Nikki stood in this great assembly, this cosmic throne room, silently watching. She watched Uriel, the archangel, reading from a book of flames, calling each angel one by one to step forward and give an account. She listened as each one stood before the great white throne and spoke.
Then she realized it wasn’t really an account. It wasn’t really a judgment. It was more like a confession.
Then Nikki heard the archangel Uriel call Ariel’s name.
“Ariel, come forth.”
Nikki held her breath as she watched Ariel, HER guardian angel, step forward.
He looked small. At eight feet tall, he was significantly smaller than most angels. He wasn’t as strong-looking. He looked leaner and more nimble than most other guardians.
Unlike the other guardians, had no armor and he didn’t carry a sword.
She watched as Ariel approached the throne and bowed his head.
She heard a voice like thunder, like the sound of a mighty rushing river, a voice coming from the Presence concealed behind the cherubim’s wings.
“What say you, my son?”
Ariel stood before the great white throne, with his head bowed and his eyes cast down on the shining gold floor in front of Him. Ariel stood there in silence for a moment, then drew in a deep breath and exhaled. Then he spoke. In barely a whisper.
“Father, I am not worthy to stand before you.” And then Nikki heard his voice catch and choke. The last of his words strained to be formed and uttered.
Nikki felt a welling of emotion inside herself. In that moment she felt his pain. She could feel his resignation.
A feeling of failure that had developed over years of not measuring up. Something reinforced, again and again, over years of defeat. A feeling of never being enough.
Nikki listened as Ariel confessed. His weakness. His failure. His disappointment. Disappointment in himself. In how much of a disappoint he believed he must be to the Most High.
Then Ariel began to speak about Nikki.
She stood there on the periphery of this great assembly, watching and listening, as Ariel spoke on her behalf.
“Please, my Lord. Hear my voice. Hear my cry to you, O Lord. For you alone hold the keys to the Heavens and the Abyss.”
“My charge… she has been…”
Again Nikki heard Ariel’s voice crack.
“She is a good woman. Full of kindness. She is full of faith. She has given much. To her children. To her husband. She has endured much. Endless attacks from the Enemy because of me. She has sacrificed herself to protect the innocent. She has been a minister to those in need.”
“She held firm to her faith in you, O Lord.”
“I have failed her, my Lord. I have failed you and I have failed her.”
“I beg You, O Lord, remove me from my post. Cast me aside and provide a Watcher who is not weak and worthless.”
Then Nikki watched as Ariel, for the first time, lifted his eyes toward the white throne as he spoke in a clear, loud voice.”
“Most High, hear my plea. Send me into the Abyss and provide for her someone worthy of Your name. Someone who can protect her.”
Then like someone convicted of a crime, ready to accept his punishment, Ariel kneeled before the throne. Then bowed his head and closed his eyes.
Nikki heard a collective gasp throughout the great hall. She had never been exposed to matters concerning the angelic host, but based on the reaction from the crowd, she somehow knew: no angel had EVER asked to be thrown into the abyss.
A loud rumble of thunder rattled from the sacred cloud above the throne. The cloud murmured loudly, with fiery tongues flickering above the white throne. The thunder rumbled, echoed, then dissipated throughout the great room.
Then a hush fell upon the room. Then a complete silence. Not a sound. Not a breath. A long moment of silence as Ariel kneeled there with his head bowed.
Then another voice filled the room.
“WHO DID YOU COME TO SEE?” a voice boomed.
Ariel opened his eyes. The entire room snapped to attention.
It was the Word. The one who walked in the garden. The Alpha and Omega.
It was Jesus. He had risen up out of his golden throne and was walking toward Ariel.
Jesus came and stood beside Ariel, then slowly turned in a circle in the midst of the great assembly of angels. Jesus spread his arms wide as he slowly turned, surveying the entire crowd.
“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU SEE?!” He shouted.
The question lingered in the air. Then again a silence fell on the crowd.
“WHO DO YOU SEE?!” Jesus shouted to the rafters, his voice shaking the foundation of the heavens as it echoed through and beyond the vast chamber.
(To be continued)