A Diabolical Plan

By Art Ude

(With my apologies to C.S. Lewis)

 

Part 1: Mahdi Calls a Meeting

 

All was gloom and darkness. Not that this was unusual but the darkness now had substance, it could be felt, and the gloom was not just an absence of light but penetrated the very depths of the spirits assembled.

 

The flickering candles cast weird shadows throughout the dimly lit circular chamber and one could barely make out the magnificent statues adorning the broad stone wall. There was Tammuz, the god of the sun, and opposite him, Hubal or Sin or Allah, the god of the moon. There was Baal, the god of rain and agriculture and, of course, Molech one of the chief gods, and the beautiful Ashlereth, or Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. All told 360 gods were represented in the magnificent structure, one for every day of the year before the cataclysmic flood had changed the order of the world.

 

The immense chamber was packed. Large as it was it could barely contain all the spirits and many of them had to hover in the air above the marble floor or perch on the beams and rafters at the ceiling. All the spirits quietly waited in reverence for their Leader God to enter. The ruler of all the gods.

 

The Mahdi, whose entrance normally would have enthralled the spirits, only added to oppressive murk of the huge theater. He slithered in and coiled himself around his golden throne but his countenance, his contorted features, foretold that a stormy meeting was in store for his already miserable spirits. There was no celebrating on his entrance as was the usual case. There were no cries of “All Hail to the Cherub that Covereth, All Hail to the Prince of This World.” No, this occasion was more like a wake. Indeed, if something was not done it might become an actual wake.

 

And only a few years ago all was happiness and bliss. The Mahdi’s plans had been carried out to perfection. After centuries of planning the day had finally arrived. The Adversary had made his triumphal entry into the capital city. The crowds had pressed the Adversary on every side, acclaiming his right to rule and to dispose of the Mahdi’s kingship. But the Mahdi was ready. Never to be outdone he knew this day would come. It had been foretold since that threat was issued against the Mahdi in The Garden.

 

Oh how beautifully Mahdi’s plot unfolded. In less than a week after the Adversary’s entry Mahdi had him tortured and killed. His people had rejected him. His blood had flowed. He had died a horrible, disgraceful death and been buried. His tomb had been sealed. Surely, victory belonged to Mahdi.

 

Then the world was turned upside down. The impossible had happened. The Adversary had actually risen from the dead. Not only that, but a few subjects of Mahdi were now believing this resurrection actually happened. They claimed that their sin, the very sin that Mahdi had so very carefully implanted in their hearts and souls, no longer applied to them. The Adversary’s sacrifice and blood had cleansed them. They were no longer the subjects of Mahdi. Most frightening of all, this belief was true.

 

But this was only the beginning of the trouble. The followers of the Adversary were now calling themselves Christians. The Adversary had promised the Christians he would return and wrest the kingdom from Mahdi. These Christians were proclaiming this throughout Mahdi’s world. They said they must look for him to return. They said this was their hope. They said this was their joy. They said that when they died, they, like the Adversary would be raised from the dead when the Adversary returned. Indeed, looking back at what the Adversary had said before his death, it appeared this was the Adversary’s plan from the beginning. Mahdi knew then that prevention of the Adversary’s return was of the utmost importance, his primary task. And that could only be achieved if he could completely do away with these Christians and their ridiculous hope.

 

Fortunately, now, only a few of Mahdi’s former subject believed this hope. Perhaps this message, this Christian gospel, could be nipped in the bud. There may still be time. And that is why Mahdi called this special meeting of all his saints.

 

Part 2: The Suggestions of the Spirits

 

Mahdi cleared his long throat and the chamber grew quiet. “Well,” he said, “you all know why we are here. I am open to suggestions.”

 

Deep silence continued among the assembly of spirits as they all were aware any suggestion must be unique, hideous, foul, and offer some hope of success or it would draw the wrath of Mahdi.

 

After a brief pause a small insignificant spirit in the front row spoke up. This spirit, all the others knew, always buttered up to Mahdi, volunteering to take on the smallest dirtiest tasks to draw Mahdi’s favor. He had been placed in charge of polluting rivers and streams, causing mud slides, fouling the atmosphere and other minor catastrophes.

 

“Why not just kill them all?” he asked.

 

A gasp went throughout the chamber. All knew this was not what Mahdi wanted to hear.

 

“Fool!” he shouted. “Don’t you think I have tried to do that and we are still doing it? I am having them torn apart by wild beasts, burned at the stake, ripped asunder, but still they persist.  We need a solution that will put an end to that damnable hope they have of the Adversary’s return, of his absolving them of their sin, of his having paid the price for their guilt. I don’t think you understand the dire situation we are in. If Adversary returns it will finish us. Death will be conquered. Adversary will set up his own throne in my capital and establish his kingdom in place of mine. You’ve heard of the Abyss in Tartaro. Some of my best saints are suffering there now and I have no intention of joining them.”

 

The silence that followed this outburst from Mahdi was so ominous that it was hard to see how any other spirit could possibly raise the courage to offer another suggestion.

 

Finally there was some quite murmuring among the spirits. Some nods and shaking of heads. Some looked down at their feet and others at the walls or exchanged nods with those hovering in the air.. None dared look at Mahdi.

 

“I’m waiting,” Mahdi hissed.

 

A tall rather handsome looking spirit raised his hand.
“Yes,” glared Mahdi. “Speak up, saint, you’ve had some worthy ideas in the past. Say on.”

 

“Oh Shinning Star, Son of the Morning,” began this self-assured spirit. “I know what I am about to suggest has been tried before with only partial success but I think, with some slight alternations, it may serve our needs in this new situation.”

 

“Say on,” said Mahdi.

 

“Disgrace, slander, hatred,” said the spirit. "We have been using these with the decadent decedents of Judah and you must admit we have had some very successful victories.”

 

Mahdi tensed on his throne. “No!” he cringed, “Not victories, but, yes, some very satisfying battles. If I remember correctly, saint, this was your original idea and we all owe you many thanks for it.”

 

“Yes, thank you,” the spirit continued. “We have also applied it to other groups in various ways and times, always slightly different so your subjects do not become wise, but all-in-all, it has always proven effective in the past.”

 

Mahdi interrupted, “If it had been completely effective and led us to a complete victory then this Adversary would not have come at all. But what is done is done. We must continue to spew forth our hatred on the small group of remaining Jews. If we should prove successful and eliminate them all, then the victory will be ours as their cherished books say the Jews must still be around for Adversary to return. I doubt we will succeed with that goal but we must continue to try. But now, how can we apply this to these Christians?” asked Mahdi, hissing and growling the word as if it caused a foul taste in his mouth.

 

“In several ways,” replied the tall spirit. “First we must discredit the books they hold in such reverence. We will raise astute scholars to discredit their value. They will find errors in them. They will question the authenticity of the authors and the time of writing. We will compare their books to other writings done by your subjects in other lands and other times and the similarities to these books will help to discredit theirs. We will make anyone who claims to be a Christian look foolish in the eyes of your subjects.”

 

“We will raise issues on the authenticity of Adversary. We will claim he was a fraud, had someone die in his stead.. Perhaps we may go so far as to question the legitimacy of his birth. False books can be written claiming the Adversary was just another sinner, perhaps married, perhaps with children. The itching ears of your subjects are always eager to hear and believe some new falsehood.”

 

“Also we will develop new spiritual ideas and new prophets. Perhaps start a false religion that proposes salvation and heaven to those that follow it. A salvation based on how good they are and the good works they do.”

 

This brought a great round of laughter from the spirits and even Mahdi, himself, had to chuckle.

 

“How good they are!” shouted Mahdi. “What a joke! If they believe that they will believe anything.”

 

The tall spirit drew some encouragement from the mirth and continued.

“One of our saints will pay a visit to some poor deranged sinner and claim to be from the enemy’s camp. We will throw this sinner into a fit and convince him he is a prophet with a revelation from the enemy. We can have this new religion claim that Christians and Jews are evil. Their prophet will encourage his followers to kill these enemies of ours.”

 

“Good, good,” said Mahdi. "Impersonate one of the enemies number and get right on that. It is your personal assignment." Mahdi thought a moment, "Tell this prophet that I, Mahdi, will come at the end of the age and save them." Mahdi roared with laughter.

 

As new suggestions were proposed to destroy and confuse the Christians Mahdi's demeanor was improving.

 

"As you command, Son of the Morning," said the spirit. “Then we will have men of learning, philosophers, demonstrate through a new science, how that first book could not possibly be true. This will achieve much and keep many from joining their ranks. We all know that their treasured writings hinge on the authenticity of that first book. If we can destroy that one then all the rest will crumble”

 

“A new science?” asked Mahdi. “And what may that be?”

 

“Well,” replied the spirit, “not really new but expanded and refined. Actually it was an idea proposed by yourself, Most High Vicar, many years ago. We will lead them to believe the entire creation and even their own bodies came about by accident. Men of learning will put forth formulas and theories all designed to prove this idea. Once it is established, taught in their institutes of learning, it will seep into their theology and discredit their books, especially the first. Those who doubt this new science will appear to be fools.”

 

For the first time a small sparkle gleamed in Mahdi’s narrow eye slits. There was a sigh of relief among the assembled spirits. “I like it, I like it!” mused Mahdi as he pondered the suggestion of the tall spirit.

 

“Anything else, saint?” asked Mahdi.

 

“Not at the moment,” replied the spirit, “but any idea that will discredit the belief and faith of these Christians would be helpful. Perhaps others here can build upon this plan.”

 

Mahdi rose to his full height and presented his magnificent gleaming presence to the spirits.

“So, for now,” he announced. “We will continue to kill these Christians. We will do all we can to discredit their writings. We will spread lies and deceit among my subjects so Christians become hated and despised. We will discredit the authenticity of Adversary. We will start an alternative religion to spread false ideas and persecute and kill our enemies. We will slowly introduce this new science into their thinking to convince them the creation was an accident and their books are wrong. We want these Christians to appear foolish and stupid in the eyes of my subjects.”

 

There was a general murmuring, nodding and agreement among the spirits.

 

“However,” screamed Mahdi, “As worthy as these plans are, they are not enough! We will never destroy all the Christians just as we have never been able to destroy all the Jews. These measures, though very good and will provide us with much pleasure, will not prevent Adversary from returning and destroying us. Dear saints, think. Think, THINK! There must be something else we can do? There must be a final solution?”

 

 

Part 3: A Proposal by Legion

 

A growling began at the back of the chamber which gradually grew louder. The spirits turned toward Legion who always occupied their place near the rear.

 

“May we speak, Your Eminence?” they asked.

 

“Certainly,” replied Mahdi. “I know you have a personal debt to settle with Adversary. Step forward and be heard.”

 

Legion shoved their way through the assembly as the spirits parted to make room for the massive bulk of Legion.

 

“These suggestions, clever and well conceived as they may be, will not achieve our ultimate goal. We can kill Christians, disgrace them, prevent many others from joining their ranks but it will not deter Adversary from returning.”

 

Legion paused and the spirits waited for them to continue. You could tell that even Mahdi’s curiosity had been aroused. What was Legion about to suggest?

 

“What is interesting,” continued Legion, “is that their own books reveal the solution to their destruction. We must change their message. We must convince them that their goal is something other than the return of Adversary. In short, we must corrupt their gospel and offer something false in its place. This is the answer. A false gospel must be taught and believed by these Christians. A false gospel that will appear to be authentic. A gospel the most devout and intelligent among them will believe.”

 

“We can do this in several ways. First we must convince them that Adversary did not pay the whole price for their salvation. This point is essential! We must encourage them to perform additional acts to help in their salvation. This will turn the gift from their savior into something for which they have paid cheaply and will annul the gift. We must make them believe they must be baptized, or speak certain words in a certain way. They must be taught to worship on a certain day in a certain place, recite certain prayers, count certain beads, create and pray to idols, eat or not eat certain foods. We must influence their priests to teach this false doctrine and cause their deacons to greatly sin so their followers will become discouraged. The worship of their god must be perverted, influenced by the things of Mahdi’s world. We must teach them that those acts and practices instituted by Mahdi and made popular by Ishtar are acceptable to these Christians, and that their books that speak against these things do not really mean what they say. All this will aid and abet our goal but even this will not achieve it. Even with all this, Adversary will return.”

 

Here Legion paused and even Mahdi was held in suspense waiting for the conclusion of Legion’s remarks.

 

“In the end,” said Legion, “there is only one thing that will achieve our goal, the prevention of Adversary’s return. For when he returns Mahdi's kingdom will fall. Our cause is lost. Our doom is certain.”

 

No one spoke. No one moved. The chamber was still and quiet as death itself. They waited.

 

Finally Mahdi broke the silence. “Well,” he shouted, “We’re waiting! Say on!”

 

Legion cleared their throats, licked their lips and resumed in quite voices so all would bend to their attention.

 

“We must,” they said, “make them forget their blessed hope. We must make them forget their longed for joy. We must make them forget the receiving of their rewards. Briefly, fellow saints, we must make them forget the return of Adversary. We must change their hope. We must divert it. We must substitute something in its place that they will embrace and then we must make them believe that lie with all the determination and fervor that they presently spend looking for Adversary’s return.”

 

Silence ensued.

 

After a suspenseful pause Legion continued. “And what is that something that I propose replace the Christian’s blessed hope? Why it is nothing new, nothing complicated. Mahdi’s subjects have believed it for centuries. We must reinstitute that old lie that Mahdi told long ago in The Garden. We must tell them they do not die. We must tell them instead that they will  --- Go To Heaven! We must tell them they will go to the Adversary. We must make them forget the Adversary promised to come to them. We must make them stop looking for the Adversary's return.”

 

The assembly was in shock. Something so simple. Something so obvious. Something that Mahdi had used before. Surely it was too simple. It would not work.

 

Legion knew their thoughts. He knew their skepticism. From their pocket Legion withdrew a torn and dirty book. “Listen to this,” they said, and then they read from the book.

“To those that look for him he will appear a second time.”

 

Mahdi spoke, “It is fine thought, Legion, but their books say nothing of going to heaven but they speak often of Adversary’s return. How will we proceed?”

 

“There are a few verses in their books that can be twisted enough to put the thought in their heads and, besides, very few Christians really study their books,” said Legion. “Granted, nothing in their books specifically says the dead go to heaven awake and alive but I think we can introduce this doctrine and once it catches hold nothing will stop it. After all, Son of the Morning, hasn’t your lie been accepted and believed since first you thought of it. We will have their respected theologians teach it. There seminaries will endorse it. Those that reject it will be scorned and despised.”

 

Legion was warming to their subject. “Imagine, great cathedrals will be built with spires pointing heavenward. They will believe their dead are happily residing in heaven and will fail to look for their resurrection at Adversary’s return. Perhaps we can convince them to pray for the departed in heaven or even speak with them or spend their effort and resources to insure their loved ones are really there. Actually I think we can pervert their entire belief system to the point that little remains of this Christianity that the Adversary taught.”

 

The chamber had suddenly brightened a bit. There were smiles on the faces of the spirits. Some were clapping. Those suspended above the floor did cartwheels and whirling dervishes.

 

Legion’s voices grew louder. “We will have them wondering what they look like in heaven and can those in heaven see the misery we are causing those still alive on earth. They will wonder what they will be doing in heaven besides praising the Adversary. They will wonder if they will recognize their dead family members in heaven. They will wonder if they are still married, or who they are married too. We will have them believe that those in heaven can come back to earth and visit them. The fact that their books say nothing about the dead in heaven will work to our advantage. We will be able to convince them of the most improbable lies and fantasies. Why, with a little effort we will even have them wondering if their pets go to heaven.”

 

This brought cheers and applause from the spirits.

 

“Going to heaven will become their new hope, their new joy, their new comfort. It will invade their writings, their art, their songs, their hymns of praise to the Adversary. Their belief in heaven will cloud their understanding of their books. They will miss-interpret prophecy. They will forget the Adversary promise to return.”

 

Mahdi leaned back on his throne and a sinister smile twisted at the corners of his lips.

“Well done, Legion,” he said. “The plan is excellent. Henceforth  all my saints will preach that Christians are going to heaven. Instill that thought in their mind and soul. Make it become their great desire, their only desire. Make them forget their blessed hope, the return of the Adversary. If they are not looking for him, perhaps the Adversary will be unable to return or simply refuse to do so. After all, he told them to always look and  watch for him but if the Christians forget, put little interest in that return, then the only ones looking for him will be me and my saints.”

 

The irony of that thought convulsed Mahdi into fits of laughter.

 

~ ~ ~