Inside Lucifer's War by Byron J. Smith Read Free Book Online

spiritual evil or good. What does this all mean? I also know he was paraphrasing Scripture again when he said all things were possible through him. How is it that Lucifer could challenge God?
    He continues, “My time is near, and I need to prepare humanity for my ultimate coming. The seeds have long since been laid, and the plant is growing, but now is the time for fertilization. Your work is part of the fertilization. As John the Baptist laid the groundwork for Jesus, so shall you lay the groundwork for me. Though the plant will not reach full growth during your lifetime, you will be part of its maturation, and you will be part of my victory.”
    He can see my discomfort. His soothing voice changes. His soft eyes turn dark and hard. “Let’s be very clear. You are mine, and when you die, you will be mine for all eternity. How you spend that time is all that I am offering you. I am giving you an opportunity that millions would die, murder, steal, or blaspheme for. You have seen me in many forms. Do not make the decision to see me in my harshest forms for the remainder of your days.”
    His voice softens. “You are a wise man, Thomas. Of that, I have no doubt. You will make the right decisions at the right times. Of that, I also have no doubt.”
    I nod and give a slight smile to indicate I understand what he is saying. I feel brave and ask a question: “Forgive me. Are you suggesting you will rule over humanity for eternity? The book of Revelation says that the devil will be thrown into a lake of burning sulfur, where he will be tormented day and night forever. Please help me to understand.” I shrink back as I see his face turn to rage immediately, but then it relaxes and smiles.
    He speaks a verse with sinister hisses in the background: “‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’” And then he says, “Tell me, Thomas, as you sat in my lair, where was this church that my gates could not overcome it? Show me, Thomas, as you have lived in the world, where is the onslaught of the church so that I should be afraid? Where are these saints that can withstand my fury? Use observation and reasoning. Tell me who is winning this war. No, Thomas, search deep in your heart, and you know it to be true. I am winning and shall win. The world is crumbling before me, and so shall his church. Do not suppose that what is written shall come to pass. You are more intelligent than that.”
    I reflect on what he has said. In my mind, I know he is right.
    “There is one more thing I ask of you,” he says. “Better said, there is one more thing that I wish to offer you. To rule, I must first raise up someone. This person will tame the world and bring peace to the nations. No one shall dare challenge his authority or his might. Moreover, the people will rally behind him and prop him up.”
    The Antichrist? I wonder.
    Then his eyes begin to flutter and roll back in his head. A dark, red glow emanates from him. He leans back and looks at the ceiling, stretches out his arms, and begins what seems like a speech. During the speech, he is joined by other creatures in reciting the words.
“Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. . . . The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?” The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for