“The Elite Warriors”

The Elite Warriors

By Augusto A. Kho

July 22, 2018 (Sunday); 1:52 am



He saved the princess from her captors and he saved a nation and the next generation. He is a warrior’s gate. His name is Jack.

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Movie image: “The Warriors Gate


Everyone dreams, do you? What is your dream?

 

I’ve seen injustice at age 4-6. And I saw deep poverty and social disparity from age 6-12. Ever since I’ve been dreaming to fight in behalf of those who have been oppressed especially the weak and the poor. How I wish I am superman to defend them.

 

While doing the same routinely computer work, the TV was on until it caught my attention a very interesting movie entitled, “The Warrior’s Gate” at HBO Channel. It is a story of American teenager named Jack who rescued a young, beautiful Chinese empress from her abductors. By doing that, Jack was able to save a nation and a generation.

 

I looked for the words, “The Warriors Gate” but I count find such a bible translation from KJV, ISV, or in Easy English except in New English Translation or NET in the Book of Judges 5:11-23.

 

I find that interesting. How’s your story, is it interesting? Do you have a boring life or challenging divine calling but it remained unfinished because you are deadly scared? When I was still a child perhaps starting from age 5, I’ve been hearing this butt of joke to the timid with a chant that goes like this, “Duwag, duwag, walang b____.



The warriors’ gate

2 Samuel 23:16/ NET , “So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord.”

 

The warrior defined

The Scriptures first mentioned of the word “warriors” in 1 Kings 12:21 and 2 Chronicles 11:1 from King James Translation (KJV). It derived from two (2) Hebrew words, “asah” (ah-saw) i.e. anointed or appointed and another Hebrew word “michamah” (mil-khaw-maw) i.e. battle or war. In short, a warrior is “anointed war (battle, fight).”

 

Soldier in Greek stratiotes (Matthew 8:9) means “a soldier” or metaphorically defined as “a champion of the cause of Christ.” (Also in Matthew 27:27; Luke 23:36;John 19:2; Acts 12:26; 21:35). It does not say there, “a champion for the cause of President Duterte.” I’ve found it very amusing that many evangelical pastors, ministers and leaders fiercely fight for the cause of our dear president but not for the cause of Christ.

 


When President call “
God” as “stupid” these ministers came to his rescue instead of defending Christ, the Scriptures and the Christian faith.

 

The warrior-angel

I remember the song of Gary Valenciano, “The warrior is a child.” Who realized that the child born in a manger is after all an ordained warrior of God?

 

2 Timothy 2:4, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. “


The word “soldier” here in Greek “stratologeo” means a “select warrior” according to Strong Bible Dictionary or “enlist in the army, choose to be a soldier.” . It derived from the Greek word “stratia” referring to “an army, band of soldiers” or in the New Testament, “the hosts of heaven.” Strong also call them “celestial luminaries” or “the angels.




Rocky and the face of an angel

 

After giving my lecture to businessmen, bureaucrats, laity and laymen in a resort facing Benham Rise of the Pacific Ocean at Baler Aurora, I took a cup of coffee at the hotel’s restaurant on the ground floor.



Three tables before me where 3 young men on a drinking bout with empty bottles of beer before them. They were all staring at me then, they would stop, then, they would resume talking to one another again. I felt like leaving right away because I might be mugged. Mugging is an assault or threat of violence upon a person, especially with intent to rob. But before I can leave the place…



then the man sitting on the right side, who was in his early 30’s came towards me and said, “Can I invite you to sit down with us?” Honestly, I was a bit shocked for the offer. When I declined the invitation, he politely went back to their table.



Then the next man in his early 30’s, the one sitting on the left side started coming towards me and he gently whispered, “Can I buy you a beer? Gently I said, “I am very sorry, I don’t drink beer.” Sheepishly, he went back to their table.



Then the man on the middle who sits between these two men in their 30’s is perhaps the youngest in his mid-20’s stood from where he was seated and started coming towards me. My heart then beating fast and I don’t know whether I had to stand on my feet and immediately go upstairs inside my room until he stood there right before me and he said, “I am Rocky. Can I invite you for a cup of coffee? I am the exclusive distributor of Yakult here in Manila. I run my father’s business. We have our ancestral villa in Lucena City and we have our large warehouse in Meycauayan, Bulacan. My mom is afflicted with cancer and dying while my dad is nowhere to be found and he is living with his paramour in undisclosed place, while our company accountant were stealing from us by the millions. I got plenty of problems and I don’t know what to do. Until I saw you there sitting, taking your cup of coffee, and suddenly my anxieties and worries left me and I said to myself, ‘ a face of an angel.” Opppsss!



But it is true. He said that.




The martyred Stephen

 

If you can recall that the table server name Stephen was beheld with a “face of an angel” (Acts 6;15) before he was stoned and martyred in Book of Acts. Saul allegedly consented to his death (Acts 7:59-60; 8:1).



And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel,” – Acts 6:15



In other words, who knows, YOU might be the warrior-angel on ASSIGNMENT, sent by God to pray or intercede.



How important gate is?

 

Gate speaks of power and authority. Psalms 127:5, your children “shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”


According to International Standard Bible AEncyclopedia, the word “gate” is mentioned over 300 times.
The word “gate” in Hebrew “sha`ar;” occasionally deleth, properly, "gateway" (but compare Deuteronomy 3:5); elsewhere the gateway is pethach (compare especially Genesis 19:6); Aramaic tera`; Greek pulon, pule; the English Revised Version and the King James Version add caph, "threshold," in 1 Chronicles 9:19,22; and the King James Version adds delathayim, "double-door," in Isaiah 45:1; thura, "door," Acts 3:2.

 


The 3 Elite Warriors

  1. Josheb.-Basshebeth. 2 Samuel 23:8, “These are the names of David’s warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.”

 

  1. Eleazar, son of Dodo. 2 Samuel 23:9, “Next in command was Eleazar, son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warrior who were with David when they defied the Philitines who where assembled there for battle when the men of Israel retreated, he stood his ground anmd fought the Philistines until his hand grew tired that it seemed struck to his sword. The LORD gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses.”



  1. Shammah, son of Agee. 2 Samuel 23:11-12, “Next in command was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before the Philistines. 12 But he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended 1 it and defeated the Philistines; the Lord gave them a great victory.”



  • Abishai. Son of Zeruiah, the borther of Joab, was head of the three. He killed 300 men with his spear and gained fame among the three. From there he was given hjonor and became their officer (2 Samuel 23:18-19/ NET). “



  • ´Benaiah son of Joehida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Airle of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day. He also killed an impressive looking Egypotian. The Egypotian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a clib. HJe grabbed the spear out of the Egypotian’s hand and killed him with his own spear, he gained fame among three elite warriors.” ( 2 Samuel 23:20-23).





  • Included with the thirty” (2 Samuel 23:24)



Angelic beings

A man of God, an intercessor was brought to heaven in the next two (2) hours and God showed him a “powerful prophetic vision of angelic beings assigned over the Philippines.”

 

What is very surprising is he saw three (3) angelic beings being assigned in the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Each angelic being stands over 100 feet tall then another angelic being stands over 300 feet tall who serves as a chief angel of the Philippines manning the 3 other smaller angelic beings which is similar to this writing “Three elite warriors” who is headed by another warrior named Abishai who “headed the three.”



While writing this preaching, I have no very clear idea yet of the total picture now until the preaching came this Sunday morning.



(The intercessor who saw the 2-hour vision was in Canada during that time last June 26, 2018).



Where you there?

What’s your rank? Where you there from the above-mentioned warriors? Are you a part of the elit warrior or you’re the pasaway if not the head of the elite warriors?

 

Are you warrior, a bystander or spectator or a casualty? Either you are in or out from the ranks of God? I noticed that most of the poor critics are bystander, are you one among this people-group?

 

Or are you a merely bystander because you have no guts to be a part of the raiding team? As a child I often hear this, “Duwag, duwag, walang ba_____!”




Warrior

There are many Christians today but few are warriors. Very few can identify their enemy who is like a wolf clothed in sheep clothing.

 

The phrase originates in a sermon by Jesus recorded in the Christian New Testament: “ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves ,” (Gospel of Matthew 7:15, King James Version). The sermon then suggests that their true nature will be revealed by their actions (by their fruits shall ye know them, verse 16). In the centuries following, the phrase was used many times in the Latin writings of the Church Fathers,” according to Ignatius, Justin, and Tertullian.

 


Even in today’s present generation, even the very scholarly who hailed from finest theological seminary does not know who the enemy is. One pastor from San Carlos City said that another pastor who hailed from that place said that he voted for this “cursing politician” not because of his “
character but on the basis of his skills in governance” that left over 27,000 people dead as mere “suspects” in his campaign against illegal drugs.

 

I sometimes I asked myself when are these words should apply in choosing government leader?

 

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens, “ _ Exodus 18:21 

 

  • Able men : seeks administrative and operational skills

 

  • Fear God : an official who never curses God not even cursing the Scriptures.

 

  • Men of truth: not a consistent inconsistent man; not tricky who give false hopes. The Duterte Administration including Bato promised to crack down illegal drugs completely in 6 months time. Two years later, illegal drugs still increasing that left over 22,000 deaths according to PNP file.

 

  • Hating covetousness: Is it covetousness only speaks for material greed? How about greed for power? What is behind BBL, Federalism and Charter Change? Is it for social transformation, peace or exploitation of Philippine’s patrimony (resources like monies, oil, minerals and other natural resources). Law deans and political analysts foresee Federalism as a form of “dictatorial” and to utterly destroy “people’s sovereigns rights to the state” but rather to transfer this “public rights” to the few powerful politicians to exploit the whole nation.



Is it the sudden shift of the Philippines as a democratic, republican nation into “Federalism” through Charter –Change is a sort of a “Trojan Horse” to assails the 1987 Constitution’s sovereign rights of the people?

 

This is like “Imperial Cult” which I have posted since last year. Visit www.clsfrosales.com CLICK “Imperial Cult.” Imperial refers to the Roman Emperor while Cult refer to witchcraft and control. Combining these two are : politics and religious–cult (witchcraft).

 

  • Place such over them: The word “place” must not be misconstrued only as a verb.

 

Place in Hebrew “siym” (pronounced “seem”) means “to appoint” or “to ordain.”.

 

While both terminologies used are religious terms, the word “appoint” or “appointment” are more of a legal term today which means “you govern as appointed on the basis of a rule of law that you are submissive to the ordaining minister like the Filipinos because “sovereignty resides in the people” not one-man rule or dictatorial.

 

Whenever you see an executive officers intruding other branches of the government like judiciary and legislative (congress, senate), will this be something must be awfully very wrong?

 

Who will fight for this nation then as a good warrior?

 

 

Soldier of Christ

2 Timothy 2:1-3, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. “

 

Soldier “ (Greek) “stratiotes” (strat-ee-o-tace) i.e. a soldier, a warrior, a champion for the cause of Christ. Root word “stratia” i.e. an army; band of soldiers; the hosts of heaven; troops of angels; the heaven.ly bodies like the stars; as encamped; army that is the angels.

How many of us can challenge the legality of the BBL, Charter Changer and Federalism?

At least once, I warned to former Presidential Peace Process Chief Miriam Colonel-Ferrer that BBL is unconstitutional, intrusion to territorial integrity, and treason to Filipinos and to the Republic of the Philippines which is punishable by death. I argued that BBL is “ creating a state within a state, a religious state, a terroristic and religious state” four (4) years ago at UP, Diliman on November 30, 2014 in the presence of two foreign dignitaries from Britain and Indonesia and DFA official and in the presence of former Sen. Bongbong Marcos who was then in charge of Local Government. It was attended by around 2,000 people including academe, political analysts, chieftains from Cordilleras and Mindanao, etc.



Despite of my weak character, I need to speak up when no one should dare to stand. From the time of President Aquino till now, truth must be revealed and lies must be confounded.



In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” G. Orwell



Telling the truth is easier than telling a lie. When you tell the truth, the case can be closed but when you tell a lie, series of tale of lies follow.



A warriors’ gate

I’ve found that movie entitled, “The Warriors Gate” as very interesting. Why because my Bible Devotion last July 17, 2018 reads this way:

 

Ezekiel, a watchman. Ezekiel 3:17, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. “

 

Ezekiel 10:19/ ISV, The cherubim lifted their wings and rose above the earth while I watched. They went out,. Along with their wheels and stood at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s temple as the glory of Israel’s God remained above, covering them.”

 

Watchman (Hebrew) “tsaphah” (tsaw-faw) i.e. to look out or about; spy; keep watch, observe, to peer into the distance; look up well and closely.

 

Nehemiah 4:9, “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. “

 

Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. “

 

Mark 13:33-37 , “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

 

Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; “ Watching here in Greek “agrupneo” means “to be sleepless; keep awake; watch; attentive; ready.”

 

Colossian 4:2,Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; “ Watch here in Greek “nepho” means “sober, calm, temperate.”

 

1 Peter 4:7, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch (nepho) unto prayer. “

 

Ezekiel 33:6,But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. “


 

Christians must be watchmen who must be posted at their gates of assignment to protect this nation from demonic enemy. A watchman must blow the trumpet to warn the people on the foreseen wickedness that is prevailing upon the land.

 

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The NT elite prayer-warriors

The New Testament elite prayer-warriors of Christ are badly needed at this critical hour for the nation. Scriptures tell us that our enemy is not of flesh and blood but spiritual powers:



Ephesians 6:10- 18, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  16 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”



Sad, are these spiritual demonic powers are in the halls of power in the entire bureaucracy of the Philippines which includes the Church? (Please read and digest Revelation chapters 2-3 on the condition of the Seven Churches of Asia. Only the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia seemed to remain as faithful followers of Christ while majority of the churches have gone astray).



 

Fellow-soldier

Would you like to be a warrior free from scratches or soldier on default or like a warrior on shining armour?



How could you be a soldier without cuts, bruises and nearly struck down whose life is not always in danger? How could you be warrior without a battle worth fighting for? How could you be man of war without reporting to your commander-in-chief?



I’ve found a former murderer, Saul who was renamed Paul’s story as very intriguing. His conversion is very moving. In 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Paul humbly bragged his exploits for Christ – how much he suffered for Him.



While many pastors today brag their mega-churches in terms of huge attendance and large amount of income from tithes and offerings – how many of these people bragged their frail humane weakness yet willing to suffer and be persecuted if not to die for Christ’s sake?



I found it very funny to see Christians fought hard for a man in politics but I never see them fought hard for the Lord Christ and willing to shed their own blood for Him. I am saddened the lost love of the Church to our dear Jesus Christ who affirmed more on “church growth” and “prosperity gospel” theology rather than dying for Him as a good soldier of Christ.



In Philemon 1:2 from Paul very own salutatory remarks mentioned Apphia and Archippus calling them as “fellow-soldiers”. Can we still find true “fellow-soldiers” in the Lord today? I hope yes.



According to Joseph Henry Thayer, 1870 American member of American Bible revision; a Harvard Professor of New Testament, and a pastor, the word, “ Fellow-soldier” in Greek sustratiotes means “a fellow soldierin Christ.



In other words, you are not a fellow-labourer of any political party or to a politician to defend their cause.



Thayer even defined “fellow-soldier” in more profound meaning, defining “fellow-soldier, as associate in labours and conflicts for the cause of Christ.”



How far have we experience persecution of near-death for the cause of the Lord Christ? Did someone ever file a criminal case against you for your unrequited stand for truth, justice and righteousness? Is it your life is on threat because of Him?



One lawyer said that “he could not imagine a truly Christian life without such a conscious breach, a radical act of conversion: Christians are made, not born." And this lawyer-historian has a great heritage because he is a son of an army. His father is centurio proconsularis ("aide-de-camp").

This lawyer-apologist- historian-theologian said this:



The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,” – Tertullian



Who this is willing to die as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

for the sake of this generation and to this imperilled nation of ours?

 





NOTES



The Warriors Gate

The Warriors Gate is a 2016 Chinese-French action-adventure-fantasy film directed by Matthias Hoene and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It was released in China on November 18, 2016, in 2D, 3D and China Film Giant Screen 3D, and on VOD in the United States on May 5.

 

 

Gates, doors

Gates, doors, openings, etc. speaks of power and authority like of cities, as of Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 37:13 ; Nehemiah 1:3 ; 2:3 ; 3:3 ), of Sodom ( Gen. 19:1 ), of; Gaza ( Judges 16:3 )l;Of royal palaces ( Nehemiah 2:8 ); Of the temple of Solomon ( 1 Kings 6:34 1 Kings 6:35 ; 2 Kings 18:16 ); of the holy place ( 1 Kings 6:31 1 Kings 6:32 ; Ezekiel 41:23 Ezekiel 41:24 ); of the outer courts of the temple, the beautiful gate ( Acts 3:2 ).; Tombs ( Matthew 27:60 ).

Prisons ( Acts 12:10 ; 16:27 ); Caverns ( 1 Kings 19:13 ); Camps ( Exodus 32:26 Exodus 32:27 ; Hebrews 13:12 ).

 

The materials of which gates were made were: Iron and brass ( Psalms 107:16 ; Isaiah 45:2 ; Acts 12:10 ); Stones and pearls ( Isaiah 54:12 ; Revelation 21:21 ) or wood (Judges 16:3):

 

 

Also at the gates of cities courts of justice were frequently held, and hence "judges of the gate" are spoken of ( Deuteronomy 16:18 ; 17:8 ; 21:19 ; Deuteronomy 25:6 Deuteronomy 25:7 , etc.). At the gates prophets also frequently delivered their messages ( Proverbs 1:21 ; 8:3 ; Isaiah 29:21 ; Jeremiah 17:19 Jeremiah 17:20 ; 26:10 ). Criminals were punished without the gates ( 1 Kings 21:13 ; Acts 7:59 ). By the "gates of righteousness" we are probably to understand those of the temple ( Psalms 118:19 ). "The gates of hell" (RSV, "gates of Hades") Matthew 16:18 , are generally interpreted as meaning the power of Satan, but probably they may mean the power of death, denoting that the Church of Christ shall never die. Jesus Christ says, “I am the door” in John 10:9. In Revelation 1:18 it says that Christ holds the “keys of hell and death.” And to the Church in Philadelphia, Christ can set an “open door,” (Revelation 3:8).

 

According to Smith Bible Dictionary, the gate and gateways of eastern cities anciently held and still hold an important part, not only in the defence but in the public economy of the place. They are thus sometimes taken as representing the city itself. ( Genesis 22:17 ; 24:60 ; 12:12 ; Judges 5:8 ; Ruth 4:10 ; Psalms 87:2 ; 122:2 ) Among the special purposes for which they were used may be mentioned.

 

 

Centurio proconsularis ("aide-de-camp").

An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant or secretary to a person of high rank, usually a senior military, police or government officer, a member of a royal family, or a head of state. An aide-de-camp may participate at ceremonial functions, and the first aide-de-camp is typically the foremost personal aide.

 

 

 

Trojan Horse

I called “Federalism” a Trojan Horse.

The Trojan Horse is a tale from the Trojan War about the subterfuge that the Greeks used to enter the independent city of Troy and win the war. In the canonical version, after a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse, and hid a select force of men inside. The Greeks pretended to sail away, and the Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night the Greek force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the Greek army, which had sailed back under cover of night. The Greeks entered and destroyed the city of Troy, ending the war.

Metaphorically a "Trojan Horse" has come to mean any trick or stratagem that causes a target to invite a foe into a securely protected bastion or place. A malicious computer program which tricks users into willingly running it is also called a "Trojan horse" or simply a "Trojan".

The main ancient source for the story is the Aeneid of Virgil, a Latin epic poem from the time of Augustus

 

 

 

Rocky and the face of an angel
When Rocky said that he saw me with the face of an angel it immediately reminds me Stephen. I finally obliged to Rocky’s request until we found ourselves bar-hopping from 9:30 pm that night till 3:00 am on the next day. While his two staff took beers – Rocky and myself merely have more open conversation over a cup of coffee, if not soda drinks or fruit juices.


At 3:30 am, I finally opened the Good News to them. All three including Rocky accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord. When I was my turned to speak again on the Seminar, they came in to the venue just to tell me they are going off to their routine delivery assignments.

 

Few months later while I was in the office, the landline telephone rung. The conversation went like this:

 

Peps: Hello! Can I help you?

Line : Good afternoon, can I speak to Augusto Kho?

Peps: Speaking, who is this please?

Line: I am Benjie, the younger brother of Kuya Rocky….

Silence…..

Peps: Yeah, I remember Rocky telling me about you. How is he now, your Kuya Rocky…

Line: Hu….hu….Hu ….. ( I can hear a loud cry on the other line)

Peps: What happened?

Line: He died few weeks ago kuya. He gone dead while sleeping po. I just graduated from UP from the School of Law when Kuya Rocky passed away….

Peps: How did you take my name and my number…

Line: I happened to find his personal diary Kuya Peps where you name and number have been written down… with these words saying, “I saw the face of an angel!”