As to your thoughts on the Bible, I am glad that you have not dismissed it out of hand, as many have already done. The quote from the movie you mentioned ["I know nothing of god or the devil, I have never seen a vision nor learned a secret that would damn or save my soul."] was taken from "Interview With The Vampire," and it reflects a broken-hearted bitterness that so very many know these days. I long that others should believe that this is a state which can be overcome, and it is possible to KNOW with assurance that we are being taken care of. What peace such a knowledge would bring! Why would we ever fear anything ever again?

You said you do believe in a light-side and a dark-side. Well, let us see if we aren't the only ones who are currently investigating the nature of these mysterious forces:

When I broke off the last time, Lucifer had just been overcome in a battle which occurred in Heaven, and had been thrown down to earth, along with a third of the original number of angels. He was now called Satan, and his angels called demons. Even this, however, was significant. Why was he sent to Earth? Why was he not just destroyed on the spot? It was already shown that he would only continue to reject the light as offered, and refuse to give up his sin, so what further purpose was there of his continued existence?

The answer to this question is the history of the human race. The newly-created earth was to be the focal point of all the universe, a place where Lucifer would be allowed to have his way for a time, and then all who looked upon it would see exactly what sin was, and why God's law was not some arbitrary set of rules, but a perfectly harmonious system by which all creation would function in unity. All along, Heaven had been proving this by example; now Earth was to prove it again by counter-example.

Even while the rebellion was going on in Heaven, Yah was involved in His greatest project to date. Upon this ball of matter called a planet, He was creating things out of physical particles that represented the various aspects of Himself and His Spiritual kingdom. He created certain "structures" with a property called life, which was a manifestation of love, and represented the force of love in all of ITS aspects. Just as the aspects of sin were anger, hate etc, the aspects of love were renewal, growth, peace, happiness - all the things which were present in Lucifer at the dawn of his existence.

And when all these things were created, and functioned in perfect unison, He outdid Himself by making a new kind of creature. This creature was not as mighty, or intelligent as His first race, but it had a quality about it that the angels did not possess. In this "Man" was placed a creative drive that was a reflection of Yah Himself. He could think and reason and devise in ways that no other being could, and in a way that made him seem similar to the very God that created him. The day after He did that, the Creator looked down on all He had done and was well pleased with it. He rested on that seventh day, and spent time with this Man, the crowning work of all He had made.

Lucifer's rebellion, meanwhile, was continuing to grow both in intensity and range. All the angels were drawn to the creation of Earth, and gloried in its completion, for on that day when Yah rested, there was a great celebration in His spiritual kingdom, "when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." (Job 38:7)

But the rebel did not rejoice. Why should not the greatest of all the angels, the pinnacle of all spiritual creation, have a part in the development of this new physical realm? Why was his opinion not valued in the laying of the foundation of the earth, or his insights not requested concerning the nature of this new "man" creature? While Yah and Michael - through whom "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3) - were planning and building, Lucifer was left to simmer in his own growing sense of self worth.

After his fall, Satan's contempt for God was complete, and against nothing was his hatred more fully directed than upon man, who had replaced him as Yah's greatest work. Here on earth, where he was still permitted to move with some freedom, where he was allowed the power to continue pleading his case against God to the holy angels, he set about to prove that their Father's law was unjust. But more than that, he wanted to stamp out whatever it was that the unfallen hosts of Heaven recognized in this "man" as being anything even remotely like their mighty Creator.

God had created plants that dropped seeds, which produced other plants. He created animals of one kind in two forms, which, by joining together, could produce other animals of the same kind. Adam saw that each animal God had made was provided with a companion, a partner. When his Father saw that Adam had become aware of this, He said, "It is not good that the man should be alone," (Gen 2:18), and so He formed the first woman out of the very body of the first man. Now Adam had a companion, and a partner, and someone in whom he could see like traits, reflections of himself in her, even as his Father saw in him.

And even in looking at Eve, Adam felt the force of love, the great creative power from which all existence was knit, and he understood more clearly the ways of his God. His joining with her was the first marriage, a holy act ordained by the Creator Himself, and forever after would it be a symbol of His connection with the people of earth. Even today, the ceremony often includes the famous verse, "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." How much better off we would be if we applied this not only to our connection with our "other," but with our spirits to God himself.

Glorious Eden was the foremost garden of beauty among all the wonders that Yah had created on earth. Here were examples of all kinds of life, and two kinds that were found nowhere else on the planet. One was the Tree of Life, a symbol of God's eternal energy, and the means by which immortality was maintained. Its presence ensured the continued growth and development on earth, and while it flourished, nothing else could be destroyed. The other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This was the temptation the Father allowed to be present in deference to Satan's claims that His law was unjust. It, as opposed to the Tree of Life, was the symbol of Lucifer's rebellion, of knowledge gained by deception and mistrust.

For, although it was called the Tree of Knowledge, nothing was truly hidden from Adam. Whatsoever he wished to know, he could have asked from his Creator. With all eternity before him, he would eventually have learned all things anyway, yet Satan must be allowed to present his case, for this was the very issue which began his slow, painful descent into destruction. The fruit of this tree was the original Pandora's box.

Eve had not heard the words of caution about the Tree from her Father directly. She had not been personally warned against eating of it from God, but from Adam, to whom the commandment was given. Even so, mistrust was as unknown to the first couple as death, and she had no reason to doubt his warning. But Lucifer was permitted to guard the tree, and to speak to the pair from that place. Eventually, Eve did wander near enough to the tree that she could hear the voice of the tempter.

Now, when first cast from Heaven, the dark angel was also referred to as the dragon. As such, he was seen to have characteristics in common with the creature known as the serpent. As a result of what followed the fall of man, the snake was given an instinctive aversion to humans, and it has been shown that most humans have a natural fear of snakes. This was only one of the aspects of the curse that was placed upon snake-kind by Yah, the other was that it would now crawl upon its belly in the dust (Gen 3:14). Before that, it had either legs or wings - characteristics which would make it seem even more like the "dragon," that Lucifer had become.

With its golden voice, the intelligent viper called to the woman, and began the work which had become its specialty. He called to her, asking along the lines of, "Hasn't God said that you may eat fruits from any tree in the garden?" Eve responded that this was so, except for that one tree, for if they ate from it, or even touched it, they would die. And the snake responded boldly, "Ye shall NOT surely die." (Gen 3:4) The reason for the true restriction, Satan said, was that the tree had the power to make humans wise, even to be gods themselves. Now Lucifer had already tasted the fruit of this tree in the spiritual sense, and yet, he lived.

You see the very same process repeated again. A question, "Hasn't God said that you may eat fruits from any tree in the garden?" which led to a doubt, "Ye shall not surely die (even though God said you would), which led to a lie, "and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This was the very process which befell the mighty archangel, a question of God's character, leading to doubts of His love and knowledge, which led to deception, when Lucifer tried to hide his growing rebellion from his Lord.

And Eve was persuaded, and she ate the fruit. When she didn't die either, she took it to Adam, and he let himself be convinced, and he also ate. Again was God accused of being a liar by the father of lies. He said they would surely die, yet they tasted of the forbidden tree, and still lived. This principle has never changed. Ever has Satan tried to make even God's most obvious attempts to reveal love and mercy out to be lies - his delays were seen to be weakness, yet in this did Yah reveal his greatest strength, that he could hold together the lives of even those who had placed themselves out of harmony with Himself and the universe.

When Adam bit into the fruit, how exalted Lucifer must have felt! Did he not cast his eyes contemptuously to the Throne with a mocking laugh? The very first man, the "crowning jewel" in the crown of Creation, and he had failed! The most perfect being to come forth from God's word, and he had been so easily tempted to disobedience, and not even directly, but by a secondary weapon, his own dear wife. To the holy angels, he presented this as conclusive evidence that Yah was an imperfect leader, a creator who couldn't even exercise control over His creation.

"But isn't that the point?" comes the answer from the Throne. God's kingdom is not founded on control. The angels who serve Him are there because they love him, and desire to do His will. They trust that God knows best who they are and, knowing their best characteristics, have placed them in positions where they would be most useful, valued and happy. So could man have done. At any point, Eve could have brought her question to God. She could have turned away from the temptation and discussed it with her husband. Yet she trusted in her own judgement, and forgot trust for her Father.

"Where is this 'death'?" demands the fallen angel. Is God not proved a liar again, for there stand the couple, looking around in their newfound awareness of good and evil. And an awareness it was, for they were aware than they had done something "wrong." For the first time, their sense of well-being was marred by imperfection, and they felt shame for this newfound "nakedness." When God was taking His daily walk through the garden, He looked for His son, to have their accustomed discussion, in the "cool of the day," when all things were starting to settle in for the night to come. He found His children huddling behind leaves for protection.

When asked why he was hiding, Adam replied, "I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." And God asked, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten the fruit of the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?" Here was where Satan had truly failed. Would Adam now reject this call to repentance also? Would he admit his wrongdoing and responsibility in disobeying his Father? All the angels looked upon this conversation to see what would happen next.

Always was there the potential for wrongdoing in all that God had created. Always was there the ability to decide for ones self. Man and angel were created free, and this freedom does God respect even to the destruction of His children. He would rather we die than be slaves! Such is the principle upon which was founded the Kingdom of Heaven. But did Adam simply admit that he had made a bad choice? No, he blamed Eve. "The woman whom thou hast given me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." And Yah asked her, "What is this that thou hast done?" To her was given the option to admit she was wrong and perhaps avert some of the disaster about to fall on them. Yet sadly, she too passed the blame, and said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat."

And who does the serpent blame in his turn? One of the major points of my last letter to you was this: Satan blames God. Adam blames Eve, who blames the snake, who blames God. Adam, by induction, is blaming God.

Lucifer stood triumphant before the court of Creation. If he, the greatest angel, could find disfavor in God's eyes, and mankind, who supposedly most perfectly reflected the nature of the Creator, could be led to Sin, what manner of harmony was this? Were these the works of a perfect God? And if he, Lucifer, was to be destroyed, so also must Adam and his wife be killed.

But there was a difference in the actions of Adam and Lucifer. Whereas the angel was created with knowledge of the nature of God, and had for some time been witness to His wonderful acts, Adam was created without some of this insight. To mankind was given the privilege to learn about God for himself. Our Father delights in the fact that we can use our own intelligence and insights to draw our own personal knowledge of Him. We start from nothing, and by allowing Him to show Himself to us in nature, in history, in example, we have the opportunity to grow into beings so like Him that the angels themselves are sent to be our servants.

It is true, this mighty trust was abused by Adam, but whereas Lucifer had willfully, purposely turned away from the Presence, the first man was deceived, and he slipped and fell. Lucifer already knew God. No new knowledge could change his mind, for every mercy was disregarded or misinterpreted. Man, however had one chance left. By learning about God, he could use the very same free will that turned him away from righteousness to turn back to the mercy of his Creator.

Even so, Lucifer's claims were false. Yah is no liar, and when He had warned the couple about the death that would result from contact with the Tree, He had spoken true. This was not some arbitrary punishment.... God feels no delight in doing harm to any creature, but just as Satan will experience at the end of this war, the natural result of Sin is death... not because "God said so," but because of the fact that Sin is direct opposition to the very force that maintains life.

And so it was that death entered our world. The very first human being born of woman became a murderer, and willfully took the life of his brother Abel. Sacrifices were needed as a reminder that sin causes death, and in that one act, the nature of Adam and his descendants became so susceptible to wrongdoing that they needed to constantly guard themselves against submitting to the influence of the poison.

So it has been ever since. Mankind forsook the ease and joy of perfect unity with Yah, and took upon itself a life of struggle and care. The history of our race was plunged into darkness, and today we see the obvious results - wars, suffering, sickness. And worst of all comes the knowledge that it didn't have to be that way. Lucifer is allowed to have his kingdom on this earth. This was displayed in dramatic form during the temptation of Christ in the desert. "And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, 'All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.'" (Luke 4:5,6)

So what does this mean, then, for those of us who have to live in Satan's wicked kingdom? Have we been given up to darkness, to wallow in our submission to the prince of this world? The wages of sin is death, so we are born, we live a while, and then we die... That seems quite sad, if that is all that life means. But no, this is just the bare start of this war. The battlefield has fallen from Heaven and down onto the earth. In my next letter, as your interest continues, I will tell you of the next major scene in this drama. As always, I give you an opportunity to ask questions, give comments or disagree :) Let me know how you are finding the story so far.

Sincerely,
David.

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