Final Confrontation Read Online Free PDF Page A

this was a deceiving spirit or the excitement of serving in the Temple on this special day. Doubt began to creep in.
    “Forgive me,” said Zacharias meekly. “But how shall I know what you have said is true? We have wanted a son for many years. But we are both old now and my wife remains barren. Elizabeth is…”
    “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of the Most High God!”
    Gabriel was a bit annoyed at Zacharias’ doubt. Why can’t humans simply realize God can do anything He desires?
    “Gabriel?” Zacharias repeated.
    “And I have been sent by the Lord to tell you these marvelous things that must surely be.” As Gabriel spoke he clearly heard the Spirit of God speak into his mind the next pronouncement: “And hear me! Because you did not believe these words I have spoken, you shall not be able to speak until these things take place—for surely they will happen at the appointed time!”
    Suddenly, Gabriel was gone.
    Zacharias took a minute to recover from the vision, then hurried out of the Temple to join the other priests waiting for him in the Court of Israel. It was the custom that whoever ministered the incense would also pray a benediction when he emerged from the sanctuary. The priests wondered what had taken him so long in the burning of the incense. Zacharias fell at the feet of the first priest he saw and started to tell him of the wonderful thing that had just happened. But instead of sound there was only a silence.
    The priest looked at Zacharias strangely. This frustrated Zacharias, who began making all sorts of wild motions, pulling on his robe and pointing back at the Holy Place. His face was pale. The man thought Zacharias had indeed lost his mind.
    The poor man looked to some of the others for help. The priest, still in the grip of Zacharias, pulled away from him in horror. Would no one come to his aid? Zacharias remained on the ground, surrounded by the curious priests who stared and muttered among themselves while he continued to gesture wildly. He sank to his knees in despair. Finally, one of the priests, named Eli, approached him soothingly.
    “What is it Zacharias?” he asked. “What has happened? What did you see?” Then Eli looked at the old man’s face and asked, “Did the Lord speak to you?”
    Others crowded around the old man who by now was on his feet gesturing toward the Temple but unable to speak the words. The men concluded he had indeed had a vision of some sort. After a few moments he gave up, frustrated. He decided to quietly complete the remaining week of his duties in silence; then he would take the news to the one person who was sure to understand—Elizabeth.

Chronicles of the Host
Elizabeth’s Joy
    And so it was that just as Gabriel had prophesied, Elizabeth, the wife of Zacharias, conceived. For five months she kept herself in seclusion, perhaps to keep her reproach of so many years hidden until it was evident God had so blessed her.
    As for Gabriel, his ministry continued in the matter of this great event. Our opponent was convinced for a season that Elizabeth would bear the Seed, and she was under constant watch. She was, of course, well protected by the Host, and nothing the enemy brought against her came to fruition. As for Zacharias, he continued in silence, counting the days until his wife’s delivery.
    Six months after Elizabeth had conceived, the angel Gabriel was sent to Nazareth, in Galilee, to a maiden who was betrothed to a man named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary. The attention of the Host shifted dramatically to this young woman. The attention of Lucifer also shifted…
    “Greetings, O highly favored one!”
    Mary dropped the lamp, which broke at her feet.
    Standing before her was an angel of the Lord. She had often heard stories of visiting angels—even dreaming of them on occasion. But she never thought she would actually see one. Angels visited holy men and kings—not ordinary people! After a few seconds of studying the figure that