<Back to Eden>...How it really came to be.

The Earth was beautiful, celestially formed and no longer void.

The creator looked down upon his handywork proudly...the breathtaking landscape beneath the Heavens, which he had not yet designated, was a virtual utopia of extraordinary colors and enchanting loveliness.

"What name can we possibly imagine for such wonderous beauty", he pondered.

Mrs. Creator (encompassing all women) sat by his side, watching her many children...the young ones at play, and the older ones going about their angelic duties. She was very proud of their offspring...

The new ones were maturing nicely in their birth pods dangling from the cocooned comfort of the Birthing Garden, soon there would be a new vibrant brood of Cherubim and Seraphim needing her attention.

"How about the name Eden, it signifies paradise, endless happiness and bliss".

"Eden...hmmm, sounds perfect, it appears you have been giving that subject much though", he laughed heartily.

"Actually, yes, I have, and I also think you should create beings to inhabit the spaces in between the sea, land and nature".

"Yes, I believe you are right, dear. Let us make Mankind in our own image, well, as close to our image as possible...we certainly don't need any confusion about whom is whom".

"I agree, let's not make them immortal...that may cause us some serious problems with authority". The mother of creation advised.

(And so it was that it was woman whose fault it is that we are not immortal). Was it a wise choice?

"Let it be so, let them worship me and be happy. I will instill in them the knowledge of their maker".

The creator waved his hands towards a fertile corner of the land below...Beings appeared as if by magic.

"That will not do, laughed Mrs. C...they look like monstrous birds. Try harder, dear".

Days passed as model after model were discarded. Finally, on the seventh day...lo and behold, the perfect specimen was agreed upon. They named them Adam...the first Man, and Eve, the first Woman. And it was good...at least for a while!

Within the four corners of the land, Adam and Eve were made in various shades of skin color.

Mrs. Creator was quite pleased with the development down on...

"I think that someone down there named the place Earth, I rather like that name, let's keep it".

And so Earth began in all it's glory. The Adams and Eves thrived in blissful innocence.

+++

Lucifer

As a child, Lucifer had always ben stubborn and willful, irritating his father every chance he got. His mother spoiled him, shielding him often from the wrath of God. As he grew he became arrogant, devious and selfish. Michael and Gabriel kept a close eye on him...they knew that one day, he would allow his nature to overshadow his good sense.

But they could not watch him all of the time.

Many years passed as earth flourished, the Edens all began to visit with each other, new Edens sprang up as people procured new havens and began to plant new soil with food and flowers.

They had not yet discovered the enticement of the human form, worshipping a creator whom they had never met...but were happy in the pursuit of the knowledge of living. Their eyes were closed to temptation.

....

Lucifer looked down upon the beauty of the mortal forms...They were pleasing to his eyes.

At night, when Heaven dimmed the lights and everyone watched over the affairs of heaven and Earth, Lucifer would sneak down to Earth. He implanted the knowledge of the true meaning of their existence in the hearts of people everywhere. He opened their eyes to the wonders of the human forms without the permission of his father.

And so it began...

The Adams and Eves hid their faces from the Creator, they began to know one another, far and wide the whispers of the true meaning of life quietly intertwined themselves into the ears of those who would listen.

Mrs. Creator knew, she knew that the Creator knew. She had done all she could to stall her son's punishment.

The Father sent Uriel and Raphael down on Earth to watch and report back to him. Lucifer, not realizing that he had been found out, took his human form and visited one of the Eves that night. They had already had three children together in secret.

As he slept, the high angels bound him in celestial chains and transported him home.

Lucifer awakened in the Judgement Room, a place he knew quite well. He opened his mouth to speak, but not a word could he utter. His punishment had begun!

++

Not a word was spoken by anyone...The only sound was Mrs. C crying softly as Lucifer was led out to the gates of Heaven. Uriel handed him a blazing tablet on which words were being inscribed.

He began to freefall. Upon the object in his hand appeared in large letters, the words:

"Open the gates of Hell, for from this day forward...Lucifer**no longer a son of Heaven, shall reside for evermore as fiery embers surround his unearthly throne. He shall appear as a serpent to the eyes of mankind, nevermore will they see him as an Earthly being".

The gates of Heaven closed loudly behind Lucifer. Then and only then did he find his voice. He cursed them all with damnation and fire as he continued to fall.

He became the first Fallen angel from the Kingdom far beyond the sky. Not long after his descent to his home in the place which existed between Heaven and Earth, yet far removed from both, he was joined by those angels who had aided him in his rebellion.

They now existed in a place devoid of color, where peace and quiet almost never existed.

Here, they began to plot their reign of terror on everyone above and below.

+++

On Earth, people became fruitful and multiplied...children were born everywhere. Lucifer's offspring thrived and had children of their own. People learned and adapted, they discovered and invented, but they also learned what it meant to become ill, grow old and die.

Many Millenniums passed. Mr. and Mrs. Creator again sat peering down at their creations and the adaptations they had made to the world.

++

"Maybe it was a good thing what Lucifer did in one aspect, but he had no way of knowing that mankind was not ready to see the truth, that they needed to know what temptation was before immersing themselves into each other. On the other hand, they have already begun to forget their creator in search of selfish desires".

The Creator sighed. What had Lucifer done, he had opened Pandora's box long before it was her time to be unleashed.

"My favorite is this Technology. It is as if they have created their own form of Eden, only it is...what is it really"?

"It is the practical application of scientific knowledge, encompassing both the methods and the products that result from this application".

"Do you even know what that means". Creator asked curiously, as he smiled.

Mrs. C, being the technical one in the family, answered primly...

"It involves using scientific principles to create tools, systems and processes that achieve specific goals, or improve existing ones, this includes everything, from basic tools like hammers, to complex systems like computers and the internet".

"Ah yes, the Inter-net...another one that escaped from Pandora's Box. Unfortunately, it is too late to get it back. It has spread throughout the entire world". Mr. C mused sadly.

"I wonder how Lucifer is faring...maybe we should bring him up for a visit". His mother said hopefully. She did not get an answer. Maybe sometime soon, she hoped.

+++

Lucifer grew more and more bitter each day, he blamed mankind for his troubles and vowed to make them pay. As the serpent, jealous and spiteful...he preyed upon the dark side of humanity, winning many souls to his fiery depth of despair.

He flipped open his computer... and googled 'human utopia'. (Yes, hell has internet). The screen flashed neon...irritating his eyes as he read:

"Humanity has created a virtual utopia of impressive achievements for themselves over time. A world where technology and nature coexist in seemingly perfect harmony. Cities gleam with eco-friendly skyscrapers powered by renewable energy, surrounded by lush greenery and interconnected by high-speed, carbon-neutral transport. Healthcare is universally accessible, aided by advanced AI and nanotechnology, eradicating most diseases. Education is immersive and personalized, fostering creativity and collaboration. Society thrives on equality, inclusivity, and shared prosperity, where automation handles mundane tasks, freeing people to explore their passions and strengthen communities. Peace, innovation, and sustainability define this utopia...a vision of humanity at its most enlightened".

The Devil slammed the computer shut!!!

The Fallen realized that the more advanced this species became, the less they believed in Heaven and Hell. He was becoming obsolete. So too would be his family looking down from up above the world...This thought made him smile.

+++

Up in Heaven the Creator grew weary of Earth. They disobeyed him every chance they got.

"Did I not give them paradise, a virtual Utopia. Was it not enough...what more do they want". He asked.

"I still believe an elevator stairway between Heaven and Earth is the answer. Negotiations would be the best way to understand it all, better than using the internet".

"I am pretty sure they would want to rule up here too, the arrogant ones like Lucifer ". Creator replied.

Thoughts of end times, Armageddon, annihilation, floods, asteroids and fires swirled around in his head. But truth to tell, humans were resourceful, they always found ways to compensate for their errors.

He had to admire their tenacity.

++

They had changed his utopia into one that they believe suits them better.

He would leave them for now to sink or swim.