Replacing GOD

Chapter 1: The Third Archangel.


(Gabriel's P.O.V)

"Welcome son, I've been expecting you."

The Presence, God of everything smiled down at the tall, blonde haired angel with 6 pairs of snow White wings.

The angel was Gabriel, 3rd in both Power and Authority in the hierarchy of the over trillion angels in Heaven.

Kneeling before God himself, Gabriel placed his right hand across his chest.

"State heavenly Father and it shall be done. I live to serve."

The Presence, in the form of an old man waved his hand.

"Come now Gabriel. I have long allowed you to gaze upon me. Raise your head my son, and be proud."

Gabriel did as he was ordered. God's word was absolute after all.

Staring up, a youthful face that could only be called beautiful gazed up at the highest throne in existence.

With golden irises that spoke of sheer power and a hard resolve, smooth skin that glittered brightee than the walls of the silver City, it could be said Gabriel was almost prettier than even Samael himself.

And Samael was the most desirable creature under God's sky.

"You see Gabriel, I recently found myself in a bit of...a conundrum."

The Presence started.

"Most of my friends have ascended to the 20th dimension. I've been holding out for a successor. Someone to watch over creation in my absence."

Gabriel frowned in confusion.

"I do not understand Heavenly Father. You're...abandoning us?"

The Presence winced.

"Let's not...use that word. I'm merely taking a vacation. It might last a mere trillion to a few quadrillion years."

Gabriel gaped in horror.

"But father...the Universes will have had undergone a few rebirth cycles by then! How are we supposed to live without you! Who will I keep Michael and Samael from tearing each other apart?!"

"Gabriel."

The Presence said in a blunt tone.

That's when Gabriel noticed he was on his feet, one of his feet on the first step of the stairway leading towards God's throne.

Immediately the angel bowed down.

"I apologize for my boldness."

"No. It's quite alright dear boy."

The Presence comforted him gently.

"I understand this matter to be...difficult to comprehend. But I always have a plan and all that..."

He waved his hand in the air, the action dismissive.

"Anyway...Gabriel, raise your head dear boy."

The presence added, noticing Gabriel's still bowed form.

"Ahem. As I was saying, I didn't want to make the final decision on who should be in charge during my absence, which is why I called you. I want to hear your opinion."

The Presence explained.

Now Gabriel was not unaware of his talents. He was observant. Probably the most observant angel in the whole heavenly faction.

This had to be why God wanted to hear his opinion.

That said, he didn't start speaking right away, instead he took a few minutes to gather his wits about him.

"Well, Michael is the obvious choice."

Gabriel begun.

"But he's too rigid. He won't listen to counsel. Especially if it's Samael giving it. On top of that he'll seek to solve any problems with force. Even matters that might require a more delicate hand. That said, he will protect Heaven and creation to his dying breath."

The Presence said nothing. Gabriel took that as permission to continue.

"The other choice is naturally Samael. He could make the best replacement out of everyone available...but, I know him. He would safeguard everything in existence and then go a step further."

Gabriel looked up.

"He would reshape it into his own image. I fear that kind of authority in his hands...wouldn't end well for anyone. Maybe in a few billion years after he's learned to see the beauty in everything not just the ugliness...he would be THE ideal candidate."

The Presence leaned his cheek on an open palm.

"Then who would you choose?"

Gabriel looked at the floor, a complex expression flashing across his face.

"In an ideal world? Neither. For you would be here. With us."

He sighed.

"Unfortunately that is not possible. In which case...I would choose both. It would be hard to keep them from burning Heaven down with the whole of creation forced to choose a side. But I would also bank on their love for each other stopping them from ever reaching that point."

Sure of his conjecture, Gabriel looked up at his father, seeking validation.

Only to find The Presence shaking his head.

"I've foreseen destruction on an unimaginable scale if I choose one over the other. The same thing occurs of I choose both. It's neither one nor both. Instead...I went in a different direction."

The Presence rose from his throne.

"Taking all that into consideration, there's only one correct choice."

He spoke as he descended the steps.

"Where Michael has power and Samael splendor, there's another with an even more enviable attribute."

With the light of God reaching him, Gabriel gazed away.

"The three of you were the first of my beloved creation. You share among you 10% of my grace. But while Michael and Samael both possess 3% each, the remaining 4% lies within you Gabriel."

Shocked, the Archangel gazed up, his golden irises glimmering in query.

"You want to know why that is, Gabriel?"

The Presence asked, stepping off the last step.

Gabriel dumbly nodded his head. The presence placed a hand above Gabriel's chest.

"Potential. You alone can maintain balance. You alone have the necessary qualities to be a king. A leader. GOD."

Gabriel couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"But...Michael is much stronger than I am. And Samael can create things I can only imagine. I...all I can do is See the structure of things."

The Presence smiled.

"And that's why you're the perfect fit. The only attribute you need to seat on that throne...is understanding. And understanding comes from learning. Learning comed from observing. Only then, when you have all the information you need can you act. You were right, Michael would not have the patience to observe. Samael would not have the wisdom to act on his observations. Meanwhile you...have both. In spades. You were meant for this Gabriel my son. All my power...is yours to do with as you wish."

Saying that, the Presence unraveled into a stream of energy that disappeared from everywhere in the Omniverse.

Gabriel was left in the Throne Room alone.

He looked around before his gaze fell onto the Throne above the stairway.

Without hesitation, he took the first step.

Then the second.

Then the third...

Until eventually he was standing before God's throne.

He turned around and sat on it.

Immediately, his awareness was spread out across the entirety of creation.

An infinite number of universes became his to rule over. He could destroy them and remake them as he saw fit.

Space and Time became his loyal lapdogs.

Energy and matter became something he could produce in whatever volumes and amounts he wanted.

A smile graced his face.

Mission complete.

After billions of years of playing the dependable son while secretly stoking the flames of competition between his two older brothers, and garnering the loyalty and respect of every angel in heaven, the 3rd Archangel had won the race to the top.

He was the one who sat on the Throne. He was GOD now.

You might ask how GOD hadn't known of Gabriel's true intentions.

Well, that answer was an easy one. The three Archangels were created different from the rest. That gave them a measure of defense against even God's omniscience.

Gabriel reasoned that was why God hadn't seen Samael's betrayal until it was too late.

And how did Gabriel know this? Well that's where things get even weirder.

Gabriel was a reincarnated man from the 21st century. He had no idea how he ended up here...but once he realized whi he was reborn as...the mission to sit at the top by replacing God had begun.

And now...it was no longer a dream.

Gabriel was God.