In Rebellion (Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven, Book II) Read online

  IN REBELLION

  Book II of

  The Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven

  John J. Higgins

  Published by

  Ring of Fire Publishing

  In Rebellion

  Book II of The Archangel Jarahmael and the War to Conquer Heaven

  ©2013 John J. Higgins. All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity with real persons or events is purely coincidental. Persons, events, and locations are either the product of the author's imagination, or used fictitiously.

  Cover artist, Sanna Lee. Editor, Marissa Litak.

  THE ARCHANGEL JARAHMAEL AND THE WAR TO CONQUER HEAVEN

  by John J. Higgins

  Book I: In the Beginning

  Book II: In Rebellion

  Book III: In Exile (Coming in 2013)

  To all the loyal Angels in the Heavens who have inspired and guided me…

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1: Separating the Heavens From the Earth

  Chapter 2: The Rebel Angels

  Chapter 3: Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel Go to Earth

  Chapter 4: Raziel and Ariel Get an Assignment

  Chapter 5: Something Amiss in the Fifth Heaven

  Chapter 6: The Capture of An Angel

  Chapter 7: The Clouds of War

  Chapter 8: Missing Weapons

  Chapter 9: Jarahmael and Luciferael

  Chapter 10: Raziel Reports

  Chapter 11: Faumiel and His Band

  Chapter 12: Beelzebael in the Fourth Heaven

  Chapter 13: Michael’s Updates

  Chapter 14: Preparations

  Chapter 15: Jarahmael as a Rebel

  Chapter 16: Stealth

  Chapter 17: Breakthrough

  Chpater 18: An Update from Above

  Chapter 19: One Step Ahead

  Chapter 20: Duty

  Chapter 21: Substitution

  Chapter 22: Hasten

  Chapter 23: Only a Small Step Left

  Chapter 24: Expectations

  Chapter 25: Preparing Against Hope

  Chapter 26: Rest

  Chapter 27: Despair

  Chapter 28: Portals

  Chapter 29: New Plans

  Chapter 30: A Vision for the Conquered

  Chapter 31: Missing in Action

  Chapter 32: Spoiling for Spoils

  Chapter 33: The First Born

  Chapter 34: A Gift of Wings

  Chapter 35: Weapons Arrive

  Chapter 36: Return to the First Heaven

  Chapter 37: Storm Clouds Arising

  Chapter 38: Hidden Things

  Chapter 39: A Surprise

  Chapter 40: The Unexpected

  Chapter 41: Reversal

  Chapter 42: Homecoming

  Chapter 43: Gathering What’s Above

  Chapter 44: Staying Ahead of What’s Below

  Chapter 45: The Pursued and the Pursuers

  Chapter 46: An Unexpected Encounter

  Chapter 47: In Harm’s Way

  Chapter 48: Opportunity for Redemption

  Chapter 49: An Assessment

  Chapter 50: Rewards

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  SEPARATING THE HEAVENS FROM THE EARTH

  It was the day after Adam and Eve had been cast out of the Garden of Eden, and the sun rose over the Earth as it had since the beginning of time. But this day it illuminated a planet where there were major changes from a scant twenty-four hours earlier. For there had been terrible consequences for the disobedience of the two Humans. Eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil had caused a major shift in the Almighty’s Universe that rippled into the Seven Heavens. For the first time, storm clouds appeared in the skies over the Earth, as a result of the Almighty Himself shifting the Earth on its axis as the Humans were cast out. The ever present beautiful weather and calm steadiness of the winds and clouds that existed on the Earth up until now was replaced by constantly changing temperatures and wind patterns. And just as there were changes in the atmosphere of the Earth, other changes were brewing in the Seven Heavens above. The Heavens could not be immune from the effects of this disobedience by the Humans, as the truth became apparent that the deception that triggered the disobedience was caused by some of the most powerful members of the Heavenly Archangels.

  The day in the Seventh Heaven began as usual with the morning ceremony, although the Almighty was in a mood the Heavenly Host had never seen before. The Archangel Luciferael and his Auxilium seemed out of sorts as well. The Archangel Jarahmael was thankful that it was short, as he did not like the feeling he was getting from Luciferael. Jarahmael also had his own concerns about the fate of Adam and Eve, hoping that it would not cause any problems for his own Human mate, the woman Lillith.

  Immediately after the morning ceremony, the Almighty dispatched Angels to the Earth with new assignments to deal with the aftermath of the fall of Humans. The bulk of the Angels were assigned to continue construction of the pyramids, and to seal off the transportation portals within the structures. This would restrict the Humans’ movement on the Earth and block off their future access into the Heavens.

  Some Angels had special assignments. Jarahmael and his brother Archangel Michael, for instance, flew to the pyramid in the Garden of Eden where they were met by the head of the Cherubim Angels, Cerebriel. Cerebriel had gone on ahead to check on the work at the pyramid, and waited for the two Archangels to join him.

  Jarahmael pulled his wings in behind himself as they landed on the entrance platform above the pyramid’s steps.

  “It's a sad day after all this work,” Michael said to Jarahmael as he, too, tucked in his wings.

  “True,” responded Jarahmael as he looked behind Michael into the stretches of Eden. He could see the entrance into the Earth was now guarded by Cherubim guards and a long, ever-twisting column of fire spiraled up into the sky. He focused again on his two friends and asked, “What will become of Adam and Eve and the race of Humans?”

  “I don't know,” answered Michael. “I am not sure if even the Almighty knows. The notion of ‘free will’ opens up all sorts of possibilities.” Michael changed the subject as he rubbed his hands on the entranceway wall. “Cerebriel, you have done a magnificent job on this structure. The artwork is marvelous!” he said as he slid his finger into the lettering on the walls. His touch made all the lettering shine brightly, as his energy rolled off his fingertips.

  “Thank you, Michael. It has been quite rewarding to develop a language and writing for the walls. I have never been privy to the Book of Creation as have some of you Archangels. But it has been an honor for the Almighty to allow us to work on this project.”

  Michael continued to run his hand along the wall as he began to lead the three of them deeper into the pyramid. “The only Archangel that has had full access has been Luciferael and even then I believe he has only had access to portions of the Book of Creation. From that he was able to create the dinosaurs and serpents.”

  “Wait. Didn't you have access to the full Book, Jarahmael?” Cerebriel asked.

  Jarahmael thought back and answered, “Yes, Luciferael had granted me access when I was perfecting my mirrors. But I didn't access anything beyond that. The Book is self-limiting, in that it provides exactly what you request of it, nothing more and nothing less. Actually, it will break itself into parts if need be, as it did on that first day when we were creating life forms for the Almighty. What did you think about the Almighty's speech this morning
?”

  “I thought it to be quite disturbing,” Cerebriel answered.

  “What a disaster this notion of free will can create!” said Jarahmael, a pang of worry passing through him as he thought of his Human woman, Lillith. “Adam and Eve only had one commandment to comply with and they failed to do that. It makes me wonder what Humans will do when they are faced with harder choices such as finding the means to survive, especially now that they are mortal and can die. I tell you, it has given me pause about the well-being of Lillith and how to protect her in the future.”

  “All I know is Adam and Eve’s banishment from Eden onto the surface of the Earth has made more work for us,” said Cerebriel. “We have been disconnecting any pathways between the surface and the entrance way into Eden, in the First Heaven. I have also sent a detachment of Cherubim to remove the main writings on the walls in Aegyptus, and wall up the entrance way into the pyramid. We need to deter any Human from trying to access the Heavens through the pyramids. Without access to the Tree of Life, Adam's and Eve's days of life are numbered. Do you bring Lillith to the Tree of Life, Jarahmael, to preserve her life?”

  “Unnecessary, Cerebriel. She had taken some branches for herself when she left Eden and was in hiding. The branches never die and produce fruit everyday even as they form their own tree. She has branches with her in my palace in the Seventh Heaven. So I am sure she will be fine,” Jarahmael said.

  “Did you see how the Almighty was affected by Adam’s and Eve's disobedience?” Cerebriel said as he slightly changed the subject.

  “It is no wonder He will be gone for at least a week. It looked like He needed the time to sort things out again.” Michael said.

  “It certainly seemed that the Almighty never believed that the Humans would disobey Him. They certainly played into Luciferael's hand. Luciferael has been against them from the start,” Jarahmael said.

  Michael absentmindedly said aloud, “We should have destroyed those serpents at the same time we went after the dinosaurs.” Hearing himself, he focused again and continued, “I never should have listened to Sammuael and Luciferael about sparing those creatures. From what I understand, Eve was tempted by that creature Serpentalia and then the chain of events was set in motion. I will never understand what Luciferael ever saw in these creatures.”

  Cerebriel responded quickly, “Yes, getting those creatures out of the First Heaven has proven to be been quite a chore. After the Almighty cursed them, making them slither along the ground, it has made it tougher to locate all of them. They are sneaky creatures, and they like the dark and the night. So we have to track each one carefully before we are able to discard them onto the Earth. The Humans are going to have a problem with them for a long time to come.”

  “You said it was that creature Serpentalia that tempted and tricked Eve?” asked Jarahmael.

  “Yes,” responded Michael.

  “Cerebriel and I watched that creature sneak around Eden spying on the Humans,” Jarahmael said to Michael. “Now it has become clear why he was doing so. Clearly, Serpentalia was biding his time and waiting for an opportunity to alienate those creatures from the Almighty.” Jarahmael paused for a moment, thinking back on his other encounter with the serpent, back in the cave when he was searching for Lillith.

  “Didn't think that the creature would be that smart,” said Jarahmael. “He didn't seem to have that level of intelligence. When I discovered him after his encounter with Beelzebael and Sammuael, there was not much left in the creature’s mind. It would take someone very crafty to come up with such a complex plan. Most Angels would not have been able to create that plan either. To set in motion a plan that would entice the Human woman to break the only commandment given to her, while she was living in a perfect world, shows a lot of cunning. Then, to have enough foresight to think that the Human man would also break the commandment to follow his woman is not something I would expect from such a simple creature.”

  Both Cerebriel and Michael nodded their heads in agreement.

  “Definitely took a twisted mind!” said Michael.

  “I agree with you, Michael. The serpent and his kind are best placed away from other creatures. It’s a shame they were not totally destroyed and they will still have access to the Humans on Earth.” Cerebriel said.

  “They are such good liars, too,” said Michael. “The Almighty had dispatched me to enforce His curse specifically upon Serpentalia and the creature repeatedly denied having anything to do with Eve, much less have a conversation to trick her. He admitted that he had been spying upon her but he couldn't recall why. I had no intention to get into a debate with the creature, as far as I am concerned the creatures should have already been destroyed. I have not had a chance to discuss this with the Almighty yet, but I will bring it up next time I am in His presence.”

  As they walked further down the main corridor they saw other Cherubim rolling stones into positions ready to block passageways to the other pyramids if it became necessary to permanently block off any access from one pyramid to another.

  “I see these large stones are quite massive,” said Michael to Cerebriel.

  Cerebriel answered as he watched the work. “Yes, they are, Michael. Just in case Humans ever get inside the pyramids and then try to access Heaven through the use of one of these passageways, it will be extremely difficult if not impossible for them to gain access.”

  “We know that Lillith stumbled upon these passage ways and used them when she was hiding from Adam,” Jarahmael added. “We certainly don't need to use them as we can travel to Earth, either in our pure light forms or by flying when we become more solid by slowing down the energy vibrations and more Human like.”

  “By the way, have you seen the rest of the pyramids on Earth?” Cerebriel asked the two Archangels.

  “I have seen two of them,” responded Jarahmael.

  “I have only been in the one in Aegyptus and seen the others only from flying above,” responded Michael.

  “We have to go check on Adam and Eve anyway. They should be around the pyramid in Aegyptus as that is where we dropped them off as it was the closest to the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Let's check on them, and then we can tour the other pyramids. Besides, I think you will enjoy the pyramids. They have been a lot of work, but we are all very proud of them,” Cerebriel said.

  “I had promised Lillith I would be back shortly,” Jarahmael said, concerned about how long all of this could take, altering his plans.

  “She will be fine,” said Michael reassuringly. “She is, after all, in your palace. There is no shortage of amusements in our palaces and it is far more beautiful than Eden. Besides, she remains immortal and is in the safest place in the entire Universe: she is next to the Almighty's Throne Room in the Seventh Heaven.”

  Jarahmael laughed at his own worry. “You're right, Michael, as usual. Nothing can harm her there, we have no serpents or the like in the Seventh Heaven. Lead the way Cerebriel!”

  The two Angels followed the Cherubim down one of the passageways and disappeared.

  The three Angels emerged near the pyramid in Aegyptus. The work was still in progress when they arrived. Cerebriel led the way out of the entrance with Michael and Jarahmael following right behind. Before them stood the large sphinx which guarded the entrance to the pyramid.

  Jarahmael could not help himself from commenting to Cerebriel. “My, my, old friend. That Sphinx statue looks a lot like you.”

  Cerebriel was slightly embarrassed at the comment, but regained his composure and joked, “Yes, and the one over there is an even better replica of Annabael’s face.” Cerebriel pointed to a second sphinx guarding another entrance to the pyramid complex.

  “I had not noticed that second sphinx when I was here last,” responded Jarahmael.

  “It was here then. You were distracted, I am sure, with the hunt for Lillith,” Cerebriel responded. “We had decided that it would be best to put a pair of sphinxes down here as this was going to be the main entrance from the H
eavens to the Earth and it made the whole complex here look better balanced.”

  “What about the other pyramids located around the planet?” asked Michael.

  “They no longer have access to the Heavens, after the Almighty threw the Humans out of the Garden of Eden. Transport between those pyramids is confined to the Earth. It’s only through this pyramid here in Aegyptus that one can gain access to the pyramid in Eden.”

  “Does that mean that someone from the pyramid in Medius can't get to the one in Heaven?” asked Michael.

  “That’s correct, at least not directly. One would have to transport themselves here first to be able to access the Heavens. The Almighty does not want the Humans finding a way to infiltrate back into the Heavens by using the pyramids as an instrument to gain entrance again. We Angels, after all, don't need the portals to travel from the Heavens to the Earth. We can still travel anywhere we would like directly on the Earth although travel through the portals is faster and more immediate.”

  Cerebriel continued talking low, “Not known to most Angels though is the secret that the inside of the pyramids are special places, sanctuaries from harm from the physical world and even from the powers of the Angels, if need be. As Angels, we cannot directly transmit ourselves into the pyramids without the use of one of the portals. We can of course still physically enter the pyramids just as we have done now by walking in.”

  Michael interrupted. “We should go take a look at the two Humans to make sure they are adjusting properly to their banishment from the Garden of Eden.”

  “Yes, Michael. Always the task master!” said Jarahmael as the three of them began to chuckle together, knowing that Jarahmael’s assessment of Michael was accurate.

  “Where are Adam and Eve now, anyway?” Jarahmael asked.

  Michael responded. “They were taken down here to Aegyptus, where it intersects the plains here on the Earth after the Almighty cast them out. They were left to wander on their own but a short time later I returned with some of their belongings and flew them up north from here. The Almighty in His mercy wanted them to have some necessities so that they could survive. Gabriel and Uriel were sent later still to bring along some tools and farm instruments, but so far we have been unable to locate Adam and Eve, again. In the meantime, we placed all of the equipment in a cave for them, up there,” he said as he pointed, “not far from a colony of the Simians. Eventually they will run into one another and the Almighty hopes that the two species of Human-like creatures will blend together, the Simians assisting Adam and Eve survive on the Earth, and Adam and Eve assisting the Simians become more creative. ”