The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread Expanded Edition: Revealing the Power of the Blood of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation

by Richard Booker

Every Story is About Him A single, scarlet thread runs through the entire Bible, weaving a beautiful garment of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. This thread shows how the Old and New Testament fit together to tell one complete story. This sacred thread is the blood covenant Jesus made with God for you. Uncover the miraculous story of Jesus’ sacrifice, as it is powerfully and prophetically woven through the Scriptures beginning with the covenant rituals, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses and the prophets. With three powerful new chapters, this expanded edition of the classic bestseller, The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread , is your invitation to step into the story of redemption—not merely as a reader, but as a participant. Have a fresh encounter with God and the supernatural power of the blood of Jesus!

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Theology, Christian Non Fiction, Faith, Christian Living

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Patricia Coon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the symbolism is enrichment for my faith because God verifies much of what we see in this book about Jesus and the covenant. As a student of Bible for close to 40 years, I'm bothered by some of the author's opinions being presented as claims of well known fact.
I'd encourage you to use discernment as you read. Research in the Bible what he says. There's no evidence in scripture that I've ever seen that what he quotes Mephibosheth and David to have said in chapter two about having animosities ever happened. Why Booker doesn't state these ideas as his own suppositions, I don't know but I find that misrepresentation uncomfortable.
He tells us in chapter three that Jesus was crucified "on the very mountain" that Abraham saw God provide a sacrifice for him in place of Isaac. Though that's a belief held by some, it's not a proven fact and should not be presented as if it's true in my opinion.
The Bible warns us not to add to or take away from it. I recommend being careful and prayerful if you read this book. New Christians who don't know Bible well can learn inaccurate things and base their faith in them. There's enough wonder in the Bible without embellishments by doctors of divinity.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there was a lot of good information in this book, there were also a fair number of speculative statements that were presented as fact. Much of the time the author did use the Bible to interpret itself to make his point, but other times he'd say, "And this symbolizes this..." without giving any proof that anyone but him thought this. It's basically an argument based on his own authority since he doesn't tell us where he got the idea or information in these cases.

For example, the author tells us that all blood covenants follow certain steps and include certain promises (though he never tells us how he learned that this was how the patriarch era men in Canaan made blood covenants). He acknowledges that we don't see all of these steps played out in every blood covenant made in the Bible, but he dismisses that saying that the steps are implied.

Well, one thing that was supposedly always being pledged was that each party would support and protect the other (including with military aid). To quote page 28, "So symbolically I'm giving you all my strength and pledging you all my support and protection....I'm saying, "...If anybody attacks you, they are attacking me. Your battles are my battles and mine are yours....I will help defend you and protect you." The author acknowledges that Jacob and Laban made a blood covenant, yet ignores that Laban _didn't_ support Jacob in his known upcoming (potentially military) confrontation with Esau. Nor did the author qualify his statement about defending someone with "when requested."

Another "always done" step was the exchange of names. To quote page 29, "Then as we stand there with our blood intermingling, we exchange names. I take your last name as part of my name, and you take my last name as part of your name." First, they didn't have last names back then. Second, we see no evidence of this in the Bible. Yes, God changed Abram and Sarai's names, but He also changed Jacob's name (and not during a blood covenant swearing). Yes, God was called "God of Abraham," but not until his grandson, Jacob, did so and the next "God of Abraham" reference is "the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor," yet God didn't enter a blood covenant with Nahor. So God's supposed "name exchange" from "God" to "God of Abraham" doesn't appear to have been a direct result of the Abram & God blood covenant ceremony.

So, basically, there was some good, biblically grounded arguments and insights, but also a lot of unsupported speculation that I couldn't know was true or not and other statements that I outright doubted.

"Our Covenant God" by Kay Arthur also covers blood covenants and her take is more solid and supported. "Living a Life of True Worship" by Kay Arthur, Bob Vereen, & Diane Vereen does an excellent job of showing the Bible-supported symbolism of the tabernacle. Also, "The Feasts of the Lord" by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal explains the new testament fulfillment of the Passover (and other feasts of the Lord) in a more historically and biblically supported way.

[Bri Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s so much in this book about Hebraic culture and what that means for what we read in the Bible. So helpful to understand the cultural context for a lot of the things that fly above my Western mind when I’m reading the Bible.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in church but pretty much did not like reading the Bible. All I had was the King James Version. It wasn't until I was older when several translations were available which made the Word of God much more readable and understandable. I've read through the Bible several times in my life. But I never really liked reading the Old Testament. There were a few parts that I enjoyed (such as stories in Genesis). I pretty much detested Leviticus and couldn't understand why it was even in the Bible. And I pretty much could have just thrown away my Old Testament. Many people will tell new believers to start reading the New Testament.

If you've ever had trouble reading or understanding the Old Testament, I highly recommend this book. This book explains how the story of Jesus is woven from beginning to end of the Word of God. It completely explains the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, what each element symbolized and why it was necessary. The reading level is easy for any lay person to understand. Even as a 55 year old man with a bachelor's degree in religion and a lifetime of church under my belt, this book helped me to understand the Word of God in a way I had not before.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I recommend its reading by everyone from new believer to biblical scholar to lifelong Christian.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agree with other readers who caution should be approached with discernment. An interesting theory but appear to be a number of speculations. Needs footnotes and bibliography to back up his statements.

[Terri-lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can read it with discernment, it's got some good stuff in it. But some of the content is questionable. Take what is good, ignore the rest

[Jamie (The Kansan Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the writing style. It made it easy to read and understand.

But I could see very little, if any, practical spiritual value in the Old Testament. I recognized it as a historical collection of Jewish writings but couldn’t see how it had anything to do with the carpenter from Nazareth in the New Testament. I always thought that the Old Testament was written for Jews and the New Testament was written for Christians. I thought they were different books for different people. Wow, was I ever wrong!

I used to view the Bible this way as well. It was three years ago when God saved me and changed my outlook on life. Now it’s hard to remember before. I can’t see my life without Jesus. I never understood people and how they had this outlook until it hit me in the face full force and knocked me on my rear.

Yet to the passerby, there is nothing exciting about being a Christian. It appears to be a very unattractive, dull and boring life. Their attitude is, “Who wants to be a Christian? Why you have got to have a long face and never have any fun.” They don’t know that all the riches of God’s inheritance dwells in His people

As I said earlier, I haven’t been a Christian for very long. Before I was Catholic in name but I never read my Bible and I certainly did not live as a child of God. One could say that being Christian is boring, but I would love to tell you that I have never been more peaceful. Now, unfortunately, there are bad apples just like everything else. I used to judge all Christians by the ones who actually aren’t all that Christian.

This book points out everything I’ve come to know about Jesus and even taught me a few things I haven’t learned before. (i.e. The sacrifices and a deeper study of the importance of them and why they were set up.) There is a difference between knowing “about” God and knowing “who” God is. I have stumbled many times in my walk but each time I grow. No matter what, nothing can take me out of God’s hands. This book shows what I have come to recently learn, the whole Bible is tied together by Jesus.

It also points out one of my statements I have come to say. You have to read the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) to understand the New Testament (New Covenant). An example of this is when Jesus says I AM, you wouldn’t understand why the people got so angry with Him if you did not know the history of Moses and the burning bush. You wouldn’t know that I AM is God’s name. In ancient Hebrew, it looks like YHWH.

If you are wanting a deep study of how the Bible’s 66 books connect, this is a great starting book. I immensely enjoyed it. There are a few grammatical errors along with spelling errors but nothing too horrible.

[C.S. Wachter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please note: I read an earlier edition from 1981 but the basics of the information remain as relevant in this third edition as in the original.

A quick AI summation of the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament says: The saying “the new is in the old concealed; the old in in the new revealed” attributed to Saint Augustine, means that the New Testament fulfills and clarifies prophecies and foreshadowings present in the Old Testament, which are understood more fully in light of Christ's coming. The Old Testament prepares for the work of Jesus Christ, containing types, figures, and symbols that find their ultimate meaning in the New Testament's explanation of grace and fulfillment in Christ's sacrifice.

This sums up the idea behind The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread. Well presented and accurate. Though some reviews state this is just Booker’s opinion, I believe he does an excellent job of providing scriptural back up for his statements. If you are uncertain, read Booker’s The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread and check the references. I am convinced that if you come without preconceived notions, you will see the connections. We must stop trying to detached the Old Testament (Covenant) from the New Testaments (Covenant). The two are too woven together to separate without damage to the truths presented in the Bible.

[Ogz · Rating 3 out of 5]

👌🏽 the story of the cross and Christ's love for the CHURCH neatly and deeply woven from the beginning. So many points to note. It's a 3 star because most of what was mentioned aren't new to me, they are standard Sunday school lessons at my denomination. The points highlighted are very valid, crucial and form the basis of our faith. From this book, I saw why it was mentioned in Ephesians about Husbands loving their wives and how Christ's relationship with the CHURCH equates to marital relationship. If we bear this in mind at all times, there'll be reduced divorces in Christiandom.

[Lee Rubsam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I learned so much about how Jesus was foretold in the most minute details of the Old Testament sacrifices, tabernacle furnishings, and feasts of the Israelites. I now have a fuller understanding of what biblical covenant is, and what that means in my relationship with God. If you love learning about Bible symbolism and typology, you will enjoy this book.

[Jonathon Robert Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative book

jonche231@gmail.com

This book is filled with great material that connects the God of the Old Testament with the God of the new. I have studied these thi ng for many years and he taught me a few things. The only drawback was that because of my previous knowledge some of it felt a little repetitive. But it still was a great. Resource.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for any Bible student. It sets a firm ground work for not only understanding scripture, but for understanding the connection between the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the New Testament. This book will help Bible students "put the pieces together."

[Jacquelyn Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A foundational book that should be read by every Christian!! It outlines the meaning of a covenant and makes it crystal clear why Jesus died in our place and reveals without a doubt that God has given us all good things and doesn't hold back!

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jewish traditions

A teaching about the appearance of Jesus throughout the old covenant. In this book, many Jewish traditions explained for us to understand deeper meaning between each traditions.

[Leslie Yong · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an interesting & wonderful book. It's all about the blood covenant God had with us. It's a must for all true believers of Christian faith, to know the full purpose of Christ' s redemption.

[John Pasquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just written a book myself that will likely be released in the first few months of 2021. I was looking for suggestions about similar books, and someone mentioned this one.

With a bit of trepidation, I started reading it--hoping that all my efforts was not merely something that someone else had already done. To my great relief, this book is quite different from mine!

It's written primarily to those who have a good understanding of the Bible, including the Old Testament. It details the background of the blood covenant and describes all that this entails. Then it shows that we, as believers in Christ, are part of a blood covenant with none other than God Himself. Jesus sealed the covenant with His own blood. It then shows several other places in the Bible that highlight this blood covenant.

This is a very faith-enriching book. It is comforting and encouraging to see the awesome significance of the covenant we have in Christ. It's probably worth a second read after you've completed it the first time, as there is much to digest.

Highly recommended.

[Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread shows how the thread that runs through the entire Bible is the blood of Jesus. It is by His blood that we are saved! This book does a wonderful job of explaining the customs and symbols in the Old Testament and how they all point to Jesus. It talks about the tabernacle, sacrifices, high priests, covenants, and the Passover. A lot of the practices were part of their culture at the time and easily understood by people of that time. However, these things are not a part of the western world today so it can be a little hard to understand the customs and their importance. The book was very helpful in explaining things like the importance of things like salt, what the parts of the tabernacle represent, what words like "sacrifice" really mean, and how important the blood covenant is to our salvation. I learned so much and I would highly recommend this book!

[Calla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must -Read for Anyone Searching for a Deeper Understanding of the Bible

I read this book as my first step in preparation for this year’s Lenten/Easter season, and am not disappointed. Dr. Booker has done an amazing job of explaining how the ancient stories and customs described in the Bible point unerringly to Christ, and demonstrating this clearly and articulately to modern people who have no concept or frame of reference for the traditions described. I rarely give a 5-Star rating and reserve them for books that touch my soul; the rare gems that become not only permanent parts of my personal library to be read over and over, but that also become part of my being. This is one of those books.

[Bonnie Fournier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent modern explaination of the covenants and prophisies. If I were not already a believe this book would have made me one. Such an inspiring book should be read by every bible study group. I dont know I am having so much difficulty submitting this positive review.

Excellent modern explaination of the covenants and prophisies. If I were not already a believe this book would have made me one. Such an inspiring book should be read by every bible study group. I dont know I am having so much difficulty submitting this positive review.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every born again child of God should read

This book is not only eye opening, but heart opening as well. It will aid your understanding of your salvation & your covenant relationship with God. Covenant is not something we discuss much it seems, but we should.

This book brings so much meaning to what it truly means to be a Christ idol lower & a true child of God. It will bring understanding , inspiration & strength to your walk with God.

It is a must read for every Christian!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread

I really went into this book to follow the scarlet thread. I was not disappointed..
I learned several things I had not learned in previous studies, and, had good reviews from other studies I had done.
I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a deeper Biblical understanding of how God is so amazing and entertaining to those who really want to know.

[MaryAnn Lockey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was too long for me and not a casual read. I needed to read this with a study group or it would have been good for a seminary class or someone much more knowledgeable about the Bible than I am. It has its place don’t get me wrong- but was not what I was looking for. I actually found the last chapter on the salt references in the Bible interesting. The rest did not much hold my interest.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has such important details which is why I'm giving it five stars. It's a perfect text to use for a high schooler as an introductory text to the importance of covenants and why the Blood of the Lamb is so important.

The writing is easy. I'd prefer everybody read Trumbull's tome and the Billye Bryce's book plus all the hymns aboit the Blood.. but this book tidily sums up the pertinent info of those plus some stuff they don't, specifically info on the salt covenant.

Very good book!

[Kelly Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Scarlet Thread by Richard Booker had an interesting premise, but I found it slow and hard to stay engaged with. The pacing dragged, and at times, I struggled to stay connected to the narrative. While there were some valuable insights and moments of depth, it didn't fully captivate me as I'd hoped. I think others might appreciate it more if they're looking for a slower, more reflective read, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

[Ron W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought the book expecting more theological insight. I must say I was disappointed. I found the book a little formulaic. What I mean is that it reads like so many "American pastor" books. I feel these books are targeted for an American audience. I really didn't engage well with the text, and I'm sorry to say, I deleted it from my library after finishing it. I'm not saying you shouldn't read it. I just didn't connect with the author's style of writing.

[THIAGO MACHADO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read book

The most profound and well explained book about the biblical covenants. Dr. Booker goes where others don't dare to go. He explains the biblical covenants by the eyes of a Eastern Culture, creating a right atmosphere to understand the meaning of some key points in the Bible.

[Jeryl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miracle of the Scarlet Thread

What a fascinating& faith building read! So many hidden truths are brought to light in this book! Most know the history of the Tabernacle so Dr..Booker outlines the entire meaning. The Threshold & the Salt covenants were amazing. Thank you, sir, for reinforcing Christ in the OT.

[Dan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Dr. Booker is one of my favorites. I like to study God's word, and I try to apply what I learn in my life. This book was very helpful in understanding that there is a common thread flowing through the Bible. Once I saw it, the Bible was easier to understand, and it made studying much more enjoyable.

[Goliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening!

Explains the blood covenant and the necessity of the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament times and how they point us all to their reality and fulfillment in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His death at the cross for our redemption. I want to reread this book again and again to refresh my understanding. Praise the Lord!

[Susan Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread

I found the book to be interesting and seemed to me to be a college course. It was very good but Pastor Booker repeated himself over and over again. I guess he just wanted to get his point across.

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