Final Confrontation Read Online Free PDF

stood in front of her in her little home, she began to question not only why he had come, but what he had just said.
    “Highly favored?” she whispered.
    Gabriel spoke to her in a soothing voice full of compassion and joy. He wanted her to understand completely what he was about to tell her. He continued.
    “Mary, do not be afraid—you are indeed highly favored of the Lord!”
    She remained silent.
    “You are to give birth to a Son and shall call his name Jesus,” Gabriel said. “He will be great and will be known as the Son of the Most High! He will be given the throne of David and shall rule over the house of Jacob forever. His Kingdom shall see no end!”
    Mary was staggered. A baby? She had never been married or even been with a man before. She was engaged to be married! How could this be? Overcoming her fear of the situation, she spoke to Gabriel.
    “But how can this be? I am a virgin.”
    “It will not be by man that you shall conceive but by the power of God,” answered Gabriel. “The Holy Spirit of the Most High shall create in your womb this coming Son—this Son of God.”
    “But…”
    “Listen! Your cousin Elizabeth, who has been barren, is also going to have a child.”
    “Elizabeth?” Mary responded, a rush of joy beginning to supplant her fear.
    “She is already in her sixth month,” said Gabriel. “You see? Nothing is impossible for the Lord!”
    Mary considered everything that had been spoken to her. It was impossible to drink it all in at once, and yet she knew in her heart it must be true. If this was of the Lord, then she was indeed highly favored. She looked up at Gabriel.
    “I am the Lord’s servant,” she said. “May everything you have said about me and Elizabeth come true.”
    Gabriel smiled at her and could not help but contrast her willingness to believe with Zacharias’ disbelief. He vanished as quickly as he had appeared. Mary was left with her thoughts. She was to carry the Son of the Most High? But why? What was the Lord doing? What did Elizabeth have to do with it all? Most of all—what was Joseph going to think?
    She decided that she must go and see Elizabeth at once.

    Lucifer’s leadership was meeting to discuss the recent appearances of Gabriel concerning the birth of the One who would be called Jesus. Lucifer had reconvened many of the Council members that had been with him in the days before the rebellion, before the Council of Worship had become the Council of War.
    The chatter around the table was a mixture of reminiscing over the old times in Heaven to the new threat posed by Gabriel’s intrusions. Many of these angels had not spoken to or seen each other since their expulsion from Heaven. It was quite a different arrangement around the table now—stripped of their offices and former prestige, they vied for whatever bits of power Lucifer tossed their way. The memories of this group were both bitter and sweet.
    Lucifer strode in and the room became quiet immediately. They met in an abandoned temple on Crete, in deference to Pellecus, whose principality over the Graeco-Roman world was now a brightly shining star. The temple was a Minoan structure dedicated to a long-forgotten sea goddess. The great civilization at Knossos, which once flourished here, had been destroyed in a violent earthquake. All that remained were pitiful ruins and relics of a glorious past.
    “Not exactly the same surroundings as when we met in Heaven,” said Lucifer, noting the ruined temple. “But an appropriate setting to be sure.”
    The angels looked at each other knowingly.
    Lucifer stood at the end of the long bronze table that had once served as a Minoan priest’s place of offering. He eyed each angel individually: Rugio, Vel, Nathan and Prian, his warrior commanders; Fineo, Drachon, Sar and Rega, former angels of worship; and Tinius, Pellecus, Lenaes and Kara, angels of wisdom, now turned angels of deception. Lucifer smiled faintly.
    “Brothers, it is good to have you back again