The Third Heaven : Apocalypse of Kings

by Donovan Neal

  Henel James was an opportunist. He could smell a story. Before him were two dead Israeli soldiers. Each killed by fire: while the whole of the Wailing Wall had cleared to make room for the two old men. He stopped recording for a second and switched over to Facebook to live stream. There was no way he was going to be upended by an amateur video.

  I could win a Pulitzer for this, he thought to himself. Then the idea that perhaps he could interview the men came to him. If I pose no threat perhaps I can get them to explain where they came from. Henel moved closer to grab his story.

  “Excuse me, sir?” He waved at Enoch. “Excuse me!” He raised his hands with his palms open, his cell phone gripped tightly to still capture any images and sound.

  “May I hear more? I would very much like to hear your story, and what you have to say. May I approach you?”

  Enoch looked at Elijah and Elijah nodded. “Come forward young man,” said Enoch.

  Henel kept his head low and averted looking at the men directly in the eyes. He then sat himself five feet from the duo and opened his mouth to speak.

  “My name is Henel James; may I ask who you are?”

  “We are the two olive trees; the two candlesticks which stand before the God of the Earth. Two who have witnessed His glory and must give testimony to what we have seen and what shall come to pass.”

  Henel looked at his phone to make sure he caught all that and checked his memory to see how much time he had left before the device stopped.

  “You have told me more of your function but may I ask for your names? I wish to tell your story. And I will, if you allow me, take your words and share them with the whole world.”

  Elijah replied, “We are Enoch and Elijah. And we know who you are unbeliever. You have forsaken the God of your fathers. You have swept aside the traditions of the elders. You should have done whatever they had you to observe; but not have done after their works: for they say and do not. Therefore, tell us Henel James of the tribe of Benjamin why didst though not respect the tradition of your fathers?”

  Henel froze looking at the men dumbstruck.

  He stared at the men shaking. He did not tell them anything about his belief in God and especially about his family lineage.

  Henel gathered his composure and quickly planned an answer he thought would not embarrass him as he continued to live-stream. “Well, dear sir. What son these days listens to his parents? Do we not all go our way as we get older?” Henel smiled at his answer. Thinking he had outsmarted the old man.

  He was wrong.

  “Why do you speak to us thus? And why hath Satan filled thy heart to trifle with the Holy Ghost? For this slight: your spirit will be required of thee. But fear not, know even as thou spoke we have interceded that you might not see the realm of the dead that you too may serve as a witness.

  The Holy One has agreed in this thing. But do not tempt the Holy Spirit. Lest you find your life forfeit. Do you understand me young man?”

  Henel nodded nervously and replied, “Yes sir.”

  Enoch then motioned for him to draw near. Henel inched closer to within arm’s reach and Enoch spoke. “The device you have... will it carry our words?”

  “Yes sir. It will not only take your words but your image and project them into faraway lands, and many will see and hear what you say.”

  Enoch then extended his hand to hold the device, and Henel slowly turned the phone over to him. Enoch passed the cell phone to Elijah who held it to investigate it as he also turned it over for inspection. He then passed it back to Henel. Elijah smirked at the young man and replied, “Truly a wondrous thing you have. But alas, it would seem that you are ever learning yet unable to come into the knowledge of the truth.”

  Suddenly the sound of a helicopter came into earshot and several transport carriers rolled upon their position and screeched to a halt. Soldiers emptied and scrambled to take up positions surrounding the area. A solider also leaned out the door of the helicopter and sniper positioned himself from a neighboring building aiming directly at their position. Henel slowly placed his still broadcasting phone on its kickstand and instinctively raised his hands high into the air. “I am unarmed!” he yelled: hoping against hope that the authorities did not think he was with the men.

  A male voice from a bullhorn blared his command to the two men. “You are under arrest! You will place your hands on your head. Any movement other than this and you will be fired upon! You have three seconds to comply!”

  Henel watched as the seconds marched on the broadcast over Facebook live. He could not see behind him save the images that were played out on the screen. His eyes widened as the men who were positioned behind himself immolated and burst into flames. A lightning strike then flashed and disintegrated the tail of the chopper and it fell from the sky with the pilot scrambling inside attempting to regain control of the plummeting aircraft. It careened into the court with a crash. Rotors sliced into the ground and the centrifugal force hurled them into the distance. Henel’s eyes grew wide as the soldier jumped from the craft running; his body emblazoned in fire as he turned into ash and fell to the ground.

  Henel then heard the voice of Enoch “Henel James.”

  Henel pushed himself up to see the two men still siting unfazed. Enoch motioned for him to return the device, and he did so. Enoch looked into the screen and spoke and his voice boomed when he did.

  “We are the two witnesses sent by God. By the power of the Living God we have now shut up the heavens and there will be no rain in Israel except by our word: we defy Leto Alexander and his Satan his father that all may know the God of Heaven is supreme.”

  Enoch and Elijah then looked to the sky and spoke aloud that all might hear.

  “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” And only a few that watched the live-stream knew they merely echoed the words recorded in the book of Revelation.

  Immediately the sky turned a putrid green. And the clouds parted to reveal a horse and rider that flew through the sky. And a scale was in the rider’s hand and when Henel looked up into the sky, he saw a black humanoid being who trailed the rider whose face was as a mare. Its wings were like those of a bat yet without the connecting membrane, and fire and great plumes of dark smoke issued from its skeletal body. Tendrils of iron flailed about as it flew. And when Henel saw the being; he knew this was what his forefathers had seen many ages ago. His flesh immediately lost color and the instinctual knowing as the great winged giant flew above him. His shadow spread over all things like a great eclipse of the sun, and Henel intuitively understood in the core of his being that what he looked into was the face of death itself. And he realized that at the moment, all the Pulitzer’s in the world would not save him from what his eyes beheld. And he looked in horror at Enoch and Elijah and trembled at what he beheld.

  “What is going on?” he said.

  Enoch returned his gazed and spoke somberly in reply. “The fourth seal has been broken: death now comes to reap the world, and you human… you will soon see Hell follow.”

  Chapter Eight

  Tribulations and Woe

  Michael arrived back into Heaven and Talus awaited him at the Cliffs of Argoth. Michael turned to his escorts and spoke, “Go and stand as a shield to Enoch and Elijah. I have reason to suspect that though powerful together they will need your support. Find a hole in Leto’s authority. There must be those sympathetic to our cause that can provide us prayer cover. Now go.”

  Both angels nodded and fell backwards off the cliff, opened a portal to the realm of mortal men and disappeared into prismatic light.

  Michael looked at Talus and the two walked towards the mountain of God. “What have you to report my friend?”

  “There has been a disturbance among the Horde. For demons now lash against demon. Angel against angel. It is as if a civil war has broken out among them. I would have never surmised that such would occur amongst the Horde.”

&
nbsp; “I know," replied Michael. “When I met with the Abomination, no principalities covered his residence. Marduk it would seem was the origin of the rebellion but alas Marduk has lost his war against Lucifer and stands as a prisoner of war. It is only a matter of time until he is given to the Void. Nevertheless, he possess to have a scheme by which he believes he can smite the Abomination down. I do not see how such is possible if he stands as his captor. But we shall see.”

  Talus nodded his eyes surveying the ground as he thought upon his brother’s words. “Michael the principalities that have engaged one another have caused destruction to the peoples of the middle east beyond imagining. The great political powers have in times past moved to fill the vacuum. But this Leto now controls them. They seemingly are at his command and have restrained themselves from moving to secure key areas of what was once strategic interest.”

  Michael stopped walking and turned to his brother. "The thing is known to me. Before Marduk’s capture he informed me that a God-stone lies buried under the Temple Rock.”

  Talus stopped and took his brother by the arm, “A Godstone? One of the Kilnstones has been found. Is it one that Lucifer used to hold me captive?:

  Michael shrugged, “The thing is not known my friend. I have only recently been apprised of this intelligence. How such a thing could escape notice of the Host and Grigori specifically is beyond me. Is Argoth still in tome form?”

  Talus nodded, “He is. Every jot and tittle burning up within him ready to be unleashed as Yeshua breaks each seal.”

  Michael frowned, “El’s wrath has been released only in part and in measure. Even in his anger there is restraint. If El does not withdraw from his plan, there will be no mankind to save. Adamson is surely doomed. Have you been able to estimate the casualties?”

  Talus nodded, “Some shall be saved. Jerahmeel has been working in Argoth’s hall, and he projects that it is possible that over seventy percent of the planets inhabitants could be wiped out.”

  Michael lowered his head, sighed and replied. “And El… has his wrath been abated?”

  “No, said Talus. I fear it has just begun. While you were away a horseman was unleashed upon the world. Crimson red, its rider was war, and Marduk Prince of Babylon rode a wave of blood across the planet; those nations influenced by the Mohammedans had launched an offensive against the nations of Shem and Japheth. The attack has gone one for week’s earth-side.

  As both made their way towards the steps of the palace, they heard the sound of ladders before they saw them. The great sound of the prismatic funnels preparing to form in the capital of Heaven itself. Like the oncoming sound of rain. A sound they had not heard since the days of the war with Lucifer: the deafening roar as if a tornadic waterfall was moving through the land. The golden-hued sky above them changed, and all manner of colors flared through the region. The last time of which ladders breached Heavens sky and obliterated the land to mark the start of war.

  Michael took up a defensive position and yelled to his comrade, “Talus to my right! Let nothing come to breach the palace grounds. Michael then roared a clarion call to battle to all of Heaven into the air. “To arms!” he yelled.

  His voice carried across the skies of Heaven and every angel had heard the call before. Each knowing upon command of the Chief Prince they were now mustered to battle. Mustered to heaven’s defense, and so the populace of heaven ceased in their daily activities and took up sword and shield. Each armored themselves to prepare what could only be an invasion.

  Flecks of light materialized throughout all of Heaven. The telltale sign that Ophanims were distorting the realm to make room for their transport to occupy its space. Speckles of light appeared all about them: the ground, the sky, in buildings, and in rooms. The palace steps. Both fore and aft of the Burning Ones. All eyes could see that whatever was coming was arriving on a scale far more different than any had ever seen; for nowhere in heaven did the lights not materialize.

  “In El’s name we are being bombarded upon all sides!” said Talus. “How can Eladrin allow his people to bring ruin to our shores? We will surely perish when the ladders fall.”

  Michal looked and his face was downcast, for he had never seen ladders form on this wise and in such numbers. “Whatever the enemy we will face it.” He withdrew his sword and sent it flying into the air where it split into seven blades. His halo flared, “I am calling for Eladrin and his people. We will not be alone.”

  Immediately the words of El Pneuma spoke within his mind, “Oh my son know ye not that you are never alone?”

  The sky then opened to reveal the Holy spirit and as a great bird of prey his wings were spread aboard and light beamed from them and he spoke.

  “Behold! The children of God!”

  Bluish lights descended from his wings and ladders thin as small beams of light penetrated the entirety of Heaven, and wherever a beam settled a man or a woman appeared; stunned and excited gasping in awe of their surroundings. Each materialized as if they were newborn stars. Exploding in luminance and color.

  “Hold thy weapons,” Spoke El Pneuma. “For my children and thy redeemed siblings have now come home.

  And for the first time in Grigoric history, the four races of creation were now united in Heaven: an army at full strength. And Michael knew that with the addition of the Raptured there was nothing that could withstand them.

  ✽✽✽

  2 years after the Taking

  Leto sat at his office in Brussels and his ten regional governors were assembled to report of the latest worldwide happenings.

  “Who will go first gentlemen? Let’s not be coy.”

  Governor Consuela looked around the room and noticed the trepidation in the body language of each Governor and spoke first to represent her people. “Emperor, North America and the United States in particular have been particularly hard hit. As is commonly known with many of our countries; Christianity was in decline but still a substantive part of our region’s population who affiliated with the religion. Over a third of our male population have disappeared in the Taking not to mention the women and children We have millions of missing persons, persons who are no longer available to pay bills, employees gone, businesses shutting down and impacting everything from production, to logistics and supply lines. Commerce simply has been disrupted on a scale we have never imagined. Both American and Canadian government revenue has collapsed and what market still exists has stabilized only because of our application of the Mark to the citizenry. As your imminence already knows the Cyber-attacks have crippled computer networks worldwide. The Mark is the only thing that allows secured transactions to occur due to the sheer widespread and replicating nature of the virus. I would also remind his excellency we have him to thank for this.”

  Leto’s eyebrow rose at this remark and he spoke in response. “Governor Consuela, do I detect sarcasm in your voice? Perhaps even peppered with a hint of accusatory disdain?” Leto then slowly rose from his chair. His strong and muscular features seen even beneath his suit jacket.

  The President of the United States, now Governor of the whole of North America spoke timidly to the worlds acknowledged leader.

  “I speak the truth. Truth which no one in this room should fear. You are the most powerful person on the planet. Surely my words do nothing to threaten that? The truth of how you attacked my country and supplanted the world’s economy. This truth is buttressed by the rumors of how you threatened the lives of various members of the United Nations to vote you into office. None of those truths take away the larger truth that despite your lack of moral authority by some to rule… you do rule. I am a politician and a realist.”

  Leto smirked, “What is truth? Since you are a realist, you understand that truth originates with me and my Father. For I only speak what he has spoken. And his words and deeds have shown us that this entity from beyond the quantum realm is a threat to mankind. A threat I will not abide. He will not take our people without impunity and soon we will be in the position to mak
e him pay. I have driven our economies Governors to build our forces to combat this threat. While it pains me that people may suffer. WE must be vigilant to prepare ourselves for what the father indicates will be an imminent attack. But I digress, continue Governor, and do so with less vitriol. If I desired your snide remarks, I would simply have you recite them as I executed your family before your eyes. Now continue.”

  Leto sat down and the Governor swallowed hard and did as she was commanded.

  “Universal income has kept the overall population from starvation but capital has been and is projected to be tied up in litigation with our courts for decades. We simply do not have the personnel trained to deal with the massive estates and complications from declaring so many dead or missing. However, you will be pleased to hear that our combat readiness has been upgraded. Resources have been rerouted to the military and have made us ready to launch against any celestial attack. The armed forces have been restructured to compensate for so many missing. Nevertheless, we are still taxed but can commit troops if and when needed. Violent crime has curtailed but fraud has skyrocketed as many have tried to take advantage of so many who have now gone. We have managed to quell the terrorist cells that have sought to fracture the government and make claims that we are still a sovereign nation or those who claim to be Christian that have attacked government posts. I have accelerated executions for crimes against humanity as you commanded. It quells most of the population but many claim allegiance to Christ and are willing to sacrifice their lives to demonstrate it. We have accommodated them accordingly.”

  Leto looked at the Governor of the United States and replied. “Do better… now sit down.”

  Governor Consuela looked at her leader and slowly sunk into her seat as a scolded child. And did her best to maintain a semblance of pride.

  “Governor Wang. Speak of the Asian rim. What is your status?”