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Apocalypse
It's A.D. 95, and everybody wants a piece of the Apocalypse. Some will kill to destroy it. Others will die to protect it and to remain faithful to the One it proclaims. A storm at sea and an assassination attempt thrust a Roman senator and a wool merchant's son into a conflict between earthly powers and God's kingdom. Flavius and Antonius, both believers in Christ, are about to make a startling a mysterious scroll, written by the apostle John, that unlocks the secrets of present, past, and future. The Apocalypse---the book of Revelation. Their find comes at a time of great persecution for the early church. The Imperial Cult is spreading Caesar-worship across the Roman province of Asia, and pressure to bow down to the emperor Domitian intensifies by the day. Flavius, Antonius, and their loved ones must stake their lives on what they believe---for the Imperial Temple has learned about the Apocalypse, and they will stop at nothing to destroy it and the church it has empowered.
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2004
14 people want to read
About the author
C. Marvin Pate
30 books4 followersC. Marvin Pate (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical studies at Ouachita Baptist University. He is the author and editor of numerous works, including Four Views on the Book of Revelation; The Writings of John: A Survey of the Gospel, Epistles, and Apocalypse; Romans (Teach the Text Commentary Series); and From Plato to Jesus.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 14, 2022
Good story and interesting biblical related history. I enjoyed the read from my dad's library.
August 1, 2009
I am a sucker for historical fiction. Much is nonsense, the historical event providing a backdrop for the plot. What I like is a plot where the author has carefully researched the period and manipulated the characters to fit what happened.
It calls to mind the distinction Aristotle (I think) made between history and fiction. History records what happened; fiction records what ought to have been.
In the case of this book, the authors are professors of history, and their sensitivity to the historical content is evident everywhere.
I quote from the back-cover:
"It's A.D. 95, and everybody wants a piece of the Apocalypse. Some will kill to destroy it. Others will die to protect it and to remain faithful to the One it proclaims.
"A storm at sea and an assassination attempt thrust a Roman senator and a wool-merchant's son into a conflict between earthly powers and God's kingdom. Flavius and Antonius, both believers in Christ, are about to make a startling discovery: a mysterious scroll, written by the apostle John, that unlocks the secrets of present, past and future.
"The Apocalypse
"Their find comes at a time of great persecution for the early church. The Imperial Cult is spreading Caesar-worship across the Roman province of Asia, and pressure to bow down to Domitian intensifies by the day. Flavius, Antonius, and their loved ones must stake their lives on what they believe - for the Imperial Temple has learned about the Apocalypse, and they will stop at nothing to destroy it and the church it has empowered."
Yes, the tone is rather lurid. But the story, while following this outline is far more moderate.
A novel such as this tends to make history fun, putting human faces on otherwise anonymous events.
I give the authors high marks for succeeding. That said, however, there are several point which I feel I would have to take issue with what they have written.
In the afterword, they state that the events marked the decisive break between Judaism and Christianity. I plan to write to the authors spelling out where I take issue. For example, the split-off of Christianity from Judaism did not happen all at once or at one time. The events as portrayed in the book may ring true for Asia, but one can make a case for the Bar-Kochba Rebellion in the 130s AD, or the lingering existence of Judaeo-Christians such as the Ebionites into the second (and perhaps the third) century.
I read the book in one sitting. It is not great literature, but it brings history to live. I found I actually cared about Antonius and his girl friend Monica. After their narrow escape from Ephesus, I really wanted to know how they lived out their lives, nearly forgetting they are characters made up for a novel.
It calls to mind the distinction Aristotle (I think) made between history and fiction. History records what happened; fiction records what ought to have been.
In the case of this book, the authors are professors of history, and their sensitivity to the historical content is evident everywhere.
I quote from the back-cover:
"It's A.D. 95, and everybody wants a piece of the Apocalypse. Some will kill to destroy it. Others will die to protect it and to remain faithful to the One it proclaims.
"A storm at sea and an assassination attempt thrust a Roman senator and a wool-merchant's son into a conflict between earthly powers and God's kingdom. Flavius and Antonius, both believers in Christ, are about to make a startling discovery: a mysterious scroll, written by the apostle John, that unlocks the secrets of present, past and future.
"The Apocalypse
"Their find comes at a time of great persecution for the early church. The Imperial Cult is spreading Caesar-worship across the Roman province of Asia, and pressure to bow down to Domitian intensifies by the day. Flavius, Antonius, and their loved ones must stake their lives on what they believe - for the Imperial Temple has learned about the Apocalypse, and they will stop at nothing to destroy it and the church it has empowered."
Yes, the tone is rather lurid. But the story, while following this outline is far more moderate.
A novel such as this tends to make history fun, putting human faces on otherwise anonymous events.
I give the authors high marks for succeeding. That said, however, there are several point which I feel I would have to take issue with what they have written.
In the afterword, they state that the events marked the decisive break between Judaism and Christianity. I plan to write to the authors spelling out where I take issue. For example, the split-off of Christianity from Judaism did not happen all at once or at one time. The events as portrayed in the book may ring true for Asia, but one can make a case for the Bar-Kochba Rebellion in the 130s AD, or the lingering existence of Judaeo-Christians such as the Ebionites into the second (and perhaps the third) century.
I read the book in one sitting. It is not great literature, but it brings history to live. I found I actually cared about Antonius and his girl friend Monica. After their narrow escape from Ephesus, I really wanted to know how they lived out their lives, nearly forgetting they are characters made up for a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2010
I should have given this fewer stars because of the Arial Font that made reading this book very slow. But in the end I relented because it did turn out to be an interesting and tought provoking novel.
The novel's main Character is Antonious, A Wool merchants son, who Rescues the book of Revelations from a Watery demise. The novel then follows him and his Family as the Roman Goverment begins hunting down and Murdering Christians and those who befriend them.
The book is really hard to get into at first one because of the Font choice (I mean come on Who publishes in Sans-Serif? Times New Roman People!) and Secondly because the Authors feel the need to explain every thing and third because they tie up most of the opening Chapters with a really stupid and uneeded Love Triangle.
But If you can get past that it becomes an exciting story about People who will sacrifice their very lives for their faith.
One more note: this book is written as if the Book of Revelation had already taken place infact the Character in this book Believe themselves to be living through the great Tribulation. I am not going to argue theology but it is a well thought out novel that will give you something to think about.
The novel's main Character is Antonious, A Wool merchants son, who Rescues the book of Revelations from a Watery demise. The novel then follows him and his Family as the Roman Goverment begins hunting down and Murdering Christians and those who befriend them.
The book is really hard to get into at first one because of the Font choice (I mean come on Who publishes in Sans-Serif? Times New Roman People!) and Secondly because the Authors feel the need to explain every thing and third because they tie up most of the opening Chapters with a really stupid and uneeded Love Triangle.
But If you can get past that it becomes an exciting story about People who will sacrifice their very lives for their faith.
One more note: this book is written as if the Book of Revelation had already taken place infact the Character in this book Believe themselves to be living through the great Tribulation. I am not going to argue theology but it is a well thought out novel that will give you something to think about.
March 24, 2011
This is a good attempt at putting the book of Revelation into its late first century context. The authors do a good job of detailing the persecution that would have fallen on Gentile Christians after they were expelled from the Jewish synagogues which had previously provided them with exemption from emperor worship. However, I felt the romance was a bit forced.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews