader of worship, with this
marvelous Council to aid me." He extended his hand toward the
Council. "We were made for other things, you and I; to serve and
not be served."
The group looked around at each other for an awkward
moment before someone broke in with a remark about the ceremo-
ny. Everyone immediately followed with general praise for the
inspired music that had been featured in Gabriel's installation.
Lucifer raised his hands to silence the praise.
"Enough, my friends," he said. "Of course it was magnificent.
How could my music be anything but magnificent? I have no
choice but to create magnificent worship. Forgive me, but your
comment holds a very personal meaning to me of late..."
Lucifer stood up and gazed over the heads of the group in a
manner that reflected deep and disturbed thought. "Please under-
stand me," he continued. "I don't mean that as a boast. It is my des-
tiny...my lot to create magnificent music. Just as all of you have a
destiny from which you would never deviate." He smiled a wan
smile.
The Council was perplexed by Lucifer's melancholy behavior.
Finally Rugio, the ranking warrior-angel of the council, stood up
and assailed the awkward moment. "What is disturbing you, my
lord?" he said.
Lucifer looked at the group seated at the table with deeply
troubled eyes. "I apologize, my friends. I should not burden you
with my private concerns. Please forgive me." He sat back down
and regained his composure. "Now, let me progress to the reason
for our meeting today..."
"Lord Lucifer," said Nathan, another warrior, "I think I may
speak for the group when I say that we would invite you to unbur-
den yourself here in this room. We are your brothers and your
friends." The group agreed vigorously.

"Let's make an archangel, shall we?"                  29
Lucifer surveyed the group around the table, meeting and
reading each face, and with a great sigh relented. "Very well. I
know I may talk freely, but please realize that this is a deeply grave
matter that I have been thinking about for some time now and of
which I have drawn no conclusion as of yet."
----------------
The smell of honeysuckles filled the air in the beautiful garden
near the Great Hall. The golden-domed roof that covered the Tem-
ple shimmered in the distance. Gabriel watched his friend curious-
ly. He knew that something was on Michael's mind, and had been
ever since they left the ceremony. There had been silence between
the two angels for a long time, when suddenly they both spoke out
at the same time, calling each other's name. They laughed.
"Quite a service, hmm?" said Gabriel. "I have always enjoyed
installations. But I never figured that I would be the one being hon-
ored. It's quite a humbling event, isn't it?"
"I found my installation to be not only humbling but pur-
poseful. I have never been so filled with a sense of mission and
service to the Lord as I am now," answered Michael, who felt a
sense of pride. "I love my office."
"We've certainly come a long way," said Gabriel. "I always
wondered what would become of us. Though I always knew you
would be a leader of some sort, but an archangel?"
"Yes, and I always figured you to be a part of the worship
ministry. Your heart for worship has always been evident," said
Michael. He threw down one of the fragrant flowers he was hold-
ing. "Just like Lucifer."
"Very true," responded Gabriel, who realized that Michael
wanted to interject Lucifer into the dialog. "Lucifer always seemed
closer to the Lord than the rest of us, or at least I always thought so.
I used to watch him worshiping God, hoping to learn the secret of
such devotion. `It is no secret,' he would say. `Just love the Most
High more than anything else.' The Lord certainly placed him well."
"Do you remember when we would all worship the Lord
together in the Temple?" Michael asked. "I mean long before any of

30           CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile           of Lucifer
us had our appointments. You and I would sing with all our hearts.
But Lucifer...he seemed to have the voice of God when he sang.
Remember how the other angels would stop and listen to the beau-
tiful praise coming from his mouth?"
Gabriel nodded, remembering the glorious light that Lucifer's
face gave off when he sang praises to the Most High.
Michael went on. "And then God appointed Lucifer to the
position of worship minister for the entire Kingdom. Do you
remember that?"
"Of course," answered Gabriel, a little suspicious by now of
where Michael was taking this discussion. "He did a wonderful job
today."
"I remember that Lucifer was ecstatic," Michael continued.
"He was finally doing what he had been created to do. He loved to
worship. He always said that all he wanted to do was worship
God...forever. And God brought it all to pass. We were so happy for
our friend. And this was long before I was made a ruling angel. Do
you remember all that?" asked Michael.
"Yes, Michael," said Gabriel curtly. "And...?"
Michael looked at his friend and decided to speak his mind
even if it offended Gabriel. "I'm not sure. I believe he was...I don't
know...did you see him after the ceremony? He didn't even come
over to congratulate you. That's not how an old friend should
behave. He should have been one of the first angels to share in
your joy! Instead he barely even acknowledged you. I think he is
jealous."
"Then why don't you go over and talk with him?" said
Gabriel. "Ask him, `Lucifer, are you jealous of Gabriel?' Then he'll
tell you `No' and you can forget about all this nonsense."
Michael was beginning to feel a little foolish now but contin-
ued. "I know you think I am being ridiculous about all this but
something is wrong when the minister of worship acts so cold to
everyone on such an occasion--especially his old friends!"
"Perhaps if you weren't so suspicious you could see more
clearly," responded Gabriel. "Try treating him as a friend rather
than a minister of worship."

"Let's make an archangel, shall we?"               31
"Alright, alright," said Michael. "I won't say another word
about Lucifer...for a while anyway."
"Thank you," said Gabriel. "Not another word, please."
As he finished these words a long, low trumpet sounded from
the north.
"Well," said Gabriel, "looks like I have to meet with the
Elders. And so soon! Guess they just can't govern without me!"
"Well, they'll find that out soon enough," Michael said smil-
ing. "I'm sorry, my brother. And I promise. Not another word."
Gabriel smiled at Michael as two great, muscular, translucent
wings instantly appeared from behind him. The wings did not
move rapidly like the wings of the seraphim; rather, they simply
unfolded and gracefully lifted Gabriel into the Heavenly sky, car-
rying him toward the golden roof of the House of Elders.
Michael thought about their conversation as he watched his
friend disappear in the blueness of Heaven. He determined not to
bother Gabriel anymore until he either had something definite that
would give credence to his suspicions, or until Gabriel was himself
convinced that something was indeed wrong with Lucifer. Maybe
Gabriel was right and this was all a lot of nonsense. Perhaps this
sort of behavior was the way with some angels, particularly those
angels gifted in such demanding and creative ministry as Lucifer.
As he reflected on these things, Crispin, a renowned angel of
wisdom walked by and nodded at Michael. He was on his way to
the Academy, just a short distance from the park entrance where
Michael and Gabriel had been talking. Crispin was a noted teacher
among the angels, and a favorite among those who were called to
special service in the Lord's house. It was widely held that Crispin
was one of the wisest angels in Heaven. Michael had sat under his
teaching, as had Gabriel, Lucifer and many of the other angels who
were now higher ranked. He was also a prolific writer and had
recorded much of the Chronicles of the Kingdom and was a foun-
tain of knowledge about everything concerning Heaven.
"Good day, master," said Michael.

32           CHRONICLES of the Host: Exile           of Lucifer
"Good day, Michael," said Crispin, who was reading a book
bound in silver as he walked. "Beautiful service, beautiful service,
hmm?" he muttered.
"More books, eh?" teased Michael. "You already know more
than all the other angels in Heaven combined! What could you pos-
sibly be studying now?"
Crispin turned to Michael. "One can never have too much
knowledge, Michael. I hope you learned at least that much from
me." He then assumed a familiar teaching demeanor that was leg-
end throughout Heaven. "Michael, it is by knowledge that we were
made by the Most High, praised be His name. And it is by the
increase of knowledge that we grow closer to Him. You should
spend more time inside the library rather than standing around
gawking at it. You'll find answers there, Michael. Good day to
you," Crispin said, as he turned and continued on his way.
Michael smiled and bade him good-bye. Same old Crispin, he
thought to himself. He watched him disappear into the ornate,
multi-columned library building, which was a second home to wise
angels such as he who taught at the Academy. A burst of inspiration
suddenly hit Michael as he looked toward the Academy and
thought of what Crispin had just said. Perhaps you're right, my schol-
arly friend, he thought to himself. Perhaps there are answers there! He
hurried to catch up to his old teacher.

33
Chapter 3
"Would a perfect God allow His
creatures to turn on Him?"
The angels assembled in the room watched Lucifer, who
seemed to be struggling within himself over what he was about to
divulge. Finally, he looked at them and began speaking. "My
brothers, just a short moment ago we were discussing the music I
created for Gabriel's celebration. We all agreed that this was
remarkably beautiful music. For that I thank you. But when I said
that I have no choice but to create beautiful praise I meant that
quite literally. I am bound by the parameters that the Most High
has set forth within me when I was created. What choice have I but
to reflect the beauty that God has placed inside of me for His glory?
It is my destiny, is it not?"
They looked at Lucifer, not knowing how to respond.
"Poor Lucifer! So perfect...so frustrated!" said Tinius.
Everyone laughed nervously.
"No, my dear Tinius, I have been thinking about this for a
very long time. Our Lord has created this realm called Heaven. He
and the Son and the Spirit rule from the Eternal Throne and as far
as we know They always have. We have been taught that there was
never a time when They did not exist and that at some point They