them. Malak wasn’t really ready to take command, but he would have to do. There was no one else.
Validus decided to make a few reassignments before relinquishing command. If his new assignment turned out to be more than what it appeared to be, he wanted angels and resources in positions he could count on, and his old friend Persimus was at the top of his list.
11
THE BATTLE OF THE PURGE
2348 BC
Angels from all across heaven were gathering above and below the dome of the Hall of Vision.
Validus was confused at first, for though he knew the Battle of the Purge must have begun, the vision above the dome was not of the battle but of a distant view of earth far into the space of the second heaven. It wasn’t until he and Persimus made their way into the hall that they realized why.
Persimus grabbed Validus’s arm. “Look!”
The vision of the hall was following a massive rock hurtling toward the firmament of the earth. Seconds later it shattered the thick icy shell of the firmament and continued its plummet toward the planet. The firmament began to collapse inward, following the burning mass of rock down to the earth. And as the massive icy fragments fell, the ice became water, and the water became rain.
“What of Noah?” one of the angels called out. “What of our brothers?”
“Validus, take the portal,” another angel nearby said.
The crowd separated to allow Validus access to the portal, and his hands and fingers moved deftly across the marble slate. He swept down after the burning rock, moving past it at blinding speed to see where it would impact the fragile earth.
After confirming it would land in a large sea on the far side of the planet from Noah, Validus accelerated the vision around the circle of the earth so fast that many of the angels momentarily closed their eyes.
At last he slowed as he swept down and into the Valley of Tamak. There were thousands of men and women gathered around the ark Noah had made, taunting and ridiculing the man and his family.
During the past sixty days, some of every kind of living creature on the earth had begun migrating to the ark Noah had built. In spite of the obvious peculiarity of such animal behavior, the wicked hearts of the people refused to hear the words of warning Noah preached to the people. Now, as the earth stood on the precipice of annihilation, the hardening of their hearts was complete, for those nearby were becoming riotous and abusive toward Noah and his family. The rest of humanity had continued to eat and drink, marrying and giving in marriage unto this very day , ignorant of the battle for earth.
The magnitude of this battle was nothing compared to the Battle of Kish, but the consequences were far greater. Eighty angel warriors against three thousand Fallen—every single one desperate for victory.
Validus maneuvered toward the door of the massive ark, lain open to the ground like a ramp, where General Jorill was rallying his men for their final stand. Beside him the man Noah was kneeling in prayer, his hands and eyes lifted toward heaven.
“Here is where we will stand or fall together, my brothers,” the mighty general called out. “Though the world has fallen to Apollyon, this one righteous man stands firm in his faith and has found favor with Elohim.” Jorill drew his sword and held it high. “We will not fail him! We will not fail Elohim!”
Eighty swords thrust into the sky with shouts of acclamation.
“By the power of Elohim, the forces of hell will not prevail. We will stand! We will endure!”
The warriors of earth shouted praise to Elohim as the prayers of Noah lifted up to God. A bluish shaft of brilliant light shot down from heaven onto the servant of God and spread out to fill the bosoms of the angelic warriors around him.
Moments later, the sounds of war crashed in upon them as General Jorill gave orders to his four commanders.
“Collapse your quadrants inward, but do not break line! I want two warriors from each
Validus decided to make a few reassignments before relinquishing command. If his new assignment turned out to be more than what it appeared to be, he wanted angels and resources in positions he could count on, and his old friend Persimus was at the top of his list.
11
THE BATTLE OF THE PURGE
2348 BC
Angels from all across heaven were gathering above and below the dome of the Hall of Vision.
Validus was confused at first, for though he knew the Battle of the Purge must have begun, the vision above the dome was not of the battle but of a distant view of earth far into the space of the second heaven. It wasn’t until he and Persimus made their way into the hall that they realized why.
Persimus grabbed Validus’s arm. “Look!”
The vision of the hall was following a massive rock hurtling toward the firmament of the earth. Seconds later it shattered the thick icy shell of the firmament and continued its plummet toward the planet. The firmament began to collapse inward, following the burning mass of rock down to the earth. And as the massive icy fragments fell, the ice became water, and the water became rain.
“What of Noah?” one of the angels called out. “What of our brothers?”
“Validus, take the portal,” another angel nearby said.
The crowd separated to allow Validus access to the portal, and his hands and fingers moved deftly across the marble slate. He swept down after the burning rock, moving past it at blinding speed to see where it would impact the fragile earth.
After confirming it would land in a large sea on the far side of the planet from Noah, Validus accelerated the vision around the circle of the earth so fast that many of the angels momentarily closed their eyes.
At last he slowed as he swept down and into the Valley of Tamak. There were thousands of men and women gathered around the ark Noah had made, taunting and ridiculing the man and his family.
During the past sixty days, some of every kind of living creature on the earth had begun migrating to the ark Noah had built. In spite of the obvious peculiarity of such animal behavior, the wicked hearts of the people refused to hear the words of warning Noah preached to the people. Now, as the earth stood on the precipice of annihilation, the hardening of their hearts was complete, for those nearby were becoming riotous and abusive toward Noah and his family. The rest of humanity had continued to eat and drink, marrying and giving in marriage unto this very day , ignorant of the battle for earth.
The magnitude of this battle was nothing compared to the Battle of Kish, but the consequences were far greater. Eighty angel warriors against three thousand Fallen—every single one desperate for victory.
Validus maneuvered toward the door of the massive ark, lain open to the ground like a ramp, where General Jorill was rallying his men for their final stand. Beside him the man Noah was kneeling in prayer, his hands and eyes lifted toward heaven.
“Here is where we will stand or fall together, my brothers,” the mighty general called out. “Though the world has fallen to Apollyon, this one righteous man stands firm in his faith and has found favor with Elohim.” Jorill drew his sword and held it high. “We will not fail him! We will not fail Elohim!”
Eighty swords thrust into the sky with shouts of acclamation.
“By the power of Elohim, the forces of hell will not prevail. We will stand! We will endure!”
The warriors of earth shouted praise to Elohim as the prayers of Noah lifted up to God. A bluish shaft of brilliant light shot down from heaven onto the servant of God and spread out to fill the bosoms of the angelic warriors around him.
Moments later, the sounds of war crashed in upon them as General Jorill gave orders to his four commanders.
“Collapse your quadrants inward, but do not break line! I want two warriors from each
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