heaven
into the dark abyss. And falling, they knew terror. Soon not one of
Lucifer's followers remained in heaven. All had been pushed over the
side into the abyss.
Later, Michael returned with his exhausted but victorious troops
and he passed by the shattered Timothy.
"If I were Lucifer," Michael said to Timothy, "I
would have cause for cursing you for all eternity."
They fell. Into an unknown world, a black void with only the
rushing air in their ears, tumbling, turning, shouting with terror
and hearing the cries of the others. Some feared that they would fall
like this forever.
Entire legions of once-bright angels fell for seven days and seven
nights. Then suddenly, they struck firm ground and were immediately
hit by other angels who fell on top of them. They crashed on a broken
terrain covered with gritty mud and wetness. Foul, sulfurous smoke
roiled about them and a dead red glow emanated from some of the
rocks. Nearby was a lake of fire.
None moved. They were in agony and barely conscious.
The Lord summoned Michael and Abdiel to His sanctum. They sat at
the conference table and the Lord was possessed by wrath. But He
spoke very little.
Abdiel lay back in his chair, hands clasped before him, a leg
thrust straight out. "Punishment," he said. "There
must be punishment."
"Forgiveness," Michael said. "Wounds must be
healed. Their punishment already has been terrible."
"Tell me," Abdiel demanded, "what punishment for
Lucifer can equal what he did?"
"For Lucifer has suffered the greatest self-punishment of
all. Defeat."
Abdiel slowly thumped the table with his fist in cadence with his
words. "Lucifer must be made to pay. He must be made to kneel
before the heavenly throne and apologize and beg facedown for
forgiveness. The Lord must stand upon Lucifer's neck!"
Michael looked at the Lord. "Turn the other cheek, Lord."
"Ha!" cried Abdiel.
"Lucifer is a proud angel," Michael said. "He felt
justified in his act. He was demoted." Michael fixed his eyes on
the Lord. "He felt disgraced. With no explanation. He was
unfairly treated."
The Lord sat bemused. He didn't answer Michael's accusations. He
kept a thoughtful hand over His mouth as He turned His gaze to
Abdiel.
"Punish him," Abdiel demanded. "If You do not
punish him, then the others who remained loyal will feel slighted.
Loyalty will be set at naught in heaven. Other rebellions will
follow. This must never happen again."
"If You punish Lucifer, it will happen again,"
Michael insisted. "There will be warfare for eternity. We will
never know peace again. Love will grow sickly and languish. Sad times
will prevail."
The Lord made no answer.
"What about Timothy and his forces?" Michael demanded.
"If we punish Lucifer, then Timothy's forces may join Lucifer's.
We won't fool him a second time. Together Lucifer and Timothy can
overwhelm us. We can't afford vengeance."
The Lord stirred Himself and looked with burning eyes at Michael.
"Leave Timothy to me," He said.
"This was not of our doing," Abdiel insisted. He pointed
a blunt unbending finger at Michael. "Ask Lucifer if he
forgives! Ask him if he will return here and live in obedience. Ask
him!"
In the end Abdiel's arguments prevailed. He was sent to hell to
deal with Lucifer. And Abdiel found Lucifer and his forces still
writhing in great pain from their fall. They were shadowy figures in
the half-light that came from the glowing rocks, and the fitful
flames of the burning lake. They were black and mired from the muck
they lay in.
Abdiel's legions searched among the falling with glowing torches,
pulling them apart, kicking them to wakefulness, searching for
Lucifer. They found him sitting on a rock, staring at the ground,
almost catatonic in his self-absorption. They led him to Abdiel.
"I am to tell you, Lucifer," Abdiel said, "that you
must abnegate yourself before the Lord. Your crimes must be examined
in open court before all the loyal angels. You must kiss His feet and
beg forgiveness and