The Fall - By Chana Keefer

CHAPTER Two

Rebellion



Rapha woke to celestial war.

Many had joined Lucifer’s rebellion. Heartbreak and devastation infiltrated the fabric of the heavenlies threatening to strip creation from its foundation, attempting to topple the very throne of Adonai. Finally Lucifer, the instigator and accuser, stood before the assembly proclaiming Adonai’s treachery.

Into the midst of this firestorm of severed trust strode Rapha, his eyes and voice aglow with faith in Adonai. In ages past Lucifer had ruled in the celestial court, his arguments the most compelling, his voice and mannerisms irresistible. But that day belonged to Rapha. Many who were prepared to cast their lot with Lucifer hearkened to the authority of Rapha’s testimony, moved to repentance by his absolute trust in Adonai’s goodness, while those who had remained faithful were ignited with renewed passion.

Even as Rapha spoke, flowing with eloquence, joyfully describing his rebirth, he could feel Lucifer seethe. Lucifer had been certain of victory, now Rapha could sense the shift as thousands hearkened to his words, “There is no room in Adonai’s goodness for deception or betrayal,” Rapha stated. With a surge of bliss, he felt Adonai’s pleasure.

It was at that moment Lucifer did the unthinkable. He attacked Rapha before the very throne of Adonai. Rapha’s words were cut off by searing pain as he realized a shard of light was protruding from his chest.

But Michael was prepared. While Rapha crumpled, eyes wide with disbelief, Michael’s forces, scattered strategically throughout the faithful and treacherous, leapt to action.

The brawl that ensued was decisive, not in determining a victor but in revealing loyalties. When it seemed every hand was raised in violence toward a brother, Adonai spoke one word.

“Peace.”

The heavenly inhabitants froze.

If the moment had not been tragic—and painful for Rapha who wrenched the shard from his chest—Rapha would have thought it comical to behold his celestial brothers caught in suspended animation, expressions of anger and surprise etched on their faces, bodies arrested in various violent postures.

“Samael,” Adonai addressed Lucifer who had one hand on Michael’s throat while the other grasped a jagged bolt of light aimed directly at Adonai’s throne. “Observe what your pride has done.”

Lucifer’s body shuddered as his hands were forced to his sides and the bolt of light dissipated. Finally, his tongue was loosed and he said through clenched teeth. “I hate that. Never call me that. I am Lucifer, the bright morning star!”

“Even in this moment, when all is brought to the brink of ruin, you consider only yourself.”

“Someone must watch out for my interests, as You once did.”

“Your lack of faith separates us.”

“My lack of…. Do you hear this?” Lucifer spoke to the motionless witnesses around him, “Adonai betrays us. Then he would lay the blame at my feet!”

“Enough.”

Once more Lucifer was mute though his eyes continued to flash with fury.

“Two choices are before you this day. Either repent of your rebellion and remain or… go.”

When Lucifer was once more released he spun, a blur of raging light, to fling cords of power, power that would have destroyed his defenseless brothers but for the sphere encasing him, a buffer from Adonai. Abruptly Lucifer stopped, stricken senseless by his own poison.

There would be no repentance. That day Lucifer and his followers, fully one-third of the celestial population, were banished.

Heartbreak infiltrated the heavenlies as longstanding friendships were severed.

It was not long before Lucifer’s forces felt the poverty of their new existence outside Adonai’s favor. Like fish gasping out of water, their bodies longed for His presence though they had not realized their need until they were deprived. A few threw themselves on Adonai’s mercy and accepted their sentence, an age of witnessing the ongoing drama trapped as watchers in the sky. But the rest believed Lucifer’s lies, that Adonai had goaded them to this place of desperation and rejoiced in their pain. Their hatred and hopelessness drove them to greater evil. They raged throughout the cosmos defacing all in their path, joining Lucifer in venting their fury. Galaxies were thrown out of alignment and whole planets were destroyed or rendered lifeless due to their scorching blasts.

Rapha and the other loyal celestials were dispatched to restore order. At every turn they were ambushed as Lucifer and his followers became adept at this colossal game of hide-and-seek, burrowing deep into planets to continue their destruction like unstoppable termites, devouring in darkness. Wars raged on distant planets as Lucifer tried to ensure no outpost of safety remained for Adonai’s prophecy of creation’s future redeemer. Even Rapha, battlescarred and weary of the struggle, had moments of doubt as Lucifer’s destructive lust swept the cosmos and verdant planets were reduced to dust-shrouded tombs.

Michael, the leader of heaven’s forces, also adapted as he learned to listen to Adonai’s quiet leading rather than rush headlong in reaction to Lucifer’s wrongs. To this end he relied heavily on Rapha whose ear was attuned to Adonai’s direction. Time and again they surprised Lucifer’s troops, having foreknowledge of his plans before they were put into action. Finally, heaven’s forces began to have the upper hand and the sphere of Lucifer’s influence began to constrict.

But Lucifer would not accept defeat. When he realized the noose tightening around his position he lashed out, driving his faithful hordes to madness as he screamed defiance and proclaimed the righteousness of their struggle.

How the heavens crashed with frightful flashings and rumblings. To the inhabitants of Earth, it appeared the end had come, as day and night strange flares lit the sky. Finally, the tide turned. Within Lucifer’s own hosts mutiny erupted and as the rebel forces fought among themselves, Michael’s troops surrounded them, cutting off Lucifer’s escape by forging an impenetrable net of heaven’s unified power.

Even then, bound, defeated and delivered before Adonai’s throne, Lucifer was defiant. “Is this how you treat your free citizens? Do you see, you blind beggars serving this tyrant?” Once more Lucifer was silenced. As he stood looking as if his tongue had sealed his lips, Adonai spoke.

“We will now hear the charges.”

Angel after angel stepped forward to state Lucifer’s offenses, even some who had joined him in his rampage across the heavenlies. Finally Adonai asked, “Will any stand to defend the accused?”

All was quiet. Still Lucifer held his head high to stare at those who had spoken against him.

Suddenly, every eye was drawn to Adonai’s throne where, in the center of holiness, the bright purity grew blindingly brighter until the brilliance pressed forward as if to engulf all. Just when Rapha felt his being crushed by overwhelming bliss, the orb of holiness contracted, compressing back to the throne, yet increasing in its intensity. Immediately the tension vanished and a dim shape became visible. To Rapha it appeared five darker points were emerging from the center of Adonai’s being. Gradually the shape became discernable—two arms swinging free, two feet striding, a bright robe covering the torso, and hair that flowed to the shoulders. But light did not pass through. Rapha pondered this fact. This being was clothed in light, he even glowed with Adonai’s radiance, but He was not of the same fiber as the surrounding celestials.

This relatively small someone strode until he stood before the throne within arm’s reach of Lucifer.

“I will speak for him,” the One said.

A jolt of joy coursed through Rapha. He had heard only five words from the man’s mouth, yet Rapha knew him. How could this be?

Lucifer stared at the white-robed figure and, with a hand over his mouth as if stifling a laugh he said, “Is this my only friend? How pathetic.”

But the One before the throne ignored him. “Father, Samael is your child. Whatever offenses he has committed, and they are many, let them fall on me.”

Lucifer gasped, “Father? Is this… No.”

The man continued, “My flesh and blood alone can restore him to holiness.”

“Your flesh and blood?” Lucifer spat. “This… thing is not worthy to stand in my presence!” Lucifer’s voice rose and his slander became more and more vile while the man stood, quiet and calm.

“Silence.” Adonai’s voice boomed from the throne. “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.”

A collective gasp resounded.

Lucifer stared up and down the small figure as if searching for a hint of greatness. In fact, Rapha could feel every eye fixed on the man, such a contrast to celestial splendor. This was the One—fully God and fully man. The prophecy stood before their eyes.

“So this is what all the fuss was about?” Lucifer sneered, “How disappointing.” But his body betrayed the condescending tone with tremors of fury.

The man before the throne turned to face Lucifer. “Will you accept Our gift, Samael?”

“I am the Morning Star, the brightest and greatest of all creation! I have no need of your beggar’s rations,” Lucifer proclaimed.

Once again the voice from the throne filled their ears. “At any time, Samael, my servant stands ready to restore you.”

“Restore? Him?” Lucifer laughed but his eyes remained deadly, “To what? Could I too be ugly and dress poorly?”

Though many celestial voices murmured with anger and Michael grumbled at Rapha’s side, the voice from the throne remained steady. “Since you reject restoration, your sentence is set. No more will you have access to the heavens. You will be confined to one planet just like those you destroyed.”

“That’s not fair! I am a citizen of the stars. It is my right….”

Adonai’s voice continued and Lucifer stopped speaking, his expression intent, as if straining to hear something better.

“Make your choice. Where will you abide?”

Rapha watched the thoughts play across Lucifer’s face. If a loophole were available, no matter how obscure, Lucifer would find it.

“Just to make things clear,” Lucifer said, “will I dwell alone?”

“No. I will not hinder those who choose to accompany you.”

Lucifer smirked, “I choose Earth.”

“No!” Michael shouted from the crowd. “He chooses Earth to hinder prophecy.”

“But, if the Most High wants to go back on His word….” Lucifer said.

Michael made a move toward Lucifer and Rapha laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“But,” Lucifer’s brow furrowed with concern, “am I correct in assuming I will maintain my other powers? After all, I must not be left to the mercy of my enemies.”

“Yes. Your other powers will remain.”

“But, Adonai,” Michael interjected again, “with all due respect, he must be stripped of his powers or he will destroy Earth.”

“Understand, Samael,” Adonai addressed Lucifer, “you are tied to the fate of Earth. To destroy her is to destroy yourself.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed, shrewd and calculating, “I will, of course, be the most powerful being there.”

“No. Authority over Earth is given to another.”

“To what? To this son of yours?” Lucifer hissed. “He will have no authority over me!”

But the trial was over. Lucifer, still screaming threats and defiance, was ushered from Adonai’s presence and the edict was put into effect. He and those loyal to him were confined to Earth and stripped of their access to the heavens.

As Rapha and the other celestials began the task of mending the scars of war, he could not help but shudder as he considered the fate of the tiny planet that now played host to a raging outcast angel. Perhaps Lucifer would be tamed by having his wings clipped?

Michael laughed when they discussed that possibility. Rapha agreed, but he did not have the heart to laugh.


Later, when all was relatively peaceful once again, Rapha sought Luc upon Earth, delving deep until he found himself returning to the place of his own unmaking. In these depths, a slight remnant of Adonai’s fragrance clung to the cavern walls. And there, in the very hole where Rapha had known both an end and a beginning, huddled Lucifer, his beautiful hands clutching like talons at his once-glorious hair that now hung about him like tangled vines. A heavy scent of grief enshrouded him as well as… could it be… fear?

“No matter how high I fly or how deeply I delve You are there,” Luc’s voice was a hoarse whisper, “and yet I am banished from Your presence… and yet… You. Are. Everywhere!” Luc’s hands gripped at his glowing arms as if to wrench them from his body.

“You mock me. I can feel it. You sit on your golden throne and laugh at the morning star that grovels in the dirt like… like a creature of dust!” A moan shook Luc’s frame. “Why? Why do You delight to dishonor me? What was my superior intelligence for if not to discover Your plan? Surely You knew I could not be fooled?” A gasp of pain escaped his lips. “Surely this was Your plan all along, to lift me high in order to crush me.”

Rapha could remain silent no longer. “Never. Adonai grieves. All heaven grieves the loss of bright Lucifer.”

Luc spun, crouching low as if ready to spring, “What? Now you are Adonai’s spy; relishing my pain to perform it as a jest before His throne?”

“I came of my own accord, Lucifer,” Rapha knelt to Luc’s level. “This has gone too far. Adonai will yet forgive….”

“Forgive?” Lucifer spat in disgust, “He should ask my forgiveness! He spins His webs of deception while those too simple… too cowardly—” his accusing gaze swept Rapha, “blindly sing His praises.”

“To trust Adonai’s love is the only true wisdom…”

“Don’t quote me your brainwashed rhetoric! ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,’” Luc’s eyes opened wide as his hands mouthed the air like puppets, “Blah, bull-ah, bull-ah! The Great Adonai’s wisdom has failed! He has set a course for our disgrace and destruction! I strive to protect you and the rest of my brothers yet I am banished! And you, my friend, stood silent.”

“I am still your friend, Luc. You are the one set on destruction. If I did not care I would not be here. Do you really think I desire burial beneath another mountain?”

Rapha caught a fleeting glimpse of humor in the poison-filled eyes as Luc shrugged with grudging admiration, “Yes. I thought we’d at least crush the fight out of you but it only buried you that much deeper in Adonai’s debt with your touching tale of rebirth.” He sneered, “Thanks to you and your passionate testimony of Adonai’s love, Phineas betrayed me. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised when Adonai has managed to turn even you against me.”

“I am not against you, but I stand with the Most High.”

“Even now you can join me, old friend,” Luc’s eyes widened. “We will prove Adonai’s error together. Perhaps with you on our side Gabriel could be influenced. We are strong, Rapha. We will break Adonai’s grip over us….”

The words continued as Rapha studied the earnest, perfect face before him. So, one-third of heaven’s hosts were not enough? How had he been so blind to Luc’s ambition? But even defeated and banished, Lucifer’s words wielded truth, appealing to their angelic fraternity, begging him not to end their ancient friendship. Rapha had been buried beneath a mountain by Lucifer’s fury yet still he felt the pull, the yearning to join the noble venture to wrest their fate once and for all from the controlling hands of Adonai.

A smile crept over Rapha’s features even as Lucifer spoke of war.

The hands of Adonai… the gentle, healing, creating, pure presence of his Lord… the unspeakable joy of pulsing with Adonai’s power… the sense of losing his identity in that fathomless sweetness… emerging empty yet bursting with fulfillment.

The compelling voice ceased as Lucifer realized the tension between them was gone. His eyes narrowed, “Even now Adonai whispers His lies to you. I’d recognize that vacant expression anywhere. Rapha! You must think for yourself!”

“I choose to be single-minded. If it does not please Adonai, I do not think it.”

“But Rapha! Brother!” Luc reached toward him with graceful hands. “Don’t you see? Perhaps this is Adonai’s plan. We are ready to rule but we must shake off our fear of Him. No one rules Him. To be like Adonai, no one can rule us!”

“You do not wish to rule us?”

In the split-second’s pause, Lucifer shut his eyes and a spasm of pain played across his features. The sadness in his eyes when he opened them was truly heartbreaking.

“I would… lead my brothers to greater glory.”

Rapha fought the sudden urge to let out an explosive “Ha!” like Michael. Instead he took a steadying breath to say, “And how would you deal with those who oppose you—uproot another mountain?”

“I tried to persuade you….” Lucifer began.

“Your own actions prove you are not ready to rule.” Rage flamed in Lucifer’s eyes and Rapha fought to keep his own voice steady. “Please, humble yourself. Adonai’s ways, His timing, His methods are perfect. The more you struggle against Him the more you destroy yourself!”

“Humble myself? He does not need my help to do that. I who was at Adonai’s right hand am left to grovel with filth!” A deadly resolve filled Lucifer’s face, “But I promise, though it take an eternity, one day Adonai will bow to me.”

The rumble started deep beneath their feet and grew closer until the cavern over their heads began to collapse.

“What, Adonai?” Lucifer shouted. “Would You, my creator, destroy your beloved? Go ahead and prove you are a selfish, vengeful God who maintains your throne by force rather than love!” His voice, Lucifer’s voice which had been able to coax the entire celestial court to glorious, perfection of song, which had been his greatest gift bestowed by his Creator, now screamed to match the deafening noise, “Go ahead and crush me! I will never stop! You have rejected me? I. Defy. You!”

Eyes bulging, Lucifer continued to rage, taunting and ridiculing the great Creator, commanding Adonai to prove His superiority.

Soon the rumbling ceased and Lucifer laughed in triumph, “Oh, that’s right. You’re so holy and long-suffering. Your righteousness stays your hand.” He cackled with glee and strutted to place a talon grip on Rapha’s shoulders.

Lucifer’s face was hardly recognizable. The peace and confidence was replaced by hatred, and his beauty was lost beneath rage that flickered across his features like tongues of fire. Rapha stood his ground as Lucifer pulled him close to whisper. “Be assured, old friend, I am hampered by no such weakness.” He kissed Rapha’s cheek, then, with a burst of fire that exploded the rock around them, he vanished.


All heaven waited. Surely Lucifer’s rebellion would not go unanswered.

But the surface of the land in that ancient age resumed its cycles—life and death, bloom and fade—as heavenly order was restored, more cherished by its inhabitants than ever, even though a threat was growing in the hidden shadows. Soon, what began as inconceivable rumor became undeniable.

Lucifer and his followers were corrupting the fabric of Adonai’s creation.

Rapha stumbled upon proof of this depravity in a forest glade from which rumors had risen. Woodland creatures did not add their chatter here. He felt the void of sweet breeze carrying the scent of fertile soil and woodland blooms; this ground was wounded, tainted, diseased. Dis-ease—the word fit. The air pulsed with a reek that choked the flow of life. Never before had a locale so repulsed Rapha, yet the inner, compelling force of Adonai willed him forward through an increasing stench that rose through fissures in the earth’s scarred skin.

To Rapha, accustomed to heaven’s breath, these sensations clawed at his sanity as he probed his surroundings with senses that far outstripped the wariest prey. Never before had those senses been such a curse. Faint but piercing cries assaulted his ears, cries of such despair and agony they drove him with a gasp to his knees toward the buried pestilence that wrapped round his being like poison tentacles. Eyes shut to shield against the horror, he clung to the lifeline of Adonai, feeling a gentle, sweet infusion of strength to face what horrors lay in store.

And he had only to open his eyes to find them.

A tiny humanoid foot, no longer than his thumbnail, lay half-hidden and quivering upon a bed of decaying leaves. With a trembling hand, Rapha parted the debris and a moan escaped his ancient lips.

Though the foot was that of an embryonic manchild, the rest appeared comprised of the spare parts of other species—feline ears, primate torso, reptilian skin on its upper body while some type of fur covered the lower half that ended with one human leg and foot. But Rapha’s horror was not due to its unnatural design but rather to what had been done to it. One leg and arm had been removed. The rest of its body was mutilated with diabolical, exploratory precision. The miniature talons on its remaining hand were clenched so tight that blood pooled beneath the self-inflicted piercings on its palm.

Worst of all, the creature was still alive.

Rapha scooped the remains into his hands, careful to dig beneath its bed of leaves to keep the beast cushioned, and cupped it to his breast. When a large tear fell from Rapha’s cheek to steam upward from exposed organs, the creature shuddered, and its nocturnally round eyes fluttered open to hold Rapha’s gaze, twisting a barbed knife deep into the angel’s soul. He did not want to see into the creature’s mind but those large eyes held his, a gateway to horrors visited upon helplessness.

Rapha gasped in pain with the memories of ripping, of piercing, of twisted, powerful faces with no remorse for the torture they inflicted. Rage engulfed him. He knew those faces… trusted, beloved brothers whose eyes now mirrored the ruthless ambition of Lucifer.

Down, down he was pulled into the madness of the creature’s mind, choking on memories of chambers thick with death, fear, endless pain, and the poison of despair.

He wrenched his mind free and held the creature to his breast. When he felt a feeble claw clutch his chest he cried out in the language of the heavens, “Adonai! Ah! El Dai-ine!”

How could Adonai know and yet… do nothing?

Rapha looked down through a haze of his own confusion and met that same emotion in the creature’s eyes. Their lives had been worlds apart and yet they shared this moment, the same thought… why… how?

Mercy demanded he should kill the creature, end its torture.

He could not do it. Instead, Rapha sat in the leaves, oblivious to all but the spasms of his tiny ward whose heart continued to beat even as its blood poured into his palm. His vigil continued until the creature, its large eyes probing and questioning to the very end, shuddered a last wracking breath and grew still.

Rapha remained, lost in darkness despite a persistent sun piercing the forest’s canopy.

As if from a great distance, he became aware of a roar, a sound that carried such rage and grief that all nature trembled. Slowly, Rapha realized the sound came from his own mouth opened wide in agony as he too longed to know the release of death. It was the first time a mortal end seemed welcome. It would not be the last.

“Ah. I see you found my gift.”

Rapha had been so consumed by confusion, grief, and despair, Lucifer’s arrival had gone unnoticed. His old friend was watching with an obscene, rapturous expression.

As Lucifer’s voice ripped through him, stirring old wounds and raking across new devastation, Rapha succumbed to emotion and summoned his angelic forces, who began to appear, their pure light surrounding the fallen angel who crouched on a fire-scarred hillock, staring down on Rapha’s torment with shining eyes. Except for the voice, Rapha would hardly have known him. Angelic beings do not age but Lucifer had always been a “youthful” presence, eager and teasing. Now, rather than light, his face bore deep shadows and the eager expression had been transformed to unquenchable greed. And Rapha’s pain was his feast.

The desire to erase Lucifer’s mocking smile shoved Rapha’s grief aside. How he lusted to channel his rage toward Lucifer and his followers. Visions of blasting through soil and rock to destroy every trace of death, stench and corruption were a dizzying wine. Rapha could taste revenge on his tongue… and he savored it.

But even in this moment, Adonai’s will flowed clearly into Rapha’s mind.

“This is not the hour of retribution.”

Now came the real test as Rapha faced his greatest temptation. What Lucifer deserved was clear, but what Adonai asked…. How could holiness allow this abomination to go unanswered?

Lucifer’s mocking laughter cut through Rapha’s turmoil. “Adonai demands mercy, right? But you, mighty warrior, desire justice. How long will you serve such weakness?” The question ended in a hiss.

Righteous fury was almost Rapha’s undoing. Never had he been more vulnerable than at that moment, longing to rip Lucifer in exactly the way the tiny creature had suffered. Then he looked down at its mangled body still cradled in his hands. The compassion that overwhelmed him, straight from Adonai’s heart, cooled the heat of revenge. The words Adonai implanted in Rapha’s consciousness made no sense, but they carried reassurance.

“This very seed will one day hasten his defeat.”

No, Rapha would not strike with physical force this day. But he could not resist goading his enemy just once. Looking up, he fixed the peace of Adonai on Lucifer like a laser, held that malicious gaze for one eternal second—and smiled. A flicker of uncertainty stirred in Lucifer’s eyes.

Rapha opened a single thought to Lucifer as he disappeared with the creature still cradled to his breast:

“You always did hate secrets.”