Starting at the beginning of time, it is a panorama of Bible history, setting the scene for the most momentous event in human history. There is something in it for everyone. It is clear and entertaining enough to please the person who has almost never thought about God, and has sufficient depth to satisfy the Bible scholar. Few people could experience it without having learned something.




Suddenly the room seemed to melt, with the walls flowing down like lava. Then, to my terrified horror, I found myself hurtling at nauseating speed through some peculiar medium. It was as if I were tearing through outer space that contained only a few molecules per square mile and yet the speed was so colossal that every millisecond the almost empty waste appeared to be becoming increasingly – and worryingly – dense. With it quickly intensifying, I seemed doomed to the equivalent of being propelled through solid concrete. It was already beginning to feel beyond what the human body could endure and yet, alarmingly, the speed was continually increasing until, mercifully, I blacked out.

Eventually the strains of music began to ooze into my consciousness. It was far too glorious not to be a dream and yet the music seemed to become increasingly real until it became so vivid that in comparison everything I had previously known seemed like a half-forgotten dream. At first I had not even been aware that lyrics were accompanying the music but the words kept growing in intensity within me until they became so indelibly imprinted upon my mind that I recall them as powerfully today as I did back then. How much of the anthem I had missed during my unconsciousness, I have no idea, but this is what I heard:

Holy, wise and mighty
Is the King of all.
Perfect are your works, O Lord;
Flawless and pure.
All your works are holy,
Filled with love and goodness.

(Chorus) All creation adores you
And joyfully serves its Maker,
Delighting in your splendor,
Rejoicing in your perfection.
Creation sparkles with your glory,
Forever fresh and pure.

Now your works have climaxed,
You have made mankind.
They’re your very image,
Flawless and pure.
Forever they will please you,
They’re your holy image.


My eyes snapped open. Through the glare of dazzling light I could vaguely make out the silhouettes of enormous beings. The words ceased but the music continued and these beings began to gyrate rhythmically to the music with exquisitely inhuman nimbleness.

Suddenly a being entered that even alongside the others looked magnificent. My eyes had still not sufficiently adjusted to the intensity of the light to make out his features but he seemed to be displaying immense grief and the tone of his voice intensified this impression. “I can’t believe it! Why . . .? How could they . . .?”

The music and movement abruptly stopped. It was as if an artic blast suddenly froze a tropical paradise. All attention was focused on this being.

“What’s happened, Gabriel?” asked one of them, in great alarm. All of the others seemed equally agitated.

“Humanity has sinned!” he replied in what seemed to be disbelief.

Horrified gasps and murmurs rippled through the once-carefree gathering.

“Imagine the devastation, the chaos, the havoc they’ve brought upon themselves –” he continued.

“ . . . AND their beautiful planet!” added one of the others. I later learned that his name was Michael.

“God’s precious image – RUINED! Humanity – once resplendent in God’s glory, stunningly beautiful, the focus of God’s joy – riddled with evil!” lamented Gabriel.

“They reflected God’s nature so exquisitely,” said another angel.

“Living mirrors of God – shattered!” commented Michael:

Then commenced the most mournful music I have ever heard. The very instruments seemed to sob and wail. After a while the entire angelic throng joined in the dirge, singing:

The crowing jewel of all creation
Mutilated by sin!
Like unique and precious crystal
Smashed beyond repair.
Why did they turn against their Maker?
How could they break their Lover’s heart?
How can we bear such sorrow?
Heaven will weep forever.

How can we bear . . .
How can we bear . . .
How can we bear . . .
Such sorrow?

Then a new voice boomed. It was magnificent, unearthly, captivating, spine-tingling, breath-taking. It was indescribably powerful and yet exquisitely beautiful. The result was so overwhelming that part of me wanted to flee like a coward and another part of me wanted to listen in rapt attention forever. Somehow I knew that this had to be voice of Almighty God. And I was shocked to realize he was singing.

My darling children have betrayed me.
They’ve spurned and turned their backs on me.
O how vast and how deep my sorrow –
Despised, rejected by my children.
The light of my life has plunged into darkness –
The ones I love, disfigured by sin.
My beautiful ones, disfigured by sin.

The words were somehow supercharged with such emotion that they speared my heart. I crumpled to the floor as if I had been tazered.

The celestial beings resumed their gut-wrenching dirge:

Heaven will weep
Heaven will weep
Heaven will weep
Forever.

The crowing jewel of all creation
Mutilated by sin!
Like unique and precious crystal
Smashed beyond repair.
Why did they turn against their Maker?
How could they break their Lover’s heart?
How can we bear such sorrow?
Heaven will weep forever.

Heaven will weep
Heaven will weep
Heaven will weep
Forever.

Forever and ’ere
Forever and ’ere
Forever and ’ere
Forever.

Heaven will weep
Heaven will weep
Heaven will weep
Forever.
Forever and ever.
Forever and ever.
Forever and ever.
Forever and ever. . . .

I have no idea how long that continued. As they were still singing I found my consciousness somehow slipping away. I seemed to fall into a deep sleep, only to be woken by the words, “God is so shocked!”
“Oh, he’s not SHOCKED!” came a reply. The voice sounded like Michael’s. “ . . . betrayed, rejected, heart-broken, but not shocked. The Almighty knew all along they would do it.”

I looked up. My eyesight was still hazy, but it was Michael, all right. He was talking with another angel.

“He KNEW!” the angel replied, sounding utterly flabbergasted. “Before he created them he knew they would cause him such agony? Why ever did he make them?”

“I really don’t know,” Michael replied.

Suddenly innumerable other angels materialized (or should I use another word for spiritual beings?). Music began and they sang:

O God, your wisdom astounds us –
So infinite, so perfect, so complete.
You knew humanity would sin
You knew they would hurt you so deeply
Yet still you created them.
Why? Why? Why?

Then came the staggeringly rich voice of Father God. Again I was shocked to hear him singing rather than just speaking. Here is what he sang:

I made mankind to lavish my love upon them.
I want to bless them and give them joy;
To delight in them and have fellowship with them;
To give them all I have.

When the Almighty had finished, Gabriel humbly spoke. “But, Your Majesty, you can’t have fellowship with sinners! No sinner could endure your holiness. As darkness is destroyed by light, a sinner would be destroyed by your holy presence.”

“I will forgive them,” replied God the Father, with a tenderness that seemed to tear my heart in two.

“But they’re wicked, O Holy One!” responded another angel. I’d heard him speak earlier. I never learnt his name, so I’ll simply call him Angel 1. “You are good and too pure to tolerate evil.”

“They have betrayed you!” chimed in another angel I’ll call Angel 2. “They’re no longer what you created. They’re spiritual mutants – corrupt and evil.”

“Your Majesty,” said Gabriel, “you gave them their very life and everything they have. You showered them with precious gifts beyond counting. They were forever indebted to you, and how did they thank you? They cast your holy gifts into the mud and trampled your precious name underfoot!”

Then Michael spoke up. “O Exalted One, you are perfect in all your ways. Who are we to question the perfection of your wisdom? Forgive us as we wrestle with this enigma. They have proved themselves utterly unworthy of your mercy. They will continue to defy you and bring you disgrace and heartache. Their evil will only spread. Wipe them out and start again!

Firmly, yet tenderly, God the Father declared, “I will forgive them and remove their sin.”

That silenced the angels. After a minute or so, one began playing a peculiar instrument that yielded the sweetest sounds and then as one they began to sing:

O Lord, we stand in awe.
How vast is your mercy and grace,
At your greatness we gasp,
Your forbearance astounds us.
We’re stunned by your greatness.
Your love is beyond comprehension.
O Lord, we’re overwhelmed.

How great is your patience and love.
You cause us to marvel,
Your forgiveness staggers us.
O Lord, we stand amazed,
Immense is your mercy, your love,
You fill us with wonder,
Your compassion astounds us.

They fell into silence.

“But how can you forgive them, O Holy One?” It was Gabriel. “The penalty of sin is death. If you were to change that, you would cease to be holy. That’s unthinkable!”

Michael seemed bewildered. “Lord, your justice is perfect! You can’t condone evil! You can’t abolish the penalty!”

“You’ve openly declared that sin must be punished by death. It’s impossible for you to lie! The penalty has to be paid!” added Angel 1.

Then I heard a new voice, majestic and determined. “I will pay the penalty.”

The angels erupted, with many talking simultaneously. “You will die?” “The Son of God will die?” were two responses I heard.

“Yes. My Father and the Spirit and I planned this before Earth was even created.”

The angels gasped.

“But it’s man who sinned. Man has to die,” said Angel 1 in a tone that suggested disbelief.

“I will become man,” said the voice.

The angels looked at each other in horror. Finally, Michael spoke, “You, the Holy Son of God, will go to Earth now that it’s become repulsively corrupt and filthy?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll go immediately?” asked Angel 2.

“No. Many human generations must pass before the perfect time arrives.”

“So those early generations will be eternally banished from your holy presence,” said Gabriel. I’m not sure if it was a question or a statement.

“No. Just as man only dies once, I only have to die once for all human generations, irrespective of whether they live before or after I enter human history. Everyone who repents and commits himself to the only true God, will be cleansed. They will be able to enjoy fellowship with me.”

“When will the perfect time arrive?” asked an angel.

“Much preparation is needed,” replied God the Son. “Humanity must be fully prepared for my arrival on their planet. They must understand why I have to die. I will use many different things to teach them.

“Adam and Eve now feel naked and ashamed because of their sin. I will cover their nakedness with animal skins. Innocent animals will have to die to rectify this consequence of their sin. Gradually, they will learn that an innocent being must die for their sin-problem to be dealt with. Indeed, I’ve embedded this principle in the whole of creation; even in the worm that dies so that a bird might live.

“In time, I will gather to myself a people called Israel. I’ll make them a witness to the entire world. They will become enslaved and their first-born sons will face death. But they will escape death and be freed from bondage after the slaughter of a male lamb that is without blemish.”

“And you will become the ultimate ‘Lamb without blemish’?” asked Michael.

“Yes. And I will declare a day of atonement when Israel’s high priest will strip himself of his splendor, and, clothed just in plain linen, he will enter the holy of holies on behalf of the people.”

“You will be stripped of your glory when you go to Earth?” It was Angel 1.

“Yes. I will tell Israel to take two goats. One will die to make atonement for sin. One will live to make atonement.”

“Just like you will die and live again to make atonement,” added Angel 2.

“I will teach them much through such sacrifices. Many aspects will point to even minute details of my death. I will command that, like me, none of the victim’s bones are to be broken, that the sacrificial remains are to be placed outside the holy city, that –”

Again all the angels began voicing their feelings simultaneously, saying say such things, “O glorious Lord, that’s so wonderful!” and “This is too much to comprehend: the Son of God, dying?”

When finally order was restored, Michael spoke up, “But these are all animals. Will you prepare them for a human sacrifice?”

At the words, “human sacrifice” the angels again erupted into shocked chattering amongst themselves. Then come the authoritative voice of God the Father, “I will ordain that anyone guilty of manslaughter will be freed from the city of refuge only after the death of the high priest.”

“And your Son is the ultimate high priest whose death will free your people from their guilt,” added Gabriel as though relieved that he was finally understanding.

God the Father resumed, “I will take a righteous man called Job and give him great riches as a picture of my Son’s infinite wealth and glory. Then my blameless Job, whom I love, will be briefly deprived of his wealth. He will suffer pain and rejection and be treated like a sinner. At the height of his anguish he will intercede for the friends who turned against him and will obtain their forgiveness. Then, once more, I will exalt my righteous servant who thrills me so much. I will raise him from the dust to again enjoy great wealth, honor and blessing.”

“Like a shadow of what your Son will experience?” asked Angel 1.

“Yes.” It was the voice of God the Son. “And I will ask my servants to circumcise their sons to seal my covenant with them. They will learn that the sealing of the final covenant requires the shedding of innocent male human blood.”

“But those sons won’t actually die,” said another angel.

“No,” replied God the Father. “It is simply to prepare them for my Son’s sacrifice. But I will ask my servant Abraham to sacrifice the son who is like an only beloved son to him.”

“That’s fair, wonderful Lord!” responded Angel 1. “You’re sacrificing your beloved only Son for him. It’s right that Abraham should sacrifice his son for you.”

“But I will not let his son be hurt,” replied God the Father. For three days Abraham will walk to Moriah, convinced that his son will die. But I will intervene and his son will live, just like my Son will die and three days later will live again!”

“But, my Lord . . .!” Angel 1 seemed flabbergasted. “Why don’t you let Abraham’s son die for all the sins of the world, rather than your Holy Son? Like all humans, Abraham’s son deserves to die, not your precious Son!”

“But that’s just the point,” said Michael excitedly. “Don’t you see? If anyone died who deserved to die, he’d simply be suffering for his own sins. Only a sinless person could die for the sins of others.”

“O yes! Of course!” replied Angel 1.

Then the God the Son spoke. “An angel will announce to a godly woman that she will miraculously conceive. The child will be holy from his birth. He will be named Sampson and I will anoint him as Israel’s deliverer. He will save them from punishment they deserve for their sin. My Spirit will come mightily upon him and he will effect miraculous deliverances while he is alive. However, his greatest victory for my people will be in his death: he will voluntarily sacrifice his life in order to destroy my people’s enemies.

“I will also speak through prophets. A king will arise by the name of David. He will sing of my crucifixion. A prophet by the name of Isaiah will tell of it. Zechariah will speak of me and so will many others. Those who both prayerfully study my Word and earnestly seek my Spirit’s enlightenment will know that I will be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, will go to Egypt, and return to live in Nazareth, that –”

Again several angels spoke at once, saying such things as, “Wow! You’re going to tell them all that?”

“Yes,” said God the Son. “And very much more besides.”

Then all the angels began to worship.

* * *

I closed my eyes and when next I opened them, Angel 2 was pointing his finger at a distant object. Suddenly there was a flash of light, a weird sound and the object disintegrated in a puff of smoke. Before I had time to comprehend what had happened, he repeated his action and another object disintegrated, and another, and another . . .

“Good one, corporal.” I looked around to see the source of the voice. It was Michael. “You’re really getting the hang of it. You’ve come a long way since you joined the legion.”

“Thanks, Sarg!” replied Angel 2. “It’s great serving in the Lord’s Army. Whenever I go to zapping practice these days I imagine I’m zapping one of those despicable creatures who will crucify the glorious Son of God.”

“No, no, no!” replied Michael in great consternation. “You’ve got it all wrong. We fight demons, not humans. The Son loves humans. He earnestly longs to die for those who have despised him and grieved him so much. The Lord will never ask us to intervene.”

“But I can’t bear to think of the beloved Son of God suffering agony and humiliation on behalf of those who hate him,” responded Angel 2. “We love him. We’ve faithfully served him for millenniums, but we’d never expect the Son to suffer the slightest for us. Why should he go through all of that for people who hate him?”

“You know the answer to that, corporal.”

“Well I know God is love, said Angel 2, “but it blows my mind. I just can’t comprehend such stupendous love.”

“No-one ever will, corporal. No-one ever will.”

* * *

Don’t ask me to explain the time/space gap but the next thing I was aware of was the angelic choir singing in a completely different location. “Glory to God in the highest –”

“No! Cut!” said the conductor, “Still not good enough. We’ve only got three earth centuries before the Big Day. It must be absolutely perfect. Anyhow, take a break for a moment.”

“When we get to Earth, who exactly are we going to sing to? Royalty? Priests? . . .” asked an angel. I looked closely and recognized him as Angel 1.

“Shepherds,” replied the conductor.

“Shepherds!” exclaimed Angel 1. “We’ve been practicing for centuries for common shepherds? Whose crazy idea was that?”

“God’s.”

“Oops! Sorry Lord! Boy am I dumb! If I had just one percent of the Lord’s intelligence . . .! I can’t figure it out. What’s so special about shepherds?”

“They’re human shepherds,” replied the conductor. “The Son of God is going to d . . .”

“I know, I know . . .” responded Angel 1 impatiently. “Don’t ask me why, but the Lord is paying the highest price there is, for each of them. That makes each human of literally infinite value. We all know that. But why common shepherds? Why not more important humans?”

“You never were very good at math were you?” retorted the conductor. “If the lowliest human is of infinite value, who could possibly be of higher value?”

Angel 1 hit his forehead with the palm of hand. “Of course! You can’t go above infinity. It doesn’t matter if they’re shepherds, slaves, kings, cleaners, saints or bloodthirsty thugs; if they’re human, God is paying for them the highest price there is. You just can’t get any more important than that!”

“Now you’ve got the idea!” The conductor was looking triumphant.

“Let’s get back to practice,” urged Angel 1 excitedly. “Imagine: I’ll sing for people Christ is going to die for. Wow! This performance must be absolutely flawless.”

***

It was pitch black – or at least it seemed like it after the brilliant light of the place I’d been visiting.

“Wow, is it dark down here!” It sounded like Angel 1. “I knew the forces of darkness were rampant on earth, but –”

“It’s night-time, you ninny!” It sounded like Angel 2.

“Oh!” replied Angel 1.

As my eyes were adjusting to the gloom I thought I could make out Michael turning towards the conductor. “Congratulations! The choir was magnificent.”

“Thank you, Michael,” replied the conductor. “It was worth all the practice.”

“Wow,” said Angel 1. “I thought I was nervous! Did you see those shepherds?”

“I thought that old one was about one tremble away from a heart-attack!” added Angel 2.

“Maybe we should have remained invisible,” said Angel 1.

“Music emanating from invisible bodies could be even more startling!” retorted the confident-sounding conductor, “but that glory light was a bit extreme . . .”

“Well, I had to read my music somehow! Everyone looked at Angel 1. “Okay! I was nervous. I forget everything when I’m nervous!”

Angel 2 began to speak, “Anyhow, let’s stay invisible now –”

“Shhh!” interrupted Michael. Then I heard a newborn baby crying. “Look down there! It’s finally happened! The Son of God is born!” The angels rejoiced in hushed but excited tones.

“Isn’t it exciting! He’s now a member of the human race!” said Angel 2.

“But it’s a dirty, dingy cow-shed!” objected Angel 1. “Even from this distance the stench –”

“Oh, stop complaining!” said Angel 2. “This is the greatest event in human history.”

“But it hurts to see my Lord lying in such filth,” replied Angel 1. “He could have at least chosen a palace. As pathetic as human palaces must be, surely they are better than this! He alone deserves to be high over all. Why should he stoop so low?”

Michael spoke. “You know how low the whole of humanity has sunk; like irrational beasts – fighting, hurting, hating, cheating, deceiving each other – arrogantly claiming to be moral – blaming everyone (even God) for the consequence of their own depravity. They’ve made the whole world a pig-sty.”

Then the conductor joined in. “Their loving Creator is the Source of every good thing, yet they spurned his blessing, foolishly imagining they could run their own lives. You know the poverty and suffering they’ve brought upon themselves. It’s fitting that the Son of God should identify with such despair in his mission to save humanity.”

“If he were just the King of kings it might be appropriate to be born in a palace,” explained Michael to Angel 2. “But he’s also the Friend of the outcast, the Comforter of the hurting, the Protector of the weak. He’s come to save all who want it, whether they’re priests or prostitutes; gluttons or famine victims – all who are willing to turn from their sin and admit they need God.”

“Isn’t he wonderful!” exclaimed Angel 1. “Who could ever spurn such love? How could they insist on running their own lives when God is offering to use all his love, power and wisdom to direct them, enabling them to live the fulfilling life they were created to enjoy?”

Figures had been walking towards the stable. “Look! That must be the place!”

“Pardon me,” said another to a man in the stable, “I hate disturbing you, but angels told us that the Christ is born today. Do you think –”

“Please come in,” said the man. I guessed he was Joseph and that he was talking to one of the shepherds the angels had been singing to. “Angels told you about this?”

One of the shepherds gazed at the baby. “Oooh! Isn’t he beautiful!”

“Beautiful!” exclaimed Angel 1. “Where’s his glory, his power, his wisdom? Beautiful! The glorious Son of God, a mindless, helpless baby?”

“And that’s just the beginning of his anguish and humiliation,” added Angel 2 mournfully.

Soon all the angels were singing:

A boy!
Heaven’s Joy,
The Lord of all
Can’t even crawl!

The glorious king,
A helpless thing.
We fall at the feet
Of a babe asleep
And worship in awe
The One without flaw.

(Chorus)

Our hearts skip a beat
At this glorious feat.
We can only gasp
And in wonder ask,
‘Who but you
Would accept such a task?’

How vast your love
You’re from above;
Of sin a stranger
Yet in a manger.
You meekly lie
Waiting to die.

So well do we know
That mankind’s your foe,
They’re riddled with sin;
Yet you make them kin.
Heaven’s throne
Is yours alone.
Yes, you should reign
And yet in pain
You’ll bear a cross

To save the lost;
In your side a spear
To bring them all near.
It’s they who failed
But it’s you who’ll be nailed.

“I can’t bear seeing my Creator suffer!” said Angel 1. “I feel I’ll burst, forcing myself to stand idly by. If only he’d let me intervene. Instantly he’d soar to Heaven’s throne, free from this nightmare. If only he’d speak the word!”

“Yes, it’s the hardest thing we’ve ever had to bear.” I looked around and it was Gabriel. “But we must be strong. It’s the way the Son wants it. Just think of his joy when he triumphantly rises from the grave, enabling others to enter glory with him forever.”

“Each person is infinitely precious to him,” said Michael. “He’ll consider it worth all the agony and shame if just one person returns to God, yet he’ll grieve deeply over those who go their own way to destruction. He longs to lavish his blessing upon them, but he can’t while they insist on being independent.”

“Oh, I hope they all respond,” said Angel 1. “When will they realize that God alone can be trusted?”

“Jesus has done his part. Now it’s over to them,” said Gabriel.

Then they vanished.