“Some people lose their faith because heaven shows them too little, but how many people lose their faith because heaven shows them too much.” – quote from the film “The Prophecy”
Chill Factor: 5
Sublime Insight: 9
The film, The Prophecy, as a whole seems to be a theological question on how humans should view angels and fallen angels – a dialogue free from superstitions and fictional accounts colored by medieval tales created to strike fear in the heart of man. A new question presented is whether or not angels have souls. It is widely known and accepted that angels are spirits and at times can take on a physical form while on earth. As humans are created like God by a trichotomy of body, soul, spirit; what is it that the angel lacks? One would assume a soul.
Uncommon to many previous films, in this film all fallen angels seem very respectful to God and do not allow others to be disrespectful to God or even to profane God’s name around them. It appears that although some angels have taken a stand against what they perceive as God’s unfair treatment of them or favoritism towards men, they greatly love and revere their creator. It is reminiscent of slighted children misbehaving to get their parent’s attention.
Another theological debate comes from Lucifer’s character, played by Viggo Mortenson, in his explanation that humans know much more about warfare/misery and are much more sadistic than angels. Lucifer explains that angels, due to their exposure of God’s goodness, quickly accomplish their mission and move on. The film also attacks the modern theory that angels are here to serve humans along with the cherub looking guarding angels myth: the film continuously discusses Biblical passages that tell of angels being sent to earth to kill humans. Concurrently, the question is raised if someone would really want to meet an angel knowing that they are warriors first, messengers second, and always doers of the will of God – not compassionate in nature but obeyers and watchers.
The protagonist, a human who resembles the doubting Thomas disciple, speaks of how he always heard the voice of a loving God calling to him, but when he saw visions of the angelic war, he cried out to God in terror, God did not answer. AKA Doubting Thomas being called by Jesus, surrounded by Jesus, but when Jesus was crucified, Thomas was left vulnerable, scared, and without Christ who had always been there for him before. The protagonist, also named Thomas, is angry with Lucifer because he wants tangible proof of God. The protagonist continues to struggle with this reason being the culprit for his loss of faith – a similar comment made by many Christians that sometimes God is silent from them during difficult times when He has spoken to them before.
Lucifer, having read Thomas’ dissertation on angels, points him to remember that the similarities that tie angels and humans together is that they both require faith in the goodness and fairness of a loving God or they lose their purpose for existence. The film ends with Thomas mocking Lucifer that he has a soul and his faith back, so what could Lucifer do to him when Lucifer is left with neither, a mere angel with no faith.
Overall, the film presents many theological debates on angels and debunks all myths that fallen angels are laughable horned red devils. It is one of the primary films that left the Faustian tales of humans selling their souls and re-opened a door to intelligent theological debate. New dramas began popping up dealing more intelligently with angelic lore (Devil’s Advocate, Constantine, etc) leaving behind the medieval name and theory of only one “Devil” and has ascribed to the intelligent educated theological debates of the great theologians who tried to decipher the various psychologies, stratagems, and spiritual attributes of entities of Lucifer, Beelzebub, Belial, Satan, and other fallen angels. The trend continues and has expanded to include nephelim lore with two new television series airing currently. The questions remaining from the film: Were angels jealous of humans, or did they lose their faith in God’s will/plan? Also: If Lucifer fell and Satan fell, what is stopping other angels from falling since the time of the Bible? An interesting question in light of angelic visitations resulting in new religions being formed which cancel out the salvation of the soul through grace and return to salvation through good works (similar to that of the angels). Hmm. A bit of tit for tat, perhaps?