Reluctant Demon Read Online Free PDF Page B

us.
    I really blame God for not putting an end to the foolishness right there. If only He had, the whole thing would have been over before the court of angels began to divide. "Surely they aren't choosing sides?" I thought.
    "Who would choose to side with a deranged archangel and against the Most High God?"
    If there was going to be a fight, I wanted to get away before it started. I began thinking about the consequences if I stood in the wrong place. Some of the host moved close behind Lucifer as he condemned the cherubim, God's holiest angels, for their obedience to God.
    He accused them of pretending that their allegiance to the Ancient of Days was based upon love when in truth they were terrified of His absolute power and demands for unquestioned loyalty.
    Lucifer jeered at them. "This God you bow down to would rather destroy my beauty and cast me down than admit that the creation has become more desirable than the Creator." Lucifer blistered the air as he whirled about with the flaming sword, ranting like one gone completely mad. "I will raise my throne above the throne of this misguided God. Choose whom you will follow, or die."
    My eyes were twitching in terror, but God did not blink. It seemed for a moment like He might not do anything. Confusion grew as the angels asked, "What if it's true?"
    Some of the neutral angels listened and believed Lucifer's claims and moved toward his side. Now, here's something you need to know about him. He is the prince of lies, but he doesn't lie all the time. He has no qualms about taking something that might be true and concocting a believable and persuasive fabrication that is completely wrong.
    Once you hear one of his exquisitely constructed part-truth lies, you will find yourself thinking about it. Pretty soon, you will be wondering how it could be true. That's what happened to me.
    I'm ashamed to admit it, but I found myself seeing things from Lucifer's point of view. He brought up an extraordinarily important question with repercussions for everyone. If God were willing to expel the prince of the archangels, His favorite, what might He do to any of the rest of us if we displeased Him?
    "Ridiculous," I said to myself. "It would not happen. It could not happen. The whole idea was preposterous."
    My last nerve was about to unravel when I realized that sides were being chosen for a fight, and no one would be allowed to sit it out. I zigzagged back and forth across the room, fretting about where to stand. If I stood with Michael's warriors and they lost, Lucifer would destroy me for disloyalty. I had that clearly figured out. If I stood with Lucifer's side—way in the back, of course—and they lost, Michael might simply overlook me since he never seemed to notice me before anyway. It was possible. It was at least worth a try Then Adonai stood up—a bad sign for us all. Standing meant judgment was about to be unleashed. The Son of God pronounced the sentence on Lucifer. "You corrupted your splendor by your sin. You corrupted My Father's glory by your ambition. Depart, and be cast down to Earth," His voice thundered.
    I could barely take in what I was hearing. Lucifer cast out? Cast out to where? To what place is an archangel exiled?
    "God can't really banish an archangel, can He?" whispered someone whom I could not identify.
    "Of course not," I muttered to myself, but I did not convince myself in the least.
    Lucifer so miscalculated the nature of God; he truly believed God would not—could not—destroy what He loved. I can look back and see why this strategy never had any possibility of working. Lucifer failed to take into account that the holiness of God was as great as His love.
    God would not allow His holiness to be profaned among His creation, even for the sake of His love.
    At Adonai's command, Michael unleashed his powerful army as war broke out in heaven. Lucifer fought back with all of his power, and one-third of the heavenly host fought with him.
    The offense within