The angels were going about their business as usual. Some were singing praises to the King. Some were preparing special blessings for children. Some were running errands from heaven to earth, giving people messages from on high, giving people company as they prayed, or giving people power to endure a trial. Other angels, of course, were spying on the evil one and his demons, looking for opportunities to undermine their wicked schemes.
It just so happened that Michael, an archangel, was passing by the throne. He stopped by the throne quite often, but this time, he saw something he could hardly believe. He saw something he’d never seen before. His eyes got as big as cantaloupes. His heart fluttered like an airplane propeller. He couldn’t even breathe for a moment. The King had stood up. Michael must have passed by the throne thousands, even millions, of times before, and the King was always sitting down. Always. But for some reason, the King had risen to His feet. “Maybe this is what Gabriel was talking about,” Michael thought.
Backing away in shock, Michael turned and ran down the streets of gold. He began shouting to the other angels, “It’s time! It’s time! Everyone, come quickly!” The angels, upon hearing his summons, looked at each other with smiles of delight. “It’s time,” they repeated to each other. “It’s time!” They began to flock toward the throne.
Michael sprinted off into the neighborhoods of many, many mansions. He knocked on doors, clapped his hands, and waved his arms, shouting, “It’s time! It’s time! Everyone, come quickly!” Doors began to open, heads peaked around corners, and one by one people slowly came out onto the streets. There were Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel, Moses, Miriam, Elijah, and many others. Moses said to Elijah, “Do you think it’s the appointed time?” “I guess so,” Elijah said. “Let’s go!” They ran toward the throne.
Michael, breathing hard now, took off back toward the river of life. It was flowing gracefully as always, with a sparkle in every ripple. As Michael approached the waters edge, he jumped into the air, gliding across to the other side. He shouted to the hosts of heaven by the riverside, “It’s time! It’s time! Everyone, come quickly!” They all got to their feet rapidly and flocked toward the throne.
Michael passed a group of cherubim. “It’s time!” he said. “Come quickly!” “The appointed time?” they asked. “Yes, yes,” he replied. “He’s off His throne!” The cherubim swallowed hard, broke into huge smiles, and took off toward the throne.
Michael covered every square foot of the kingdom, ensuring that all of heaven heard the news. He knew everyone needed to be in on this. When he finally got back to the throne area, he saw a scene unparalleled in the history of the kingdom. All the hosts of heaven were lining the street that led to the throne. Both sides of the street were populated with angels and saints standing shoulder to shoulder.
The King had begun walking down the street. His stride was steady and strong, the very definition of regal. The golden crown glimmered upon His brow, shining like the summer sun. The train of His robe trailed Him by 40 feet or more. On the front of the robe was the letter “Alpha,” and on the back, “Omega.”
The angels were singing louder than ever before, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! Heaven and earth are full of his glory!” They marveled as the King passed by. “I’ve never seen Him walk before,” one angel said. “I know, I know, can you believe it?” said another. The angels and saints continued singing, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways O Lord. You are the King of the nations!”
As the King marched by the tree of life, its leaves fluttered in the gentle breeze. As the King marched by the river of life, it flowed with the power of an ocean and the peace of a pond. As the King marched by the book of life, the breeze blew it open and pages flapped against each other, seeming to multiply. The hosts of heaven continued to sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is, and who is to come.”
The music swelled as the King approached the end of the road, where it meets the jasper walls and the pearly gates. He reached out His hands, grabbed the gates, and threw them wide open. He turned to face the crowd. Heaven was on tiptoe.
The King’s eyes were teeming with compassion. His face was glowing with grace. He lifted His right hand, and the singing stopped. Slowly, He removed the golden crown from His head and laid it on the ground. He took off His royal robe and left it in a heap on the street. With that, He stepped off the street of gold and exited the pearly gates.
And so a baby cried in Bethlehem. And salvation was ours.
By Noel Schoonmaker
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