Jesus: The Eternal King

By Steven R. Willis

This book will answer these questions:

1. Jesus' involvement with creation

2. The rebellion of the angels

3. How Satan schemed to cause Adam's fall and shut God out of His Creation.

4. That Satan and His demons are intimately involved in our daily lives but the majority of us are oblivious to that fact.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Go To Publish
• Release date: Oct 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781647498849

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Jesus: The Eternal King

Copyright © 2023 by Steven Willis

ISBN-ePub: 978-1-64749-884-9

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 or author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

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Contents

Preface

Zacharias and Gabriel

In Orbit around Ouranos

The Chamber of Souls

The Rebellion

Mary and Gabriel

The Magi Prepare for Journey

Bridge of the Battle Cruiser Abraham

Zune and Bezel Assigned to Nazareth

Jesus Returns from Egypt

Pilate and the Shields

Matthew at the Temple

Jesus Moves to Capernaum

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem

Jesus Healing the Paralytic Man in Capernaum

The Beatitudes

Capernaum

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

Endnotes

Preface

This is written for all the people who have tried to read the Bible and have found it to be confusing. I am writing this to you that you may understand who Jesus is. It has taken me quite some time to pull together all the facts in a coherent manner that actually reflects what happened during the four-year period when Jesus ministered among us. The vast number of partial stories and seemingly unrelated facts about his life has made the correlation alone a daunting task. But somehow, the more I worked on it, the more clearly I could see the true structure and timeline of the events of his short life and ministry. For the things that still need to be clarified a little more, I have used footnotes so as not to interfere with the flow of the story. So without further introduction, I present to you The Ete rnal King.

The striking thing that I have noticed while I was doing this is how Jesus took teenagers and through them changed the world forever. We only know a little bit about them, and I suppose that is the point because the main theme and message are Jesus and what he did for the world. Only the occupations of six men are known, and those are of Jesus, who was a carpenter from Nazareth turned Rabbi; Simon; Andrew; James and John (who were partners in a fishing business); and Matthew (a despised tax collector). It is not known what the other eight young men did before they started to follow Jesus.

It is interesting to note that there were three sets of brothers in the twelve. These were Simon (also called Peter) and Andrew, sons of Jonah; James and John, sons of Zebedee (called the sons of thunder by Jesus); and Matthew and James the Less, sons of Cleophas (who was the brother of Joseph). Now I say this because at the cross, Jesus’s mother, Mary, is there with her sister, Mary. Since it is highly unlikely that a mother would name two of her daughters Mary, the only other answer is that she was Mary’s sister-in-law. This made Matthew and James the Less cousins of Jesus (along with John the Baptist). We also know Simon, Andrew, and Philip were from Bethsaida and that the Jonah’s family moved to Capernaum, where they commenced their fishing partnership with Zebedee and sons. Philip, apparently, stayed behind and, at some point, befriended Nathanael, who lived in nearby Cana. It is not known where Simon the Zealot, Thomas, Matthew, and James the Less were from, except they were all from Galilee. Judas Iscariot (Jesus’s betrayer) was from the town of Kerioth, which was twenty-three miles south of Jerusalem, making him the only one not from Galilee. All these young disciples of Jesus were under twenty years of age when Jesus died, except for Peter, who had to pay the Temple Tax along with Jesus in Capernaum.

I have combined the information about Jesus and the events going on around him to give you as complete a picture as is possible at this point in time. The account presented in the four Gospels has to be heard and put together like the testimony of numerous witnesses to a particular incident before you get a complete picture of what really happened. Each witness account will give you some similarities and some additional information based on the different points of view and what struck each of them as the most important moment in that event. Along with this, there is a timing sequence, and that depends on when each of the witnesses started to observe the event happen. Now if you take all four statements and put them together, you will have a much-more-concise description of what took place, and it is the same for the life story of Jesus.

Chapter 1

Zacharias and Gabriel

The first step was about to begin as they sent Gabriel to speak with Zacharias in the temple as he performed his duties as a priest of Israel in Jerusalem during the time of Herod, King of Judea. Zacharias belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife, Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well along in years. Once when Zacharias’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. The angel’s appearance was sudden, and the glory of God filled the room with a warm golden light. When Zacharias saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zacharias. Your prayer has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their god. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zacharias asked the angel, How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.

The angel answered, I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zacharias and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he went out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home to a city of Judah, in the hill country. After this, his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. The Lord has done this for me, she said. In these days, he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.

*****

The Eternal King

Six months later, a man stood beside a magnificent white Lipizzan stallion whose long mane whipped around his neck and his head as he pawed the dust, impatient to be on their way. The ruggedly handsome man pulled long strands of his own dark hair away from his face as he watched intently the new nebula being formed just a few million miles beyond the moon he was on. His piercing blue eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the colors explode to life before him. Logos paid no attention to the solar winds that blasted his body, throwing his long robes and his red cape into disarray.

He loved to watch the universe he had created expand ever further. The multicolored clouds of the new nebula boiled and churned as they expanded out into the blackness of infinity.

It’s a beautiful sight.

Logos slapped the horse on the neck as he answered, Yes, Atican, it is. He was not surprised that the horse spoke, as all creatures in the realm could speak.

If this mission troubles you so much, let’s take off on a quest for a few years or so, say, to the moons of Gamma 3 or that nice little planet on Orion’s Belt? said Atican in his deep voice.

Logos laughed. I wish it were that simple. But I can’t, old friend. He rubbed the arched neck as the horse nuzzled him. You see, this mission is the greatest quest anyone has ever undertaken. Failure would doom billions of souls to a fate worse than death, and it is already six months underway. Logos hung his head and kicked the dust.

This war has changed you, my friend. I felt your pain after the battle of Feldgate, when you cast the rebels into prison. Why did it hurt you so to punish the rebels? They would have killed you if the battle had gone in their favor.

They fought well.

Yes, but for the wrong cause, answered Atican.

But they fought well.

Atican looked surprised for a moment and then said knowingly, You’re proud of them despite their intentions toward the Godhead.

Yes.

But they tried to overthrow you. What am I saying? They are still trying to overthrow you.

Logos smiled at him and rubbed his pinkish nose gently. I had such different plans for each of them. Plans full of victory and adventures. Plans for a different destiny for each.

Ah, I see now. They broke your heart. Atican looked into Logos’s moist eyes and then continued, Like any father with a rebellious child, you would take them back if you could.

Yes, but they’ve gone too far.

Still it breaks your heart to have to punish them.

Yes.

You’d rather take the punishment yourself. Wouldn’t you? asked Atican.

Logos smiled grimly and slapped him on the neck as he answered, Hence the reason for this mission.

But you said they’ve gone too far.

Yes, they have, but there’s still hope for mankind.

Suddenly the revelation of it hit Atican like an electric shock. You’re going to pay the humans’ debt yourself. Neither said anything for a moment, and then Atican added, But the price for their rebellion is death and torment.

Logos looked him in the eyes as he answered, Yes, but you must speak of this to no one else.

Atican knelt on one knee as he said, As one King to another, I give you my word, Lord.

Logos slapped him heartily on the neck and said with a smile, I’d rather have it as one friend to another.

Atican arched his neck proudly as he said, Done.

Just then, a rider brought his horse to a skidding halt and dismounted before the animal came to a complete halt. This young angel ran to Logos’s side, where he knelt on one knee and bowed deeply before saying, You have been summoned home, Lord.

Logos didn’t move to acknowledge the words spoken to him but kept watching the nebula’s birth. He had already heard the call to go home deep within his spirit over an hour ago. It had just taken this long for the physical chain of command to get the message to him, but he had been aware of it the moment it was given. This was the day he had not been looking forward to for the last few centuries. Logos took one last look before turning, climbing onto Atican, and galloping off toward the waiting shuttlecraft in the distance. The other rider followed close behind. When they reached the shuttle, they dismounted and led the horses up the metal ramp and into their respective standing stalls. There were motorized land vehicles to get the personnel around on the surface, but Logos preferred the more-traditional ways.

A groom rushed to meet them and bowed deeply toward Logos, who motioned him away and took the tack off Atican himself. Atican was not sweating at all, but Logos took the time to rub him down with a currycomb. It saddened him that he would be away so long once he started this mission. After he had placed a portion of oats and fresh water into the trough, he lovingly slapped the muscular neck a couple of times before he said, Enjoy the well-deserved rest, my friend. Grow fat in the fields, and make lots of babies.

Atican nuzzled him before answering, I don’t know about growing fat, but I’ll do my best on the baby part. You make sure you come back to us.

I’ll do my best. With that said, Logos patted him on the back and exited through the sliding doors into the main cabin of the shuttle. All five crew members in the bridge area stopped what they were doing and instantly knelt on one knee before bowing toward Logos. Carry on, he said and then took one of the padded seats next to the window so he could once again look out at the nebula. The pilot of the shuttle went through a short preflight checklist before easing the shuttle off the ground and then maneuvered it toward the gigantic King David battle cruiser sitting quietly some three thousand miles away.

Keep the nebula on the portside, Lieutenant. I wish to continue to observe it as long as possible, ordered Logos without shifting his gaze.

The lieutenant maneuvered the shuttle to keep the nebula on the portside. This would mean the travel time would take about twice as long, but orders were orders.

After they had held this course for about a half hour, Logos was satisfied that everything was executing normally with the nebula, so he said, "You may take a more direct route to the King David now."

Yes, Lord was all the lieutenant said as he made the appropriate corrections to his course.

Logos reached over to a glass bowl on the table in front of him and took a small handful of manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the exquisite taste of it was like wafers made with honey and about the size of hoarfrost that came on the ground. They were packed with nutrition and gave the body an instant boost in energy.

The shuttle was the second largest in the fleet and was one of the royal shuttles. It carried fifteen crew and was ornately furnished inside. There was a large lounge area, which Logos was using in the center of the craft, about ten feet back of the command area. Along with the stable area, which would hold six horses, there was a sleeping area for the royal party and berths for each of the command personnel. The craft was not used for long trips although it had light-speed capability.

Three fighters had now gone alongside the shuttle to escort it back to the King David, and as Logos watched them maneuver into position, the huge battle cruiser came into view beyond them. It was quite impressive against the blackness of space with its sleek lines and the thirty-story superstructure. Even so, Logos could see some design areas that could be improved, but that would have to wait as he had other more urgent matters to attend to just now. And Michael was being overcautious; even though Satan had lost his three battle cruisers in the war, Michael and his commanders still kept up the constant vigil. After all, Satan still had ten medium cruisers left, but all were badly damaged, and reports were that he was cannibalizing half to refit the others. It really was all he could do since he no longer had access to dry-dock facilities. Michael still insisted on it being better to be safe than sorry. Logos knew that even Satan wasn’t crazy enough to send a medium cruiser against the King David, and he hadn’t ventured out this far since the war.

Logos knew the Godhead didn’t need the vehicles to travel from one point to the other, but they had decided long ago to allow the angels to have the duty of transporting them. He took a few more manna and popped them into his mouth as he watched the huge bay doors in the side of the King David open to receive the shuttle into the docking bay. The doors looked like they were made of brass as they reflected the nearest sun’s light. They weren’t made of brass, of course, and this was just an optical illusion from the light reflecting off the metal. The shuttle came around and flawlessly entered through the gate, and once inside the cavernous docking area, the controller guided the shuttle to the proper berth. The bay area was a full ten stories in height and the length of twenty football fields. It was full of vehicles of all different sizes and shapes, but the majority of them were fighters.

*****

On the King David

When the shuttle was docked, Logos rose and went through the sliding doors to the disembarking corridor, where he waited patiently for the main cabin doors to be opened so he could exit into the King David. That time came in short order, and the moment he stepped off the shuttle, he was greeted by a powerfully built tall angel with long black hair. This angel knelt and bowed deeply as he spoke. Welcome back, Lord. I trust all is well?

Thank you, Michael, and all is as it should be, said Logos.

Michael rose to his feet, and the two walked side by side along the gangway to a set of doors just ahead of the nose of the shuttle. As they approached, the two angels guarding the doors saluted them by bringing their right hands over their hearts. Michael returned their salute, but Logos just nodded and went through the doors as they automatically slid open for him. These doors led to a corridor that was very plain and functional. As they walked down this corridor, they passed numerous angels of lower rank. Each of these stopped and saluted before continuing their various ways. Shortly, they came to a central hub area and a large bank of elevators between numerous corridors. Michael moved slightly ahead of Logos to push the up button on the nearest elevator.

As they waited, Michael said, Preparations are on schedule for the operation, but I would like to go over them with you. I do have concerns about a couple of areas.

Logos looked into Michael’s eyes and saw his genuine concern, and as he stepped onto the elevator with Michael, he asked, Which areas concern you, Michael?

Bridge, said Michael to the elevator before he answered Logos’s question. Well, not being able to be with you at all times, for one thing.

You’re not with me at all times now.

But we have total control of this area, and the chances of the enemy sneaking around our defenses are nonexistent. However, when you are there, in the enemies’ camp, so to speak, the unforeseen . . . Michael’s voice trailed off.

Logos saw the concern on his face and said, I have total confidence in you, Michael.

I appreciate that, Lord, but it will take time to teleport to your location should something come up and seconds could be dangerous for you.

The elevator came to a smooth stop, and the doors opened immediately onto the bridge of the ship. The Captain heard the whoosh of the doors and turned toward the elevator. As soon as he saw Logos and Michael step off the elevator, he came to attention and saluted immediately. The rest of the bridge crew did the same as Michael and returned the Captain’s salute.

Have the coordinates be input for Ouranos, Captain? asked Logos.

Yes, Lord.

Then engage, Captain. Having said this, Logos turned and walked toward the door on the far side of the bridge, which led to his quarters. Michael followed him closely.

*****

Meeting between Michael and Logos

The single door from the bridge opened into a small reception area and the two angels guarding another door with the royal coat of arms on it. These angels immediately snapped to attention and saluted. Michael was again the only one to return the salute as Logos walked over to the keypad just to the right of the door and placed his thumb on the pad. A female voice spoke. Welcome back, Lord. Immediately the door slid open, and Logos walked through, followed closely by Michael.

This door opened into a gigantic solarium. It was two stories in height, five hundred feet long, and as wide as the bridge, about two hundred feet. Its walls and ceiling were composed of translucent metal, which gave Michael the sensation of stepping out into space. This room always amazed him with all its varieties of trees, plants, and flowers of every kind. There was a waterfall and a pool at the far end of the room, and the fragrances that bombarded the senses upon entering were amazing. Logos was over at the portside wall, looking out at the nebula again, which, from this vantage point, was even more impressive.

Michael noted that several varieties of butterflies had landed on Logos’s back and shoulders, and the many colorful songbirds seemed to be greeting Logos’s return. A smile came to Michael’s face as he said, You weren’t concerned about the nebula. Everything you’ve set in motion works perfectly. You’re saying goodbye, aren’t you?

Logos smiled warmly as he turned back to Michael and answered, In a fashion. It will be many difficult years before I can see any of this again, and so much will have changed by then.

A frown came over Michael’s face as he obviously struggled with a thought before speaking. Lord, may I ask a question?

By all means, Michael. Ask me anything.

Lord, he started hesitantly. Lord, you are equal in power and joint ruler of all. How can you set that all aside and become a man? I mean, why don’t you send me to do this?

Logos had a warm smile as he took Michael by the shoulders and said, Because your life is not your own. It belongs to the Godhead, and you are not free to give it.

But I’m willing to do this.

We know you are, but it must be done by one of us. Only then can the scales of justice be balanced as Father God lays all the sin of mankind onto one sinless sacrifice. A willing sacrifice. Only we can choose to lay our lives down freely, and then only we can take our lives back up again, answered Logos.

But the risks are great. What if he can’t raise you again? I mean it’s never been done before.

Nothing is impossible for Father God. Nothing. Now show me your concerns with the mission.

Michael knew that there was no point in pushing the matter further, so he spoke. Computer, show me the hologram of Jerusalem. Instantly the image of Jerusalem floated in the air next to them. It was a perfect 3D graphic complete with moving figures of men and animals. Good. Now lay over the map of the portal grid. Instantly a red grid pattern appeared above the city graphic, and the whole thing lowered so they were viewing it from above. Michael used his finger to point out different aspects. As you can see, Satan has installed an intricate portal system in Jerusalem and not only here, but in all of Israel. Although in the outer areas, the pickup points are further apart. This means that he can get his people anywhere in Jerusalem almost instantly, and to avoid detection, we must use the teleporter when the need arises.

I fail to see how this impacts us greatly, said Logos.

Michael was struggling to make his concern clear for Logos. Well, his people will be right there, and once you become a public figure, he will have you followed. Also, he already has many spirits embedded throughout the population. If they raise an assault on you, it will take us several minutes to input the transport information and get our people in to help you. Minutes that you’ll be on your own.

I don’t see one or two of his people as a big problem.

One or two, no. But if they rise in mass, as we’ve seen in the past, you’ll be hard-pressed to handle them until we arrive, answered Michael.

Well, I see your point. We’ll just have to try and avoid those situations. What would be your method of intervention?

This is up for your final approval, but I had thought of using light to momentarily blind them and Shenol gas to confuse their senses for about three minutes.

Yes. Logos smiled. "I like that it will do no permanent damage and it will give me time to get out of the area. Consider it approved, and I still think we can avoid these situations. How is the Abraham doing?"

Michael didn’t agree that he would be able to avoid those scenarios, but he answered the question. "Computer, show the Aires constellation with the Abraham graphic overlay." Michael waited for the Jerusalem holo to disappear and be replaced by the new graphic. The hologram showed the Aires constellation with the battle cruiser Abraham dead center. "The Abraham will be fitted with solar panels that gather, amplify, and project solar light toward Earth, giving the impression of a comet from Earth’s point of view. It will be dispatched in six months to the Aires constellation and will then progress forward as planned, making the interdimensional jump on schedule. Our people on the ground will make sure the Magi spot her and they’ll be prompted to come to the proper conclusions."

What conclusions are they? asked Logos. Although he knew the right answer already, he just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page.

As we planned that they are seeing a new comet and that it heralds the birth of a powerful new King in Israel.

Good. What kind of timeline are we looking at? asked Logos.

The head of the Magi in that country is a man called Atrim. He’s a very cautious man who studies things to death before acting on them. Our people on the ground will prod him to be in Jerusalem for Passover twenty-seven months from today.

Logos smiled as he said, Excellent, Michael, excellent. I feel very confident that you have everything in hand.

Lord, said Michael as he bowed from the waist, but he still didn’t feel confident about their reaction time to trouble. He turned and started toward the door.

Oh, Michael.

Michael stopped and turned toward Logos as he spoke. Yes, Lord?

Logos smiled as he said, Perhaps extra drill for your response team wouldn’t be out of the question.

My thoughts exactly, Lord, said Michael, and then he turned and left the room.

Chapter 2

In Orbit around Ouranos

Three days later, the King David dropped out of light speed just close enough to Ouranos for them to establish orbit next to one of its fifteen moons. Ouranos was three times larger than Jupiter, but it had a similar atmosphere to that of Earth, along with continents and oceans. At this distance, it was impossible to make out any kind of detail on the surface, but Ouranos itself looked like a large blue jewel hanging in space. As Logos stood at his window and looked down, he saw the large area on the largest continent that was reflecting the solar light back into space from the surface. He had seen this view a million times, but he never grew ti red of it.

After he had drunk in the beauty for a few moments, he looked down at the panel number in the lower left corner of the wall plate he was looking through and then spoke. Computer, magnify the construction area on the surface in panel BP304833.

A female voice responded immediately, Good morning, Lord. What magnification would you prefer, Lord?

Magnify at 500.

Instantly a view of New Jerusalem filled half the panel. Logos looked at the brilliant green jasper stone wall that surrounded the entire city of New Jerusalem. It was 300 feet high, 215 feet thick, and went around the entire city, which was 1,500 miles long by 1,500 miles wide. Logos knew also that upon completion of the city, it would reach a height of 1,500 miles above the foundation, as well. The city was constructed to reflect the glory of God in a prism of light to the earth below it and out into space like a golden beacon of light surrounded by a jasper-green ring. When Father God was present in the city, it had no need for the light of the sun.

The land around the construction area was lush with huge green vegetation of every type. Immense natural pastures were interspersed throughout the landscape. There was no rainfall on this planet, but everything was watered from morning mist. It would come in the early morning in the form of ground fog, which would dissipate with the rising of the sun. Logos had arrived back at precisely five minutes before dawn, when the phantom twilight just barely illuminated things, but with no rays of the sun yet, the mist still remained. Huge trees, some over one thousand feet high, poked out through the mist, making it look like they had grown through the very clouds themselves. It was a breathtaking sight, one that he had enjoyed many times before.

This was a wilderness area that had been chosen for the construction site and would be returned to its natural state once construction was finished, but for now, this had to be. He looked up at the upper portion of the panel and watched the sun crest over the horizon and then looked back at the magnification to watch the mist silently dissipate. There were pockets of mist in the lower-lying areas that fought being banished with the twilight, but soon, these, too, had to give way to the light. Even though he knew precisely why all these things happened, Logos still got a tightness in his throat, watching it unfold before him. Now that the mist had gone, the staging areas at the bottom of each road were visible to him, and he saw the angels moving around the area, preparing the next load to be taken into New Jerusalem. New Jerusalem was not unique, as all the thousands of cities on Ouranos were floating above the land and sea. However, it was unique for the materials of its construction.

Beyond the solid six-thousand-mile-long jasper-green wall that surrounded the city, it had twelve foundations made from twelve different gems, and each layer was one hundred miles thick. The first was jasper; the second, sapphire, the third, agate; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, onyx; the sixth, carnelian; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. Each of the foundations spanned the entire length and width of the city they supported. Logos manipulated the magnified image so he could look at the foundations. There were floating platforms at each of the twelve foundations, where angels stood, and they were carving the names of the twelve disciples with laser cutters into the foundations. There was one disciple’s name per foundation, and Logos knew that these names would be carved into all four sides of each foundation for the world below to see.

Computer, show me the top view of the city.

Instantly the image flickered, and then the image stilled, and Logos could see the construction cargo ships hovering in midair as they lowered metal I-beams into immense structures that stretched from about five hundred miles west of the east wall, along the remaining expanse of the city. The open space to the east was the temple area and gathering place that would hold billions upon billions of worshipers, but it, too, was not yet finished. Logos could see the throne area at the east wall, and at the center was the throne itself, where Father God would sit. From under the throne flowed the crystal river, and it wound its way through the center of the city for its entire length. He knew that the portion of the river in the temple area would be totally covered over with the huge blue and white marble slabs of the temple floor until it reached the living area some five hundred miles from the throne. The marble coloring gave the illusion of being on water and was quite the sight. On each side of the river were grassy areas about a mile wide and a two-lane highway made of gold so pure that it appeared to be translucent. These followed the river for its entire length and were completed.

Spaced evenly along the boulevard on either side were planted various shrubs and flowers between the trees of life. These trees produced a different fruit every month of the year and had been planted in a staggered fashion so that all twelve fruits were available every month of the year. There were also bridges made of fieldstone encrusted with precious gems and paved with the same gold as that of the roads at various intervals, spanning the river. From the top view of the magnification, Logos could see that the hanging gardens now covered almost 850 miles of the central boulevard and appeared as a luscious green space between the building construction on either side.

Computer, how high is the mansion construction now?

A female voice from the computer said, The construction is now at the 1,300-mile level. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Nothing else for the moment, answered Logos as he studied the images of the construction.

A few minutes later the female voice announced, They have your shuttle on standby, Lord.

You can close down the magnification and tell them I’m on my way to the shuttle.

The magnification vanished instantly as the voice said, I have told them you are on your way, Lord.

Thank you, computer, Logos said as he strode toward the door of his compartment. Suddenly he stopped and said, Computer, tell Enoch and Elijah to meet me for a briefing near the central gate on the northeast side in 1.5 hours.

Consider it done, Lord.

Logos didn’t answer as he turned and exited his compartment.

*****

New Jerusalem under Construction

The royal shuttle arrived just outside the designated gate one hour after departing the King David. As soon as the shuttle touched down, the back ramp began to lower toward the ground. When the shuttle was secured, a light, topless four-seat vehicle, which looked very much like a golf cart without wheels, floated out the back opening and gently came to a rest at the side of the shuttle. The shuttle dwarfed it as its driver waited patiently for his passengers. A set of stairs came miraculously from the side of the shuttle toward the ground. As the stairs touched the ground, a door slid open at their top, and Logos descended and walked to the smaller transport. Once Logos was in the vehicle, the driver eased the small craft slowly forward toward the massive jasper wall and the central gate. As far as the human eye could see in either direction was the translucent huge green wall, and before them was a majestic white pearl gate. The total length of the wall was 6,000 miles and enclosed 2,250,000 square miles, but when you added in the height of the city, 1,500 miles high, the wall enclosed 3,375,000,000 cubit miles of space.

The two angels on guard at this gate saluted him as he approached and made no attempt at determining his identity or purpose because they knew precisely who he was, as did every angel. Logos nodded his recognition of the salute and then looked at the intricately carved doors for the massive gate as they lay open against the wall on either side. He knew that like this gate, all twelve of them were each made from a single pearl, which had been around four hundred feet in diameter when the carving began. They had been harvested from the oceans of Ouranos and taken to the construction site to be carved to fit each of the twelve gate openings in the jasper wall. The carvings were very intricate, and each gate depicted a biblical theme. This gate was on faith and showed Abraham’s journey, among other things. Each gate opening was 250 feet high by 200 feet wide, with a thickness of 215 feet. The outer swinging gates had been carved out of the center core of each pearl placed on huge piano-type hinges and mounted on either side of the wall. The craft glided along without a bump or sound as Logos inspected the craftsmanship of the gate’s interior.

Upon Logos’s entering the city, the road turned to translucent gold paving, and huge old-growth oak trees lined the road on either side. Their bows had entwined several hundred feet above the road, forming a natural arch of green vegetation as far as the eye could see. Beds of vibrantly colored flowers of all varieties were set at intervals among the oak trees. It was an awesome sight to behold. Although there would be birds and animals living in the city after it was finished, Logos had ordered them to stay away until the construction was completed. Behind the trees, Logos could see the finished mansions on either side of the roadway. They were constructed with the same translucent gold on their exteriors as the road system was, and all shimmered in the sunlight. At various intervals, the mansions gave way to tree-lined boulevards that disappeared in the far distance. On either side, there were also ponds and fountains interspersed among the trees. It was beautiful beyond words because this was the new Garden of Eden, where the Godhead and their people would dwell forever.

Logos looked around at the myriad of computerized floating lawn mowers, which worked on a specific program to keep the thousands of miles of lawns neatly trimmed. Also working on the gardens were teams of angels assigned to take care of the gardens. At that moment, two figures flew toward the vehicle from the interior portion of the city. As they became closer, Logos recognized them to be Enoch and Elijah. Both were on air boards, but both were not equals in their skill at using them. Elijah turned his board over and did a flip in midair before coming to a smooth stop where Logos’s vehicle was waiting for them. He jumped off and knelt before Logos as he said, Lord, it is good to see you again.

Enoch, however, was having trouble maintaining his balance and clipped one of the branches, which sent him into a spin, and he ended up splashing into one of the nearby fountains. Logos, Elijah, and five of the closest angels ran over to him as he sputtered and flailed in the water, trying to get out with some resemblance of dignity. Without hesitation, the angels waded into the pond and helped Enoch to the side.

Elijah and Logos laughed as Elijah extended his hand to help Enoch out of the pond. Are you all right? asked Elijah.

Enoch threw his board onto the grass as he grabbed Elijah’s hand and pulled himself out. The only thing hurt around here is my pride. He immediately knelt before Logos as he said, Lord. The material of the short-sleeved shirt and pants he was wearing didn’t retain any of the water, and even now, the only pieces of evidence that he had been in the pond were his wet hair and beard. After helping Enoch onto dry land, the angels bowed to Logos right in the water.

Logos extended his hand to help him up from his kneeling position as he said, I see you still haven’t mastered the boards yet.

Enoch shook his head and said, Give me a horse anytime. I’ve been here 3,346 years now, and I doubt I’ll be able to use one of those infernal things properly if I have another 20,000 years to practice.

Logos laughed and slapped him on the back as he said, You’ll get the hang of it.

Elijah picked up Enoch’s board, flipped it over, and pushed a button on the bottom. Then he let it go, and it floated in midair. I keep telling you to put it on automatic and it will go wherever you look and obey your every thought.

Enoch laughed and slapped him on the back as he said, Problem is my every thought when I get on the silly thing is to get off.

They all laughed at this and started walking back toward the vehicle Logos went in, and the board floated behind them like an obedient puppy. When they reached it, they locked the boards in the magnetic clamps on the back, and all of them got in, and the driver proceeded quickly down the road to the center of the city.

Logos looked around as they traveled and then turned to the two men sitting in the back. You’ve both done a marvelous job heading up this project.

They smiled and simultaneously said, Thank you, Lord.

Enoch then leaned forward and asked, Where did you want to inspect, Lord?

I wanted to see the hanging gardens and then the new construction.

Once he heard this, Enoch leaned over and spoke to the driver, giving him some new directions. The vehicle turned off to the right down one of the converging boulevards. Within two hours after traveling through a maze of side streets, they came to the main central boulevard and stopped in a grassy area. Everyone exited the vehicle and stretched their legs. Enoch led them out to the center of the road and then pointed back to the east. All that is finished for landscaping and hanging gardens up to twenty miles to the west of where we are.

Logos looked in the direction that Enoch was indicating with his hand and saw the hanging gardens were above the central thoroughfare. It was a magnificent sight with the golden roads on either side of the central boulevard with the crystal river in the middle. Enoch explained what he was looking at. "The hanging gardens start at a height of three hundred feet and form an arch of greenery over top of the whole thing for entire one thousand miles outside the temple area. The hanging gardens are staged on floating platforms at various intervals throughout the center core of the city, and then they are interconnected with the mansions by floating walkways. These walkways can be accessed at all levels of the mansions and lead not only back to the center but also to hidden gardens between the buildings. I have constructed each hidden garden to be unique, and one even had a 1,000-foot waterfall built right into it. Also, there