Inside Lucifer's War Read Online Free PDF Page A

you desire on earth and after. Ask yourself, what kind of life do you want on earth? What kind of life do you want when you come here to stay? Do you recall that moment of sickness you felt when you first arrived? Is that how you want to remain? Or do you want glory here as well?”
    His voice was magic in my ears. The guilt I had felt only moments ago fades away. I am relaxed and calm. He is bargaining with me. This is familiar to me, and his proposal intrigues me. I am not my brother’s keeper. Why shouldn’t I reap the rewards of my talents? Here, before me, is possibly everything I want. As ego fills me, all of a sudden, something Lucifer said about being tempted triggers a Bible verse in my head.
    In a debate, I had questioned a theologian on why God would tempt people. He quoted Scripture in his response: “‘When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.’” I am not sure why so many Bible verses are coming to me.
    By his own evil desire. That thought repeats in my head. Recalling basic Bible stories, wasn’t it Lucifer who first tempted humans? Wasn’t it Lucifer who first planted the evil desire? Why was I thinking of this when I was being presented such a great offer? Why should I care?
    Then, like a board across my face, it hits me. Yesterday I couldn’t have recalled a single commandment. Now, verses I had read or heard previously are as crisp and vivid as my hand in front of me. Knowing the verses gives me an unexpected strength in this room. It is my only weapon. It quickly fills my mind that the Gospel referred to Lucifer as “a liar and the father of lies.”
    I suddenly feel exhausted. And he could see it on me. I blink and a couch suddenly appears.
    “Rest,” he says. “I want your complete attention. I have business to attend to, but I shall return.”
    I slump onto the couch. It is comfortable and somehow familiar. I am very aware of my circumstances—and leery of the creatures in the darkness. Still, I can’t hold my eyes open and I sink into a deep sleep.

C HAPTER 4
    History Lesson
    I  have no idea how long I sleep. I have no awareness of time. I awaken by my own efforts, or at least I believe I awaken by my own efforts. My eyelids are still heavy as I try to open them. I feel as I sometimes do when I have been traveling. I am confused to awaken to my surroundings, and my vision is not clear. Again I hope this has all been a terrible dream, but I know better. The reality of my situation sets in.
    I see a shape that looks like Lucifer, but his appearance is altered again. His body seems part human, part lizard. He has a tail and scales. He talks with a long, skinny forked tongue from a human male face. He is talking in a strange language to a creature who has human features but certainly is not a person. The creature has a human form but with a skin that appears shrink-wrapped around its bones and muscles. It seems to have no fat on its body, and its muscles and bones are visible beneath the thin layer of skin. Its head is no more than a skull wrapped in a thin, tight skin. His muscles are large and long, which projects extreme strength. He listens attentively to Lucifer, never turning his eyes from him.
    Lucifer notices me and turns my way, and following his lead, the creature also looks at me. He stares at me with a rage I can feel emanating from him. I think I see, or imagine I see, his upper lip turn slightly up in a growl. Lucifer turns back to the creature and says something. The creature bows and dissolves into the walls, never glancing back at me as he leaves. I watch him disappear and then turn back to look at Lucifer.
    A burst of light blinds me for a moment. I open my eyes to see Lucifer in a glorious form. He is the same man I saw prior to falling asleep, but he wears a white robe with a hood, and he shines with a