worldevents8

The Garden of Eden existed like an emerald jewel set upon an otherwise unforgiving Earth.

Around its perimeter stretched an invisible and impenetrable barrier—a boundary without wall, gate, or battlement. It shimmered only when moonlight struck it at the proper angle, revealing for an instant a translucent veil separating two worlds.

Inside was God’s paradise of creation and ordered procreation.

Streams moved through flowering meadows. Fruit trees bent beneath impossible abundance. Animals slept without fear of one another. At the center of this divine sanctuary stood the Tree of Knowledge, ancient beyond its surroundings, its enormous branches spreading across the night sky like fingers reaching toward the srars.

Adam and his bride Lilith had been created in God’s image to multiply His flock. The Almighty demanded that His children ultimately go forth and spread His seed.

Outside the perimeter lived another humanity.

Scattered tribes of hunter-gatherers fought a daily battle for survival. Their villages were rough collections of hides, branches, stone, fire and bone. They hunted, feasted, fought, coupled, slept, awakened—and began again.

And among them lived Samael.

The Venom of God.

He encouraged their demise, death and destruction, but especially their perversion.

Then one day his ancient rival had simply placed Eden upon the Earth.

Samael initially laughed at the pathetic experiment staffed by only two gimmicks of God’s creation. Yet curiosity was to the wicked serpent what hunger was to the lion.

And so Samael began creeping around Eden at night.

He was magnificent in a terrible way: tall and almost unnaturally thin, dressed in flowing black garments that seemed woven from the darkness surrounding him. His handsome face possessed a deceptive serenity, while his eyes occasionally flashed crimson beneath the moon.

He could not cross God’s barrier.

But he could listen.

And Samael possessed supernatural hearing.

Night after night he crouched beyond the boundary, listening to Adam and Lilith talk, quarrel, reconcile—and quarrel again.

Soon he understood something extraordinary.

God’s experiment was beginning to fail.

Sensing an opportunity to humiliate his arch-rival, Samael began taking notes.

Unlike the pagan tribes outside Eden, Adam and Lilith were arguing over the very intimacy intended to populate God’s new world.

Samael smiled as he wrote.

Adam: “God wills that we practice exclusively our lovemaking in the missionary position.”

Lilith: “As your equal, Adam, I must insist that my pleasure also includes sex in many other positions that I enjoy.”

Adam: “Well, my love, maybe on rare occasion, but since having sex so many times per day and night, let me do the work.”

Lilith: “Adam, I love you. Just remember that since I am the one bearing God’s seeds, I best know how to get pregnant.”

Adam: “Lay down and I’ll show you what I’ve got.”

Lilith folded her arms defiantly.

Lilith: “Adam, no. Adam, you lay down and I’ll ride you back into heaven.”

Outside the barrier, Samael slowly lowered his notebook.

A smile spread across his face.

He had found a crack in God’s armor.

They were created in His image.

But they did not understand lust.

More importantly, Samael had detected something else.

Anger.

One evening Adam wandered beneath the Tree of Knowledge searching for his missing wife.

“Lilith! Lilith, where art thou? It’s been hours and it’s time we fornicate with each other. Lilith! O Lilith, I’m waiting on you. Don’t make me wait too long. Where have you disappeared to?”

Elsewhere beneath the enormous branches, Lilith stood alone before the Tree.

She wore a simple garment of pale woven linen tied loosely at her waist. Her dark hair fell freely across her shoulders. She placed one hand against the Tree’s ancient bark.

“I’m getting tired of this, Tree of Knowledge. I pray that you help me teach this man.”

She looked upward through its leaves.

“I hope you help me teach this man a little empathy, respect, and humility in order that he, Adam, can understand his sister and his wife. I’m his sister and wife. Not only that, God, but the sooner the better to be mother of his children.”

She lowered her head.

“God, let me fulfill Your will for me—but on equal terms with my brother and husband.”

The Tree remained silent.

But beyond Eden’s invisible wall, someone else had heard every word.

Samael.

And when, on another night, Samael heard Adam chasing Lilith through the garden while she angrily threw fruit at him, the Venom of God knew his opportunity had arrived.

He disappeared into the darkness.

—

Samael could not pass through God’s barrier.

So he went beneath it.

Deep outside Eden, he clawed and tunneled through the earth, descending beneath the supernatural perimeter before burrowing upward again.

At last his hand broke through Eden’s sacred soil.

He carefully opened a small entrance, looked around, and concealed it beneath brush and thatch.

Then he waited.

He found Lilith alone and crying.

Samael softened his voice until every word sounded like sympathy itself.

“Lilith, why are you crying when you live in such a paradise, such luxury? Look at us out here struggling to survive this lesser place that we live in.”

He moved closer.

“Hell, it is so difficult for us, but we make up for the loss with our debauchery and pleasure. We are free to have sex with anyone, and better than that, everyone at the same time.”

Lilith stared at this mysterious stranger.

“Think about that, little girl. If you ever want to have real sex, I’ll oblige you, letting you show me how. I’ll be here tomorrow night to see how you’re doing and what you think of my suggestion.”

He smiled.

“If you want to practice, I’ll show you the ropes. If you’re dissatisfied with an evening in our arms together, I’ll take you home before morning sun.”

He stepped backward toward the concealed tunnel.

“So, Lilith, hope to see you tomorrow night.”

His voice alone was pure persuasion.

“Well, Samael, it sounds fascinating, but I’m on a mission in here.”

Samael chimed.“I understand, but we can give you the lust you are craving for. See you tomorrow night. Same time, same place.”

Lilith frowned, turned, and walked away.

One thought remained firmly in her mind.

No man is going to tell me what to do.

—

The following night Samael paced beside the hidden entrance.

Then he heard her.

“Samael.”

He turned.

Lilith emerged from the darkness.

“I’m going to accept your offer and have a brief tour of your world out there and quickly learn what I can about that lust that you were discussing with me. Adam has proven very disappointing in my bed.”

Even in darkness Samael seemed to gleam, making him strangely more attractive to the still-gullible woman.

He removed the thatch.

His head disappeared into the tunnel and then reappeared.

“Lilith, my dear, you can trust me to only share a moment of lust with you until I run you back home.”

Concerned Lilith remarked “I’ve prayed that you treat me kindly.”

“I promise, my dear. I’ll let you decide how long you want to spend out in the natural world.”

Lilith climbed downward.

For the first time God’s first woman passed beneath the boundary of Eden, hoping neither God nor His son Adam heard them leaving.

Outside, Samael extended his hand.

He asked for one small kiss to begin their relationship.

Lilith agreed.

Their lips met.

And Samael placed upon her tongue the Venom of God.

A supernatural shock passed through Lilith.

The stars above her seemed to explode into crimson light. The ground rolled beneath her feet. Eden’s distant radiance suddenly appeared cold and imprisoning, while Samael’s darkness seemed warm, intoxicating and free.

She gasped and seized him.

“I’m yours, and I will never go back to that horrid place.”

Samael laughed.

“Wonderful, my darling. Now let’s go and have lust in this, my garden of pleasure.”

The darkness swallowed them.

—

THE RED SEA

Hundreds of miles from Eden, moonlight shimmered across the Red Sea.

A medium-sized village stretched along its shore, illuminated by torches and enormous communal fires. At its center stood Samael’s residence—a sprawling stone mansion rising above the primitive settlement like the palace of some pagan king.

Across the heavens came two figures.

Samael carried Lilith in his arms.

They descended onto an upper terrace.

“Lilith, wake up. Welcome to my home.”

Below them servants stood in lines awaiting their arrival. They clapped, cheered and sang praises for their newest First Lady of Grace.

Lilith awakened.

The Venom of God coursed through her.

“Hurry up, Samael. I want to tear your clothes off and abuse your gorgeous body.”

“Of course, my dear. I’ve asked some of my closest friends to watch your newfound lust for me play out. Okay?”

Lilith laughed.

“I’ll plunder you and then each one of your guests. Nice way to get to know them, don’t you think, darling?”

Word of the mysterious woman from the mythical Eden traveled rapidly through the settlement.

Villagers gathered around Samael’s mansion.

The celebration continued through the night.

Then came dawn.

And silence.

—

SUNDAY MORNING — 783 BC

Sunlight crept across the Red Sea.

The fires had burned to embers. Samael’s guests had gone home to nurse their hangovers and sleep away the excesses of the previous night.

High above the settlement, two beings appeared.

Sophia and Israfil.

Sophia wore flowing white robes edged with gold that moved despite the absence of wind. A faint luminosity surrounded her body. Israfil stood beside her in the ceremonial garments of an Archangel, his presence disciplined and formidable, his wings appearing and disappearing according to the light.

Sophia looked toward Samael’s mansion.

“This is where the demon Lilith is now hiding from the truth. I’m aware of her grave sin. We will wait here for the devil to depart on his daily task of sowing hate, destroying the love that binds my people.”

She looked across the village.

“Yes, Israfil, these are my people. Gaia and I brought creation here, and ever since the Demiurge, my very son, is tearing love away from their hearts and has his local Archon administering hate to these misinformed pagans.”

Her expression saddened.

“The land of Baal and Baalbek soon will arrive after this Samael makes a path for them. And here we have God’s first woman, made from the dirt of the Almighty’s hand, led astray by Adam’s lack of humility.”

Sophia turned toward Israfil.

“I will reason with Lilith and persuade her to repent and seek the Almighty’s salvation, just as I am working to do so. God said that the meek will inherit the earth.”

She looked again upon the sleeping village.

“But in the meantime, Gaia and I, her daughter and her mother, will not forsake our children. Each one here has our seeds in their miserable souls. So I am bound to start with this one lost soul named Lilith.”

For the first time since meeting Sophia, Israfil understood—and agreed.

“Your Highness, let your divine wisdom shine on this woman and every soul we see.”

A shadow suddenly crossed the ground.

Samael emerged from an upper terrace of his mansion and flew into the morning sky.

Sophia watched him disappear.

The moment had arrived.

—

A servant opened the mansion door.

The instant he saw Sophia and Israfil, he collapsed to the floor.

Their presence illuminated the entrance hall.

As they walked through the mansion, servants and remaining guests either fell upon their faces or fled toward the exits.

Sophia and Israfil continued upstairs.

Finally they entered Lilith’s bedroom.

Lilith sat before a mirror, combing her matted hair while drinking a potion intended to ease her hangover and exhausted body.

She saw the strangers reflected behind her.

Lilith spun around.

“Who the hell are you two walking into my boudoir unannounced and uninvited?”

She studied them suspiciously.

“No, don’t tell me that the Almighty sent you two pathetic messengers to persuade or kidnap me back into that man Adam’s lair?”

Sophia remained perfectly calm.

“No. It was my decision to come here. We are not going to do anything more than you and I chat for a few minutes, and we will be gone.”

Lilith was curious. “If the Almighty didn’t send you, first, who did? Second, who are you, lady?”

Sophia boldly said.“I was sent by the Source of Unconditional Love, and I am the Goddess of its Divine Wisdom.”

Lilith chuckled.

“Oh, I see. Unconditional Love from it, and it has no gender but sends me a woman to deliver its message?”

Silence.

Lilith waited.

Sophia finally answered.

“Surrounding my Almighty Source of Love, tolerance, and understanding are many pairs—perfect couples of the virtues protecting, nurturing, and sharing Source Love throughout its universe. I’ve come here from a higher plane beyond your earthly understanding.”

Lilith remained amused.

“Okay. This is very surreal to me. A pair from another dimension here to talk to me—talk me back into God’s fold? Is that your purpose?”

Israfil interprets “Yes. You have sinned, and you must repent.”

Sophia immediately interrupted him.

“No. You are already forgiven by my unconditional love for you. I came here to ask that you beg for your own salvation.”

Lilith laughed.

“You are both clowns. Go back to your two versions of some same God that I threw out of my heart when I brought Satan in to refill it with his lust and hatred for your nonsense.”

She rose.!

“I’ll stick with the unconditional pleasure of our shared debauchery and freedom to commit pagan pleasures. Take your faith and shove it—with a please.”

Lilith pointed toward the door.

“So have a long, safe journey home. Now, please scoot out of my house because I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving without a fight.”

Sophia did not move.

“Very well, lost soul. But before we leave your beautiful home, allow us to leave you with a message we came here to give you in the first place.”

She gestured toward Israfil.

“Let me formally introduce you to my companion. Lilith, this is Israfil, and he is your God Almighty’s Archangel and judge of those to be judged on Judgment Day.”

Lilith’s smile weakened.

“And so you know, your God Almighty has authorized us to be here now to speak to you.”

Sophia turned.

“Now, Israfil, what message do you have for this lost soul?”

Israfil stepped forward.

“Lilith, I come not to judge but to warn. It is never too late. You have up to the moment of your death to repent and ask God’s forgiveness.”

Lilith stared at him.

“He is well aware of your present situation and sends His love to you. He wishes for you to return home.”

His voice softened.

“If you do decide to rejoin our fold, I will know your decision at that very moment. Then I, as your guardian angel, will have a stern meeting with Adam and reform his behaviors with you both inside and outside of your bedrooms in Eden.”

He stepped back.

“That is my message and promise to you. Your Highness, tell her your message, and we will leave this evil place.”

Sophia approached Lilith.

“The Source has forgiven you and wants you to know that we are in perfect harmony with your God in all realms throughout His universe.”

The room began filling with warm light.

“We will change the frequency, vibration, and actions between you and Adam, ensuring that you share in our harmony in Eden and every child you create to carry out our message of unconditional love.”

Lilith’s defiance faltered.

“In the end, just so you know, God will prevail over evil. Please consider that you will be welcomed back into our arms whenever you realize these two messages are really one—and this one is the truth.”

Sophia turned toward Israfil.

“Okay, Israfil. We have fulfilled our mission here in the land of hate. Let’s go home to love one another.”

She looked back at Lilith.

“Bye-bye, my dear. Good luck in finding a path home to Eden.”

Then Sophia paused.

One final warning remained.

“Finally, this land of hate you live in is a pleasure compared to the hell Samael will talk you into upon your death. He believes he is immortal like the two of us.”

Sophia’s luminous eyes settled upon Lilith.

“Unfortunately, you, Lilith, are of God’s Almighty’s mortal flesh. Please make the right decision concerning your fate.”

Sophia and Israfil slowly disappeared.

Their bodies became translucent.

Gold-white particles of light rose from their garments like sparks ascending from a sacred fire.

Then they were gone.

Silence returned to Samael’s mansion.

Lilith stood alone.

For several moments she stared at the place where Sophia had been.

Then she slowly returned to her dressing table.

She sat.

Before her stood the mirror.

Lilith looked into it.

The face staring back was still beautiful.

But somehow it was no longer the face she remembered from Eden.

She touched the glass.

And for the first time since Samael had placed the Venom of God upon her tongue—

Lilith did not like the woman she saw there.

—
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED ©️ 2026 J. P. Wilkie
All Rights Reserved.
An Excerpt from “Thoth the Evangelist”
From Book One: “Sophia the Goddess of Divine Wisdom”
A Novel from The Valeria Trilogy Project.
No portion of this work may be reproduced, distributed, or republished without author’s permission.