Yahweh's War
The Voyage: Chapter Four
People & Angels
Raj looked around him uneasily. "Why is it that I always feel your aggression?" he said testily. He and a dozen Sons of God had gathered at his new apartment in New Delhi to work on social media plans. Jesus had made it clear that he wanted the spiritual beings to start interacting with humans.
"Us! You're the one! Why do we always feel like you think that any moment we are going to stab you, or something?! You’re the one who is always aggressive.”
Raj was forced to laugh. He did tend to fear them. Earth angels felt much more antagonistic than the angels he had met in Heaven. Maybe he was a little afraid of them but, after all, they had been demons. He hadn’t gotten used to being around them in the few times he had seen them in Cristi’s presence and he wasn’t ready to relax. “Okay, okay, fair enough,” he said. “Let’s make a deal. You drop the silent challenges towards me and I won’t judge you and you don’t judge me. Okay? Let’s just trust Yahweh knows what he is doing.”
He tensed as he waited for their response. Their muscular energy was flowing all around him. And yes, it felt very aggressive.
“Deal,” said Conor, the leader of the angelic group.
“Okay. Let’s get down to business. First item: what do you want me to put on social media about you?"
“Wait a moment,” said Conor. “We can’t see you that well. Stop and think for a moment.”
Raj looked over, startled. “Think of what?”
“Think of something that will help us to see you so we can communicate better. How about when you went to Hell with Jesus?”
Raj instantly remembered his terror and flushed red. He regretted his fearful response when he thought Jesus was going to leave him there.
"No, no! Not that!" Conor said immediately. "Something positive. Remember being in Jesus’ presence."
"What about singing?” a dark-haired angel with bright snapping eyes suggested. “Why don’t you sing?”
"What are you talking about!"
"We can see you best when you are more focused on the spiritual realm than the physical. Since you have been to Heaven, you tend to have a stronger spiritual presence then most humans but the more aligned with the spiritual realm you are at any moment, the better we can see you. You look a bit dim right now. Some of us might not hear you."
"No one ever complained in Heaven.”
The group laughed. “Well, duh. You were focused on eternal things because you were there.”
Raj grinned at them. “Oh yeah? Well, why is it that I can see you better sometimes than others? Aren't you always in the spiritual realm?"
"We don't know. Holy Spirit surrounds you. You see us by him so I suppose it depends on how well you are sensing him.”
"I thought it was Jesus who is always with me?"
They laughed again, and Raj saw that their body language was relaxing.
"They are one. Holy Spirit is always present. So is Jesus, but Holy Spirit is the one who facilitates seeing and hearing everything in the spiritual realm."
Raj sat still for a moment. He lowered his head. Suddenly he felt totally inadequate to do what Jesus had asked him to do. How was he supposed to relate to these immense angelic beings let alone carry their story in a way that could be understood? Jesus should have picked a preacher!
He heard a quiet voice say just behind him, "I brought you to Heaven for this reason." Raj was never sure afterwards whether it was Jesus or the Holy Spirit who spoke to him but he immediately responded, "Right. I can do this."
He turned back to the Sons whose presence had started to fade from his view with his fearful thoughts. "Okay, let’s do it. So, what do you want me to say? Shall, I put that you’re sorry, or that you are there, or what? What's your idea?”
It was quiet for a moment. Raj shifted uncomfortably. Someone - or more than one - had started to weep. Now he could feel the Holy Spirit behind him and around him. He leaned back into the strengthening presence. Raj looked around at the serious faces and saw tears in the angel’s eyes. He felt humble.
"We want them to know that we are like all of you!" blurted one suddenly. "We feel, we think, we care. We are sorry that we let sin overcome us and that we left Yahweh. We really blew it and we know it. We want to make it up to you."
"Yes! We can work together," said another angel whose hair stood straight up on his head in a very tall, spiky Mohawk. The tight hairdo pulled his face and eyebrows up too so that it looked like he was perpetually startled. His hair had a blue tint to it. The angel twisted his hands as he leaned forward to gaze in Raj’s face. Raj felt as though the being was pleading with him. "Tell them, ‘try and see us. When you sense our presence, talk to us. We are listening. If you need help, ask us. We mean you no harm, only good. Let’s work together’."
"Do you think if we say we promise that it will make any difference?" he asked Raj.
Raj hesitated, "Well, I don't ..." he started but another angel interrupted, flinging his arm out dramatically, "No! They are not going to trust us! Why should they? If they can't see us, they can't see Jesus or Yahweh and Holy Spirit. They won't know it is safe unless God backs it up, and they can't hear God."
"That's not fair," said Raj. "I see you. I hear you. And you said that you can't see me too well at times. You can't blame humans for not seeing you when most people don't even know you exist, or even realize that they could see angels."
Raj felt an unspoken threat ripple through the air. Suddenly, it was as though he could see their thoughts. So, this is how they read me so easily, he realized. He could see that they were thinking of the Church and its uncertain history of teaching people how to function in the spiritual realm. Why hadn’t the Church taught people to interact? Of course, they had been demons then, but before he could finish the thought, he felt the Holy Spirit bristling. Raj saw in a flash of understanding several things at once: Holy Spirit reserved the right to address the Church himself. Jesus loves the Church and Holy Spirit was not going to let them be criticized by long-time enemies, even though they are now repentant. Holy Spirit had a deep, heartfelt desire that people would understand and learn to see and hear in the spiritual realm, as he created them to do. He had hope. Holy Spirit would help anyone to learn to see; anyone who asked him, angel or human. The threat surrounding Raj diminished and then disappeared. Clearly the angels could understand what the Holy Spirit was projecting towards them.
Raj said diplomatically, "Okay, let's stay on target. We will just have to trust that some people, some-time, will see you. So, let’s get back to summarizing what you want me to say on social media."
Privately, he wished he was an artist. If only he could take a picture and draw the scene with the intense, yet forlorn, looks on the faces of the angels surrounding him, while their tall bodies towered over him. He glanced down at the notebook in his hand. What if he added a quick sketch?
"I think we have enough to get started," he reassured them. “Would you like to take a break for now? I will make a Facebook page. How about I call it, 'People & Angels’ and have the byline, ‘Let Your Better Angels Win'. Maybe this approach will soften the impact for those of you who feel chagrin over P & A's past relationships.”
"Yes, that will work," Conor said with relief in his voice. Then, as if a signal had been given, the whole group unfurled and launched quickly up and out of the room. The same quiet voice said just behind him, "I will tell you when to gather again.” Raj nodded. He felt tired. He picked up his notebook and started towards his office. He might as well type his notes up before heading to bed.
"Thank you," he said to Holy Spirit.
"You're welcome," was the reply.
Yahweh’s War
Raj had barely sat down at his computer when Cristi walked in. Raj swiveled to look at the Angel Leader. He wondered if the group had gone straight to him to complain that Raj wasn’t being reasonable. Cristi didn’t look angry but you never know, he thought.
Cristi sat down on the short couch against the wall by the right of Raj’s desk. Immediately he jumped up and started pacing around the small room.
“Look Raj, there is no other choice. This has to start with humans seeing and then the word has to spread until more and more start to see us. I know that for a long time it was horrible for people. I get it. Just like everyone else, I have participated in oppressing and persecuting people. I know what it was like. Families and lives have been affected for thousands of years. There has been so much pain in so many ways. I know. I know. I realize that people are going to feel anger and rage and all kinds of emotions before they are ready to extend forgiveness. It is going to take time to undo the abuse we have done once people do start to see us. But, this is not just about forgiveness. There are deeper things at play. This is about the future and about the fate of the world. It affects the children and the future of this planet. Yahweh’s plan is based on the recovery and restoration of the world in preparation for the War in Space – Yahweh’s War. We will be in it before too much time passes.”
Raj felt a shiver pass over him at the words, Yahweh’s War. He couldn’t imagine forces that were strong enough to oppose the Creator of the Cosmos. What was ahead?
Cristi sat down for a moment before going on, “We need to resolve our differences as best as possible wherever the fault on either side.”
"On either side!” said Raj. “What fault is there from humans towards you?"
Cristi looked at him seriously. "You ignored us. You couldn't see us. You didn't try. You participated in sin, just as we have. To us, it felt like you didn't care. You just basked in Yahweh's favor."
Raj gasped. This had to be the most distorted view of humanity he had ever heard. He knew that people feel separated from God, unloved, forgotten, not even sure if he exists. People, religious or not, almost never focused on angels and what they are doing or thinking.
“We don’t even think of you! Most of us didn’t even know of your existence – and you were demons,” he said hotly.
Cristi nodded. “Yes, we were. But now we have returned from our fallen state. What about you? Have you repented as a race? Can’t we now be accepted? We want to work together.”
“The thing is, Cristi, it really isn’t up to me. I don’t know how to get people to respond. I hardly know how to get my head around the fact that Jesus wants me to put together a social media campaign and tell people to look for you. And, is it all over? Is there really peace between humans and angels? Aren’t there consequences to you for what you did?”
“Well, it depends. Forgiveness that extends to humans from God extends to us, thanks to the sacrifice for all sin, including ours, that Jesus made. He forgives freely when we return freely. We have agreed to return but there are times that we do have to punish actions that got too far out of line. For instance, there is a group of Sons who were trained to focus on bringing psychological downfall. We had a united campaign in which demons told people that they are losers all day long, from the moment they woke up. All - day - long,” he emphasized slowly, “we drummed the message – loser, loser, loser - in people’s ears. People really got depressed and they had no idea why they felt so unhappy and could never feel normal. The Sons in leadership who spearheaded that campaign have all resolved to make up for what they did and try and show their victims that what they said was a lie. How could they be losers when Yahweh created them and loves them? You need time to come into who you are. Those actions can be forgiven. But the demon who thought up the campaign to get teens – and others – to murder everyone around in response to being teased or mistreated has been banned, and in fact, he has already found his fate in the lake of fire.”
Raj looked surprised. “The demon? I thought plans like that came from Satan.”
Cristi nodded. “Often they did. Satan has more psychological understanding of how humans work than anyone. Remember, he was created with special gifts in order to help Yahweh govern the whole planet. But - this is a good example. Blame can be put in the wrong place. Satan didn’t offer that plan, someone else did. Yet, Satan gets blamed for everything. And yes, he did terrible, unforgiveable things. So did we! Yet, not everything is our fault. If humans don't take responsibility for themselves - as we must - then they won't see the truth. An imperfect picture is a false picture. We brought out the worst in humans and for that we are accountable.” He started to pace again. “But, humans have to see that we could only work with what was in them. We couldn’t make anyone murder. We couldn’t make anyone do anything. We could bring pressure, and lie, and work together in teams for common goals against humans but we couldn’t force anyone to do anything. It was always a free choice.”
“For instance,” he continued, “think of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. I was personally involved. We worked in teams to turn the Hutus and the Tutsis against each other. They hated each other. We worked on political leaders in other countries to keep them out of the picture after we started using radio broadcasts to start the worst of the bloody season of murder. Yet, none of us personally wielded a machete. None of us burned down any churches with men, women, and children inside. Humans did. We instigated it, we goaded them, and we did everything we could to force it to a bloody end, but we couldn’t make a single person act. They did it. That is true with individual actions and group actions.”
“Humans must admit that they are a bloodstained people and that every one of them is subject to their own sin. They don’t understand sin at all. Even though it is the reason for Jesus becoming human and Jesus’ death, they are ignorant of its real nature. Sin is serious business. Sin is being about self and it shows itself in various ways. Selfishness, greed, murder, lust for power, lust for things are just some examples of sin and every person has sin. But they don’t admit it. Yahweh bent over backwards to provide a solution and people don’t even bother to understand. And the few who do find the truth end up piously excusing themselves as though their own sin is nothing.”
“I know,” Raj said. “Tomas and I had some long talks about this until he finally convinced me that sin was nothing like I thought. I just hadn’t realized the overall scheme and how we left Yahweh’s plan. I never knew Yahweh had a plan.”
“Well,” Cristi said. “We are straying a bit from our purpose. I mean, it’s a good thing to understand the nature of sin whether you are human or angel but that’s not our point at this moment. Our sin is forgiven. What we need is unity. We have to start seeing each other and unite so we can start to mount a defense against the outside threat. We need to become allies for Yahweh’s War.”
“I don’t know, Cristi. Jesus told me that understanding our sin is vital and is foundational in the war. But I know he doesn’t expect me to preach. He just said that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil should have been called the Tree of Morality because it would have been easier to understand, and then he said that overcoming evil within self leads to overcoming the evil forces that will oppose us. I asked him what the war was about and he said that there is a difference of opinion out there about evil, wherever Yahweh comes from, and that there is an intense fight over it. He said that Yahweh created our universe to help his side which believes in the value of individual lives. But, we have to unite before we can get involved.”
Cristi nodded. “Yeah, and we can’t afford not to be united because an attack is coming whether we are ready or not.”
“Do you feel like this whole thing is hopeless?”
Cristi smiled. “No, it’s not that bad. It is just a shock to try and unite the two species. Once we can do that, we can focus on what we need to learn. My troops are training daily and believe me, we have long discussions over everything that you tell us, Raj. We have a lot to learn. I have never had a human friend before.”
“I never had an angel anything. I was busy learning about the natural realm and jumping for joy over exploring space. I mean, I wasn’t too shocked when I ended up in Heaven because it happened. I get how the wormhole works. And Hell is just another place the spirit goes after departing the body. I get that too. But I will never understand how I got chosen to try and unite the two races, and then try and sort out Hell too.”
Cristi laughed. “Well, that does sound like a pretty tall order but I don’t think he meant that you personally have to reorganize Hell. I think you will find that you have help as time passes.”
“Sure, but if we are getting personal here, I have to say that I like it a lot better out there where there is no time.”
Cristi laughed again. “Yeah, tell me about it. I remember - constant joy. We got kicked out of Heaven. Imagine leaving that atmosphere to go and live permanently around the Earth or be stationed in Hell. And we thought we would never be able to go back. We got the for “ever” warning too. And you wonder why we were cranky.”
Raj grinned at the massive understatement. “Oh well, I guess you are excused then,” he joked.
Christi stood up. “I have to go. I am being called. I will talk to you later.” And then he was gone.
Raj shook his head. He was glad it had ended on a lighter note. There was a lot to do and getting bogged down in feelings was a sure dead-ender. He pushed his notes forward and got up to go to bed.
Raj looked around him uneasily. "Why is it that I always feel your aggression?" he said testily. He and a dozen Sons of God had gathered at his new apartment in New Delhi to work on social media plans. Jesus had made it clear that he wanted the spiritual beings to start interacting with humans.
"Us! You're the one! Why do we always feel like you think that any moment we are going to stab you, or something?! You’re the one who is always aggressive.”
Raj was forced to laugh. He did tend to fear them. Earth angels felt much more antagonistic than the angels he had met in Heaven. Maybe he was a little afraid of them but, after all, they had been demons. He hadn’t gotten used to being around them in the few times he had seen them in Cristi’s presence and he wasn’t ready to relax. “Okay, okay, fair enough,” he said. “Let’s make a deal. You drop the silent challenges towards me and I won’t judge you and you don’t judge me. Okay? Let’s just trust Yahweh knows what he is doing.”
He tensed as he waited for their response. Their muscular energy was flowing all around him. And yes, it felt very aggressive.
“Deal,” said Conor, the leader of the angelic group.
“Okay. Let’s get down to business. First item: what do you want me to put on social media about you?"
“Wait a moment,” said Conor. “We can’t see you that well. Stop and think for a moment.”
Raj looked over, startled. “Think of what?”
“Think of something that will help us to see you so we can communicate better. How about when you went to Hell with Jesus?”
Raj instantly remembered his terror and flushed red. He regretted his fearful response when he thought Jesus was going to leave him there.
"No, no! Not that!" Conor said immediately. "Something positive. Remember being in Jesus’ presence."
"What about singing?” a dark-haired angel with bright snapping eyes suggested. “Why don’t you sing?”
"What are you talking about!"
"We can see you best when you are more focused on the spiritual realm than the physical. Since you have been to Heaven, you tend to have a stronger spiritual presence then most humans but the more aligned with the spiritual realm you are at any moment, the better we can see you. You look a bit dim right now. Some of us might not hear you."
"No one ever complained in Heaven.”
The group laughed. “Well, duh. You were focused on eternal things because you were there.”
Raj grinned at them. “Oh yeah? Well, why is it that I can see you better sometimes than others? Aren't you always in the spiritual realm?"
"We don't know. Holy Spirit surrounds you. You see us by him so I suppose it depends on how well you are sensing him.”
"I thought it was Jesus who is always with me?"
They laughed again, and Raj saw that their body language was relaxing.
"They are one. Holy Spirit is always present. So is Jesus, but Holy Spirit is the one who facilitates seeing and hearing everything in the spiritual realm."
Raj sat still for a moment. He lowered his head. Suddenly he felt totally inadequate to do what Jesus had asked him to do. How was he supposed to relate to these immense angelic beings let alone carry their story in a way that could be understood? Jesus should have picked a preacher!
He heard a quiet voice say just behind him, "I brought you to Heaven for this reason." Raj was never sure afterwards whether it was Jesus or the Holy Spirit who spoke to him but he immediately responded, "Right. I can do this."
He turned back to the Sons whose presence had started to fade from his view with his fearful thoughts. "Okay, let’s do it. So, what do you want me to say? Shall, I put that you’re sorry, or that you are there, or what? What's your idea?”
It was quiet for a moment. Raj shifted uncomfortably. Someone - or more than one - had started to weep. Now he could feel the Holy Spirit behind him and around him. He leaned back into the strengthening presence. Raj looked around at the serious faces and saw tears in the angel’s eyes. He felt humble.
"We want them to know that we are like all of you!" blurted one suddenly. "We feel, we think, we care. We are sorry that we let sin overcome us and that we left Yahweh. We really blew it and we know it. We want to make it up to you."
"Yes! We can work together," said another angel whose hair stood straight up on his head in a very tall, spiky Mohawk. The tight hairdo pulled his face and eyebrows up too so that it looked like he was perpetually startled. His hair had a blue tint to it. The angel twisted his hands as he leaned forward to gaze in Raj’s face. Raj felt as though the being was pleading with him. "Tell them, ‘try and see us. When you sense our presence, talk to us. We are listening. If you need help, ask us. We mean you no harm, only good. Let’s work together’."
"Do you think if we say we promise that it will make any difference?" he asked Raj.
Raj hesitated, "Well, I don't ..." he started but another angel interrupted, flinging his arm out dramatically, "No! They are not going to trust us! Why should they? If they can't see us, they can't see Jesus or Yahweh and Holy Spirit. They won't know it is safe unless God backs it up, and they can't hear God."
"That's not fair," said Raj. "I see you. I hear you. And you said that you can't see me too well at times. You can't blame humans for not seeing you when most people don't even know you exist, or even realize that they could see angels."
Raj felt an unspoken threat ripple through the air. Suddenly, it was as though he could see their thoughts. So, this is how they read me so easily, he realized. He could see that they were thinking of the Church and its uncertain history of teaching people how to function in the spiritual realm. Why hadn’t the Church taught people to interact? Of course, they had been demons then, but before he could finish the thought, he felt the Holy Spirit bristling. Raj saw in a flash of understanding several things at once: Holy Spirit reserved the right to address the Church himself. Jesus loves the Church and Holy Spirit was not going to let them be criticized by long-time enemies, even though they are now repentant. Holy Spirit had a deep, heartfelt desire that people would understand and learn to see and hear in the spiritual realm, as he created them to do. He had hope. Holy Spirit would help anyone to learn to see; anyone who asked him, angel or human. The threat surrounding Raj diminished and then disappeared. Clearly the angels could understand what the Holy Spirit was projecting towards them.
Raj said diplomatically, "Okay, let's stay on target. We will just have to trust that some people, some-time, will see you. So, let’s get back to summarizing what you want me to say on social media."
Privately, he wished he was an artist. If only he could take a picture and draw the scene with the intense, yet forlorn, looks on the faces of the angels surrounding him, while their tall bodies towered over him. He glanced down at the notebook in his hand. What if he added a quick sketch?
"I think we have enough to get started," he reassured them. “Would you like to take a break for now? I will make a Facebook page. How about I call it, 'People & Angels’ and have the byline, ‘Let Your Better Angels Win'. Maybe this approach will soften the impact for those of you who feel chagrin over P & A's past relationships.”
"Yes, that will work," Conor said with relief in his voice. Then, as if a signal had been given, the whole group unfurled and launched quickly up and out of the room. The same quiet voice said just behind him, "I will tell you when to gather again.” Raj nodded. He felt tired. He picked up his notebook and started towards his office. He might as well type his notes up before heading to bed.
"Thank you," he said to Holy Spirit.
"You're welcome," was the reply.
Yahweh’s War
Raj had barely sat down at his computer when Cristi walked in. Raj swiveled to look at the Angel Leader. He wondered if the group had gone straight to him to complain that Raj wasn’t being reasonable. Cristi didn’t look angry but you never know, he thought.
Cristi sat down on the short couch against the wall by the right of Raj’s desk. Immediately he jumped up and started pacing around the small room.
“Look Raj, there is no other choice. This has to start with humans seeing and then the word has to spread until more and more start to see us. I know that for a long time it was horrible for people. I get it. Just like everyone else, I have participated in oppressing and persecuting people. I know what it was like. Families and lives have been affected for thousands of years. There has been so much pain in so many ways. I know. I know. I realize that people are going to feel anger and rage and all kinds of emotions before they are ready to extend forgiveness. It is going to take time to undo the abuse we have done once people do start to see us. But, this is not just about forgiveness. There are deeper things at play. This is about the future and about the fate of the world. It affects the children and the future of this planet. Yahweh’s plan is based on the recovery and restoration of the world in preparation for the War in Space – Yahweh’s War. We will be in it before too much time passes.”
Raj felt a shiver pass over him at the words, Yahweh’s War. He couldn’t imagine forces that were strong enough to oppose the Creator of the Cosmos. What was ahead?
Cristi sat down for a moment before going on, “We need to resolve our differences as best as possible wherever the fault on either side.”
"On either side!” said Raj. “What fault is there from humans towards you?"
Cristi looked at him seriously. "You ignored us. You couldn't see us. You didn't try. You participated in sin, just as we have. To us, it felt like you didn't care. You just basked in Yahweh's favor."
Raj gasped. This had to be the most distorted view of humanity he had ever heard. He knew that people feel separated from God, unloved, forgotten, not even sure if he exists. People, religious or not, almost never focused on angels and what they are doing or thinking.
“We don’t even think of you! Most of us didn’t even know of your existence – and you were demons,” he said hotly.
Cristi nodded. “Yes, we were. But now we have returned from our fallen state. What about you? Have you repented as a race? Can’t we now be accepted? We want to work together.”
“The thing is, Cristi, it really isn’t up to me. I don’t know how to get people to respond. I hardly know how to get my head around the fact that Jesus wants me to put together a social media campaign and tell people to look for you. And, is it all over? Is there really peace between humans and angels? Aren’t there consequences to you for what you did?”
“Well, it depends. Forgiveness that extends to humans from God extends to us, thanks to the sacrifice for all sin, including ours, that Jesus made. He forgives freely when we return freely. We have agreed to return but there are times that we do have to punish actions that got too far out of line. For instance, there is a group of Sons who were trained to focus on bringing psychological downfall. We had a united campaign in which demons told people that they are losers all day long, from the moment they woke up. All - day - long,” he emphasized slowly, “we drummed the message – loser, loser, loser - in people’s ears. People really got depressed and they had no idea why they felt so unhappy and could never feel normal. The Sons in leadership who spearheaded that campaign have all resolved to make up for what they did and try and show their victims that what they said was a lie. How could they be losers when Yahweh created them and loves them? You need time to come into who you are. Those actions can be forgiven. But the demon who thought up the campaign to get teens – and others – to murder everyone around in response to being teased or mistreated has been banned, and in fact, he has already found his fate in the lake of fire.”
Raj looked surprised. “The demon? I thought plans like that came from Satan.”
Cristi nodded. “Often they did. Satan has more psychological understanding of how humans work than anyone. Remember, he was created with special gifts in order to help Yahweh govern the whole planet. But - this is a good example. Blame can be put in the wrong place. Satan didn’t offer that plan, someone else did. Yet, Satan gets blamed for everything. And yes, he did terrible, unforgiveable things. So did we! Yet, not everything is our fault. If humans don't take responsibility for themselves - as we must - then they won't see the truth. An imperfect picture is a false picture. We brought out the worst in humans and for that we are accountable.” He started to pace again. “But, humans have to see that we could only work with what was in them. We couldn’t make anyone murder. We couldn’t make anyone do anything. We could bring pressure, and lie, and work together in teams for common goals against humans but we couldn’t force anyone to do anything. It was always a free choice.”
“For instance,” he continued, “think of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. I was personally involved. We worked in teams to turn the Hutus and the Tutsis against each other. They hated each other. We worked on political leaders in other countries to keep them out of the picture after we started using radio broadcasts to start the worst of the bloody season of murder. Yet, none of us personally wielded a machete. None of us burned down any churches with men, women, and children inside. Humans did. We instigated it, we goaded them, and we did everything we could to force it to a bloody end, but we couldn’t make a single person act. They did it. That is true with individual actions and group actions.”
“Humans must admit that they are a bloodstained people and that every one of them is subject to their own sin. They don’t understand sin at all. Even though it is the reason for Jesus becoming human and Jesus’ death, they are ignorant of its real nature. Sin is serious business. Sin is being about self and it shows itself in various ways. Selfishness, greed, murder, lust for power, lust for things are just some examples of sin and every person has sin. But they don’t admit it. Yahweh bent over backwards to provide a solution and people don’t even bother to understand. And the few who do find the truth end up piously excusing themselves as though their own sin is nothing.”
“I know,” Raj said. “Tomas and I had some long talks about this until he finally convinced me that sin was nothing like I thought. I just hadn’t realized the overall scheme and how we left Yahweh’s plan. I never knew Yahweh had a plan.”
“Well,” Cristi said. “We are straying a bit from our purpose. I mean, it’s a good thing to understand the nature of sin whether you are human or angel but that’s not our point at this moment. Our sin is forgiven. What we need is unity. We have to start seeing each other and unite so we can start to mount a defense against the outside threat. We need to become allies for Yahweh’s War.”
“I don’t know, Cristi. Jesus told me that understanding our sin is vital and is foundational in the war. But I know he doesn’t expect me to preach. He just said that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil should have been called the Tree of Morality because it would have been easier to understand, and then he said that overcoming evil within self leads to overcoming the evil forces that will oppose us. I asked him what the war was about and he said that there is a difference of opinion out there about evil, wherever Yahweh comes from, and that there is an intense fight over it. He said that Yahweh created our universe to help his side which believes in the value of individual lives. But, we have to unite before we can get involved.”
Cristi nodded. “Yeah, and we can’t afford not to be united because an attack is coming whether we are ready or not.”
“Do you feel like this whole thing is hopeless?”
Cristi smiled. “No, it’s not that bad. It is just a shock to try and unite the two species. Once we can do that, we can focus on what we need to learn. My troops are training daily and believe me, we have long discussions over everything that you tell us, Raj. We have a lot to learn. I have never had a human friend before.”
“I never had an angel anything. I was busy learning about the natural realm and jumping for joy over exploring space. I mean, I wasn’t too shocked when I ended up in Heaven because it happened. I get how the wormhole works. And Hell is just another place the spirit goes after departing the body. I get that too. But I will never understand how I got chosen to try and unite the two races, and then try and sort out Hell too.”
Cristi laughed. “Well, that does sound like a pretty tall order but I don’t think he meant that you personally have to reorganize Hell. I think you will find that you have help as time passes.”
“Sure, but if we are getting personal here, I have to say that I like it a lot better out there where there is no time.”
Cristi laughed again. “Yeah, tell me about it. I remember - constant joy. We got kicked out of Heaven. Imagine leaving that atmosphere to go and live permanently around the Earth or be stationed in Hell. And we thought we would never be able to go back. We got the for “ever” warning too. And you wonder why we were cranky.”
Raj grinned at the massive understatement. “Oh well, I guess you are excused then,” he joked.
Christi stood up. “I have to go. I am being called. I will talk to you later.” And then he was gone.
Raj shook his head. He was glad it had ended on a lighter note. There was a lot to do and getting bogged down in feelings was a sure dead-ender. He pushed his notes forward and got up to go to bed.