Jasper and the Shelter of Angels



  Jasper and the Shelter of Angels

  by

  Robert A. Hunt

  © Copyright 2012 WORDPAINTER BOOKS.™ All Rights Reserved.

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

  First Wordpainter Books printing April 2012

  Printed in Canada

  https://genationofficial.blogspot.ca/

  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. No attempt to add or subtract from our formal theology has been made. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. This story was written for the purpose of entertainment and to arouse discussion.

  Dedication;

  This novel is dedicated to my Daughter, Cindy. I look at you and I know there is something much bigger than us at work in the universe.

  Cindy, only four years of age, you look at the world around you with such intrigue. Everything is new. Looking at the world through your eyes, I realize nothing should be taken for granted. Everything is new and exciting. So, here’s to all things new and exciting, and the little things that mean so much.

  A terrible sight in the doctor’s office

  -“Ugly, isn’t he?” West said as he casually pointed his thumb at the stout little Demon. “This is a Scout, a type of childish Demon or Imp. They find weaknesses in people and report them to larger Demons and they also look for opportunities to complicate life for people with annoying distractions from putting an eye lash into someone’s eye to over reacting to someone’s comment. These demons are cunning and they strike when it’s least expected. It’s the only thing they’re clever at, but it’s often more than enough to start a chain reaction that leads to larger consequences.”

  The Demon began to reach its massive claws over the doctor’s head. The long sharp claws phased into the doctor’s skull and slowly raked deep lacerations back through his crown.

  The Doctor removed his glasses and set them on the desk-top. He then pinched the bridge of his nose, between his eyes.

  Jasper was shocked. He looked at Starr, not sure how he should respond. Starr shook her head, ‘No,’ and placed her finger to her lips for him to remain quiet. She was under attack and locked in a sword fight which rendered her unable to come to the doctor’s aid.

  Nodding to comply with her, Jasper tried not to say a word as the doctor lowered his head in pain and dropped his fist to the solid desk-top. “This head-ache is relentless,” the doctor said. “Please bear with me a moment.” Doctor Adam’s slid open a desk drawer and fished out a small medicine vial. He popped the lid off and tapped out three capsules. Tossing the pills into his mouth, he swallowed without water to wash them down. “It will pass shortly.” He whispered. Behind him the Demon chuckled and clawed at his head some more.-

  PROLOGUE

  “THE EYES OF THE DARK CREATURE twitched with the intension to meme. Its sharp teeth were revealed behind curled lips like unsheathed swords. Lunging forward it spread its claws and took hold of the grand Angel Shelton.

  “Shelton was quick to retaliate as he sunk his two swords deep into the demon’s torso, shouting, “May your heart know what it is to gleam this day, like all the stars shining as one with such intense brilliance as found only in Heaven!”

  “While the colossal Angel Shelton said this, darkness expelled off the dark demon like a festering smoke. Its claws shredded the Angel’s armor; its teeth bitten deep into the mighty protector. Now, what happened next?” A teacher next to a lake was about to bring his lesson to a close but he expected an answer.

  The teacher looked like a young man of Israeli descent. He wore loosely fitting pants with a shirt made of woven cotton.

  He stood before his seven students of whom were equally as young.

  “Teacher Stephen?” Called the young boy; Wilson, “The Grand Angel Shelton could call for support from his friends, could he not?”

  “Very good, Wilson. That is a possibility.” Stephen answered.

  A young girl with long strawberry blond hair shot her hand up and answered, “If I were the Grand Angel, I’d call on the power of the Lord to send a blast of glorified light at the demon.” Answered Taila then she lowered her hand.

  “And with such glorified light, you’d purge yourself of the beast’s venomous bite?” The teacher asked her.

  “Of course, teacher Stephen.” She smiled sheepishly. Taila’s name meant, Golden Dawn. In the sunlight it was clear by the way her strawberry blond hair lit up along with her young and beautiful complexion, she was perfectly named.

  “I’d cast the holy fires of his swords upon the beast while my blade was still within it.” Came Joel’s outburst.

  The teacher turned to Joel, “And what would you speak, Joel?”

  “I’d say, “Behold demon! The sound of your roars and the destruction of your rage will be heard no more!”

  The other students were anxious to tell their teacher what they would do in the grand Angel’s place but Stephen told them. “I’m sorry to have to cut our lesson short today. I know each one of you have marvelous answers for today’s question but I have to be on my way.” Walking by each of his students, teacher Stephen handed each one a golden envelope. Each of the envelopes were marked with the student’s name; Joel, Elana, Roger, Starr, West, Taila and Wilson.

  “Thank you teacher.” Each one spoke when they were handed an envelope.

  “You’ll all have to open them on your own time, I have to get going. Congratulations to you all. You’ve all been brilliant students and good personal friends.” Waving his departure, teacher Stephen turned and sauntered away along a path next to the lake.

  Before he was too far away, Elana called out to him, “Teacher?! Before you go, what did the Angel Shelton do to defeat the demon?”

  Teacher Stephen raised his voice and said, “There has been much speculation concerning the grand Angel, Shelton. As it stands, he went missing and no one is certain where he is.”

  With that the students huddled together and spoke excitedly amongst one another. Walking in the opposite direction from their devout and caring teacher, the students also followed the path. Beside the path, the lake drained to a trickling brook for a short distance before it drained over a sheer cliff’s edge to a long waterfall that fell many miles straight down.

  The young people stood dangerously close to the edge. Fearlessly they admired the spectacular view. Rolling hills far below basked in the daylight for as far as their eyes could see.

  Joel called, “Hey, why don’t we crack these envelopes open right now?”

  “I agree. I’ll go first!” answered West, with a voice of melody.

  “That’s not fair.” Joel protested.

  “Then we do it together then.” Saluted Wilson as he tore his envelope open.

  They all followed suit as they each unsealed their envelopes.

  “This news will concern each one of us.” Wilson added with a hint of warning in his tone.

  The document within each one was identical. It was a certificate that declared they had all been accepted into the service of marshalling the people.

  Roger slid out his certificate and read, “To your exemplary capabilities, you shall all be rewarded to serve in our contributions to marshalling the people.” His deep baritone voice was freed from his wide chest.

  Elana’s soft voice rose like the call of a bird. “We’ve worked so hard for this for so long. Remember when it was nothing more than a dream of ours?”

  A tall young woman enjoyed the wind as it blew through her white-blon
d hair. She stepped to the edge of the cliff with a white dove perched on her shoulder. Then she said, “I’m releasing this dove to commemorate our future. Let the winds guide our freedom as it does this dove.” Starr’s bold voice faded out eloquently. Then she released the dove to the sky and it fluttered from their height towards the valley below.

  “Here, here!” Came the strong male responses of Joel, West, Roger, and Wilson in unison.

  Happy for the news of their certificates, they congratulated each other.

  Joel slapped Elana on her back and said, “What great news! I’m so proud of you!”

  The slap seemed friendly enough but it almost caused Elana to lose her balance and fall over the edge. She giggled and said, “Be careful, Joel, I could’ve fallen.”

  The others didn’t see any danger, they just laughed in their care-free adolescent manner. So often had they chuckled in the face of danger.

  “Oh, like this?” Joel gave Elana a fully out-stretched push.

  Elana’s mouth opened and her eyes went wide as she stretched her arms out to be saved, but she just dropped right over.

  The five remaining friends gathered together and looked too their companion as she fell.

  Elana giggled and laughed as she shrank into the distance.

  Straining their eyes to look closer, wings promptly sprang from their fallen friend’s back and began to flap. Such a majestic spectacle carried Elana safely out past the dove that was set free just moments ago.

  Suddenly, the large young man, West came up with a plan even more daring than Joel’s. Stretching out his arms, he tackled the entire group of students over the edge.

  They all fell in a mess of sprawling arms and legs. Struggling to gain balance, they grabbed and pushed at one another. Then, one by one, wings exploded from their backs and they began to fly in intersecting circles.

  A light shone from the horizon and lit up the sky. The light came not from a sun or a star like it might on some other world. The source of this light emanated from the throne of the living creator of all things. He was surrounded in a rainbow ring of light and colors. A field of light also surrounded Him. Because the origin of the light was the pure energy of love it didn’t hurt their eyes. Radiating from the being who sat in the throne, the energy of love filled the land completely and penetrated every shadow. At their distance and because of the great light, the throne was barely visible. Above the throne were four living creatures; the Seraphim.

  Surrounded by a spacious open court, the throne, raised up, had water pouring out from the bottom of it in cascading water falls running down each of the four sides. Around the open court were tall walls built at the sides of the temple of pure gold like transparent glass. Beyond the temple were smaller temples and further out from them was the great Holy City.

  As striking and powerful as the light was, it remained gentle on their eyes. The group peered around, their faces glowing joyously.

  Turning his head to look at Starr with his big brown caring eyes, Joel confirmed the solidarity of their friendship. Starr smiled back at him with playful eyes. Her stark blond hair was pressed back at the sides with beads that looked like dew drops lining a spider’s web.

  Unable to contain his smile nor his excitement, Joel stretched out his wide, chiseled wingspan and glided upwards. Changing course, he rolled into a lazy turn then gallantly and gracefully, he punched through the clouds.

  With bushy brown hair and side burns, Joel wore the shimmering breast-plate of armor on his chest. Mounted to the center of it was the front half of a golden crown. On his left fore-arm Joel wore a silver gauntlet. His silk tights were a soft green. Dark brown boots rose up above his knees and brimmed with a large fold.

  Meanwhile, Starr beamed with a knowing smile, then she turned to the others. “We’ll be right back!” Dashing into the distance in pursuit of Joel, her white feathery wings were quite similar to his, only fluffier, feminine and softer.

  The two friends streaked through the sky with no limits to the speed of their desire. Starr came within arm’s reach of Joel.

  Smiling at Starr with a mouth of perfect teeth, Joel playfully teased his friend.

  Starr, for her part, hadn’t yet stopped smiling. For a moment, they flew in unison, then Starr surprised Joel, reaching out and slapping him on the shoulder lightly.

  “Tag!” Starr shouted playfully, “You’re it!” She teased him back as her eyes sparkled like light blue diamonds.

  Joel laughed as he delved into the playfulness and tumbled through the air. Jokingly he acted like she used too much strength. Making some distance from Joel, Starr bolted from him. She knew his sense of humor all too well.

  Starr, an athletic youth with very light blond wavy locks of hair wore a short skin-tight under-dress. On top of this, Starr’s outfit was primarily a thin see-through fabric that floated over her body loosely and moved as though it had its own realm of gravity. She didn’t wear any other items except for the small white flowers in a couple of thin braids tied back in her hair. Where they came from, it wasn’t popular to wear shoes or jewelry or make-up. Regardless of this her natural beauty was so prominent anything more wasn’t needed.

  The smile dropped from Joel’s face as he focused, before launching from his position and darting toward Starr. The both of them picked up enough speed to whistle out of the sky as they streaked toward the ground.

  Starr headed for the southern boundary Gate.

  They descended like missiles, and at the last millisecond, they flared their great wings breaking out of their speedy decline so their feet lightly touched to the ground. It was a beautiful setting with lush green foliage growing all around. Starr ran to the foundation of the massive Gate, where she disturbed a group of about twenty Cherubim who were lounging there.

  The Cherubs looked like small children; every one of them. They wore very little in the way of clothing, but they were the most innocent and perfect children. Each one had many differences by way of hair color, skin color and character expression. Despite the small wings at their backs they had no problem flying. This wasn’t more evident than when Joel came blundering out of the forest behind Starr.

  The Cherubims lifted from the area and flew off as a flock down the road, back through the valley to the Holy City. They were more precious than rubies or diamonds.

  “Gotch’a!” Joel announced when he came up behind Starr and gripped her shoulders. Starr hardly flinched because she was captivated by the beauty of the Southern Gate. Joel noticed this and took a step to Starr’s side. Together, they looked on in awe as they tried to drink in the awesome magnificence.

  Of course they had seen it many times before but it wasn’t easy for anyone to get over its beauty.

  The Gate itself was a great pearl harnessed in a masterpiece of golden artistry. Embedded in the rich golden designs were gems of many colors. The gems harnessed a power of some sort, causing them to glow with a life of their own. Though Joel and Starr had visited the Gates before, they found the spectacle no less captivating and tranquil as the first time they gazed upon it.

  The Gate marked a way through the tall, impenetrable wall surrounding the entire land of the great city of Heaven.

  Then Joel spoke, “Thousands of years ago, I tried to open some of these big Gates, but they are so sturdy and solid, they couldn’t be budged.”

  “Why did you try to open a gate?” Starr asked, “Did you want to leave?”

  “Oh, no. I was curious and saw it as a challenge.”

  With an astounding leap, Joel glided away from Starr to the Gate. Slowly curling his fingers around the silver and gold workmanship that intricately laced the gems within, he gave a little push. The sound of a latch clicked heavily. Then the entire enormous Gate jarred loose. It was so large, the Gate looked like a continent on hinges and parted at a vertical angle. Joel let go of the Gate immediately and quickly turned back to look at Starr. Wonderment and confusion spoke from his tense eyes. He didn’t expect the Gate to react. The Gate,
now slightly open; this wasn’t supposed to be possible.

  Simultaneously, Joel and Starr took a deep breath of anticipation. Each of the four Gates were supposed to be locked at all times. For this Gate to be open was a mystery. “Was evil at work?” Joel asked.

  “No, it is impossible for any detail to escape the Lord’s notice. Everything has meaning and purpose. All things happen for a reason.” Starr answered her friend.

  Taking a step away from the Gate, Joel couldn’t stop looking at it. Starr stepped up behind him and placed her gentle luminescent hands on his shoulders. The Gate was still closed for the most part. Solid and beautiful, perhaps their eyes deceived them.

  “Perhaps it’s not really open. You and I are mistaken.” Starr suggested.

  “But the gap…” Joel shook his head, “Yes, you must be right.” Laughing, Joel lowered his head as he swung around to look at Starr. She also laughed at their foolishness. Joel wanted to confirm their silly misunderstanding as he stepped up to the Gate once more and gave it a hardy push.

  The great Gate swung open wide and Joel stood looking out to the wondrous world beyond. Mesmerized by what he could see, Joel found himself petrified. His perfect facial features were framed in the Holy luminescent power of God’s love.

  “Joel, stay here, I’ll get the others. Wilson will know what to do.” With that said, Starr shot away to the sky in a dazzling streak of light.

  Like a bolt of white light, Starr returned to the lake only to discover all of her friends had already ventured elsewhere. Tracking where they went, Starr flew to the heart of the great Holy City of Heaven. The aura surrounding Starr was much like the aura of the city, only vastly different in scale.

  Flying into the heart of the great City, Starr found her friends, Elana and Taila strolling along the street of gold, Starr landed in the midst of them. Elana cradled a Cherubim in her arms. The two of them tickled the Cherub under its chin saying, “Kootchey-Kootchey.” Smiling and laughing at the cute reactions of the little Cherub, the two friends were just about to go into a bright yellowish-orange towering temple when Starr tapped them on their shoulders from behind.

  Starr’s eyes were full of urgency. Her friends had never seen her worked up like that before. ‘What could possibly affect her so?’ Elana thought.

  “Could there be a problem?” Taila asked, though she openly didn’t believe there could be a problem at all, least of all here in Heaven.

  With such a youthful complexion, Taila flipped her, strawberry blond hair. Dressed in a one-piece leather white-washed outfit, her V-cut at the front of her dress had an aura surrounding her like a loose second layered dress that covered her like a cloud in constant motion. So comfortable and free, her presence put the most callous soul at ease. She also wore leather boots that rose up almost to her knees along with matching fore-arm bands that had tassels dangling off the cuffs.

  “It’s Joel!” Starr told her two friends, “He pushed the Southern Gate and it opened right up!”

  “He did what?” Elana asked as she pursed her full red lips. A breeze caught her long dark hair, but no matter how her hair fell, it was perfection. She peered at Starr with a new found intensity in her large green eyes. Wearing white jean shorts with a large shimmering belt buckle and a white sleeve-less T-shirt under a pink vest, Elana floated weightlessly and ready to counsel her friend. It was all about giving from the goodness of her heart and she did it with style. Her warm gracious presence was as welcoming as her white cowgirl hat and boots. Sparks of light gleamed from the silver bull whip wound at her hip.

  “Why would he do that?” Taila asked, but she was cut short when Elana countered her question.

  “Where is he now?”

  Starr looked at Taila, then to Elana. An anxious drive to do something twitched in her eyes. “He’s still at the Southern Gate,” Starr informed her two friends. Immediately, Elana darted away so fast it looked like she just vanished before their eyes. The Cherubim who was nestled warmly in Elana’s arms remained floating in the air weightlessly for a moment. Soon, it lazily unfolded from its cradled sleep with wings flapping like a humming bird. As it stretched with a sleepy yawn, so too did its wings that were as soft as angora.

  Taila also disappeared as she too flew off to her friend, Joel. The Cherubim looked at Starr with a sleepy expression and rubbed its eyes.

  Starr reached out and held the Cherub’s small infant hands. “You’ve got to send a message to the Tri-Guardians for me.”

  The Cherubim became alert, nodding its head to her. “Tell them that the Southern Gate has been opened. The one who opened the Gate is waiting for them there.”

  Starr released the hands of the Cherubim and in mid-flight, it smiled widely before it flew away in careless, casual arcs.

  ‘Now,’ Starr thought to herself, ‘Where will I find the rest of the Seven?’

  Wilson, West and Roger tossed a ball between them on the sandy shore of Aurora beach. The three boys wore only white shorts as they played. The sand; white and powdery soft with many other souls occupying the endless shore and not one of them had a clue about the urgency Starr carried in her heart.

  As the boys played, with beams of Heavenly Glory penetrating their translucent forms, they barely noticed Starr appear. She was trying to wave for them to stop their game. Emergencies were a rare thing in the Holy City. Their gallant white wings flared and fluttered with their sport’s actions.

  “Hey!” Starr shouted, grabbing the attention of the boys. She quickly explained that the South Gate had been opened. Roger and West began to chuckle but Wilson recognized the seriousness of the situation. Looking at the others with his short hair and long bangs combed to one side, Wilson snapped his fingers. The smiles instantly disappeared from Roger and West and suddenly they were dressed in appropriate attire. Equally, the boys paid attention; ready to go.

  The Lord saw Wilson as a leader, so the others simply respected him as such. Contrary to his title, he was quite humbled and thinly framed, but when he called for his armor to collect on him, he became bigger. Usually, Wilson was the quiet one; slow to a temper like he was to laughter.

  The tight curls of Roger’s dark hair resembled a young Michael Jackson. None of the Angels had skin or any such skin color, but Roger’s wide nose and full lips gave him an exotic Nigerian complexion. Roger’s bold and chiseled features were usually relaxed but when he heard of such a monumental event happening to one of his friends, he tightened and stood ready to assist. Roger wore a simple revealing white T-shirt with a long leather necklace with a silver coin hanging from it. His simple attire with light blue pants and dark leather shoes made his wide black belt and huge gold buckle stand out as a focal point. His belt buckle was of an Angel with lightning bolts for wings and the design was finished with black, gold and silver.

  West was the tallest of the group and well built. His loosely fitted shirt was open at the chest and tucked in tight at the waist. His long blond hair and striking blue eyes carried a sense of warmth and boldness with them.

  Starr couldn’t wait knowing her closest friends were at the mysterious open South Gate with Joel. She headed off in a streak of speed to join them.

  In an instant explosion of white cloud, the boys were fully dressed. Propelling into the sky toward the South Gate the boys raced to aid their friend.

  Amongst the striking colors of the garden, sitting on a rock with his elbow to his knee and his fist to his chin, Joel was in deep thought, staring at the open Gate. One by one, the Angels began to arrive. As they first appeared, it looked like they were dressed in striking garments of lightning. First Elana appeared in a flash. She looked at Joel and took a step toward him but the sight of the open Gate stopped her in mid stride. Behind Elana, Taila arrived, then shortly Wilson, Roger and West accompanied them. When Starr appeared, she immediately noticed Joel on the rock. He was looking away through the wide open Gate. The others were also gazing through the open Gate with amazement. Such a sight of mystery captured their attenti
on completely.

  Before anyone else muttered a word, Joel said, “Wilson, do you think this will anger the Lord?”

  “I-I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for what’s happening here,” Wilson replied calmly, “Let’s go back to the City and bring this matter before the Lord.”

  Starr quickly spoke up, “I’ve already sent news of this to the Tri-Guardians. I think we should stay here and wait for them to arrive.”

  “What did you see on the other side of the Gate, Joel?” West asked, craning his head to get a better view.

  “It’s not easy to tell, but there’s definitely, something. Like some other far-off world.” Joel answered, though his mind seemed to be miles away.

  “You were looking through a rift. When a Gate is opened, a dimensional Gateway to another world is also opened,” explained Wilson like this was the lesson of the day. “You probably saw earth.”

  The girls took a step forward in one accord as their curiosity called to them. “Can you see earth?” Elana stepped up behind West, elevating on her tip toes and leaning forward to peek through the Gate better. With a smile and sparkly green eyes, Elana added, “Why don’t we just get close enough to take a look? I mean the Tri-Guardians will be here any moment.” The friends looked at one another, before they began to smile with delight at the suggestion. They had wanted to see earth for a very long time. Grouping themselves together with Joel in front, they cautiously took a step closer, then another.

  “Let us not cross the entrance of the Gate, agreed?” Wilson said, being the voice of caution.

  “Of course,” they agreed, peering to the other side of the open Gate, as it became clear that the world on the other side was earth.

  Looking hard and standing very still, they used their ability of telescopic vision to see earthlings living their day to day lives. Only the swirling mouth of the dimensional vortex distorted their vision considerably. “It doesn’t appear to be as terrible as we were led to believe does it?” Taila asked her friends.

  “I’d like to get a better view,” Roger said as he leaned forward straining his eyes.

  “Look!” West said pointing to the ground at the other side of the open Gate. “The ground ends abruptly at that cliff beyond the Gate. Perhaps if we stand at the cliff’s edge we will be beyond the surrounding distortion so we can see better.”

  “Just to there. We will go no further,” Starr agreed.

  “I don’t think so.” Wilson protested, crossing his arms, “How would we explain what we are doing to the Tri-Guardians when they arrive?”

  “You’re right,” Elana agreed with a confident nod, “I just need one moment more though and I’ll be satisfied.” She pushed past Wilson and Joel and leaned forward, straining her eyes to focus her telescopic vision. “Oh, wow! Y’all’ve got to see this. It’s better than I could have ever imagined.”

  The rest of the group rushed out to the ledge with Elana where they too were amazed at what their eyes beheld.

  As Wilson stayed behind, an eerie chill came over him. Tilting his head up to take in the grand sight of the magnificent Gate’s frame, he realized they were all in breach of the vow they made to willfully remain within the limits of Heaven’s Gate. Quickly, Wilson moved to bring his friends back behind the limits again. “No, don’t! Come back!” Wilson said as he reached out to them, but he realized too late that by doing so, he too was outside and shared a much better view with his friends.

  “Oh, wow!” Elana shouted with excitement, “Wilson, don’t you see? Everything is so much clearer from here.”

  When the others saw Wilson take a moment to focus his telescopic vision, they all leaned out on the ledge and peered out at the surface of planet earth. Wilson stood up and said, “All right everyone, that’s enough, let’s get back now.” But before the last word sprang from his lips, the extravagant South Gate of Heaven slammed shut behind them and they found themselves trapped on the other side.

  The group of seven turned around with a start, and to their horror, they found themselves as outcasts from their Heavenly home. Upon a small area of ground, an isolated coolness blew over the Seven as they found themselves trapped between the great Gate of Heaven and the swirling dimensional portal to the earth realm. Feeling a sense of separation from the magnificent glory of the Lord, fear gripped their hearts and they charged at the massive pearly Gate with all of their strength. They hammered their fists against the pearl’s surface, pulled to open it and pleaded for someone with authority to hear them and let them back in.

  Finding the Gate as solid and unmoveable as it was and locked with no way to re-enter, each of the Seven became grief stricken with guilt and sadness. Huddling together, they comforted one another for encouragement.

  Time passed and the seven friends strengthened themselves with boldness.

  “Look,” Joel said pointing out at the earth. “The earth is no longer where we saw it... It’s gone!...”

  “No, I don’t believe it’s gone, Joel,” Wilson explained trying to wipe the tears from his eyes. “It was never there.”

  “What do you mean?” Joel asked as the others also wondered what Wilson meant.

  “The earth, as we saw it, was nothing more than a vision set in place to bait us through the Gate.” Wilson answered them. “Like it or not, this was all meant to happen.”

  “It’s of no consequence now,” West added, shaking his head. “If it were a test from the Prince of Peace or the Prince of Darkness, we failed the moment we took a single step through the Gate.”

  Roger punched the ground and it shook. “How could this be?”

  Joel looked over the edge of the cliff. It seemed like it dropped away forever. Some rocks had shaken loose from Roger’s punch and disappeared into the distance. Joel looked back at Roger and placed his hand on his fore-arm. “You don’t want to be doing that anymore, my friend.”

  Looking through the intricate gold designs laced around the pearl of the Gate, the Angels saw a light come through the darkened distant clouds. Beams of light pushed the clouds away like great arms. From within the light, a sound became discernible. It was the sound of music with the voices of the Cherubim’s singing. Their voices were sweet and innocent like children; “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” They repeated this song over and over. The seven friends recognized this song. It was the song that went with and followed the Seraphim.

  Then the eyes of the outcast Angels saw the distant outpouring of the Heavenly hosts. It was as though the dark clouds had been punctured and they were bleeding golden treasures out from the wound. The massive parade kept coming until the surrounding masses blocked out the clouds behind them.

  The Seven Angelic friends were tired. Guilt weighed heavily upon each one of them for giving into their curiosities and venturing out through the open Gate. They believed they committed a great sin. Shivering in fear with eyes of the multitude upon them, the Seven friends pushed in close to one another for encouragement.

  From amongst the billions of Heavenly spectators, four living creatures emerged and approached the young fearful Angels. Each of these creatures had four faces, six wings and moved together as though they were of one mind. Above each of the creatures was a large disk shape that appeared to be covered with eyes. Their prominent face was that of a man and the other faces seemed to be part of a great head-dress. The left side was the face of a lion, the right side was the face of an ox and the top face was of an eagle. They wore garments of pure light and their feet were like burnished bronze. These were the wondrous Seraphim who had great authority under God.

  When they spoke they spoke all at once and beyond them the song of the Cherubims never ceased. “Angels of God, servants of the mighty Master of Creation,” spoke the Seraphim from inside the Gate as they addressed the seven Angels. “Have strength and do not fear.” At these words the Seven friends were strength, replenished and at ease. “Don’t feel guilty for what you have done, for it was pre-or
dained by our King of Kings. You have been selected for a great task.” This was both exciting and inspiring news for the Seven Angelic friends because they had longed for the calling, which was to them an opportunity to serve their Lord and Master.

  Then the Seraphim rose up high and their mighty wings didn’t have to make an effort for this to happen. In place of the Seraphim were the Tri-Guardians. Three giant Angels with wide golden wings who stood three stories high and smiled down at the Seven. The one at the center began to speak, “You will all be assessed. One of you will be subdued by the enemy.”

  “Hold true to your faith and hold true to each other, now go!” said the Angel to the left.

  “Soar through the firmament to the earth. Follow the escort of your brethren,” spoke the Angel to the left.

  At once the three great Angels spoke, saying, “The entire planet earth will need you by the end.”