The Final Confrontation

The Final Confrontation

AgK III

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2009 Albert George Khouri III

For Mother and Father,

For their love and adoration of our Lord,

And for my Wife, Anrita,

For her inspiration.

INTRODUCTION:

The views and opinions of this literature are based on the findings of the author and are to be enjoyed as nothing more than an entirely fictional work of art. The material is not to be taken in vein, as blasphemy or in factual context. It is clearly an expression of the author's perception of life after death, the views of religious reasoning and the end of times also known as The Tribulation. Please keep in mind that although this literature is based on a few biblical facts, it is still referred to as fictional writing and is not intended to be viewed as fact. So remember to enjoy… open minded.

Chapter I

I always pictured myself as that guy who was 65 years old, retired with a nice nest egg, grandchildren, and a country cottage up in the mountains. Instead, I wound up as the guy on the six o'clock news that had my face blown off by a thief’s thirty-eight caliber, simply because I wouldn't give up my wallet. I was an average guy, no more than thirty-two, with an average job, still newly divorced and nesting in a single room flat just outside of a place once called Queens. Quite recently I've learned something, though. I've learned that we all have reason, a destiny if you will, created by God that we all live to become. Some of us have diminutive destinies, like becoming a gardener or a garbage man, weak in hero-like values, but still important none-the-less. Others have a more prominent destiny, as in becoming a doctor or scientist; destinies that could change the lives of thousands. Then there are those few who have more complex destinies... unique, if you will. Some like mine, for example. Great stories come from these destinies. Stories for which are told for generations to come. Here, is my story.

The colors of the spectra on the outskirts of Heaven are absolutely breathtaking. Then, the brightest light you can ever imagine. So bright you'd think your eyes would burn out, but instead grow wider to see. Think of it as passing through a kind of decontamination field, which sanitizes you upon arrival to Heaven. The light engulfed my body and made me feel so at peace that I forget I was levitated, until I came to rest on a damp surface lying flat on my back, at the foot of a large stone wall standing thirty feet high and seemed to travel for miles. Atop it were bird-like creatures, with white wings that span ten feet long and stood ten feet tall. These creatures had eyesight twenty times more powerful than an eagle’s vision. Though bird-like in all outward appearances, they had a human-like reference as well, with upper body features like a man and matching arms. This was the first of many unique individuals I were to meet, all equally devoted to their choir. The choirs, or classifications of angels, were split into several groups. Each group had a unique task which, if carried out successfully, made the world and everything else for that matter function properly.

The Powers choir had only one objective. They were to protect Heaven and the surrounding area from the incessant attempts by evil to enter. The creatures, who were perched high on top of the wall, seemed to be leaving their positions for a brief moment, attacking something mid air and then returning back to there position. Periodically one would do this, then two more, then one and so on. They were on defense. As I approached the large wall, I noticed the largest of the powers turn his dragon like head in my direction. In one quick lunge, the massive creature jumped high into the air from his perch. His wings stretched out wide and he flew straight down towards my direction, letting out a loud, forceful screech as he landed four feet in front of me; towering over me by at least ten feet. His skin was sky blue and his eyes glowed red like fire. By instinct, as anyone would, I dropped to my knees, hid my face and shivered in fright yelling out, Please don't hurt me!

Be not afraid. I come to you in peace.

He placed his massive hand on my head and all my fears seemed to have vanished instantly.I looked up at him and asked, Who are you?

I am Ertosi, Leader of the Powers and protector of Heaven.

He stood tall with his chest out and his fists clenched, as if very proud of his duties. I took a step back and asked, And what do you want with me?

I want nothing with you mortal, he declared, I am here to show you the way.

He extended his hand out in a pointing manner and said, Follow the wall until you reach the gates. You will be greeted there.

He then shot up into the sky and took his place back up on the wall. I turned and looked down the long walkway which accompanied the wall. With an exhausted sigh, I began my walk. As I did so, I began to notice that skulls were laid sporadically along the walkway. I stopped to pick one up, and learned that this was no human skull, but the skull of a demonic creature dressed in horns and sharp teeth. This must have been a demon trying to infiltrate Heaven, but failed miserably. I then saw something fall from the sky and land a few feet before me. I dropped the skull to the floor and walked toward the fallen object, only to find a beheaded body of a creature. As I examined the corpse, I noticed that the body was dressed in leather-like wings that were torn and its skin was a dark as charcoal. Bright red blood poured from its neck, and a sort of steam feathered off of the body. The smell of the creature was that of a group of wet dogs mixed with burning hair. I stood up and continued my journey down the long wall. The environment felt very humid, with fog in the air and dew on the massive stone wall. I shuttered, feeling as if I was enveloped in the moments before a bad thunder storm. I was cold and worn down, as if the environment was creating a physical definition of depression. I arrived at the foot of two thirty foot tall golden gates, weathered and worn with age. A golden plate was fashioned to the wall right next to them liked a plaque on the side of an old building. It had an inscription that read:

WHOSOEVER SHALL PASS THROUGH THESE GATES SHALL LIVE ETERNALLY WITH THE ONE CALLED JEHOVAH.

A symbol was engraved into the gold; a circle with a P and a cross put together in the middle, an A on one side of the circle and an upside down horse shoe on the other. Under the horse shoe in very fine writing it read, Omega and under the A read, "Alpha. I backed away astonished at my surroundings, and confused as well. Realizing that you’re standing at the gates of Heaven makes you come to the fact that to be here, you must be dead. I took a few more steps back and bumped into someone. I turned around swiftly and although I never met this man before I knew his name.

Peter. I said, slurring.

He smiled graciously. Standing in a white hooded cloak, brown sandals, and wearing a short gray beard with matching hair, I got a kind, grandfather vibe off of him.

He turned, and as he did he whispered, Walk with me, Dante.

As we walked past the gates and further down the east wall, he began to instruct me.

Welcome to the beginning and the end, He said still smiling, You shall want no more.

Is this Heaven? I asked.

No, this is merely the outer realm. Heaven is beyond these gates.

Is my family here? Is my mom here?

Questions filled my head.

Some are here, He said, Some are not. That is not of importance.

He turned and pointed at me, You have an appointment.

We arrived at what appeared to be an elevator type door laced in gold trim and solid oak wood standing freely in the center of the room, with no wall to support it. Saint Peter looked at me and said, You must not keep Him waiting...

Who? I asked, yet knowing the answer already. He replied with a simple answer, Him.

I stepped forward and as I did, the doors slid open, as if knowing my every move. I stepped inside and turned to Peter as if to ask if he was joining me. He then said, Do not be afraid. You are to meet our creator and our king, which are one and the same.

So then I asked, Aren’t you coming with me?

He dropped his brow and replied, ''Tis your meeting with Jehovah, not mine. Therefore you are to wonder alone.

And with that, the doors slid shut.

Chapter II

Instead of going down or up, it felt as if the room shifted sideways to the left. Yet my body was not shifted gravitationally. Then it stopped abruptly and the doors slid open once more. It was dark and foggy. In the distance I saw a vivid white figure approaching. A slight feeling of fear overwhelmed me as the figure drew closer until I realized that I was being greeted by a woman. She stood just outside elevator doors, dressed in white see-through satin robes, appearing to be in her mid-twenties. Her face was angelic, skin tone medium with a gold shine to it. In fact, when she moved her skin seemed to glisten in the light. Long light brown hair flowed over her robe, covering her breast, which was vividly exposed through her satin garments. Her silhouette of her body was very well fit and in shape, as if she exercised every minute. I thought to myself that this must be the perfect woman. As I exited the elevator, I notice through her garments that she had no reproductive organs. She reached out gracefully and grabbed my hand, and when she did, her skin felt softer then anything I have ever felt before. Calmness fell over me instantly and the cold and loneliness feelings drained away. Then, in the sweetest sounding voice she said, Follow me.

As we walked, I noticed she kept glancing at me, and then quickly looking away and squeezing my hand tighter when I noticed, in a sort of flirtatious way. Then she stopped and said, Forgive me, but I cannot believe you are here!

I'm sorry? I said, not knowing that I happened to be a sort of celebrity in Heaven.

Datis, we have been waiting for you for quite sometime now.

Dante, I said in correction. She must have mistaken me for someone else. She gave a puzzled look so I continued, My name is Dante... and you are?

I am Ophaniel, chief ruler of the Cherubim Choir, she replied proudly, But I believe the question is, do you know who you are?

And who am I? I asked flirtatiously smiling.

You will know that soon enough, She replied, It is not my place to tell you. She leaned in and kissed my forehead then turned and began walking again commanding, Come. I followed soon after, puzzled by the whole conversation. As we walked, it seemed as though everything around us in the dim lighting was slowly disappearing and being replaced with more darkness. Soon, we were standing in an empty void of darkness and as we stopped I said, Where are we now?

I turned to look at Ophaniel, but it appeared that she had vanished. Darkness began to enclose on me. Hello? I called out, but no answer replied to my echoed beckon. Once again fear began filling my head, but I tried shaking it off. In the pitch black darkness it seemed as though I could see shadowy figures moving all around me. Then, I heard the whispers, softly at first, then growing louder as I turned around in circles. My eyes danced around the room, spotting something moving in the darkness everywhere. Cold air blew onto my skin, and the whispering grew more angry and louder. And just when I was about to totally lose it, a bright light shined down on me and everything stopped. A deep voice spoke out to me and said, You are the one called Dante Stament, son of Allen Stamant. You were created in the year of the cross, and given a living unit nineteen hundred and seventy six years after the death of your savior. Your time on earth ended in the twenty sixth year of the eighty nine years you were given. Frank Talisman ended the life you were given prematurely and will be dealt with accordingly. Are you aware why you are here?

N-no, I replied, not so much in a frightened way, more confused if anything else.

Four figures off in the distance seemed to get up and begin walking towards me. They were dressed in white satin, hooded cloaks and brown hair with matching beards that came midway from their chins. Their arms were folded under their cloaks. As they came closer, a feeling of complete peace and serenity came over me more and more. Being in the presence of these people was making me feel like being born again. It was an incredible experience. They surrounded me, with their eyes tightly shut and held their hands in the air saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and light. Through Him all things are made in glory.

They dropped their hands down, removed their hoods and said, Be not afraid, we come before you in peace. We are the Seraphim, guardians to the throne of Jehovah.

They each had on a noticeably shiny gold bracelet upon their right wrist. Latin words painted each one, with four different colored stones placed on them; one white, one black, one red and one livid in color. Each man also wore a necklace with a single stone bearing a single color from the colors on their bracelets. The man bearing a white stone, reached out to grab my hand in friendship.

I am Michael, he said. I shook his hand and as we exchanged greetings, the one with the black stone said, I am Gabriel, and extended his hand as well. The one with a red stone did the same and proclaimed, I am Raphael.

And finally, the one with the multi colored stone pronounced, I am Uriel. I shook each of their hands and Michael said, Come. Walk with us to the throne of our Creator. He is expecting you.

The room we were in vividly illuminated as we walked down what seemed to be an alleyway bathed in cobble stone and ended at a set of double doors, which were dressed in solid oak and hints of gold and silver. The doors opened inward and we entered a township, paved in cobble stone and built in royalty. The air was cool and crisp, as if it had just rained, and the sun was shining down on us comfortably. People dressed in loose satin sheets and bare feet scurried everywhere. Men, women, children and even animals were living together in harmony. Laughing, playing and working. I spotted a group of children playing with a full size male lion; hugging and wrestling with it as if it were a house cat. Everyone seemed to have an inerasable smile upon their faces. Some people were washing windows, some were sweeping sidewalks and a few people were building a fountain made of marble stone and laced in gold. It was running water even though it wasn’t finished yet, but the water did not leak from the fountain. It was as if the water knew where to stay. The whole sight made you feel proud in a way. I looked up and saw a well organized transit authority fashioned as a freeway like ordeal. Overhead, many Cherubim, Domination and Virtue choir class angels flew, performing their daily tasks. As we walked through the town square, I noticed that a lot of people were pointing and staring in my direction. They whispered to each other and smiled at me.

A little girl approached me from the left and held out her hand. I kneeled down to her level and she said, A gift for you. Just then, a beautiful show of dancing light spun around in her palm. The light was shaping into the form of a ballerina, which danced and leaped in her hand. I smiled at her and thanked her for it. She closed her hand and ran off to a man and a woman, presumably her mother and father. They hugged her and congratulated her. Michael leaned to me and said, I see you met the Felcons. They love greeting new arrivals, His grin slowly turned to a despondent look on his face. He then uttered the words, A tragic plane crash brought them here. He then turned around and resumed walking, saying, Come we must move on. We continued and arrived to another set of large doors. Bathed in Gold and splashed with rare jewels. There was a group of elders sitting on the stone steps, debating about something. As we approached them, their conversation quickly dissipated. One of the elders looked over to me and started pointing at me and whispering to the others. Uriel leaned in towards me and asked, A lot of that going on around here, huh?

What do you mean? I asked, not realizing what he was referring to.

The pointing and whispering, he replied, You’re a legend foretold many centuries ago. They… we have been waiting for you.

The large doors opened automatically as we approached. A little man no taller than three feet approached the seraphim. His skin was orange in color and he had red hair. He had small wings, was plump in size and spoke in a high, grainy voice. He was holding a scroll and what seemed to be some sort of time piece. Still walking, Michael questioned the little man.

Ah, Rikbiel. Is our Lord ready for the Datis?

Yes, I believe he is Michael. Is this the Datis? He asked.

Um, my name is.... never mind, I proclaimed. It seemed that everyone wanted to call me Datis. I figured I'd go along with it. Rikbiel looked at me puzzled by my speech, but disregarded it and said simply, Follow me.

We walked into a large, white room. In the middle of the room was a large marble stage with three thrones, the middle one larger than the other two. On either side of the thrones were half crescent desks accommodating ten seats each. Off to the left of the huge room sat a writer's desk. All four Seraphim walked towards the middle throne and as they set foot onto the marble stage they morphed in huge lion-like creatures with wings. Their fur was white like snow and their wings were like oversized dove's. They surrounded the throne and settled in their place. Rikbiel climbed up onto the writer's desk, opened his scroll and began to write with a large quill.

As the room grew dark, a bright beam of light shone down onto the seat of the middle throne. Crystal accents rained down onto the throne and the shadowy figure of a man appeared. The Seraphim all began an enchanting hymn of praise.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Thunder was then heard and the shadow held its arms up high into the air. A man seemed to appear in flesh and blood, from his fingers downward to his feet, replacing the shadow. He was dressed in a white toga with brown sandals. His skin was that of a golden tan and his eyes were deep blue like an ocean. I fell backwards when I saw him. Then quickly jumped to my knees and bowed down in praise. It felt as if I were forced in a way to do so. He spoke not a word, instead just sat there in the middle throne, staring at me for a moment. Then, gracefully he raised his hand and said, I am the Lord, the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega.

He then smiled and put his hand to his chest, staring at me with tender eyes.

I've been watching you always. I've noticed a certain way of you. Unlike the rest I have created. Your soul sends a strong signal. A signal of loyalty in which you would die for something that meant a great deal to you. Clearly this is the making of the Datis, which I have foretold of, and yet you do not use this unique trait. Tell me, why had you not used this loyalty?

I shuttered with excitement. How was I to answer?

I was not aware of it, Lord, I announced, though truthfully I really was not sure how to answer the question. I was always the follower, not the leader. And if so, I never believed in anything so true, not even God until now.

Then the Lord said, Perhaps you have not found what would provoke it? He then put his hand to his forehead and said, You lived a decent life. Salvation is yours after the great war.

Thank you, Lord, I said respectfully bowing my head. I was puzzled by the statement though, referring to the part of a great war that was coming as well as the significant importance of my presence here in Heaven. I wanted to ask why everyone I had met on the way here has acted so wondrous towards me. I looked up, and saw that God had already read my thoughts.

Something troubles your mind Datis. What may that be?

Why am I here my Lord? I asked.

The Lord then arose from his chair and said, Seraphim leave this courtyard at once so that I might have a word with the Datis in privacy.

The four Lion-like creatures rose from the floor and took their leave. But Rikbiel remained seated at his desk. Rikbiel was one the highest ranking cherubim, as well as the position of Secretary for the Highest. He, along with the rest of the cherubim, was the keeper of all celestial records and the retrievers of souls.

The Lord sat back down in his throne and began.

In the beginning, I created the Heavens and the Earth. Then I created the Seraphim. These angels helped me in many tasks. They helped create the oceans and the skies. How the sun heats and lights the earth as well as many other great things. Together we managed to create an original total of four trillion different types of what you call solar systems, and continue to create three more every sixty two seconds, which are contained in what is known as the universe.

Phenomenal, I remarked, in which the Lord responded, Yes, impressive, but even more astounding is how I managed to fit your entire universe in the circumference of a grain of sand within the actual amount of space I obtain. His descriptions made me feel very small and insignificant. Heaven is actually about one fourth larger than the universe. Yes, yes… I have made those Seraphim quite creative indeed, as well as helpful. They were also my voice when I chose to speak to mortals. They also help me in disciplinary acts, which we had agreed never to use again.

A concerned look grew upon his face just before continuing, After all these great things were created, I needed someone to manage them... keep the order and take records of things to come. So, I created the Cherubim… two hundred and fifty thousand of them to be exact. I then created other choirs of angels to help the Seraphim and Cherubim choirs perform their duties. The Thrones class helped with transportation between realms. The Dominations act as secretaries, bringing documents and orders from one choir to another and so forth. And finally, the Virtues choir helps maintain the celestial bodies and all their responsibilities, including your Earth. We all lived in harmony and I noticed that a few selected angels carried out their duties quite well. I made these angels into chiefs. Ophaniel, whom you met earlier, as well as Ertosi and Rikbiel here, are all chiefs of different choirs as well as Zorphiel, who is with Jesus right now and, before his defiance, Satan.

Satan was an angel? I interrupted. I couldn’t believe my ears. This fowl creature that I had been conditioned to despise all my life was actually once like Ophaniel.

Yes, The Lord answered, A cherubim. In fact, he was the most loyal and obedient. But his honor soon turned to envy and hate, which consumed him.

The Lord rubbed his beard and let out a big sigh. I'll never forget that day. I had just perfected the nativity of man when Satan approached my throne and asked if he could be seated to my right on a throne of his own. I had already had plans for that position so I turned down his request. When I denied him his request, he showed a reaction that was no creation of mine for any angel, anger. Apparently he had been trying emotional solutions intended only for mortals on himself, disobeying every code of conduct in the book of hierarchy. He was full of jealousy not only of my new creation, but of my position as creator. He verbally expressed his feelings to me, saying that my significance was not needed and that the plan I had created could easily be ran without me being here. He degraded me by saying I was not needed. I was nothing. Then he proceeded to tell me that he could run things more suitably, blatantly stating that he was better than I. So, I threw him in the isolation chamber known as purgatory.

The Lord grew restless in his seat. Clearly this topic made Him feel uneasy. The confinements of purgatory would not hold him for long and he soon escaped his prison. He arrived at the foot of my throne once more, this time with other fallen angels and speaking more blasphemy from his tongue. Anger consumed him now and he wanted my throne and all power as well. He and his hordes challenged me and Heaven became a battlefield. Satan was very strong at this point and I must admit he had me at my limits at times. But my Seraphim and I overthrew him and sent him to a newly created realm in which the Seraphim and I had been working on and abandoned because it could not sustain life. That realm I named Hell. But even hell could not keep him from re-entering Heaven. So I created a new choir to protect us from his evil... the Powers. The damage had been done though. His defiance shut down heaven and sealed the gates to where I couldn't even reopen them. So I sent Jesus.

And Jesus reopened the gates for our souls, I chimed in. I remembered the pastor at my church; that I rarely attended, speaking of this.

Precisely, the Lord concluded, Unfortunately, only a soul half mortal and half immortal could do it.

So where is Jesus now? I asked, noticing he had not been present the whole time I've been here.

Jesus is in preparation. After the war is over he will reign as king over the earth for a thousand years. Zorphiel is helping him get ready.

Oh, I said understandingly, And as for me?

Ah yes, and as for your importance here... The lord glared at me and folded his hands. Everything grew a shade darker around us. I began to feel uneasy.

I promised Satan before casting him into Hell that he would get a fair chance to take that of which I had created. A war, to decide who the better was, once and for all. My armies of angels are almost prepared to go into battle. They lack one thing though, a leader.

Leader? I asked.

Yes. You see, it has been written that a man of virtue, chosen by me, must general the republic of angels into Armageddon, destroy Satan's army of demons and seal the gates of Hell for another thousand years.

And you want me to do this... I stood there, not sure if I understood this great task that I supposedly was born to do.

Lord, I don't think I can do this. I'm no leader.

The lord stood from his