I was prepared to hate this book. In fact, I was prepared to not even finish the book. I'm not much on Apocalypic tales. They scare me. I expected to be horrified well beyond the end of the book. It's quite the bulky book, some 500 pages. I wasn't certain what to expect.
I started the Prologue and I was hooked. I really enjoyed this book despite my expectations. This book does deal with the Apocalypse heralded by the breaking of the seven seals and the release of the the Four Horsemen. But the tale is woven in such a way that it's not your typical movie style storyline. I found myself drawn in. Even though the year is 2048, I found myself reflecting on the similarities between the earth in 2048 and earth 2011. It wasn't pretty.
Faith is woven through the storyline but it is not a exact Bible descriptive version of the end of the earth or the apocalyse. It is not what you've seen in movies, or your Bible story versions of Revelations. It was different perspective on what all could be. I caution you if you expect a Bible study version of the end of times, this is not your book. This is fiction and the writer's idea of what could possibly happen. The enduring message of the Love of God, and the sacrifice of Christ is paramount to the message of the book.
The story begins with the birth of 8 infants and their impact upon the world. In the year 2048, the eight are now grown and 36 years of age. The prophesy has come to fruition and earth is dying. You may recall I mentioned the Four Horsemen, but we have Eight in this storyline. It is a classic, good vs evil power struggle. Paul Binder finds himself surrounded by events that he can not explain with mathematics or science. Something or someone seems to be directing his path, taking him on a journey into the past and into the future. He meets other people who are drawn to each other for unexplaned reasons. It was amusing to see elements of OUR time mentioned as antiques or primitive technology compared to 2048. Much of the technology in the book made me question "do we have this technology now or are we close to it? Or is this just his creative thinking about how technology could progress?"
I can't give away the ending. It was not the Evangelical Christ riding down on a white stallion, striking down those who oppose him. World War III isn't even part of the book, which is typically how the apocalypse is depicted. You will be disappointed if you are expecting a truly evangelical, true to the Bible theology. But at the end of this book, I sat back and said "Wow." It ended in such a way that kind of boggled my mind but also made me happy.
I was happy with the book and am glad for having read it. It is NOT an easy laid back flowing read. It's not written for the 6th grade education. But I do recommend it to anyone who is willing sit down and chew on it for a bit. I have already loaned the book out.
**This book was sent free to for the purpose of review. I have not been paid for my review and I was not instructed to write a review reflecting any opinion but my own. This review reflects my opinion and none other.**
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