Book VI
Raphael continues the history of Satan's rebellion and his defeat by the Son of God with heavenly forces.
6 argumentative units
- 01Abdiel returns to Heaven and receives praise
Abdiel, who stood alone against Satan's rebellion, returns through hostile ranks to Heaven and is received with praise; God commends him and commands Michael and Gabriel to lead the angels to battle.
- 02The first day of the War in Heaven
The loyal angels advance in order against Satan's rebel host; Abdiel strikes the first blow, then Michael and Satan meet in single combat—Satan receives his first wound and is carried off in agony.
- 03Satan invents gunpowder and reveals it on the second day
After the first day's defeat, Satan conceives the invention of gunpowder artillery; the rebel host constructs cannon overnight and uses them to devastate the loyal angels on the second day.
- 04The second battle: angels hurl mountains, chaos reigns
The loyal angels respond to Satan's artillery by uprooting mountains and hurling them; chaos overwhelms Heaven until God, having permitted the conflict, decides to end it by sending his Son.
- 05The Son takes the field and drives rebels into the deep
The Son ascends his chariot on the third day, scatters the rebel host with divine thunder, and drives them headlong out of Heaven into the bottomless pit; Hell receives them and closes.
- 06The Son's triumph and Raphael's closing warning
Heaven rejoices as the Son rides triumphant back to the Father's throne; Raphael concludes his account, warning Adam to learn from the rebels' fate and beware Satan's present temptation.