Archangel Lucifer

God had built the universe billions of yeas ago,

long before humankind

long before time

long before light.

Much changed in a blink of His eye

eras come and gone,

always ruling Supreme.

---

There was so much change since the beginning of time, God decided it needed Guardians to gauge the state of His newest society. Archangels Gabriel and Lucifer were tasked to this mission.

God asked for them to "Go down and check things are well for the Earthly Children, for they seem to be in trying times. I wish for you to collect information and return to me so I may consider your opinions

"It is critical you are discrete though; last time Jesus was there things became... heated."

The two archangels felt honoured and were glad to be chosen for such a job, Lucifer had never visited Earth. As wonderful as Heaven is, perfection gets a bit boring after billions of years.

God added "Do not show your wings, lest jealousy get the best of man and he try to steal them from you. Man is deathly mortal and to reveal yourselves as archangels would inspire much desire to ascent immediately to Heaven, as you two may do. Man tends to rush things. And be advised..." God took a moment for thought.

"Men trust old books but facts in their face bloom suspicion."

None of this deterred Archangel Lucifer's enthusiasm.

"Gabriel we shall bear witness to a new creation from God! I'm sure we will find some fun! I wonder how much it will look like Heaven. Do you suppose we will have time to see it all?"

"Lucifer, be calm. Wait till you meet these men. Men who dominate everything around them. Believing themselves more important than their mighty world; they manipulate her in ways that only serve themselves. Caring little for the wildlings they affect. They're stubborn. We'll have to be very careful with our approach. Stubborn and quick to take offence..."

The journey to earth was sprinkled in gold dust. It coated their wings like golden stars. They stood out more on Gabriel's white wings than on Lucifer's black wings.

Eventually they arrived and quickly began trying to gauge society's health, morality and values. They disguised themselves in Earthly garb and went undercover as travellers. They began at markets and pubs. Quickly they discovered that when asked his opinions, man's ego was most ready to appear and stay. They both decided it would be beneficial to attend mass on Sunday, three days from then; to see if, perhaps, the haphazard values they were witnessing in their mingling were individual specific or, in fact, being taught as the word of God.

Angel Gabriel had been put off by the ignorance and arrogance of the people in town and went to Churches and in search of lions and other such beauties, while Angel Lucifer continued to speak with the town folk. Lucifer was quite concerned for the Earthly children.

He was surprised to see that many of the values were quite upside down. It seemed as if some values from the church were designed to keep the masses suppressed. Some rules seemed quite arbitrary as well. He knew God to be a very flexible individual, his true "rules" were more like guidelines, not laws.

One man was completely melancholic in his life as a farmer and wished to be a blacksmith for the military, but his priest had warned him against it in case he failed and his family went hungry. He was told to be happy with the life he's got.

"Be true to yourself, strive to be great. There is no contentment in complacency."

He also spoke with a woman who desired to leave her abusive husband, to marry another man.

"Though this bible says much of adultery, I believe love should have few rules except: to love true and wholeheartedly. I'm confident God would be okay with you divorcing your husband and living the life you want with this other man. The bible was written on interpretations, not real or justifiable direct input from God. It's a story which teaches some morals, not the true and only morals."

Angel Lucifer went along day after day and nearly spoke to everyone who would speak to him. Albeit he sensed that even though most agreed with him they would not follow through on their desires. likely because of the church which reigned over their lives. The church with its book that dictates whether they go to Heaven or Hell.

When Archangels Gabriel and Lucifer attended mass on Sunday they were shocked with the stories which were said to be real. The flood? The ten commandments? Hell? Ludicrous human inventions. There's little wonder the masses are a confused lot, thought Lucifer.

"Gabriel, what is all this? Where did they get such information? Certainly the God we know wouldn't tell such nonsense to their prophets...?"

"God warned us of their stubbornness, they are quite righteous indeed. Full of hubris..." Gabriel stared back at the church with a glazed expression.

"Though much of what they practice is well, this is not God's morality. This is man's interpretation. They've got so much of it upside down." Lucifer looked to his feet with a remorseful expression.

Returning to Heaven with the new intel the Archangels relayed their knowledge of Earth to God.

"As I expected. They still have a very long way to go. I might guess another two thousand years from now." said God to the Archangels

"You would not do something? They've got it all upside down! They push fear of Hell on their flocks to control them! I think they need help to understand." replied Lucifer vehemently.

God was tickled by his Angel's passion.

"It is of my Nature not to intervene. Humans have their own problems, I wish for them to learn how to deal with their own issues. If I intervene they will not learn."

Lucifer understood this, of course, nonetheless he was impassioned with the humans predicament. Archangels become very protective of the people they talk to, they never forget the faces and the lives they're touched.

"Oh Lord, allow me to return so I may reform some of what they practice. I will stay as long as it takes to help such beautiful people, with misguided principals, find love and acceptance in a new light. There are people who are not allowed to love twice or love another not deemed 'suitable'. For this and many more reasons do I wish to return." Archangel Lucifer's face was steeled with fierceness, eyes lit with love.

God's expression was blank, while he analyzed Angel Lucifer's request.

"This is no short journey, and it may be very difficult. I can't see it happening for thousands of years. Will you commit that much time to this?

"Do not forget the human's hubris. They believe in a very old book with unverified information. Something tells me if they can believe all that's inside, it may be the external world they trust less." God spoke slowly, bass in his voice exciting the thunder.

"I must do this, I've spoke with many mortals and their plight is my plight now."

"Well then, as you wish Lucifer. This is noble cause, though I'm certain your efforts will be seen in a different light by the Church... In fact they will vilify you. If you are okay with this, then be off with you."

Upon returning to Earth, Archangel Lucifer read their "holy book" and found it truly riddled with holes and untruths.

"What a violent account! God is not this cruel! Ordering a man to kill his own son?! Just to test him? This is not the God I know... but then who really knows God?" Lucifer chuckled to himself.

Archangel Lucifer began going to those he had met last time; months had passed but no one was closer to the life they wanted. Archangel Lucifer felt sympathy for them.

To the married woman in love with another man, he attempted to persuade her to run away with the new man if she couldn't find a way to get out of her marriage to the drunkard who beat her after a night out.

To the farmer he suggested he begin apprenticeship with the guild and hand the farm over to his eldest son for now.

He sensed they were closer to making these things come to fruition.

Archangel Lucifer did all he could to help the suffering souls who were trying to avoid "Hell". Though they hardly realized they were already living in hell. To Archangel Lucifer's Eyes that was the only Hell that was real. The one in their minds.

Quickly the clergymen convened on Archangel Lucifer.

"You have been spreading evil through our church; some of our flock are forsaking God's words! You are most certainly a demon sent from Hell!!" the priest spat at him.

"I assure you, I am not of Hell. In fact that place is something completely fabricated by your theologians. God is not so cruel as that, though it appears man is. Why do you frighten them so? Is it to coax them into your religion so as to 'save' them? Clever scheme you have there, but it's rather more cruel than clever. It is sad that you've made it seem so real to them. You ought to be ashamed." Archangel Lucifer was slow and cool when he spoke.

"You have much audacity to condemn the Book of Ultimate Truth! I am more certain now than before that you are of the Underworld. Show us your true form demon!"

Archangel Lucifer thought on this for a moment before he spread his large and beautiful dark wings from under his tunic. The clergymen's mouths gaped and terror grasped their expressions.

"Have no fear, I am Archangel Lucifer, and I am here to spread truth."