Rising Darkness Read online

  “And so the enemy throws at you what he can. But think of it, Michael. What weapons does the enemy possess? Only those that humans allow him to use against them really. God’s people have learned that in prayer they can best the greatest of Lucifer’s angels.” He scoffed. “Of course getting humans to pray is another matter altogether. But when they do pray, they can hold off any devil.”

  Michael thought of the many times in the past when humans had prayed and God had dispatched him and a number of the Host just as Crispin had said. They always came with an extra sense of strength and anointing and they always overcame the enemy.

  “Of course it is the Spirit of God who is really overcoming the enemy,” said Crispin. “We are merely His instruments in the matter.”

  “So why the recent influx of Lucifer’s angels?” asked Michael.

  “I suspect that they—like we—realize that the crossing of the Jordan is a very significant undertaking,” said Crispin, nodding to an angel who walked by. “And so they are increasing pressure. I also suspect that, for whatever reason, the people are not calling out to the Lord as they did—in prayer and in worship. This leaves us in the rather dubious position of becoming more and more the observer rather than the player.”

  “The people!” fumed Michael. “If only they realized the potential of a true and meaningful relationship with the Lord!”

  “They did…once,” said Crispin. “In Eden. At that time they had all the authority they needed. Lucifer could not touch them. And then of course they handed over to him what he could never have taken by force—their legitimate authority to rule on earth. And so the war goes on…a war fought to determine who is ultimately in authority in the hearts of men—the Most High, or a pitiful angel who proudly thought to usurp a position to which he was never called and for which he was never created.”

  “And so Joshua must somehow continue to rally these difficult people to the cause,” said Michael resignedly. “I hope they don’t spend another forty years waiting to enter the land.”

  Crispin laughed.

  “They’ll make it over,” he said. “In spite of all the frightful reports that Lucifer can muster, they’ll get across. They are still fresh from Moses’ death. I suspect they are more fearful of the Lord who devastated Egypt than they are of walled cities and giants.” Crispin winked. “Besides, the memory of what a bad report caused forty years ago should be enough to get every one of them across that river!”

  “So…”

  “So return to earth encouraged, Michael,” said Crispin, placing a hand on the archangel’s shoulder. “Go back and stand at your place beside Joshua. Fight the enemy as you can. Serve the Most High as you are commanded. But realize that not even the greatest angel in Heaven can violate the freedom of the human mind.” As he spoke, Crispin cast a glance toward the Great Mountain of the North, the seat of God’s Presence in Heaven shimmering in the distance. “Even the Most High rarely places Himself between a man’s will and his destiny,” he added.

  “So, whether the people respond to Joshua or not; or whether they pray or not; or whether they have faith in the Lord or not is not yours to resolve,” Crispin concluded.

  “Well, our enemies have the luxury of interfering with humans in any way they can,” said Michael, grievously. “They do all they can to upset the human will and divert it to their end.”

  “Yes, that is the great paradox of the war, isn’t it?” responded Crispin. “Our enemy openly vies for control of the will of men, and we are bound to respect their will—even when it costs them everything.” Crispin looked up at Michael, the slight suggestion of a tear in his eye. “Just as it did in Eden.”

  Khasis watched as the Council convened. He stayed in the background, honored that Lucifer would choose his city in which to confer with his leadership at so critical a time in the war. He also understood that Jericho was strategically situated and that it would play heavily in the upcoming invasion.

  Watching the interaction among those present, Khasis witnessed a distinct hierarchy within the Council itself—a pecking order of sorts that revealed who was currently in favor with Lucifer and who was not. He had heard that such a situation existed within the Council structure, and he found it fascinating to witness it all firsthand.

  Though nominally everyone had a voice within Lucifer’s War Council, there were three main angels who dominated the deliberations and were also members of the Council of Seven. First was Kara, a very intuitive angel whose network of subtle spies made him dangerous both to angels and to men. He had information on everyone, it seemed, and thus made himself indispensable to Lucifer, even though Lucifer regarded him an ambitious buffoon. Then there was Pellecus, the academician who articulated Lucifer’s personal philosophy and teachings in order to justify his actions. He acted as Lucifer’s prophetic voice in order to instill a sense of sacred obligation to the cause in which they all found themselves. Finally there was Rugio, a brutal warrior whose cruel use of force among humans was well-known in the angelic world. He had a special hatred for Michael, and longed for the day when he could contest the archangel again.

  They were cunning, cold, and motivated—three necessary attributes if one was to successfully navigate in the treacherous waters of Lucifer’s hierarchy. All other members of the Council seemed like mere decorations in comparison with these three.

  But regardless of the bullying and bluster and jockeying for position that was rampant in Lucifer’s leadership, there was no question as to who was in charge. Lucifer had made it clear even before the war broke out that unless there was absolute unity behind his rule, all hope was lost. So whether through coercion or compromise, the Council continued taking their cues from Lucifer and disseminating his authority through their domains.

  “Come to order!”

  All the angels very quickly sobered up and looked in the direction of the familiar voice. Lucifer strolled in and nodded curtly to Khasis, who nodded back in effusive homage to the supreme angel who commanded him. Pellecus sneered at such toadiness, commenting to Kara that Khasis must be one of his disciples. Before Kara could respond, Lucifer took his place.

  They sat around the small amphitheater in a semicircle, Lucifer addressing them from the front. He looked at Khasis.

  “Come and join us, Khasis,” said Lucifer, motioning the angel to join the group. “As prince over Jericho this will be of utmost urgency to you.”

  Khasis overlooked some of the sneering angels in the Council as he strolled over to them. He then turned to Lucifer.

  “Thank you, my prince,” he began. “And may I add that it is my honor to offer my kingdom for this august body. I am indeed most interested in the…”

  “As well you should be,” interrupted Lucifer. “For should Joshua prevail, you will no longer be hosting anything. You will have lost your kingdom and your place.”

  Khasis stepped back, totally taken by surprise at Lucifer’s remark.

  “And kingdoms are won by strength and cunning,” added Kara. “Not by your pandering to the greater ones in this kingdom!”

  “You would do well to remember that yourself, Kara,” said Pellecus. “For when it comes to pandering, you are indeed without peer.”

  The Council began snickering.

  “Enough!” snapped Lucifer. “Our enemies are on the other side of the Jordan. They are poised and prepared to enter the land that was promised to them. The Canaanites are in great fear for their very lives. We must do all we can do to blunt the effect of the preparations, for we cannot stop the invasion.”

  The Council looked around at each other, perplexed at Lucifer’s admission that the Israelites would indeed enter the land.

  “You mean to tell us that Joshua will prevail in taking the land?” asked Belron, with an incensed tone. “It was my belief that these people could be managed—especially after the disaster in Egypt!” He glanced a sharp look at Kara.

  “Don’t accuse me, Belron,” retorted Kara. “You are so far removed from the war wit
h your little peoples on your little islands that you know nothing of true conflict. You deceive with woodland gods and simple spirits. We are contesting the living God!”

  “Puffs of smoke in great temples!” snapped back Belron. “In the end your deceit is just as crude as mine!”

  “But that is the point,” interrupted Pellecus, in a rare occasion when he agreed with Kara. “Our prince once said that religion is our greatest weapon. So whether we deceive through simple jungle spirits or complex cults, such as in Karnak or Babylon, makes no difference. The point is that Joshua is the responsibility of us all!”

  “Precisely,” agreed Lucifer. “The reason I never placed Canaan under any one authority was because I knew from the very beginning that the war would eventually center in Canaan. I wanted all of you to feel a collective responsibility for waging the war. And now the war has come home.” He then added ominously, “And should any of you become out of touch with the true nature of the war, I will remove you from your place of authority and replace you with someone with more of an appetite!”

  Belron looked slightly uncomfortable and sat back a bit.

  “Naturally we are all pledged to fight this war with great energy,” Belron said.

  “Naturally,” mocked Kara, grinning in delight at Belron’s humbling.

  “And so the war, as I said, has come home,” continued Lucifer. “What began in Eden, continued with a promise made to Abraham, and was carried on through Moses, has now returned like a plague.”

  Lucifer began pacing in front of the group.

  “Joshua will cross the Jordan,” he began. “Make no mistake. We cannot stop him. Our attempts to demoralize the people have largely been ineffective. Oh, there have been a few encouraging signs from time to time. But for now the people are with him.”

  “I understand that even those tribes whose lands have already been established on that side of the Jordan will help their brothers win their own lands on this side,” said Kara. “Such idiotic devotion! It says much about these people.”

  “It speaks volumes, Kara,” said Pellecus, a bit alarmed. He then addressed the group. “The fact that three of the tribes will leave their women and children in Bashan and send their men over to fight for the land speaks of the enormous confidence they have—not to mention the trust they have in the Lord to protect their possessions while they are away. I tell you, my prince, these people are more than motivated…they are bewitched!”

  Lucifer laughed.

  “I thought it was we who were in the business of bewitching humans,” he said.

  The Council laughed.

  “Nevertheless, my prince, the situation is critical,” snorted Pellecus, looking around at the others who were still amused at Lucifer’s remark.

  “Pellecus is correct, my brothers,” said Lucifer. “This is a critical moment. And a deadly one. We have known all along that the prophecy would work its way through these people like some sort of disease. So long as they were out of the land of promise we had a bit of comfort. While they were in Egypt we had a measure of control. Now they shall enter the land in which I believe the Seed shall be born.”

  “It will be difficult to fight them in their own land,” mused Rugio. “I have seen how humans fight more bitterly when they have a personal stake in something.”

  “Of course,” said Lucifer. “That is why we must always contest the legitimacy of their being in the land. The land is the key to defeating these people. All they have dreamt of is the land. They will hearken back to the rather dubious promises made to their ancestor, and we will oppose them outright. To desire the land is one thing; to occupy and be blessed in it is quite another!”

  An angel who worked with Kara appeared, and Kara nodded for him to approach. Lucifer stood by to hear this latest bit of news. Put out as he was by interruptions, he always gave way to one of Kara’s organization, since they usually brought the latest information.

  “Well?” asked Lucifer.

  “I am here to report that two spies have entered Jericho,” he said, not knowing whether to look at Kara or Lucifer. “They were sent by Joshua to spy out the city.”

  Lucifer glanced at Khasis.

  “Jericho is your domain,” said Lucifer. “The enemy has now made an incursion. What shall you do?”

  Khasis felt all eyes of Council upon him.

  “I shall take measures to let the king of Jericho know that this has happened. Jericho is ripe for talk. It shall not be difficult.”

  “Excellent,” said Lucifer.

  “Do they know where to find these men?” asked Kara.

  “We will find them,” said Khasis. “And we shall destroy them. It would make quite an impression on Joshua to have his spies sent back to him in a basket—at least part of them!”

  The Council nodded in affirmation.

  “Quite a greeting from the king of Jericho that would be,” said Lucifer, pondering the idea. “It would certainly cause some stir among the people. Very well, Khasis. We stand by your word. The war begins with the death of the two Hebrew spies.”

  Khasis nodded at Lucifer and, following a brief self-assured glance at Kara, vanished along with Kara’s angel who had brought the news. Lucifer looked toward the direction of the Jordan where the Israelites awaited their crossing.

  “Well now, Joshua,” he said. “You are waiting for news on just what sort of resistance your forces shall meet in this land. I can assure you the wait will be as short as the news is grim.”

  He then turned to the Council.

  “For generations the humans have spoken of returning to this place. They have presumed to call it their home. It has been told them by the Most High that it is a land flowing with milk and honey.” He repeated with a sense of distaste, “Milk and honey!”

  He walked over to a section of the great wall that surrounded the city and backed up to the king’s house. He stood next to the cold stone and patted it. “Brothers, this land shall not yield milk and honey, but death and destruction. These walls will not flow with milk and honey, but with the blood of our enemies. Before Joshua takes Jericho, he will find it a very different land!”

  He smirked at the Council. “If we have learned anything about these Hebrews, we have learned that they have no stomach for setbacks. Let’s see how they feel about their land of milk and honey after we sour their milk and give them hornets in place of honey!”

  Bethlehem, 4 B.C.

  “Did the spies make it into Jericho?” asked Joshua, who like the other shepherds was hanging on every one of Eli’s words. Of course he and every son of Israel already knew the answer to that one. Eli smiled.

  “Yes, Joshua,” the old man answered. “The Lord safely conducted the spies into Jericho. But the king got word of it and sent out his own spies to find them and bring them to him. They searched throughout the land and in every house in Jericho but the Hebrews were nowhere to be found…”

  “Rahab,” Joshua whispered a bit too loudly. His father smiled at his son’s eager response. A couple of the shepherds laughed aloud.

  “Yes, Rahab,” said Eli. He then leaned toward Joshua as if telling him a great secret. She was a…she made a rather questionable living.”

  “Yes, she was a harlot,” said Joshua casually, to the surprise of all and the delight of some.

  “Well, er…yes,” said Eli. With a quizzical look on his face and glancing at Joshua’s father he followed with, “Do you know what a harlot is?”

  “Of course,” said Joshua. “A harlot runs an inn for men!”

  Eli looked at a bemused Elron and some of the other shepherds, who were trying to conceal their laughter.

  “A very questionable occupation indeed, Eli,” said Jazzer, a middle-aged shepherd who was wiping his chin from a drink of water. “Very questionable those harlots…”

  “Yes, well, at any rate, Joshua, as you know, Rahab took the spies in and hid them on her roof under some flax. She said she would help them if they helped her. They all agreed that she was to ti
e a red cord from her window, which would provide protection for anyone staying in the house. A bit like the lamb’s red blood that protected our fathers in Egypt on the Passover night.”

  “Eli?” asked Joshua.

  “Yes, young man?” responded Eli.

  “It seems that whenever the Lord is saving His people He uses something red.”

  “Yes, He does,” mused Eli. “It seems the color red and salvation go together quite well.”

  CHAPTER 3

  “Are you for us? Or are you for our enemies?”

  Gabriel watched as a few more angels came trickling in around Bethlehem. The opposition was sure to gather soon as well. Thus he had posted sentries all around the area, especially with a particular couple who would be making their way into the city to register for the census.

  He looked across the meadow to where Bakka stood watching his charge, Daniel. Bakka glanced at Gabriel and motioned for him to come over. As Gabriel made his way to his friend he looked over at the group of shepherds still engaged in Eli’s discussion.

  “How is our friend doing?” asked Gabriel, looking at the sullen human.

  “Still moping, I’m afraid,” sighed Bakka.

  “Looks like two moping spirits here,” said Gabriel, eyeing Bakka.

  Bakka was taken aback.

  “Gabriel, I am not moping!” he said excitedly. “I simply wanted to be assigned elsewhere, that’s all. Tonight is to be an incredible evening. Look at all the angels pouring in. And whatever is to happen, I wanted to be a part of it. Not guarding a contentious and shallow human!”

  “You continue to encourage Daniel,” said Gabriel. “That is your part.”

  They looked at the man whose head was resting on his knees. He seemed to be listening from time to time to the others, but never fully taking it in. Bakka looked back at Gabriel, who motioned for him not to say another word.