It was a quiet day in the inner court of the heavenly tabernacle. Ministering angels were solemnly prostrate before the great throne, worshiping and adoring the Lord of Hosts.

"ALL MAJESTY AND GLORY ARE YOURS, O MOST HIGH!" they declared. "YOU ARE TO BE PRAISED ABOVE ALL IN HEAVEN. THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU, O GOD. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CREATED ALL THINGS AND YOU ALONE SUSTAIN ALL OF YOUR DOMINION. WE EXTOL AND MAGNIFY YOUR HOLY NAME!"

Thousands of the heavenly host were assembled, bowing in agreement with each phrase uttered by the angelic choir. God the Father acknowledged their praise with waves of blessing flowing from the great throne. Each blessing received by the angels amplified their praise and returned to the Lord as exaltation.

Suddenly a herald angel appeared at the door of the inner court. His face, which usually glowed with the glory of heaven, was pale. The expression of this messenger betrayed concern, a trait unusual in the Tabernacle of God.

"It's time," he said, "everything is ready." At these words, the angels stopped in mid-adoration. Slowly rising from the temple floor, they stood before the throne and arranged themselves in columns on each side of the altar, forming a human hallway between the entrance of the court and the great throne.

Just then, an extraordinary glow appeared above the tabernacle. The light flashed through the doorway of the inner court in ever-increasing brilliance, growing in such intensity that as it entered the room the angels had to hide their eyes... they could not look directly upon the radiance of the Son.

Light is a strange way to describe a person, but the angels could describe Him no other way. There were no shadows in His presence. He was a fountainhead of illumination... the light of majesty and glory. The presence of the Son was so overpowering that even the eyes of the heavenly community, created for the brilliance of heaven, were not accustomed to it.

The Son approached the throne accompanied by the messenger angel who remained about 20 paces behind.

Jehovah spoke. "It is time. Are you ready, my Son?"

"Yes, Father, I am eager to help our children. The time has come for your love to be manifest."

The Son knelt before the Lord. His glory, as lustrous as ten-thousand stars, radiated in all directions.

A curtain was drawn open behind the throne. Through the opening, the universe was displayed to the heavenly realm. Especially prominent was a dark planet in the center of the portal.

The Son bowed His head and spoke quietly to the Father. Suddenly the brilliance that came from Him exploded in all directions. Like meteors, the light split into smaller pieces, shot around the court just above the heads of the heavenly host, and came to rest above the throne. They formed seven flames that hovered in an arc over the presence of God the Father.

"I am empty," he declared, still with bowed head, "and ready for the journey." He stood up and walked by the right side of the throne, through the threshold, and into the universe.

The inner court appeared dark compared to a few moments before. Only the light of the seven flames lit the room. The angels watched in astonishment as the Son enter time and space.

He approached the tarnished planet, looked back toward the opening in heaven, then continued on. The angels crept nearer the opening to get a better view, as he drew closer to his destination. How lifeless it appeared. One of them turned toward the throne. "Father, what is that place called?" he asked.

God the Father answered quietly, "It is called earth. My most wondrous creation lives there." They marveled at this statement, since the planet seemed so cold and pale. It looked as though God could have never been involved.

The earth rotated many times... days and nights passed slowly, it seemed. Then suddenly one of the flames above the throne suddenly shot through the opening and followed the same path as the Son, remaining high above that part of the planet where He had stepped into its existence. Like a bright star, it illuminated the earth and for the first time the community of heaven saw the status of God's creation. The radiance of this light revealed a place of torment and anxiety. The vivid colors of sin, anger, hatred and fear burst forth.

Swarms of demonic powers were disclosed, hovering at times and then darting back and forth. The creatures of the planet looked pale, quite anemic in their spirits. Constantly tormented by the evil that covered them, they were continually fed from a spiritual banquet offered by the demons. Pride, lust, selfishness, and dread were among the items consumed in quantity, and as they ate they grew vicious and spiteful. They appeared more and more careworn.

So this is where the Son had gone. To this ...