Angel Chronicles: Patriarchs

By Dixon Hayes

Standing in the revered Saint Michael's Golden Domed Monastery and Cathedral in modern-day Kyiv, Michael the Archangel, general of the holy angelic army, divvies out orders to his fellow angelic commanders as the city and country prepare for the invasion of Russian forces. As they dispatch with their tasks, the great angel reminisces about how it all began.

In the beginning, war was unknown--until Michael expelled from the heavenly realm his twin brother, Lucifer, and thwarted the great rebellion. In the wake of such defeat, the enemy of the Trinity turned his vitriol toward the ones made most in the Creator's image, the human race. From the casting of Adam and Eve from the Garden to the Great Flood to the trials and tribulations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, the germination and evolution of spiritual warfare is witnessed.

Archangel Michael follows the will and orders of the Most High as angel swords and demon spears clash in the battle for human destiny. He and his fellow archangels contend with Satan and his demonic princes as the chapters of Genesis unfold.

Angel Chronicles: Patriarchs is an interpretation of the interactions and interventions of both good and evil forces from the day prior to the biblical account of the creation of man to the death of the last patriarch, Joseph. The voices and viewpoints, while leaning heavily on history as recorded by the scribes of the book of Genesis, are the creative account of spiritual entities, the masters they serve, and the humans caught in between, blending fantasy with religious texts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888320785

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Angel Chronicles

Patriarchs

Dixon Hayes

ISBN 979-8-88832-077-8 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-078-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Dixon Hayes

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

About the Author

Dear Reader,

Recently, I discovered a report from the Pew Research Center from November 2021 ¹ that surveyed the views on various aspects of faith. Interestingly, the researchers found that 73 percent of Americans believe in Heaven while 62 percent believe in Hell, and 83 percent believe in unexplained events. There were many other categories that revealed surprising data as well, but I won't inundate you with a bunch of stats.

I will tell you that ever since I was a child, I have reflected constantly on spiritual matters, especially when life in the physical, emotional, and intellectual forms fail to provide adequate answers for me. Personally, I find matters of faith breathtakingly complex yet overwhelmingly rewarding simultaneously.

Thus, I caught the inspiration to set my thoughts on the matter down on paper.

One of the main purpose of writing this debut baby was to investigate the origin of contention among human beings. My personal and humble opinion is that all strife among people can find its roots in spiritual warfare—most often in the forms of either a prideful or a critical spirit.

With a very humble nod to the great authors C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, this novel is meant to share a creative perspective that could provoke thought and discussion on the genesis and growth of spiritual warfare.

One of the most beautiful characteristics of being human is that we all have free will; how we choose to implement that free will inevitably affects not just ourselves but those with whom we interact. I'm pragmatic enough to accept that some will choose to harbor negative sentiment in reading this novel while others will opt to embolden more positive dispositions. Whatever your beliefs, my sincerest hope is that you will find new paradigms and plots to ingest into your repertoire of knowledge.

Finally, thank you most humbly for taking this journey with me.

Gratefully,

Dixon Hayes

February 26, 2022

11:11 p.m. (2311 hours) Local Time

Saint Michael's Golden Domed Monastery and Cathedral

Kyiv, Ukraine

After the last lone petitioner—a young man, rifle slung round his back, feverishly offering prayers up in haste—departed the building, the massive doors banged shut, and thundering silence blanketed the great cathedral bearing his name. He finally decloaked and allowed a bit of luminescence to semisaturate the sanctuary beyond what the altar and tabernacle candles were emitting. The light grew brighter, alerting the general of Heaven that his brothers had arrived for orders.

He pivoted to see his fellow archangels somberly awaiting his command. Michael studied their countenances for a few moments as he collected his words and then commenced with the dispatches.

"Raphael, just as you have done so many times previous, the Trinity needs your gentle sweetness for the many women and children currently bunkered in this land—especially in the main cities. Send the angels under your command to fortify the guardians over each human woman and child.

"Uriel, there are warriors in the streets tonight who have fear, yes, but even greater resolve. Use your angels to steady them. Infuse them with wisdom as to how to maneuver through the battles to come.

"Gabriel, attend to the president of this country. Also, his advisers. This man is a direct descendant of the favored tribe and is of the lineage of David. In fact, many are beginning to apply the analogy of King David to this leader. He is your primary concern, but dispatch some of your squadrons to those lands such as Germany, Poland, and Switzerland, who are diplomatically attempting to implement a treaty or resolution for this most recent of persecuted people.

"Remiel, Saraqael, and Sandolphon, be ever ready to assist the newly departed. Also, attend to the troops of the tyrant; inspire them to reconsider their actions.

"Raguel, half of your battalions will assume those duties of mine in the Levant and Canaan from which I had to pull.

Metatron, man the armory map room and advise any and all of us as you deem necessary. Also, station your best warriors from the nearby galactic regions over each nuclear weapon silo, ready to disarm any that might be foolishly deployed.

And what of you, General? Gabriel queried.

I will take my special forces along with two of Raguel's units to deal with Russia and her demonic prince, Rimmon. His influence has all but consumed that leader.

The general looked into each of his brothers' eyes, and seeing that all were ready to launch into their missions, he rotated and kneeled in front of the altar. The other archangels followed suit. All offered up the incense of their prayers to the Trinity.

Upon completion, all stood and clasped forearms as they had done innumerable times before right before battle. As he observed his brothers waft through the beautiful gilded ceilings, Michael surveyed the intricate murals on the walls with bittersweet nostalgia.

He recalled how it all began.

Prologue

Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

—Genesis 1:26–27

On the evening after the sea creatures and fowl of the air came to be, God shared his plan for the following day, the sixth. All the glory-beings were ecstatically in awe of this most amazing work to come. Michael retreated to the garden behind Heaven's armory for solitude and meditated on all that his Creator had willed into existence thus far. The beauty of what already was overwhelmed him with an indescribable joy; tears flowed jubilantly. As he leaned against a perfectly formed acacia tree, he peered down onto the newly formed earth and marveled.

Such magnificence! Such perfection! Surely this new—and greatest—created being to come will bear all the glory of Elohim!

Michael drew in a deep breath of Heaven's sweet, graceful air and slowly released it back into the golden hues of the sky. He glanced over at his breastplate and sword, which he'd removed earlier and positioned against the pearl bench adjacent to the tree. He recalled how his Father and his Lord had summoned him to present him with his duty as general of God's angelic army. It had never occurred to him to examine the purpose of such a need. Michael instantly kneeled and accepted his newly appointed position of service. From that moment forward, his loyalty—always intact from the beginning—experienced an even higher sanctification and purification and filled his entire being with an unwavering love and light of all things God. He smiled to himself as the memory faded.

Footsteps plodded gently behind him, and the familiar swish of the fragrance-layered robes caused Michael to broaden his countenance before even turning to face his favorite brother, Gabriel.

Peace be with you, golden-hair!

And with you, General. Gabriel flashed a warm smile and chuckled as he clasped his brother's strong, large hand. Resting?

Michael observed Gabriel's eyes as they drew toward his armor. No, no. Contemplating our Father's immense work. Beautiful.

Indescribable. They stood momentarily and soaked in the vast expanse of the new. Words do it no justice. You have to sing about this.

Yes, agreed. Michael turned to look at Gabriel and recognized an unfamiliar expression on the messenger's face. What is it?

Would you come with me to see something?

Of course, Michael replied as he slipped into his breastplate and attached his belt around his waist. Lead the way, brother.

Gabriel grinned as he rarely heard the general render those words to any of the angels. He admired his brother Michael for being concretely steadfast in his assignment and knew that the responsibility was considered of highest honor for his brother. Yet the murmurs from earlier after glory mass were sure to ruffle his brother's iridescent feathers as much, if not more than his own.

They strode down from the hill on which the armory sat toward the Blessed Arena, the original construct of what would be known to the humans as the amphitheater. As they glided into their seats near the top, their presence was unusually disregarded as their brother on the floor displayed a yet unseen presentation of emotion. His robes, invoked with all the glory of the Trinity, swung wildly as he presented his argument to his fellow angels. Gabriel glanced over to see if his calculation was correct; yes, Michael appeared aghast and troubled.

What is my twin doing, Gabriel? Michael hoarsely whispered.

Just listen, my brother. I am just as perplexed.

Lucifer continued, Brothers, angels, truthbearers. I submit to all of you here that this new creation our Trinity has deemed worthy of existence is in direct contrast to our perfection in him, our Father, in the Son, and in the Spirit!

Michael's immense hand automatically swung to grip the hilt of his sword to draw, but Gabriel just as swiftly prevented him from doing so.

No. Hold yourself. Gather what is necessary now for presentation and counsel to follow with our Lord. Michael glared with his intensely illuminated blue eyes, a hue so magnificent and special that it was resigned to the angels only. Gabriel knew the anger was an amalgam of fury his brother had never known—until now. Indeed, Gabriel had felt it, too.

Are we to allow this? Are we to allow this ‘thing' to be made in our image and given a higher rank than us, the glory beings? Lucifer paced the arena floor as murmurs graduated to rumblings and dissent among the throng gathered. Michael leaned hard elbow to knee and locked his stare on the defiant angel. Lucifer turned his gaze abruptly to sneer back at his brother.

See! Our magnificent general is even here to lend support to our supplication, to our argument! At that utterance, Michael shot to his feet and allowed his expression to speak for itself. For the first time in Heaven, there was an uncomfortable silence as all present knew that two enemies had just materialized. Michael remained locked in gaze with his twin brother. Lucifer broke.

"As great and powerful as you are, General, I am not in fear of you." All the angels turned and looked at Michael for his response.

Nodding once, he replied, Fear is all you will ever know from this moment forward. With that, Michael turned and left the gathering, Gabriel following close behind.

Many of the angels in attendance exited as well.

Michael's feet could not move fast enough to the holy Throne Room. Gabriel pursued with all his might, but he knew his brother had been gifted with an extra measure of swiftness necessary for his duties. The Great Worship Hall was solemn; the angels at their numerous guard posts were silently expectant. As the two great angels approached the entrance to the holy Throne Room, the seraphim receded their wings to allow entry. In the middle of the room, the Son awaited them.

Devout general and obedient messenger, shalom! Michael and Gabriel both instantaneously knelt with bowed heads. Arise, faithful servants. Tell me your need.

Gracious Son of God, Michael began, "my brother, Lucifer, the glory-giver, is speaking against you in a most vile manner. He is—"

Yes, General. Your thoughts and witness are true. Come to the throne and receive your full commission and orders. Gabriel, come forward as a witness for your brother. Without question or delay, Michael and Gabriel alighted to the foot of the seat of the Creator and took to their knees.

How you have fallen from the heavens, O Morning Star, son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the earth, you who conquered nations! In your heart you said: I will scale the heavens; Above the stars of God I will set up my throne; I will take my seat on the Mount of Assembly, on the heights of Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will be like the Most High! No! Down to Sheol you will be brought to the depths of the pit! (Isaiah 14:12–15)

"A war? A war, Michael! This is horrible! A third—"

"Stop, Gabriel! I have my orders. I am grateful and full of love for you and those who know our Father's will, but I will not fail my holy Master. Go away from me so I can prepare. We will reconvene soon. Stay obedient. Send report of any further doings of this faction the moment you