A tale of good and evil based on the four horsemen of the Apocalypse found in the book of Revelation.
Using the four horsemen of the Apocalypse to symbolize the four Gospels, four transcendentals, and four forces of the universe (air, water, earth, and fire), Sweet and Wagner weave a fast-paced, end-times tale of good vs. evil and the promise of a new dawn for humanity.
Set in 2048, when planet Earth is suffering from the damaging effects of years of misuse and abuse, cultural history professor Paul Binder receives a mysterious letter that leads him to examine a lost 2nd-century Diatessaron manuscript. Ancient prophecies, cryptic letters, and strange events set him on a course to uncover the missing clues that could lead humanity into a new age. Each character embodies elements of the four horsemen in a race to save the world from total destruction. Layered with forgotten symbolism from the ancient Jewish and Christian traditions, the book is a story in which the main character's journal serves as a guide to the reader in interpreting clues and understanding the conclusion.
As I started to read this book I felt unsettled in my spirit and several scriptures kept popping into my mind.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:28
"then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it." Ecclesiastes 8:17
"For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 2:11
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:32
So, with those scriptures in mind I plugged through the book telling myself, "It is only fiction." Even though I felt that the author wanted us to believe that the end can be calculated and figured out through smart minds and coincidences. And that a human will bring about the 4 horsemen, also human, and not the Son of God.
As a book of fiction it was an interesting story, although a bit confusing at times. It reminded me of the movies; The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons based on the books written by Dan Brown. I didn't read the books. I was hoping for something more like The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
One final thought and scripture, I believe with my whole heart that the Word of God is inspired and from God. It is whole and complete as it is. I do not believe that God would let parts of it go missing only to be found and added later. He is not careless. He would make sure that everything that He wanted passed down from generation to generation would be there from the beginning to the end. So to assume that, would be ridiculous. The author, through fiction, adds to John of Patmos' scroll. He also adds an extra chapter to Psalms. It makes for interesting fiction, but I sure hope that he does not intend for us to believe that there could be more out there.
Revelations 22:18-19 " I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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