Those religions were Christianity, Montrorism, and Palentheism.  Montrorism stated that all people were going to Heaven.  The ones who didn’t live a good life would be sent to a lower level of Heaven.  The Palentheists believed that the worst thing that could happen to you is for you to become a slave in Heaven serving the ones who lived a righteous life on earth.  Only Christianity believed in eternal damnation.  But you didn’t need to do rituals to qualify you for a good place in Heaven. 

It finally came down to a preach-off.  One Sunday, all three ministers were to give an hour long service in the main palace’s ballroom which could hold 1000 people.  The messages would be broadcast throughout the Empire to the people and they would vote upon which religion they wanted to become the authorized state religion of the Empire. 

The Palentheist spoke first, followed by the Montrorist, with Indran speaking last.  The first two messages were wonderful and real crowd pleasers.  When it came Indran’s turn to speak, he prayed hard and then started on a message about redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit was moving during the message because people in the ballroom were coming under conviction. 

Suddenly, the doors were thrown open and in walked four masked gunmen with machine guns.  They shot into the ceiling and demanded that everyone stop what they were doing and sit still.  The leader of the gunmen strode up to the platform where Indran was speaking and the other two ministers were seated with the Emperor sitting between them. 

“People, I could care less about preaching.  My group is taking over the Empire and we want to wrest control from the Emperor.  All you who are loyal to the Emperor, stay seated.  You will be executed after we execute the Emperor.  All you who want freedom and wish to join my group, you are free to leave this room.  That includes the people on this platform.  My group has seized control of this city and the main cities of the Empire.  All we have left to do is to kill the Emperor and then the Empire will be ours.”

The crowd all left the ballroom because they valued their lives more than to remain loyal to the Emperor. The man stared at the Emperor and then at the three ministers who were shaking in fear except for Indran.