105
" Over a millennia, Belial had built up the small Latin republic in the west that ultimately became an empire. As the heavenly Prince of Rome, Belial’s ownership eventually dominated the entire world as Rome conquered all under her power. Since earthly powers and heavenly powers were linked in their spiritual reality, Belial was the chief archon, the god of this world. He parceled out land and power to the other gods out of his own bounty and rule. Belial whispered, “All of this power and glory is mine. All of it. Caesar is my puppet, his governors are my whores, and his undefeated military machine is my right arm of power. You stand no chance against me, Messiah. "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
110
" The downfall of the northern tribes of Israel began in the days of the divided monarchy. King Ahab of Israel had married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Tyre for political and economic gain. Jezebel built temples to Ba’al and Asherah all throughout the land and persecuted the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The righteous Jehu had killed Jezebel and Ahab’s line and destroyed the Asherim and temples of Ba’al. But the talons of idolatry were never fully released from the soul of Israel. Tyre and her rulers became a symbol of recalcitrant evil in Israel, warranting a curse by the prophet Ezekiel that reflected the very essence of Adam’s original sin that led to the Fall and to Babel’s pride. The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god— "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
114
" Joseph of Arimathea, another wealthy man, but a Pharisee. Joseph said, “My brother Annas sounds more like a pagan Greek than a Hebrew.” Some scattered laughs peppered the crowd. Longinus shook his head with contempt. “Not only does the prophet Daniel clearly speak of a general resurrection of the dead, but Isaiah and our beloved David reveal it to be so. May I quote from the Scriptures that Annas and his Sadducees so proudly claim to be the sole beneficiaries of? A Psalm of David: ‘For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.’ And the prophet Isaiah, who, I may remind my illustrious opponents, wrote Scripture, said of a Suffering Servant, and I quote, "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
117
" Some scribes and rabbis recently had begun to interpret the Prince of Tyre as an analogy with the Shining One, Nachash, in the Garden. Simon saw in it a mockery of Ba’al’s elevation to the throne of the Most High that results in the casting of the king to the ground or underworld. “Thus says Yahweh Elohim: “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of Elohim; every precious stone was your covering… From the day you were created, I placed you with the cherub on the holy mountain of Elohim; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of Elohim, The cherub has led you out, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.” Simon knew that the subjugation of Tyre was important because the gods Ba’al, Asherah and Molech would have to be bound and judged as part of the reclamation of the Promised Land for Messiah’s inheritance. But Jesus was not letting them in on his clandestine activities. "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
118
" Prefect, sir, their quibbling and bickering only now touched on the subject. You know how they can get carried away.” “Do I ever.” Pilate looked back around at the council. “You may be seated.” They took their seats. Pilate paraded to the center of the room, the center of attention. He snapped his fingers for Longinus to join him. Pilate looked at Caiaphas and said, “Beside me is Marcus Lucius Longinus. I have tasked him with tracking down some particularly egregious Jewish rebels. One of them goes by the name of Jesus Barabbas. Do you have any intelligence on him?” Caiaphas said, “No, my prefect.” “And what of his comrades, the brothers Demas and Gestas Samaras?” “No, my prefect.” “What good are you to me, Caiaphas, if you don’t keep on top of your own people, and their rebel leaders? "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
119
" Pilate nodded to Longinus, who replied to the high priest, “Yes. They are considered a separate splinter group of the Zealots.” Pilate threw out with a laugh, “Yet another ‘splinter group.’ I swear, Caiaphas, if this increases, you may find Caesar himself coming to crush these brigands and the entire nation with them. Then you might take it all a bit more seriously. Would you prefer Caesar take his place in your Temple as god?” The whole crowed erupted in shock and muttering at the blasphemy. Pilate’s previous incident of placing Caesar’s standards in the temple was blasphemous enough and still fresh on their minds. The thought of Caesar’s personal presence was too much to consider. Pilate shouted, “QUIET!” They quieted down. He said, “And what of this other Jesus, the Nazarene? I heard you mention signs and wonders. Do any believe him to be your Messiah?” “He is nothing, governor,” said Caiaphas. “They are parlor tricks, and his followers are fishermen and plebs. He speaks nothing of violent overthrow. Merely peculiarities of our laws. "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
120
" Pilate said, “I have no more patience for this tripe. If any of these men, be they Barabbas, Amram, Tholomy or even this patsy, the Nazarene, if any of them enter Jerusalem, I want you to immediately alert Longinus, who is now stationed in the Antonia fortress. Am I understood?” “Yes, my lord,” said Caiaphas. “Let us go, Longinus.” Pilate turned and left the room with Longinus in tow. Outside the room, as Pilate and his soldiers marched away, Longinus stayed behind and hid just around the corner of the open entrance. He wanted to hear what these sniveling little Jews would say behind their backs. After a few moments of rumbling discontent, Longinus heard Caiaphas command everybody, “Settle down! "
― Brian Godawa , Jesus Triumphant (Chronicles of the Nephilim, #8)
