CHAPTER 2 – Glories of Heaven

Joel bit his upper lip, then said, ‘You mean the Myriad went into the Mountain through this hole?’

‘Exactly,’ Ariel responded.

Gaius knelt over the hole. Gingerly, he placed his hand over it and an expression of surprise came to his face. ‘It is warm.’

‘But how do we get in?’ Joel began, ‘we cannot fit through such a tiny opening.’

Gaius shrugged his shoulders. ‘Maybe we should just forget it. Maybe the Myriads are not all that interesting.’

‘We cannot come all this way for nothing,’ Ariel replied, ‘there must be a way in.’

‘It could be that our kind are not supposed to see what is inside,’ Joel mused.

‘There are countless other places to search out,’ Gaius remarked, ‘we will miss doing so before evening if we stay here.’

‘Where next?’ Ariel asked.

‘There is a place that caught my attention when Yahweh was creating heaven.’

‘Where?’

‘You will have to see it for yourself.’

With Gaius in the lead, the three angels streaked over the terrain of heaven like triple comets. Their glory illuminated the ground as they passed over fields and rivers, plains and plateaus, hills and mountains. After some time of flying, they came upon what looked like a deep valley gorge. When they got closer to it, Gaius gestured for them to dive into the valley. Like falling stars, the three angels dove into the gorge that was formed by a sharp split in the flat terrain, creating a wide, jagged crack.

The dimness of the gorge soon gave way to what seemed like a river of hazy light at the bottom of the valley. Like a spear through water, they passed through a portal and immediately entered what appeared to be another realm. The three angels were now in a place that was relatively similar to heaven. It was somewhat different, however, because unlike heaven, it was not lit with the Shekinah glory of God. The realm was cast in a twilight glow that was far removed from the brightness of heaven. Unlike heaven, there were no rivers, lakes, or even plant life.

As the angels touched down on the bare ground, Joel commented, ‘How could a place like this catch your interest, Gaius? It is practically a wasteland.’

‘I don’t know,’ said Ariel, ‘it looks more like it was unfinished.’

‘That was what caught my interest,’ responded Gaius. ‘Why would Yahweh create an unfinished realm?’

‘Unless…’ Ariel began to say but stopped short.

‘Unless?’ Gaius urged.

‘Unless it is meant to be a bridge.’

‘A bridge?’ Gaius and Joel both chorused.

‘Yes. Like a neutral point between two realms.’

‘But that would require there being three realms, Ariel,’ Joel replied in a puzzled tone, ‘right now there are only two realms, heaven and this place.’

Ariel turned to Gaius. ‘Does this place have a name?’

‘Yahweh referred to it as the realm of the air as well as the second heaven.’

‘Hardly looks anything like heaven to me,’ Joel commented as he looked out across the bare expanse that seemed to stretch out endlessly in a few directions. Stark rocky ranges that lay on the terrain like mammoth spines punctuated the flat tundra.

‘Well,’ said Gaius, ‘one thing is for sure. We cannot possibly explore much of this place without being late for the assembly.’

Ariel looked out across the vast space before him. He could not help but be intrigued by his surroundings. Something in him just knew that it was unlike Yahweh to create something unfinished. Perhaps, he thought, there were yet to be other things that Yahweh would create. But what could it possibly be? He knew Yahweh did not create anything without purpose. Angels were not created all-knowing, but they were birthed with indwelling knowledge of many principles.

Turning to Gaius Ariel asked, ‘Is there anything beyond this realm?’

Gaius’ face took on a somber look. ‘Yes. It is something that even angels dread.’

Ariel’s wide-eyed stare begged for an answer.

Gaius heaved a sigh. ‘Beyond this realm is nothingness, an empty vault of no sound, no light, no life.’

‘Even more curious than the second heaven,’ Joel interjected. ‘We have no knowledge of why it exists.’

‘It is still only the first day of our creation,’ Gaius remarked. ‘We have all of eternity to learn and explore.’

‘You’re right,’ said Ariel, ‘it is not like all this will end tomorrow.’

The three angels then took to the skies and headed for the portal that led home.

The Mount of Assembly was located in the northern extremes of heaven. It rose up out of heaven’s terrain like a monolith, towering for millions of feet into the sky. Like a twirling mass of constellations, the angelic hosts made their way towards the Mount. The face of the inner side of the mount was like an arena, having terraced surfaces where angels would be seated.

Like gently falling snowflakes, angels of every race, class, and visage touched down on the Mount. When Ariel, Gaius and Joel got to the mount, most of the gathered were already seated. They joined the throng of angels and found a spot where they could all sit together. In rapt anticipation, they gazed out across the vast valley where Yahweh and his entourage were gathered.

‘Gaius,’ a chirpy voice called out from behind.

Gaius turned around to see a lithe, springy angel with stringy yellow hair making his way over to him. ‘Excuse me, so sorry, pardon me, dear fellow…’ the angel phrased all the way as he managed to step on everyone’s foot as he made his way through the throng. When he reached where Gaius, Ariel and Joel were, he flopped himself down with a sigh of exasperation.

Gaius slapped the angel on the back and he almost toppled over. ‘Alden, what are you doing here?’

Alden gave a slight smile. ‘How could I forget the angel who grabbed my arm and saved me from stumbling onto the crystal sea?’

Ariel knew that the crystal sea was an area of pure crystal that was around Yahweh’s throne and was off limits to all but the Chief Princes, the Seraphim, and the several ministering spirits that were always before Yahweh’s throne. Ariel could understand the angel’s gratitude towards Gaius.

‘You should have seen the look on his face when he first saw Yahweh,’ Joel said somberly. ‘He took two paces back too many.’

Alden was obviously embarrassed now.

Gaius good-naturedly grabbed him by his shoulder and shook him. ‘Come, come now, Alden. There is no need to be red in the face. We’re all friends here. Oh, I’m forgetting my manners,’ Gaius turned to Ariel. ‘Alden, meet Ariel. Joel and I saved him from a fate that was more embarrassing if not as serious as yours.’

‘Really?’ said Alden, obviously glad that the subject had changed from him.

‘Oh yes,’ Joel muttered.

Gaius grinned widely. ‘We rescued him from being trampled to a pulp by a herd of horses. He had the clever idea of trying to tame them.’

Alden smiled impishly. ‘Now that I would never do.’

Joel brushed his hair out of his eyes. ‘Neither would I’

Just then, Michael the Archangel made his way towards a podium that was set facing the gathered masses. With an upraised hand, he gestured for silence. The throng of angels on the mountain fell into a reverent hush. The several ministering spirits that stood before Yahweh’s throne raised their trumpets to their lips. Together, they raised up a symphonic sound that blared with intensity and washed all over heaven.

Before the throne was a layer of precious stones that began to glow with heat and light. The louder the trumpeting got, the more intense the stones would glow. Lucifer gently descended out of the air and alighted on the stones, his expansive, translucent wings undulating as he did. All eyes were riveted on the Cherub as he walked on the stones of fire. Lucifer stood in the consuming glow and basked in it, his countenance bearing nothing but complete, rapturous euphoria. The trumpeting stopped, and there was a moment of silence. The stones of fire slowly faded in glory and now only gave off a soft luminescence.

Lucifer stroked his wings once and rose up above Yahweh, then gracefully alighted and took his post behind the throne. Yahweh sat resplendently on the throne of pure crystal-like gold. Like a covering canopy, Lucifer outstretched his wings above and around Yahweh, assuming his role as the covering cherub. The Shekinah light that poured from Yahweh and was reflected off Lucifer’s jeweled robes gave a prism effect, creating a rainbow-like display of colors that danced on Lucifer’s august form. The covering cherub was no doubt quite the most breathtaking creature in all of heaven. At that moment, his resplendence seemed to rival even that of Yahweh himself.

Lucifer relaxed his wings and Yahweh stood through them as Michael retreated from the podium and took his place beside the throne. Yahweh was a tower of power and synergy. His hair and beard gleamed, his eyes burned like torches, spirals of light rippled from His lips and dissipated into tiny fragments of rainbows. Yahweh’s multi-layered robes wafted regally in purple, gold and platinum. His train ran down to the ground in river-like ripples of quicksilver. His very presence inspired awe. Every angel gazed at the Creator with bated breath.

‘Hosts of heaven,’ Yahweh began, ‘we are about to embark on a journey of discovery. Before us is eternity. It is an eternity in which you will be given all that is needed to fulfill each of your destinies. In you is the potential to gain knowledge, to create and to take joy in creation. In the course of your learning, you are free to consult Lucifer or myself in any matter that you do not understand. We will address your concerns and wishes.

‘All of you have been assigned your own habitation. In the city, there are numerous mansion quarters. I have prepared them according to your individual taste and liking. I am sure you will find them most comfortable.

‘I will not halt the proceedings any further but will allow the ministrations to continue.’

Yahweh reseated himself, and Lucifer, on cue, repositioned his wings to shield the assembly from Yahweh’s glory. Just then, a wiry angel who seemed to be full of vim made his way up to the podium. In his hand, he carried a slender baton made of clear crystal. The angel had sharp, hawk-like features and a mop of white hair that seemed unable to find any way to be neat. The angel stood stalwartly behind the podium and looked out across the assembly with an air of scrutiny.

The angel cleared his throat and began, ‘My name is Ventrilo. I am the choir’s conductor.’

There was a moment of silence, as he seemed to give everyone the opportunity to take in the news.

Ventrilo continued, ‘It is my job to mould you, to shape you, to elevate you to the zenith of musical heights. You will learn melody, rhythm and tempo,’ Ventrilo went on, gesticulating with each sentence as though words were not enough to convey his meaning.

‘Together, we will raise the most glorious praise to our Lord and our Creator. We will go to the depths of devotion. We will climb the heights of passion. We will make the most glorious music. I must warn you. I demand nothing short of perfection.’

Lucifer’s wings undulated for a moment, then rested. His benign eyes looked out from behind the throne with peaceful sobriety.

Ventrilo lifted his hands dramatically in the air. ‘Fellow angels, let us now stand and begin the journey of discovery. Today we begin that journey of praise and worship to Yahweh, the almighty, omnipotent one. We will begin with the song that you were all birthed knowing. Let us sing the Hallelujah praise!’

Every angel on the mountain stood, and as one, voices and hearts joined together in the first song of creation. Slowly, the melody built. It began with a soft, harmonious canticle. Rising steadily, it built into a soaring symphony of ethereal smoothness that wafted through the air and caressed the ear with a sweetness that was heady and euphoric.

Ariel could feel the song of creation melting into him. He could feel it coursing through his veins. It burned within him. It pulsated within him. It enveloped him. He became one with it. It became one with him. Surely there was nothing as rapturous and beautiful as praising Yahweh. Worship gave him a peace that was beyond his comprehension. All that he was, all that he needed to be, was found in that one moment—that one moment when he became one with the song, in that moment when he felt as one with Yahweh.

Over and over, the chorus wafted through the air. Ventrilo was in the full grips of ecstasy. With one hand, he conducted the rhythm and range of voices, signaling with his baton. The stones of fire began to glow again, and this time fire danced on them. The music rose and rose. It built up to a massive crescendo. The stones of fire glowed fiercely in response. Higher and higher the praise went, and then, in one final climax, every voice soared with such intensity that it seemed the very foundations of heaven shook. The stones of fire gave off an explosive emission of fire and light.

And then it was over. The song ended. The stones of fire waned to a soft glow. Every angel hung in the afterglow of an indescribable joy. Ariel breathed deeply of contentment. The praise, the worship, the brotherhood—all this would go on forever. Surely there was no end to their joy in sight. It would all be an eternal bliss.