Primordial Being

"The decree had come too late, for already the seed of Lucifer's dark ones had corrupted the earth. The good seed of God could scarcely be found, save crying out from murderous blows inflicted without mercy by the wicked. Ultimately, the servants of Lucifer succeeded in bringing the wrath of God upon man through unholy intercourse, and the continual violence that was perpetuated by the seed of the devil.

"When the flood came upon the Earth for the violence in it, I was caught and chained a thousand years in the depths of the netherworld for my marriage to a mortal woman. Though I sired no children, it did not matter.

"I had many days to contemplate my wickedness. How could I have been so insane? How could I have been so foolish to leave my first estate and forfeit my place in the Kingdom of Heaven? I was not bitter. I had sinned the great sin and was without remedy. At the end of my thousand year imprisonment I strode upon the earth seeking an answer to my dilemma, when Lucifer again confronted me with a proposition.

"Help me destroy God and the man He has made to take our place," Lucifer said.

"Go away Lucifer," was my swift retort, "I've had part in your schemes of glory, but they always come to naught."

"And I walked away. I knew Lucifer was not one to be turned down lightly, but I had no idea how he would punish me, and I did not care. After all, was my wretched existence worth so much as a piece of gold? I thought not!

"On my journey I chanced upon the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and there came upon the great high tower of Babel. A great celebration was in progress, and I was cheered by the knowledge I could drown my sorrows in the depths of a flask of wine, but I should have known that would mean trouble. An immortal diva named Astarte feigned my seduction while I was woefully drunken, and led me into the trap Lucifer had set for my imprisonment in that sarcophagus where you found me. She was a demi- goddess drawn by Lucifer at the time of our fall into his mad scheme of world destruction. When I refused to use my visionary powers against mankind as Lucifer willed, Astarte took my place. Her orders were to create traps and pitfalls for man using any means necessary. The lamb oil was her invention. Thus, I have been kept bound..., bound by words of that substance you, Steven, have well named, pure faith, lo, these thousands of years.

"Do you see my friends, how it pays to follow Lucifer? I will follow him no more!

"But what of you three?" Prometheus queried, "how is it I detect the Spirit of the Living God within you? After the flood it was not so except for a few chosen of God."

"Please allow me to put things into perspective for you." Steven said. "The heavenly competition for the "most anointed" has been won by a man. But that is all I am going to say about that right now. We still want to hear more about you. For example, why was Death so afraid of you in it's own sanctuary?"

"Weren't you listening?" I scoffed at Steven. "He said that he, at one time, was second in command, subject only to Lucifer himself."

"Oh, yes," Steven said, putting his hands to his forehead which was apparently still smarting, "I guess I'm not quite a hundred percent, yet."

"I guess we will forgive you this time," Old Blackgoat said.

"I know my next question isn't redundant," Steven said, "but how could you have been kept bound by the substance of faith in that sarcophagus three thousand years?"

"Is it not known in this day that words of faith can bind or heal, curse or cure, build up or destroy? Pure faith has no equal in power among all earthly authorities when activated with words that are void of doubt. Is it not common knowledge that the very fabric of all creation is pure faith, and that faith is the womb of all creation?"

"Well, er, umm," Steven stumbled for words, "we do have that knowledge, but I can't think of many who have become persuaded faith is as powerful as all that."

"I see," Prometheus said, "your world must be in terrible darkness without such power and knowledge. It explains much why Lucifer has chosen the earth as his battleground. There is so little resistance. Faith is the only shield, the only weapon that can keep him at bay.

"I do not believe that my freedom at your hands was mere coincidence," Prometheus continued. "I see it as a sign that the one we call Father has granted me the right of repentance, though I know not how. I believe it is the Father's will that I serve you, and learn, at the same time, how I might regain His Spirit and His grace."

Old Blackgoat laughed and rose from his chair. "Well," the old sage said, "you certainly have come to the right place."

"All this sounds great," I said, "but what are we going to do about the problems discussed earlier? We don't have much time."

"Just let me ask one more question," Steven interrupted, "and then we'll tackle those issues. How can a corrupt being like Lucifer use the pure substance of faith?"

"Faith is of the heart," Prometheus instructed, "whether of the heart of Lucifer to destruction, or the blessings of God to eternal life. The great monuments to the faith of man, though they are of faith, if they are not a blessing of God, are they not thrown down or scattered by the winds of heaven? And if man build a thing, and God blesses it, shall it not endure the ravages of time and stand forever?

"And as for your questions, Joseph," Prometheus said, surprising me that he had remembered them, "I shall address them now. Don't worry,...I have many talents that will enable me to remain unnoticed in your realm of existence. I do not have to eat. Neither do I have to sleep. My body is self regenerating. Unless I ingest food or drink, I give off no waste. I do not need to bathe, for I do not stink with body odor. I do not need clothes. My body adjusts to keep my frame comfortable in cold or heat. However, I recognize I must wear them should I travel with you as you see me now. But observe..., as spirit, I can, at my will, disappear from your sight."

"Where did he go?" I questioned with amazement.

"I am sitting right here," Prometheus explained, reappearing as miraculously as he had disappeared. "You see," Prometheus continued, "I have no need for a wardrobe. I can go with you all places and not be seen or heard. I shall talk with no one, and I shall do no violence to a human being.

"As to your most difficult problem," Prometheus said, "of now having to contend with three dangerous devils for having violated their sanctuary, I shall be your defense. Whether together as one, or apart as one, I can travel to any spot on planet Earth in moments. And if I stay sober, I will always know when trouble is brewing.

"I must teach the three of you how to use the substance of faith with power which will enable you to stand any attack of the evil ones whether we are apart or together. You see, I desire to accompany you, Joseph, and you, Steven, on your upcoming journey to this city that is of the angels."

"What?" Steven said, "city of....oh, you mean Los Angeles. Now I get it." Steven batted his eye lashes a few times on that one.

"Yes, that is the city," Prometheus said. "I desire to accompany you and Joseph. I will be like your, uh," Prometheus paused, seeming to search for the right word, "uh,...spy. I will spy for you.

"But, Old Blackgoat," Prometheus addressed the old sage, "since you will be here alone, I cannot leave you defenseless, so if I should sense that you are in greater danger than you are capable of dealing with, I will leave Steven and Joseph and come to your aid."

Steven, Old Blackgoat, and I powwowed for a moment. "What do you think? Do we have any alternatives to Prometheus' offer that seem more logical?" I asked Steven and Old Blackgoat.

"Not in my mind," Steven said. "Finding Prometheus has leveled the playing field. I mean, considering what we know about our adversaries that we didn't know before, what have we got to lose?"

Old Blackgoat remained silent for the moment, choosing to look within before answering. "I cannot find a restraining check in my spirit," the old sagesaid. "But those kinds of smoke signals from theLord have been hard to come by lately."

I knew what he meant..., we had been caught in Death's sanctuary without so much as a hint in our spirit's that danger lurked near.

"Is it agreed, then?" Steven asked Old Blackgoat and me.

We both nodded our approval, but Blackgoat summarized.

"We are agreed," the old one said. "Joseph, you and Steven will take Prometheus with you to Los Angeles tomorrow evening, but, if things get out of hand, here, he will return and help me."