In The Beginning - Chapter 11 (Betrayal)

Chapter 11

Lucifer gazed down at the garden and watched the man and the woman living in utter joy while worshiping God and obeying his command not to eat of the tree.  They were worshiping Him because they chose to worship Him.

He looked around at the hosts of heaven and felt frustration that those who obeyed his commands did so because they had to, not because they wanted to.  “I would make a good God,” he thought.

He had been observing the princes and their hosts since he was created.  He began to study them, to look for those who would obey his commands no matter what.  He remembered the conversations he had overheard and began to formulate a plan.

Those he thought would obey his commands he called aside.  “Are you happy with your roles?” He asked.

They looked around at each other and one replied “We are what we are; there is nothing else.”

“What if I told you that you could all be princes?” he asked.

“We were not all created to be princes,” replied one member of the angelic host as the others looked at each other in confusion.

At this Lucifer pulled the princes from the group and asked them, “Will your hosts follow your commands?”

“They will,” replied the Prince of Persia.

“Look at me,” said Lucifer.  “Am I not the most beautiful and most powerful being you have ever seen?”

“Save for God himself,” replied the Prince of Persia.

“If we all band together, we can rule heaven and Earth.”  He said.  “We can be like God.”

He waited for a moment for this to sink in.  The princes were astonished.  He couldn’t have said what they just heard, it wasn’t possible.

“If we band together we can take over heaven and rule it all, both heavenly and earthly realms.  If you will bind together and swear allegiance to me, I will lead you to power and glory.  When God sees that He is defeated He will have no other choice but to succumb.”

“What of the Cherubim?” replied one of the princes.

“We will overwhelm them with the force of our numbers.”  He replied.  “If you follow me, we shall surely win and we shall surely be like God Himself!”

Each of the princes looked to the others then back at Lucifer.  “Where you lead we will follow,” said the Prince of Persia.  The Prince of Grecia said nothing, but listened intently.

One of the others exclaimed, “He is the Lord God, Creater of Heaven and Earth.  He is all powerful and cannot be dethroned!”

Lucifer looked at him with disdain.  “Do you know who I am?”

The question was rhetorical and the others standing before him cowered a bit in fear of the most powerful of all angelic beings.

And then, just as easily as telling a joke the unthinkable happened.  “I have seen things that you have not seen,” said Lucifer, “I have seen God’s vulnerability.  Why do you think he created the Cherubim if not to protect himself?  Why would an almighty God need protection?”

Never before in Heaven or on Earth had a lie been told.  Having never before happened it was unthinkable that it could happen now, coming from the master of all angels.

He glared at the prince who dared to question him.  “Where will you be when I rule all Heaven and Earth and the God you so adore is left with nothing?  Where will you be when I am God?”

“I will be your servant,” he replied, and bowed his head in deference.

He looked at the entire group and said, “Take your hosts, then, and mix yourselves up with the others.  When I give the signal, you turn on the others and bind them with chains such that they cannot break free.  You, Prince of Persia, when I give the order you come with me.  We will charge the throne room and make God our captive.  When He sees that He has no host to support Him He will have no choice but to succumb.  Our victory will be swift and complete.”

The Prince of Grecia took his place among the other princes and waited.  When Lucifer and the others had finally dispersed he approached Michael.

“Michael,” he said.  “May I have a word?”

“Of course,” replied Michael as they stepped away from the crowd that accompanied Michael wherever he went.

“Lucifer has enticed many of the princes to betray God,” he whispered.

Michael was astonished.  It was unthinkable that such a thing could be possible.  Angels were not given free will; they were each made for a job and they had no choice but to do it.  How could this be?

“How many are with him?” asked Michael.

“More than half of the princes were there, as was I.  The Prince of Persia has sworn his allegiance to Lucifer along with the allegiance of his host.  I did not say anything at the time and I am not sure how many will actually follow him.”

“You have done well,” said Michael.  “Wander about among the hosts and see if you can determine how many will actually support Lucifer.  I will inform God.”