No one knows how the long the holy flame burned, for when one is in His Presence, time flees from His face. But, when the cleansing was complete, the Fellowship of the Song glowed in golden brilliance before him, for they had been purged of the remaining remnants of the lie of Intheism and the caustic effects of the Netherlife. Their Pool of Passion, cleansed by the Presence of the indwelling Life Weaver, made it so they were now free from the propensity of living a self for self life, and ready to experience the Shared Life of the Image Maker, the life he had always intended for his creation.
Philon, now no longer expressing himself from the Frame, stood before them in a simple emerald green tunic. As a smile gently covered his face, Abba walked out from within him, followed by Life Weaver, taking their place on either side of Philon.
Abba summoned Kalandra, who alighted before him. He smiled and winked at her. She then elegantly bowed before him, and turning to the children of Valerian and Aurea proclaimed:
“Let it be decreed! The Consummation has begun!
From this Garden, the humble beginnings of Humankind,
A glorious city will now rise!
All the nations, peoples, and kindred’s of earth will sojourn
To give ear to Philon, Abba’s appointed Sovereign.
The Prince of Peace!
The ways of your Creator you will yearn for!
You have come home!
Let the celebration begin!”
All watched as Abba joined his hand to Philon, and Philon joined his hand to Life Weaver. Lifting their hands skyward, in unison their voices sang a song to wonderful to comprehend, yet filling the atmosphere around them with life, and immersing all present in the Garden and in the Silver Sea with the Image Maker’s love!
And so, because when He speaks, it is, and, it is, because he speaks, the Garden was transformed into the City of Philon, the Great King!
Epilogue
Days turned into months, and months turned into years, and the heartache and tears of the previous Age soon became a memory for humankind and the Destiners who dwelt in the Silver Sea.
The children of Valerian and Aurea thrived under the leadership of Philon, who, being flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone, delighted, beholding humankind flourish beyond the bounds of earth and into the universe.
One momentous day, Chayilian messengers were sent to the abodes of Abriel, Lupa, Meliose, Jonas and to the humans, Valerian and Aurea, Chad, Nate, Emma and Ivy. They were being summoned to an audience with Philon, for the purpose of, in the words of the Chayil, “to witness the fruits of the Consummation.”
Abriel and his friends took to flight together and were uncharacteristically silent, as they ventured toward the royal court, puzzled as to what awaited them, but whatever it was, it must be good.
Valerian and Aurea invited their friends to accompany them in a coach drawn by emerald green steeds provided by the King. As they made their way down shimmering gold paved road towards what was aptly titled, The Sanctuary, Philon’s personal abode, Ivy inquired of Valerian, “Dear father, what could this invitation entail?”
Valerian glanced at Aurea, a signal to perhaps intervene, which she gladly did, “My precious Ivy, Abba has allowed for as many mysteries as there are stars! Such are His ways and in His delightful wisdom His creativity is given room to be expressed. And so, I sense that a mystery is about to be revealed to us!”
“Mother, I so enjoy listening to you speak!” chimed in Chad.
Aurea tenderly held his hand in her hand, maternal love yet still comforting his once orphaned heart.
“Well, one thing we do know,” Nate added, “when Philon is involved it is always an adventure!”
The noble steeds pulled the gleaming silver coach along a winding road bordered by giant willow trees whose leafy boughs seemed to bow in silent testimony to the One they would soon behold in audience.
Soon, the coach appeared over a gentle rolling hill and the grandeur that appeared before them elicited a holy hush inside the carriage. The Sanctuary loomed before them. Its pearlescent walls were dressed with hanging, flowering vines, swaying in rhythmic motions as tangerine-colored hummingbirds played in the orchid blooms. Colorful living auras fluctuated out from and into the sky above The Sanctuary, forming a majestic rainbow, a testimony to His goodness, which flowed as a sparkling clear brook, bubbling out from the south side of the palace, flowing down into the Great City refreshing all who drank of its refreshing properties.
On this special occasion, a company of Chayil stood wings unfolded on each side of the Way, welcoming the coach with swords drawn high into the air.
It is said when the Chayil smile, light seems to outshine from their beings, the favor of Philon emanating from their pure hearts. And smile they did! And as the coach made its way into the Sanctuary the Chayil shouted, “Hail Valerian and Aura, and the children of the Song!”
Passing into the royal courtyard, their coach came to stop. Chayil opened the two side doors, and bowing low, welcomed their human brothers and sisters.
Valerian, with Aurea standing at his side, motioned to the others, his eyes appealing to their hearts, “Dear children, please…one more group hug!”
Emma, Ivy, Nate and Chad scurried into their parent’s arms, celebrating family, which love had planned long ago in the Image Maker’s heart. Valerian with a grin from ear to ear exclaimed, “I so enjoy those group hugs!”
“Well then dear husband,” Aurea prompted, “Philon awaits us!”
Two Chayil were positioned on either side of a massive twenty-foot door composed of stardust, rubies and diamonds. Raising their trumpets they blew out a mighty blast announcing the visitors. The two radiant doors slowly opened and the Chayil bowed low before their guests, their hands signaling the invitation to enter. Upon entering the empyrean hall their senses were treated to an array of delights!
The auras pulsated in the towering pearlescent walls, reaching a crescendo at an open roof, which gave way to a panorama of shooting stars and meteors, planets, and spinning galaxies and meteors, a divine portal into the universe.
Living Music filled the hall, a heavenly melody indeed! For the music was alive filling the ears and touching every nerve in their bodies with Abba’s peace. Sometimes the music manifested in calming colors swirling around in the great hall, expressing Philon’s joy!
“Oh…my….gosh you guys!” Chad giggled. “The aromas in here are absolutely amazing! Philon is the bomb!”
Just then a hardy laughter filled the hall, “I’ve been addressed many things over the eons, but never the bomb!” And there before them, dressed in a simple lavender tunic, and bare feet, stood a beaming Philon! “Group hug!” he laughed.
They all ran to him, Ivy reaching him first. She nestled her head up under his arm, and felt the press of his lips upon her forehead. The love of that one kiss penetrated her skin and sent feelings of affirmation and acceptance streaming into her entire being. Soon they all fell upon him and down to the floor celebrating and laughing!
Now exhausted from the fray, and sitting on the floor catching their breath, Nate announced, “There is no laughter like Philon’s laughter!”
“One day I will invite you all to experience the joy and laughter Abba and Life Weaver and I experience in Shared Life….so life giving!”
With legs crossed they sat in a circle, now wondering why Philon summoned them to The Sanctuary.
“Before I brief you on what may be a shock to you all, I have also invited some of your Chayilian brothers and sisters.”
With a whoosh over their heads, Abriel, Meliose, Jonas, Lupa and Kalandra alighted behind Philon. Followed by a surprise even the Chayil were not privy to, Natriel and Yenna!
Philon spotted the desire in Ivy’s eyes and chuckled, “Go ahead!”
Ivy leapt to her feet yelling, “Group hug!”
To which the Chayil and Destiner alike entered the family circle with hugs and kisses, warming Philon’s heart, for he was experiencing what th
e Image Maker had planned before one creature had come into being…home!
As the fire of love’s warmth toned down, all Philon’s guest were now present and sitting comfortably in a simple circle on the soft emerald green grass that covered the floor of the Hall.
“There was a prophecy spoken before time began, here or in the Silver Sea,” Philon explained.
“From lofty heights he would fall
Leading many into darkness
Immersed in Self they would not hear Abba’s call.
But into their angst He would journey
Into Self He would traverse
And join Himself to their shame
Until at last nailed to the Frame
In Love’s fire they would burn
Until all Self is purged from their being
They would arise—with a new celestial meaning.”
Silence and awe settled upon them all, for their minds could not grasp the possibility of whom this prophecy spoke, yet nothing is impossible with the Image Maker.
Philon rose to his feet, stood before them, and directed, “Please dear family, enlarge this circle.” And so, the circle was enlarged giving ample room in the center in which Philon now stood.
Abriel, though hesitant, raised his hand, “My Lord, may I speak?”
“Why certainly, dear Abriel.”
“This prophecy from before time speaks of one being and the rebellion he fostered and the subsequent death that he ushered into your creation. Do you speak of Primus? Is he alive after all this time?”
Yenna was also bewildered with the prophecy, though ever trusting the Image Maker, and asked, “And Satrina, my Lord, her wickedness is unrivaled in the annals of the Silver Sea. Is she too alive?”
“My friends, Primus is dead. His Intheism, the Netherlife he conjured in the Cave of Malice, all dead, non-existent.” Turning to Yenna he said, “Satrina too is dead. In fact, the Rebellion, which included billions of humankind on the planet earth and the fallen Muspellum are all dead. They no longer exist.”
An uncomfortable hush fell upon the fellowship. They sensed in their hearts that what Philon just said was indeed true, but it also seemed to color their sense of who He was. The thought of an unfathomable number of sentient beings now destroyed was almost too much for them to bear, even more so, too much to accept that He would destroy them all.
“I asked you all to enlarge the circle, my friends, now I ask you to enlarge your hearts,” he continued. “What I am about to reveal to you is beyond your comprehension. But, it is not beyond the Shared Life of the Image Maker.”
Philon raised his hands into the air above him. The Living Music, which always was present in The Sanctuary, manifested in colors of royal blue, emerald green, peach, and yellows, swirling around and around above their heads, until at last, images appeared. And as Philon spoke, they beheld his story before them.
“What you are now beholding is the white flame of the Holy Fire that fell on all beings, in the Garden, around the world, and in Sheol, the abode of departed spirits. All were set afire! There is no time with the Image Maker; time is a measurement for His creation. In your minds, you have been here in this unsullied Age for an eon. But for those I just spoke of, those who have been destroyed, along with that Fallen Age, there has been no time. The Holy Fire consumed them all!”
They witnessed Primus, humankind, all those who were not of the Song, Xcelenes and Muspellum, pulled into the Frame, to be seen no more.
Suddenly before them, a scene that lived on, etched in their soul memory, now appeared. They could hear the condemning voices. They cringed at the hammer and nails fastening Philon to the ancient Frame of Story. They were repulsed at the violent spewing of Primus and they witnessed the final, shallow breaths of Philon.
Not one eye was dry. Each cheek demonstrated the evidence of watery sorrow that rolled down onto the grass, prompting each blade to bow in reverence to the grief displayed.
“And so behold, Consummation’s work! The hate, the vile corruption of every being, the exaltation of self for self, the depravity of the Great Lie and pungent revulsion directed at their Creator, was absorbed by Love and destroyed in Love’s body. Yes, not just Primus and Satrina. Not just Muspellum. Not just humankind who joined the Rebellion, but for you, my friends, the Image Maker took all the evil and sickness of the previous Age into his own body and destroyed it. All things exist for me, by me, and in me. If I die, then all things die with me. And when I rose, all things rose with me.”
Lupa, hardly able to stand to her feet, slowly approached Philon, head bowed, shoulders slumped, and hands trembling. Falling at his feet, she wept, kissing them, and through her weeping, truly representative of all who were present, whispered, “We are not worthy dear Philon…we are not worthy…you…you alone are worthy!”
“My dear child,” a voice gently called unto her. Looking up she beheld Abba. He knelt down, sat on the floor, took Lupa in his arms and rocked and as if she was but a child, His child.
“Forgive me Abba! Forgive my pride!” cried Abriel.
And one by one, each heart gathered around Abba, who immersed them in his gracious love, healing their hearts, and at the same time, expanding them to experience more.
Unbeknownst to the guests, the Hall filled up with Chayil. It was a glorious site! Their golden brilliance reached up and up into the open roof and out into the universe filling the air with heavenly melodies as the Living Music filled their hearts.
Life Weaver stood among the Chayil, grinning from ear to ear. Turning to one of the Chayil he chuckled, “Isn’t this awesome, my son!” And his hearty laughter, contagious as always, filled every mouth of the Chayil. A celebration beyond celebrations had begun.
Philon glanced at Abba, “Now?”
“Now my beloved Son!”
Philon shouted, “Make way! Make way!”
A sea of Chayil split apart, and as they did shouts of awe filled the Hall. The Fellowship witnessed two of the great Sentinels from Zenith marching toward them in regal array, with a company of people behind them, whom they still could not recognize.
The Sentinals came to a halt before them all, and Philon announced, “The Consummation is now complete! Behold, the children of the Image Maker, as they were always meant to be!”
The imperial guards stepped aside, and walking toward them were Raeh, holding hands with Satrina, and behind them, three little girls beaming with joy and three little boys wanting so much to touch the golden armor of the Chayil. Behind the couple were the once fallen Muspellum…now cleansed and purged of the Netherlife, dressed in white tunics and their wings beginning to grow out of their backs, Chayil in the making!
Abriel held Lupa’s hand, for they had become life-mates and had children of their own. Their eyes spoke the words of their hearts and now enlarged from an infusement of Philon’s love, ran toward Raeh.
Natriel and Yenna gracefully approached Satrina, for that is the Destiner way. But when Yenna stood face to face with her sister, all proper etiquette was brushed aside and they embraced, still numb to the reality of this homecoming.
Abriel did what most brothers would do, he tackled Raeh onto the soft grass and they wrestled with hugs and hugs of love.
Lupa looked at the six children and whispered under her breadth, “This must be the Abbandon as they were meant to be, isn’t that right Abba?” She caught an affirming twinkle in his starry filled eyes and winked back at him.
And so a royal celebration began in the Great City! No one knows how long the dancing and singing, tears and laughter, and the Living Music filled every soul and living thing, but does it matter?
All things were now the way they were intended to be.
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