By the time Jonathan was fourteen he had grown physically as well as spiritually and was on his way towards fulfilling the destiny before him. He was taking graduate courses in music, linguistics, mathematics, physics, and theology at the prestigious University of Oxford in Great Britain. Jonathan was even highly recruited by Professor Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist and former holder of the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics at Cambridge University, to attend the school and study astrophysics and cosmology. This delighted his father, Jibrail, a world renowned astrophysicist who had worked with Dr. Hawking in the past. Jonathan knew the scriptures and deep matters concerning the nature of God as well as any theologian, thanks to the insight he received from his mentor, Goel.
However, as intelligent as he was, Jonathan was still an adolescent and developmentally prone to recklessness and naivety. This was evident in his relationships with the older students he encountered at Cambridge. He was constantly teased and bullied by some of the older Oxfordians, who were jealous of his great intelligence and the fact he came from a wealthy family, and his heritage. The breaking point was when he was confronted by members of the rugby team, who had been merciless in their torment of him. They had been quelled several times by the presence of his protector, Goel. But rare moments when Goel was not with Jonathan gave the bullies opportunities to strike. It appeared the young scholar was going to be beaten and humiliated like never before, but Jonathan was able, due to his training, to conquer several of the much larger bullies.
Yet, sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm Jonathan, when out of nowhere, unbeknownst to Jonathan, he had an ally who came to his rescue. Together they successfully repelled his attackers. Introducing himself as Alexandru Musatin, he and Jonathan forged a friendship that would last well into adulthood. When Goel learned of this, he flatly refused to acknowledge the friendship between Jonathan and Alexandru for reasons he never fully revealed. The young Musatin, who was seventeen years old, had “a certain darkness about him,” however, the two continued their relationship under the scrutinizing watch of Goel.
Jonathan’s parents had an estate in the beautiful highlands of Scotland near Loch Ness, and during the summer they often stayed there and entertained their closest friends and associates. Throughout his fourteenth year, Jonathan proved time and again how utterly talented and accomplished he was. He had achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average at Oxford and even attended a course in astrophysics at Cambridge where he simply astounded Professor Hawking with his insights into quantum mechanics and cosmology. His music professors said that his violin and piano playing was, to quote one of them, “…as if he had channeled the abilities of Chopin and Rachmaninoff along with Yitzhak Perlman along with his own unique style to create someone unparalleled in musical abilities.”
Ironically, it was his musical talents that on a particular night would prove to present him with the greatest challenge of his young life. His parents had an outside reception at the ancient Urquhart Castle overlooking the sea. They invited fifty of some of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world to seek their support for the Rabin-Aziz Foundation. People who were shipping magnates, oil tycoons, entertainment personalities, political personages, and those with backgrounds in religion, science and the humanities were the guests. Most importantly, Jonathan was highlighted as the special musical performer. First, Jonathan played Chopin’s Minute Waltz followed by his Etude in C# minor Op.10 No. 4 on the piano. He then amazed them with his interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor Op. 3 No. 2.
Later in the evening he played the Partita in D minor for solo violin by Johann Sebastian Bach, after which he performed Flight of the Bumblebee by Nicolai Rimski-Korsakov. He simply astonished the crowd and his parents with a piece of his own composition he called, The Meeting of Yeshua and Lucifer, inspired by a dream he had of a confrontational conversation between Christ and the Devil. Jonathan received a standing ovation that lasted for several minutes. He took center stage again and played the beautifully composed violin solo for Schindler’s List, which moved the audience to tears. Jonathan received many accolades and high praise for his musicality and academic success from the many guests at his parents’ soiree.
The compliments filled the featured artist’s head with pride. Goel, who had been silent during Jonathan’s performance, noticed the arrogance creeping into the heart of the young man and he pulled him aside to warn him of the consequences of falling prey to haughtiness. Jonathan incredulously retorted back at his mentor that he did not see anything wrong with taking pride in any of his accomplishments. The guardian angel firmly stated that Jonathan should remember the case of Lucifer, who despite his own perfection of design, was the quarry of hubris and fell from grace.
Goel, in fact, was so straightforward with his charge that the reprimand severely wounded Jonathan to the point he fled the angel’s presence. Running down to the shores of Loch Ness, Jonathan’s young heart was filled with anger at his mentor for his harsh chastisement. Jonathan thought that it was nothing wrong with him having a little pride in his abilities. Having all those affluent people praise him delighted and validated him. Even so, Goel’s words rang in his mind.
“Beware of pride in your abilities, Jonathan, for they can be the root of greater transgressions against the Lord. Remember the fall of Lucifer and how his self-importance absorbed and overcame him. Rather than humble himself in front of God by admitting that he was wrong to speak out against Him, he chose to hate God. He threatened to punish God by punishing his Creator and, subsequently, name himself ‘God.’ Had Satan repented and turned from his evil, anti-God practices, God would have forgiven him and restored Lucifer’s former glory and standing. However, Satan’s immense pride would not allow him to ask God for forgiveness. Like him, Jonathan, the Lord has blessed you with many talents and gifts for which others will admire and applaud you. But you must always keep in mind that it is God who deserves all the credit and glory. It is not by your strength but by the grace of the Lord that you can do anything at all and you must acknowledge Him for that.”
As the words of Goel permeated his being, Jonathan was unaware that another presence had crept into his mind. Lucifer himself had decided to take this opportunity to tempt and mesmerize the young prodigy into taking the journey down the road that would lead him to becoming a servant of evil. Speaking to the part of Jonathan’s psyche that desires to be complimented and praised, Lucifer seduces the boy.
“Why shouldn’t you be complimented, Jonathan? You are among the most gifted and talented, and you should be applauded and praised.”
Jonathan struggled within himself to ward off the melodious words that sang so beautifully in his mind as the dark master of evil continued to tickle his mind with honeyed words of affirmation.
“Jonathan, the Lord wants you to be proud of your gifts. You have worked very hard to take what He has given you and make it yours. Be proud and acknowledge your long hours of practice and all the hard work you have done.”
The words of adoration and praise were intoxicating like a strong wine as Lucifer continued his assault on the boy’s fragile ego.
Jonathan sensed that this was not just thoughts being formulated in his mind. He felt the palpable presence of someone near him but unseen.
Jonathan was so sure of this that he said aloud, “I know someone else is here. If there is, make your presence known.”
Surprisingly, Jonathan felt a strong hand on his shoulder, and, in shock, he whirled around to find that right out of the nothingness which surrounded him a figure appeared.
“You do not need to fear me, Jonathan, for I appear to those who seek my counsel.” the figure said coolly.
The form that stood before Jonathan was indeed a solid person and not some wispy apparition. He was male in appearance, tall and beautiful to look upon. He glowed with a light that seemed to come from within his being, but it was his eyes that were the most compelling thing about him. They were a brilliant blue that seemed to penetrate the soul and uncover the innermost secrets that dwelled deep within the human spirit.
Fearfully, yet with a courageousness that surprised even himself, Jonathan slightly stammered, “Hoo— who are you?”
Smiling graciously, the being intoned musically, “I am known by many names. Many I’m sure you have heard of— some maybe unknown to you— for they have been lost in time.”
Looking deeply at the handsome young man, the mysterious being said, “Let us just say I am a friend and for a long time I have waited and watched for you.”
Seeing the confused look on his face the mysterious stranger said, “I know, I know, my young friend. You have a million questions, and trust me, you will have the answers to them all. In brief, let me say in all the myths and legends your species have concocted, they are based on some truth. Since time immemorial I and the members of my race have dwelt among you, some of us in secret, some openly but all with the same curiosity about you humans. My people are from a world that is hundreds of thousands of years more advanced than yours, where the technology is based on ethereal or spiritual energy. We are a race of watchers, where in the multitudes of worlds, we observed and sought for signs of intelligences other than our own. In the infinite vastness of the cosmos we found none. We were about to give up when we found your world, a planetary system rich and teeming with life. But more importantly, we found a young species with unlimited genetic potential and a latent intelligence that would one day rival our own. So, we chose to experiment on your species and created Homo sapiens.”
Incredulously, Jonathan said, “That’s not true! According to the Word of God, Jehovah created man and all there is in the world! Who are you to dispute His Word?!”
Shaking his head at the naiveté of the boy, the being said, “That is what you have been taught to believe in order to keep you blind to the truth and a slave to the will of a less than benevolent god.”
“My names are as many and varied as my history! I am the great Prince Ea of the Mesopotamians, the one who created you and, therefore, your civilization! I am the sun god Ra of the Egyptians, the sustainer of life! I am Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun of the Roman Empire! I am Quetzalcoatl, the lord of the morning star of the Aztecs! But you may call me Lucifer, the Enlightened One!”