An Interview with the Angel Gabriel

By Rev. Jack Lister

An Interview with the Angel Gabriel is an entertaining story about a young journalist, Robert Parker, transported to heaven by Angel Uriel. While there, Parker enjoys a tour of heaven lead by Angel Anafiel. After his tour, Angel Anafiel takes Robert to the Throne Room of Grace where they witness the Celebration of Praise before the Almighty God. When the celebration is complete, Robert sits down with the Great Messenger Angel Gabriel and conducts an interview.

Using the story line above as a method of teaching, Rev. Jack Lister takes the reader through the Bible teaching the great biblical subjects of angels, heaven, life after death, the day of resurrection, and many more. As a Bible scholar and master storyteller, Rev. Lister weaves biblical truths with the entertaining story of Robert Parker and his angelic visitation.

In the story, the angel Uriel tells Robert, "You will see things and experience things that will be strange to you. Many of your preconceived ideas of heaven and angels will be shattered. Some things you will find difficult to describe in human terms. Some things will delight you, some things will inspire you, and some things will overwhelm you. I promise you, however, when this trip is over, you will not be the same person that you are right now. You will see life in a completely different way. For you, Robert Parker, when this trip is complete, old things will pass away, and everything will become new."

That is our hope as you read this wonderful story and learn directly from God's Word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639611331

Book preview

Chapter 1

The First Visitation

Historians have always dated world events using the year, month, and day that those events occurred. Ordinary people, however, tend to date their lives by certain outstanding events they have experienced. Robert Parker’s grandparents always spoke of things happening either before the war or after the war, meaning World War II. His dad’s life was dated before Vietnam or after Vietnam. Robert’s life carried a unique date: before the visitation and after the visitation.

On October 2, 2020, Robert Parker returned to his office after a four-day long weekend. Rested and refreshed by the time off, he looked forward to getting started on a new project that office rumors had predicted would keep every department working overtime. It wasn’t the extra hours that he relished, but the extra money those hours would generate. It would get his wife, Kelly, and himself through the crunch of Christmas. When it was just Kelly and Robert as a couple, squeezing by the holidays had not been too difficult. But now, with an eight- and a six-year-old, Christmas was a major event in their home, not to mention an expensive one.

Robert provided a fairly comfortable life for his family as a technical writer for a Tulsa-based oil company. On occasion, he netted a few extra dollars when a magazine accepted an article he had submitted. The crown jewel of his writing career had been an interview he had given three years before when billionaire oil tycoon, Ralph Hampton, visited the Tulsa area. The interview was arranged by the vice president of the oil company Robert worked for. Mr. Hampton rarely gave interviews even to the most well-connected journalists. Robert’s life and career went into high gear as a result of the Hampton interview. Robert told his wife, This Hampton thing is my fifteen minutes of glory. But what happened to Robert Parker today would dwarf Ralph Hampton and all his billions. His "fifteen minutes of glory" with Mr. Hampton would become the ultimate pun of his life.

At exactly 3:00 p.m., Robert’s phone rang. He was standing at a file cabinet when it started ringing. Before he could reach the receiver, it had rung four times. The thought There must be something wrong with the phone flashed across his mind during those four rings because each ring was just slightly longer than it should have been. Even the timing of the spaces between the rings wasn’t quite right.

Robert answered the phone with Robert Parker’s office, expecting the voice on the other end to be a technician explaining a problem with his phone.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and then a clear distinct voice said, Is this Robert Parker of Tulsa, Oklahoma? (Heb. 13:2).

Yes, it is. How can I help you? Robert answered.

Mr. Parker, my name is Uriel Angeles. I represent an individual of some power and influence. I would like to discuss an interview to be conducted by yourself sometime in the near future with my client. When would be a convenient time to meet with you and talk about the details of such a meeting?

At first, Robert was slightly taken back by the caller. As he tried to place who Uriel Angeles was, he only picked out a few key words of the conversation like power, influence, interview, convenient time. His response was, I beg your pardon, but I didn’t quite catch all of that. Could you please repeat it?

Again, there was a long, strange silence on the phone. Then in the same distinct tone, the caller said, Mr. Parker, perhaps I should make myself better understood. A few years back, you conducted an interview with a well-known businessman by the name of Ralph Hampton. That interview found its way to the attention of the individual that I represent. He was very impressed with both your style and the very discreet way you handled the interview. Like Mr. Hampton, my client has avoided a lot of public contact in the past. Except for a few public announcements that he made concerning major world events, he has kept to himself. But now, he deems it prudent to speak out on issues that may be of interest to the general public. It’s his desire to make his thoughts known to the public through the format of an interview. He would be very appreciative if you would conduct this interview.

I see, Robert responded. Might I inquire who your client is, Mr. Angeles?

It would be careless of me to reveal my client’s name over the phone, Mr. Parker. I assure you that it would be well worth your time and effort to meet with me as soon as possible to discuss this project, the caller intoned.

Well, I must admit this sounds intriguing, Robert confessed.

Intriguing understates what it will be for you, Mr. Parker. When can we meet?

Robert was arrested by that last statement, both for what it said and by the urgency he detected in the voice on the other end of the line.

Robert asked, Would tomorrow at lunch work for you, Mr. Angeles? I’m really pressed for time here at the office right now…

Tomorrow at lunch would be excellent, Mr. Parker, just excellent! Angeles quickly shot back. I will pick you up in front of your office precisely at noon. Thank you so very much and good day to you, Angeles said, almost shouting.

Just a minute, Mr. Angeles. Don’t you want to know the address of my company? Robert inquired.

It’s 100 S. Main, Angeles said quickly.

Why, yes, that’s the address, Robert replied, a little shocked. I will see you tomorrow in front of the office building.

Thank you, Mr. Parker. I am looking forward to our meeting, Angeles said, hanging up the phone.

Robert hung up the receiver, a bit dazed. He thought, Strange. Over the top, for sure. But the guy sure believes in what he’s selling.

That evening, Robert related to Kelly the details of Angeles’s phone call.

Are you sure you want to meet with this guy? Kelly asked. What if he turns out to be some kind of a nutcase and ends up wasting your time? You are covered up at work as it is. You can ill afford getting tied up with a bozo that leads you down a rabbit hole at this stage of your career.

I have to admit that that thought has crossed my mind, Robert said honestly. But the other thought that keeps cropping up is, what if this guy is for real and actually represents somebody with a big name or a past history that everybody wants to know about? Kelly, this could be the chance of a lifetime for us. I’ve read where people’s entire lives have taken a dramatic turn for the better by a chance phone call like this. Who knows, I might be able to break free from technical writing and do some really solid freelance stuff.

Yeah, but technical writing means a steady paycheck with benefits. Freelance is just that…free! Besides, how are you going to fit this interview into your schedule. You’re working ten and twelve hours a day on this project at work. If you are not careful, you’ll be burning your candle at both ends again, Kelly warned.

True, Robert admitted. But I can’t shake this feeling that I need to pursue this Angeles thing, Kelly.

What do you mean?

Robert hesitated ever so briefly and then said, Well, I don’t want to sound weird or anything like that, but it’s just that all day long, I’ve had this feeling that I know this Uriel Angeles. I can’t recall ever actually meeting him before, but his voice sounded familiar to me. It’s like I always knew this day was coming, and it would mean a lot to us. Something keeps telling me not to let this get by.

Really? Kelly asked.

Then Robert looked out the window and said, The weirdest part of that conversation was…it felt like someone was in the room with me…like maybe Angeles was actually standing there talking to me instead of just being on the phone. Weird, huh?

There was a long silence in the room. Robert looked around and caught Kelly out of the corner of his eye. His wife was standing at the door with a look on her face that was somewhere between complete disbelief and abject horror.

What did you just say, Robert? There was a long pause. I don’t think you should see this guy after all. At first, I was just kidding, but after all of that, I just don’t feel comfortable with this. Promise me you will just drop this whole business now and leave it alone! Kelly pleaded.

Robert got up and put his arms around Kelly to reassure her. I’m sorry, babe. I know that kind of stuff upsets you. It really wasn’t as bad as I was letting on anyway. I was just being stupid. Forgive me?

Well…

Look, I’ll meet this guy tomorrow and find out what his angle is and go from there. If he turns out to be a screwball, I’ll send him on his way. If he turns out to be legit, who knows what kind of gold ring we may latch onto? Tell you what, I’m supposed to go to lunch with him, right? I’ll make him take me to Dale’s Seafood, and I’ll order the combination plate. That way, if he turns out to be a looney, I’ll at least get a good meal out of the deal, okay?

Okay, Kelly said, almost apologetically. You just be careful. Promise?

Promise.

That night, Robert had a fitful sleep. His dreams were invaded by creatures floating in the air just above him. The figures were a paradox to him. Although extremely beautiful to look at, it was also very disturbing to be in their presence. In his dream, he wanted to be close to the apparitions, yet at the same time, he was terribly frightened by them. He woke up tense and exhausted at about 3:00 a.m., afraid to go back to sleep. He tossed and turned for the next three hours, his mind racing to nowhere. He thought to himself, I’m coming uncorked. Get a grip on yourself, dude. What’s the matter with you?

The next day, Robert went about his office routine struggling to keep focused on his work. He could not concentrate on the material he was working on. People would come to him with questions and comments, but all conversation just sailed right past him.

His focus was the clock. The hours and minutes till noon was all that he could concentrate on, and it was only 9:30 a.m. At one point, Robert gave his head a vigorous shake and said to himself, Come on, Parker, snap out of it, bud. Angeles will probably turn out to be a fluke anyway. Don’t do something stupid and get yourself in hot water here at work. Uriel or no Uriel…you still have babies to feed back home.

All the torture of his anticipation ended at exactly twelve noon. The front office receptionist rang Robert’s phone and informed him that he had a visitor waiting at the front desk. A Mr. Uriel Angeles is here to see you, Robert, she reported.

Robert told her that he would be right down. He grabbed his coat and aimed for the elevator. On his way down, he nervously straightened his clothes, ran his fingers through his hair, reached for his breath spray, and sprayed his mouth twice, even though the instructions said only once.

It struck Robert that he was the only person on the elevator. That was a near impossibility at lunch in this building. At this time of day, the elevator was a beehive of conversation by a full load of people heading out for the noonday meal. But strange as it was, it was only the first of an entire string of bizarre events that was ahead of him.

When the elevator landed on the lobby floor, Robert took a deep, ragged breath to brace himself. He wondered why he was so strung out over this meeting. Buck up, bud. All is well, Robert encouraged himself.

As the doors of the elevator opened, Robert’s eyes were already trained on the reception desk to the left of the elevator. Standing in front of the desk was a handsome and well-proportioned man in his early to midthirties. He was wearing a dark blue wool suit, an extremely white shirt, red tie, and jeweled gold cufflinks. The way he held himself and his general aura betrayed strength, wealth, and sophistication (Ps. 103:20).

Uriel Angeles? Robert asked, extending his right hand.

Robert Parker? the man responded.

The two men exchanged a friendly and firm handshake, looking each other directly in the eye. Robert noticed that Mr. Angeles’s face was without blemish. There was no discernable wrinkle, no mole, no scar, no feature slightly off balance. As Robert sized him up, he could not find anything about him that was out of place. Quite the first impression, Robert thought to himself. Then Robert’s thoughts quickly did an about-face and wondered how he must appear to Angeles.

Smiling broadly, Uriel Angeles said, It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Parker. My car is parked just outside, waiting. Please join me for lunch.

Thank you, Mr. Angeles, Robert responded. The pleasure is all mine.

They walked out the revolving doors of the office building, Angeles allowing Robert to go first. As Robert stepped onto the sidewalk, his attention was captured by a classic chocolate-brown Rolls-Royce parked at the curb directly in front of them. The back door of the car was open, and a driver dressed in a traditional chauffer’s uniform was waiting beside it.

At first, Robert wondered who the Rolls could be for. That question was quickly answered when Mr. Angeles walked briskly to the car and politely invited Robert inside. This is going to be some kind of meeting, Robert thought to himself as he climbed in.

When Robert, Angeles, and the driver were inside the car and settled, Angeles instructed the driver, Eleventh and Harvard, Oethra, a restaurant called Dale’s Seafood.

Robert suddenly turned and looked at Angeles and asked, How did you know…

I beg your pardon? Angeles replied.

Well, this is a real coincidence, Mr. Angeles. Just last night, I told my wife how nice it would be if we had lunch at Dale’s Seafood, Robert revealed.

Extraordinary, isn’t it, Mr. Parker? We’ll consider it a sign of a good start between us, Angeles replied (Heb. 1:14).

As they rode toward their destination, they exchanged pleasant small talk about the weather, Robert’s family, and his job. Angeles allowed Robert to do all the talking.

But even as he talked, Robert noticed two things about the car. First, there was the wonderful aroma of frankincense in the interior. He had never experienced such pleasure with his sense of smell before. On occasion, he would breathe in as deep as he could to fill his lungs with the aroma, trying not to attract too much attention to himself. He would have been quite content if Angeles had invited him to remain in the car for the next two hours and just breathe.

The second thing Robert noticed was the music playing in the background. It was something close to Gregorian chant, but even more dramatic. This is quite a sound system you have, Mr. Angeles. The music isn’t quite like anything I’ve heard before, Robert said.

Angeles listened for a moment and responded, Very soothing, isn’t it? It’s a local group from my hometown. I always bring them with me when I’m away.

When the Rolls entered the parking lot of the restaurant, the lot was completely full of cars. The driver pulled the Rolls to the front door of the restaurant, revealing a long line of patrons outside the building waiting to get in. The driver stopped the car, walked to the back door of the passenger side, and opened it to let Robert and Angeles out. As Robert stepped out of the car and saw how long the line was, he turned to Angeles and said, Maybe we should go somewhere else where we don’t have to wait so long.

Angeles looked at Robert and smiled slightly and said, That won’t be necessary, Mr. Parker. I have a feeling we’ll get right in.

Angeles walked through the door of the restaurant with Robert trailing him. The waiting area was packed. Robert noticed that Angeles was standing at the edge of the crowd, staring intently at the headwaiter. He seemed to be whispering something to himself. The waiter standing next to a small upright desk was furiously communicating with other waiters about empty tables and where he could seat the next group of patrons. Suddenly the headwaiter stopped cold. He looked in the direction of Angeles and began walking toward him. With a friendly but slightly mechanical voice, the headwaiter looked directly at Angeles and asked, How may I help you?

We would like a table for two please, Angeles answered in a quiet but commanding voice.

To Robert’s shock, the waiter said, This way please.

Robert reasoned to himself that Angeles must have called ahead and made reservations. Yeah, that’s it. Probably dropped some cash and set it all up. Must be nice. But the surprises for Robert were just starting.

The headwaiter seated Robert and Angeles in a secluded booth at the back of the dining area. He looked at Angeles in a dumfounded silence for a moment and then said, I will be your server this afternoon and was about to give them menus when Angeles said, That won’t be necessary. I will have the vegetable and cheese plate and my guest will be having the combination plate, thank you.

Robert stiffened at the mention of the combination plate and blurted out, How did you…

Oh, how rude of me, Mr. Parker, ordering for you like that. Please, feel free to call for a menu and order anything that you wish, Angeles apologized.

No, no, Robert said, still taken back. The combination plate is exactly what I wanted, it’s just that…

Yes, Mr. Parker?

Well, uh, I just happened to mention to my wife last night about the combination plate at the same time I told her about Dale’s Seafood… I’m kinda…

At that moment, the headwaiter arrived back at their table. Being back so soon, Robert expected the waiter to tell them a dreamy tale from the kitchen about being out of something and unable to fill their order. Robert was a little shocked to discover that the waiter was actually returning with their order.

Angeles, having received his plate quietly, bowed his head and muttered some unintelligible words, looked up satisfied, and began to eat.

The religious type, Robert thought.

Robert focused on his combination plate that he enjoyed so much in the past with a bit of suspicion. They probably made a bunch of this stuff up ahead of lunch for the crowd. Cold and tough, I’m sure…but it’s free, so don’t complain. The first mouthful proved that wrong. In fact, the plate of seafood had never tasted better. He sensed the same rush of pleasure with his sense of taste that he had experienced with his smell in the car earlier with the aroma of frankincense. Sitting at the table, it was as if all his senses had been heightened to a new level. That’s when he noticed the aroma of frankincense was in the dining room. He also noticed that the music that was playing in the car was now playing over the restaurant intercom. Robert’s taste, hearing, and smell were so wonderfully affected he began to feel like a million bucks! Robert actually wanted to shout, It’s great to be alive! The only thing that checked him from doing that was when he spied Angeles eating his lunch in a slow, dignified manner.

To make conversation, Robert commented, The restaurant is playing the same music you were playing in the car.

Angeles listened for just a moment and said, So it is. How about that?

I believe you said they were a local group from your hometown. Obviously, local boys that made it big, huh?

Obviously so was all Angeles contributed as he continued to eat.

So with local groups making it big like that, your hometown must be somewhere on the East Coast or West Coast, Robert probed, trying to steer the lunch toward the business at hand.

Neither was all Angeles would say. Could you pass the butter please?

Angeles, realizing how flat his answer was, began a pleasant inquiry of Robert’s specific duties as a technical writer. Robert suspected that Angeles was leading up to a conversation about the interview with his client, and he wasn’t wrong.

Mr. Parker, I would like to discuss the interview with you that we talked about yesterday on the phone. I would prefer, however, if we could do so in the privacy of my car. The nature of what I am about to reveal to you is so delicate that this setting is entirely inappropriate. Whenever you are finished with your meal, I would like for you to accompany me back to my car so that we can conduct our business, Angeles remarked.

Very well, I’m done here, Robert responded. Let’s go to your car and get down to business.

Angeles looked up at the waiter. He made neither sound nor motion toward the man, but the waiter responded immediately with the check already in his hand. This action focused Robert’s attention on Angeles. After experiencing so many coincidences and peculiar events with this man, Robert studied exactly what would happen next. Robert was not disappointed.

Robert observed that both of Angeles’s hands were on top of the table. His hands never reached for his wallet or went into his pockets. Yet Angeles already had a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill in his hand. He handed it to the waiter and stood up to go. The waiter neither asked if he desired change nor even extended the comment, Thank you, please come again. The waiter simply turned and walked away, rather blank.

Shall we? asked Angeles.

How did you do that? Robert asked in a serious tone.

What are you referring to, Mr. Parker?

The one-hundred-dollar bill, where did it come from? Your hands never left the table yet you produced that bill. In fact, there has been quite a bit of weird stuff going on here since we met, and I think I deserve an explanation!

Please, Mr. Parker, not here. If you will only accompany me to my car, I shall be able to explain all that has happened today and a great deal more, but we must do so in complete privacy, Angeles implored.

With that, Uriel Angeles put his hand firmly on the back of Robert’s arm and started toward the door. Robert’s mind was starting to race as he recounted all that had been said and done between the two men in the past twenty-four hours. His recounting came to abrupt end as soon as they reached the Rolls.

The rear door of the car was open, and the chauffer was standing next to it. As Robert approached, he didn’t notice the car or the driver’s uniform; he was looking directly into the driver’s face. Robert stiffened in disbelief; the driver’s face was an exact duplicate of Uriel Angeles. The driver may have been a few years younger and his coloring slightly different, but every facial feature of the man was a mirror image of Angeles.

People sometimes communicate volumes of information by just a look or a gesture without uttering a word. The grin on the driver’s face said it all, That’s right, bud, we look just alike!

All thoughts of coincidence and happenstance were wiped away instantly for Robert. He felt himself begin to panic. Something was very wrong, and his immediate response was to run.

Escape was impossible. Angeles’s grip became a vice and forced Robert into the car. The driver slammed the door shut. As Robert looked out the window, both Angeles and the driver vanished from sight, only to instantly reappear inside the car (Luke 24:31) Robert grabbed the door handle next to him to break out, but the door refused to budge. For Robert, panic turned to terror!

What are you doing to me! Robert exploded. I want out! Robert began to wheeze, overwhelming fear taking control of him.

Please, Mr. Parker, try to calm yourself! Angeles pleaded.

I want out, damn you, let me out!

Robert, I assure you that you are in no danger, but please calm yourself!

The scene inside the Rolls became more and more chaotic as Robert gave into his terror. The driver turned around in his