With the Eyes of Two Angels: The Story Behind the Story
Imagination. It can be a bridge to wonder, but also a trap of shadows and false conclusions. In my life, I’ve always avoided using it when it could lead to hasty judgments, misunderstandings, or false assumptions about others. I prefer to stick to the facts. When in doubt, I ask or investigate, always respecting the dignity of the person before me. However, when further investigation isn't possible and it’s safe to make suppositions, I love using my imagination to look past the surface of things. I find myself naturally asking: Why did this happen? What were the underlying motives? What was going on behind what is obvious?
That creative drive reached a turning point when I listened to a talk by David H. Splane entitled Enhance Your Bible Reading. In it, he encouraged readers to use their imagination when engaging with sacred history—to see the sights, to hear the sounds, to smell the aromas, to try to capture the feelings of the individuals that we are reading about. He reminded us to look at the whole picture, to realize how actions affect others, and to extract details from across the narrative to form a complete mental picture.
That talk gave me an even stronger push to explore. And it sparked a lingering thought: when we read the sacred accounts, we usually focus on the human perspective on earth. But what about the invisible realm?
That question became the seed for my debut novel, With the Eyes of Two Angels.
Worldbuilding: the Unseen Realm
Let’s be honest: it would be arrogant to be dogmatic about what the spirit realm is actually like. After all, what do we really know about it? Almost nothing! We don’t even technical know what "spirit" itself is. Scriptural hints about life in heaven are few, and we are left with fascinating glimpses:
- We read about a creature “who accuses them day and night before our God!” (And by the way, is there actually day and night in heaven, or is that just a figure of speech? We don't know for sure!)
- We see that Yahweh was not immune to this constant stream of accusations, as revealed in the opening chapters of Job. What was life like in heaven under that kind of daily tension?
- We learn that angels actively observe and learn truths revealed through the congregation on earth.
- We read about profound interactions on earth, which led me to wonder about what happened behind the scenes: What specific instructions were given to the angel before he wrestled with Jacob? What complex celestial mechanics were involved in managing the star that appeared at Jesus’ birth?
- We see intimate, open dialogues between Yahweh and His angels, where one angel suggests one approach, another suggests something else, and Yahweh listens. It reveals an astonishing warmth, trust, and divine humility.
Writing fiction—what authors call worldbuilding—gave me the space to explore these questions. Not every scenario I imagined found a place in the novel, but the core journey did.
I began to put myself in the shoes of the faithful angels who had to exercise profound patience under such challenging circumstances. And for the sake of a thrilling narrative, I also put myself in the shoes of the other side. What might their quiet, private dialogues have been?
Two Voices, Two Perspectives
When an angelic friend chooses a wrong path and is cast away, how does the spirit realm react? When a friend leaves, you may have to accept it, but does it not hurt? Of course it does—the scriptures suggest Yahweh Himself feels that pain.
To explore these emotional and spiritual contrasts, I structured the novel across sixteen chapters split between two main voices: eight written from the perspective of Eliel, and eight from Ezriel.
Through their eyes, you will step into moments both grand and intimate:
- The Seeds of Conflict: The war in heaven in chapters Eliel 1 and Ezriel 5, tracing what led to that cosmic split.
- The Gathering in Darkness: The ominous meeting of the rebels depicted in the chapter "THE GREATEST GOOD."
- Lighter Celestial Moments: A lighthearted incident in the Garden of Eden involving a funny mix-up when Eliel tries to offer assistance (Eliel 3).
- Behind the Celestial Events: The hidden, behind-the-scenes reality of how the star associated with Jesus’ birth was engineered (Eliel 5 and Ezriel 4).
- Deep Grace: Extraordinary, unforgettable acts of forgiveness depicted in the chapter HOPE BEFORE ARMAGEDDON.
Free Will, Faith, and Hope
At its core, this novel was born out of my desire to explore free will, justice, faith, and hope through a unique lens. It is an invitation to step behind the veil, to wonder, and to appreciate sacred history with fresh eyes and a renewed heart.
I hope that as you read With the Eyes of Two Angels, you enjoy journeying through these unseen realms just as much as I enjoyed bringing them to life.
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