THE EMERGENCE . . .
“Hey, Dad, what happens to angels when they leave Earth or when they stop hanging around people? Do they just sort of blend back into the smoke and fog of heaven? Do they all just mix together like fog, or smoke and vapors from different containers? Or maybe like clouds?” His father yawned and scratched his forehead wearily. “Son, I don’t really know . . . .” She became aware – when? Millenia ago as man measures time. Man is confined in time so he measures its passage by minutes, hours, and days. Not her. But not she. Not her kind. She awoke with the others at the dawn of time when her Father created the universe. She was created when the Father chose to make the other lights: the greater light of the sun to rule the day, and the lesser light of the moon to rule the night. Then He made the stars which could be seen at night – that’s when her existence began, for at first she was like one of them, glowing in the dark and lighting dark places. Her existence was limited yet perfect; an ageless being conceived in the mind of God, created in the perfection of His design. And she knew who she was and that she had a perfect, blissful life. Even from the first, she was not idle: she had regular services and duties to perform, and she had always done them happily and energetically.
She loved her Father; loved Him more, in fact than any human or even angelic words could explain. Time, measured in eons, had gone by, but she had remained the same, doing all her
duties as assigned. You would have thought there was too much routine to it all, but such a thought never occurred to her or her kind! There was enough variety in her assignment to keep
her mind content and her heart full of joy and love. She had the happiness of knowing that there was one small niche in the universe for what she was and what she did, and she filled it perfectly. But then, that was inevitable because that was the plan and design of her Father.
But on this day – if we dare even to call it a day – she knew more than before. She knew Someone very special was calling her. Someone related to the Father and in perfect union with Him. It would not be correct to say that she was compelled to move in the direction of this summons: truly she could do no other, for she lived, she existed to please the Father. It could have entered her mind to disobey, as a few others had at the dawn of time; but not her. Not most. It was her all, her joy to do His will and to do it perfectly. But on this one day, she found herself now in motion, moving along in a specific direction. Surely she had been in motion before, but now she knew it, and was moving swiftly in a specific direction. She had always been surrounded by
light of some sort. But now she entered a realm in which there was one single source of light and it surrounded her completely. Gradually, as she moved toward her goal, it grew brighter all the time, all around her.
This was a brightness she had not experienced before so it astonished her even as it consoled and uplifted her spirit. She knew she was moving toward Him. As the light all around her gradually increased, she became aware of the others. There were the others after all; there always had been, and she had known she was not alone from the first. She had seen them from a distance, felt their presence. But there had seldom ever been an occasion when it was necessary to see or feel them close, to know of their presence and to interact with them. She had communicated with others, of course, but only in the line of her assigned duties, and communication with them was usually not needed at such times. Everyone knew to do his job and did it.
But now she knew they were near, moving along with her, or moving away from her in different directions. They had received their instructions and were moving off to do them. Things changed yet again, and now she actually saw them with clarity. Saw them in a way that is similar to the way you and I see things. She could actually see that they were persons, or at least had something like a body – a human body. Like them. Even like Him!! Naturally. That was how her Father had designed them back near the beginning of that One Planet’s history. She could see
them. And they saw her! Some of them even had time to look at her: their eyes met briefly as they passed each other. They were eyes filled with serious purpose, but not necessarily friendliness. They were intent on getting to their assignments or heading, like her, to receive a new one.
Now she could see faces, necks, shoulders, and torsos. The light was even brighter now, and she could glance down out of the corner of her eyes to see she had shape and form – even arms and hands. Yes, that’s right: she could now just make out her thighs, appearing out of the shiny bright haze that had surrounded her. It was as if she, as she advanced down this long path was gradually walking out of a gleaming, golden sea, which grew shallower around her as her feet found their way to shore. She was emerging out of a flaming, golden mist and into a distinctness of light with clear surroundings and increasingly sharper outlines. Now, her knees and ankles were visible.
And it was at that moment when her last foot left the sea of gold that she heard something both within and without herself. “Rachel!” Ah, yes. That was her name. It had always been, but now she was hearing it in a new way: “Rachel!” as spoken by the most powerful Friend ever. And Rachel was walking in the direction of that summons, up the golden sand of the beach. You who read this might think her Father named her after the famous woman of the Bible who is mentioned in Genesis 29; she was the one who would marry Jacob, along with her older sister Leah. But you would be wrong. For in fact it was the reverse: that young woman of the Bible was named after our Rachel. At some point before she was born God put it into the mind of
her earthly father to name her this, and so he did. And God did this so that the name would become and remain popular with generations of people of all races in the centuries ahead. “Rachel!” He called, gently, but with great and intense love.
And Rachel came. The “beach” led upward, passing occasional trees, and then into what looked like a great square entrance. Into and out of this, others like herself were going. They were males and females of her kind, that is, of the angelic breed. This was apparent in the differing height and thickness of the one sex compared with the other. There were other important physical differences as well, but these she had known from of old, and she knew the reason for this. Like herself, those she saw, and who saw her, were naked and unashamed. Rachel knew herself to be feminine and was fully content in her identity.
She had known from her her creation that there were the males as well as the females, though she had not been sure of why her Father made this distinction. Then, with the others, she was allowed to behold the creation of the first man and woman, and then she knew: they were for each other, to offer separate but distinctive components to enhance and complete each other’s personality and life.
And they did this in their spoken conversation, their thinking, and in their touching. And she, with many of her kind, were allowed to observe the first two humans as they joined together in what men called copulation; she saw what a beautiful act it was, and how the Father used this special physical union to join the two sexes together spiritually and to procreate new life that would be like the parents. It was, to her, the most beautiful of creative moments, and if she
could have sighed in deep love for the couple and their offspring, she would have done so. As for the males of her kind, she had learned that in God’s plan the men on the One Planet would look to and listen to those who appeared like them. So her Father sent the male angels primarily to console, encourage, or teach the humans. The female angels had a different purpose. She was about to learn personally of one such purpose. Rachel entered the massive entrance, filled with an even greater light than before and left the beach and the trees behind.
The large room narrowed soon, and she found herself pacing slowly and gracefully down a long, gleaming hallway. She no longer heard her name called in the same way as before. The last time she had heard it, it had simply stayed in her mind, like a long, smooth echo. Her name resounded within her as the One who called drew her in love. Still she passed others, going and coming. They moved with a pace like hers, slowly and gracefully, each making no sound, not even to speak or greet each other; yet now the faces she saw wore contented smiles. Rachel was aware of something more: her hair. She had long, curly distinctive orange-red hair which hung down below her breasts and bounced lightly with each pace. It was the first color she could tell in the light that was greater than ever.
Then there was something else: she was wearing something. It felt like a robe at first, and perhaps it was at this distance; but whatever it had been it now transformed into a kind of dress: bright white with red, yellow, and orange floral shapes. She paused only briefly to look down at herself and smile. The dress was short-sleeved and gathered at the waist, coming to just above the knee, and modestly, above the breast line. There were shoes too, flat, white sandals which felt almost like nothing in their comfort. She beamed outwardly, not needing to ask why she wore this for she knew why: He had dressed her like this to please Himself. And that meant that the “Himself” was none other than the Son – the One who had become fully Man as well.
She looked up again, and saw that the others around her, also wore clothing now. The hallway narrowed still more until it was wide enough for only about four persons to pass, walking abreast. She knew she was coming to a stopping point of some sort, though she did not know the nature of it. Sure enough she found herself completely alone in the hallway, walking along at the same slow, steady pace, making no noise. But she heard noises herself off in the distance: something like the sounds of nature coming through an open window, still distant but audible. Next she felt a slight, cool breeze blowing against her. This would have been refreshing were it not for another unsettling feeling: Rachel felt she was being watched carefully from far off, though in fact, she saw no one. But this changed quickly, for now she came within sight of what looked like a large, high, open door coming up on her right.
The door was an open space, yet guarded. It was flanked by two tall, formidable creatures. These were in the form of man, but as soon as she saw them, she knew they were not like her. Rather, they were more like her Master, the Son of Her Father. These were of the Earth, but they had conquered. As she grew closer she could see they were watching her with grim expressions; and this explained her feeling of being watched. Both men were tall and muscular, dressed only in a simple golden robe. Their arms, lower legs, and chest were bare, and the former were crossed over their chest. Long, golden swords hung at their belts, and polished bronze shields hung over their backs. Who were they? These were the two Victorious survivors who had been called and sent by the Father in person; and they had served Him to
the end of their lives.
Now, they stood guard outside the chamber of the Anointed, serving Him in joy until the end of the days. At that time they would return to Earth to play their part in the end of all things, and the renewal of the world. Though both men were now the picture of health, she could tell they bore horrible scars and bruises, the marks of old wounds from battles fought in the name of the King of Kings. She came no closer than about 10 paces, for they stood, one on each side of the doorway. Rachel looked at them closely and saw they wore long hair and beards, their hair gleaming a silvery, white sheen, like sparkling snow, sprinkled with tiny diamonds. Yet the countenance of each man, though weatherbeaten was not that of an old man, but of one hardy and seasoned in the prime of life. She stopped before them because she knew she must: they were both greater than her.
The One on the right side of the massive entrance spoke first, and his words shot through her like an arrow, and she knew something like pain. “You are Rachel of the Father’s older family. You have come as expected.” Then the other man spoke, “It is time for you to enter. Do so now!” His words went through her like a strong blast of hot wind, and she felt a burning inside. Rachel bowed low and walked between them through the door and toward a great light. And she was afraid.
LBC
 |
| They were all intermixed, like different kinds of smoke all blended. |
She loved her Father; loved Him more, in fact than any human or even angelic words could explain. Time, measured in eons, had gone by, but she had remained the same, doing all her
duties as assigned. You would have thought there was too much routine to it all, but such a thought never occurred to her or her kind! There was enough variety in her assignment to keep
 |
| Each angel knew each other, but each one also had its own work . . . . |
her mind content and her heart full of joy and love. She had the happiness of knowing that there was one small niche in the universe for what she was and what she did, and she filled it perfectly. But then, that was inevitable because that was the plan and design of her Father.
But on this day – if we dare even to call it a day – she knew more than before. She knew Someone very special was calling her. Someone related to the Father and in perfect union with Him. It would not be correct to say that she was compelled to move in the direction of this summons: truly she could do no other, for she lived, she existed to please the Father. It could have entered her mind to disobey, as a few others had at the dawn of time; but not her. Not most. It was her all, her joy to do His will and to do it perfectly. But on this one day, she found herself now in motion, moving along in a specific direction. Surely she had been in motion before, but now she knew it, and was moving swiftly in a specific direction. She had always been surrounded by
 |
| She began to sense that she had a body . . . . |
light of some sort. But now she entered a realm in which there was one single source of light and it surrounded her completely. Gradually, as she moved toward her goal, it grew brighter all the time, all around her.
This was a brightness she had not experienced before so it astonished her even as it consoled and uplifted her spirit. She knew she was moving toward Him. As the light all around her gradually increased, she became aware of the others. There were the others after all; there always had been, and she had known she was not alone from the first. She had seen them from a distance, felt their presence. But there had seldom ever been an occasion when it was necessary to see or feel them close, to know of their presence and to interact with them. She had communicated with others, of course, but only in the line of her assigned duties, and communication with them was usually not needed at such times. Everyone knew to do his job and did it.
But now she knew they were near, moving along with her, or moving away from her in different directions. They had received their instructions and were moving off to do them. Things changed yet again, and now she actually saw them with clarity. Saw them in a way that is similar to the way you and I see things. She could actually see that they were persons, or at least had something like a body – a human body. Like them. Even like Him!! Naturally. That was how her Father had designed them back near the beginning of that One Planet’s history. She could see
 |
| She knew He was going to give her a special assignment . . . . |
them. And they saw her! Some of them even had time to look at her: their eyes met briefly as they passed each other. They were eyes filled with serious purpose, but not necessarily friendliness. They were intent on getting to their assignments or heading, like her, to receive a new one.
Now she could see faces, necks, shoulders, and torsos. The light was even brighter now, and she could glance down out of the corner of her eyes to see she had shape and form – even arms and hands. Yes, that’s right: she could now just make out her thighs, appearing out of the shiny bright haze that had surrounded her. It was as if she, as she advanced down this long path was gradually walking out of a gleaming, golden sea, which grew shallower around her as her feet found their way to shore. She was emerging out of a flaming, golden mist and into a distinctness of light with clear surroundings and increasingly sharper outlines. Now, her knees and ankles were visible.
And it was at that moment when her last foot left the sea of gold that she heard something both within and without herself. “Rachel!” Ah, yes. That was her name. It had always been, but now she was hearing it in a new way: “Rachel!” as spoken by the most powerful Friend ever. And Rachel was walking in the direction of that summons, up the golden sand of the beach. You who read this might think her Father named her after the famous woman of the Bible who is mentioned in Genesis 29; she was the one who would marry Jacob, along with her older sister Leah. But you would be wrong. For in fact it was the reverse: that young woman of the Bible was named after our Rachel. At some point before she was born God put it into the mind of
 |
| She saw the first two humans . . . |
her earthly father to name her this, and so he did. And God did this so that the name would become and remain popular with generations of people of all races in the centuries ahead. “Rachel!” He called, gently, but with great and intense love.
And Rachel came. The “beach” led upward, passing occasional trees, and then into what looked like a great square entrance. Into and out of this, others like herself were going. They were males and females of her kind, that is, of the angelic breed. This was apparent in the differing height and thickness of the one sex compared with the other. There were other important physical differences as well, but these she had known from of old, and she knew the reason for this. Like herself, those she saw, and who saw her, were naked and unashamed. Rachel knew herself to be feminine and was fully content in her identity.
She had known from her her creation that there were the males as well as the females, though she had not been sure of why her Father made this distinction. Then, with the others, she was allowed to behold the creation of the first man and woman, and then she knew: they were for each other, to offer separate but distinctive components to enhance and complete each other’s personality and life.
And they did this in their spoken conversation, their thinking, and in their touching. And she, with many of her kind, were allowed to observe the first two humans as they joined together in what men called copulation; she saw what a beautiful act it was, and how the Father used this special physical union to join the two sexes together spiritually and to procreate new life that would be like the parents. It was, to her, the most beautiful of creative moments, and if she
 |
| She looked down and saw she had human clothing. She liked what He had given her . . . . |
could have sighed in deep love for the couple and their offspring, she would have done so. As for the males of her kind, she had learned that in God’s plan the men on the One Planet would look to and listen to those who appeared like them. So her Father sent the male angels primarily to console, encourage, or teach the humans. The female angels had a different purpose. She was about to learn personally of one such purpose. Rachel entered the massive entrance, filled with an even greater light than before and left the beach and the trees behind.
The large room narrowed soon, and she found herself pacing slowly and gracefully down a long, gleaming hallway. She no longer heard her name called in the same way as before. The last time she had heard it, it had simply stayed in her mind, like a long, smooth echo. Her name resounded within her as the One who called drew her in love. Still she passed others, going and coming. They moved with a pace like hers, slowly and gracefully, each making no sound, not even to speak or greet each other; yet now the faces she saw wore contented smiles. Rachel was aware of something more: her hair. She had long, curly distinctive orange-red hair which hung down below her breasts and bounced lightly with each pace. It was the first color she could tell in the light that was greater than ever.
Then there was something else: she was wearing something. It felt like a robe at first, and perhaps it was at this distance; but whatever it had been it now transformed into a kind of dress: bright white with red, yellow, and orange floral shapes. She paused only briefly to look down at herself and smile. The dress was short-sleeved and gathered at the waist, coming to just above the knee, and modestly, above the breast line. There were shoes too, flat, white sandals which felt almost like nothing in their comfort. She beamed outwardly, not needing to ask why she wore this for she knew why: He had dressed her like this to please Himself. And that meant that the “Himself” was none other than the Son – the One who had become fully Man as well.
 |
| The long white hallway began to become clear . . . . |
She looked up again, and saw that the others around her, also wore clothing now. The hallway narrowed still more until it was wide enough for only about four persons to pass, walking abreast. She knew she was coming to a stopping point of some sort, though she did not know the nature of it. Sure enough she found herself completely alone in the hallway, walking along at the same slow, steady pace, making no noise. But she heard noises herself off in the distance: something like the sounds of nature coming through an open window, still distant but audible. Next she felt a slight, cool breeze blowing against her. This would have been refreshing were it not for another unsettling feeling: Rachel felt she was being watched carefully from far off, though in fact, she saw no one. But this changed quickly, for now she came within sight of what looked like a large, high, open door coming up on her right.
The door was an open space, yet guarded. It was flanked by two tall, formidable creatures. These were in the form of man, but as soon as she saw them, she knew they were not like her. Rather, they were more like her Master, the Son of Her Father. These were of the Earth, but they had conquered. As she grew closer she could see they were watching her with grim expressions; and this explained her feeling of being watched. Both men were tall and muscular, dressed only in a simple golden robe. Their arms, lower legs, and chest were bare, and the former were crossed over their chest. Long, golden swords hung at their belts, and polished bronze shields hung over their backs. Who were they? These were the two Victorious survivors who had been called and sent by the Father in person; and they had served Him to
 |
| The seal she saw on their shields looked imposing and filled with symbolism. |
Now, they stood guard outside the chamber of the Anointed, serving Him in joy until the end of the days. At that time they would return to Earth to play their part in the end of all things, and the renewal of the world. Though both men were now the picture of health, she could tell they bore horrible scars and bruises, the marks of old wounds from battles fought in the name of the King of Kings. She came no closer than about 10 paces, for they stood, one on each side of the doorway. Rachel looked at them closely and saw they wore long hair and beards, their hair gleaming a silvery, white sheen, like sparkling snow, sprinkled with tiny diamonds. Yet the countenance of each man, though weatherbeaten was not that of an old man, but of one hardy and seasoned in the prime of life. She stopped before them because she knew she must: they were both greater than her.
The One on the right side of the massive entrance spoke first, and his words shot through her like an arrow, and she knew something like pain. “You are Rachel of the Father’s older family. You have come as expected.” Then the other man spoke, “It is time for you to enter. Do so now!” His words went through her like a strong blast of hot wind, and she felt a burning inside. Rachel bowed low and walked between them through the door and toward a great light. And she was afraid.
LBC
