The Seraph Seal [Paperback]

Leonard Sweet (Author), Lori Wagner (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: February 3, 2012

2012: An ancient prophecy quietly unfolds as a fragmenting world accelerates its descent into massive chaos.

Then, in 2048, the prophecy comes to fruition. US president Matthew Serafino is sworn into office, and University of Virginia historian Paul Binder receives a cryptic but summoning message. Strange circumstances and bizarre discoveries lead Paul to London, where he meets a brilliant and beautiful manuscript specialist, Angela Matthews Krall, in order to decipher an unknown Syrian manuscript with special powers. Together, they uncover clues that lead them both down a mysterious, life-or-death path.

Global intrigue, cascading natural catastrophes, and a complexity of characters, motives, and symbolic traditions intersect as Paul and Angela delve into forgotten traditions and lost meanings. Life-changing discoveries force them to struggle with questions about their own faith and the nature of truth and hope. Suddenly they find themselves positioned either to lead humanity into a new future or to watch as the earth dissolves into total destruction.

The Seraph Seal combines apocalyptic intrigue with a journey of love and discovery that blurs the lines between fact and fiction. It will lead you into a world where only you can determine the future of the earth as we know it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leonard Sweet is the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University (NJ), a distinguished visiting professor at George Fox University (OR), and a weekly contributor to Sermons.com and the podcast Napkin Scribbles. A pioneer in online learning with some of the highest "influence" rankings of any religious figure in the world of social media (Twitter, Facebook), he has authored numerous articles, sermons, and more than fifty books.

Lori Wagner is a ministry leader and writer who has published poetry, articles, and reviews on cultural studies of science and literature and has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in writing, English and German literature, and science and culture for over twenty five years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849920779
• ISBN-13: 978-0849920776
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1.5 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (158 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,584,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not my cup of tea May 21, 2011

By Leigh

Format:Paperback

Apocalyptic fiction isn't my favorite genre, so I started to pass on this book. Then I saw it was by Leonard Sweet and figured I'd give it a shot. Turns out I should have gone with my first reaction.

One of the things that interested it me was the description of this book as what Sweet and Wagner call "engaged fiction." I was curious as to what exactly this "new genre" that "blurs fact and fiction" would be like. Apparently, it's a novel with an appendix. Sweet and Wagner invite their readers to explore their version of the future, then examine the information presented in the appendix and consider for themselves what the earth's future might hold. An interesting approach, but calling it a "new genre" sounds a little pretentious to me.

The plot line in and of itself isn't bad. It's kind of a Christian DaVinci code/end times kind of thing, complete with the trademark character of the humble professor of history who finds himself tracing an ancient prophecy through history, battling evil, and saving the world. As plots go, it's not bad. The action drags sl-o-w-ly at the beginning, but the pace does pick up by the end or the book.

So what didn't I like about it? Again, the plot drags quite a bit at the beginning and I had a hard time getting into the book. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters. The book also tends to jump around from place to place and because it frequently introduces characters that are mentioned once and then never play a significant role in the novel, it's hard keeping track of who is important and who isn't. I also had trouble with the chronology. The plot presents itself as a race to the end of time, but just when I'd start to think things were getting urgent I'd run into a mention of how there were still months to go. This could have been easily resolved by including dates in the headers that note the (frequent) location changes. Finally, there are just some nitpicky details that bothered me. Like a mysterious seal that is delivered to one character, which mysteriously breaks on its own and is then never mentioned again. Or a main character that is introduced with two attempts on her life--but it's never explained who is trying to kill her or why. Or--and I know this is nitpicky--but a big deal being made about the Hebrew letters for "Bashan" being encoded in a poem, and the illustration of the poem having the letters in the wrong order. The numerous dropped threads make it difficult to figure out what's important and what's not.

Most importantly, while I was intrigued by Sweet and Wagner's vision of the future, I was uncomfortable with the theology presented. Where the book of Revelation presents the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the events of the tribulation as one last chance to repent before the glorious return of Christ and inauguration of a new earth in which God dwells with his people, Sweet and Wagner present the new earth as a new beginning for humanity in which (hopefully) we won't screw up as badly as last time. I'm not sure how you write a novel about Christ's return without Christ returning, but that's what the authors have done here. And while the book frequently mentions the centrality of the Lamb, other sections seem to imply a form of Christian universalism. Finally--and this a pet peeve of mine with the whole Christian apocalyptic fiction genre--the novel ends with a race between the good characters and the bad characters and a few moments of "suspense" over whether or not everyone's going to get in the right place at the right time for the good characters to do their thing and usher in the right "new beginning." Can I just say that when Christ returns he's not going to need anyone's help? It's not going to matter if you're in the "right" place or not when Jesus comes to claim his bride--he's not going to miss anyone. And Satan is already defeated. When Christ returns there's not going to be any great battle with evil or suspense over who's going to get there first--only glorious victory.

The most enjoyable part of this book for me was the appendix. In my opinion, the authors would have done better to stick to non-fiction and flesh out more fully the facts and projections presented in the appendix than muddying it up in the form of a novel. That might have been a book worth reading.

I received this book free from the publisher (Thomas Nelson via Booksneeze) as a review copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I did not guarantee a positive review.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the intelligent apocalypse May 12, 2011

By david mcdonald

Format:Paperback

I LOVED this book.

Over the years end-of-the-world scenarios have become cliche. We all got a good scare out of Damien, and everyone enjoys munching on a little popcorn during the summer disaster movies, but it's been a long, long time since anyone put on their thinking cap and wondered 'what if none of those cliches held?'

Seraph Seal follows a basic formula, but in a new way. The protagonist is a pedestrian academic - think Dan Brown, here - but he gathers a crew of would-be world-savers to assist him in avoiding Armageddon. Working together, this collection of well-drawn, interesting characters is more reminiscent of a caper film (Ocean's 11, the Rat Pack) than super-hero team; but the action never stops and you find yourself caught up in a myriad of plots and sub-plots, intrigue and nuance.

For those who like religious-themed fiction (end times, book-of-Revelation, stuff) there's plenty of that here. In fact, Sweet's work is far more biblically credible and theologically consistent than any of that 'Left Behind' babble. The book could be a master's level study in symbolism and hidden meaning, and the careful reader will be rewarded over and over again with gems subtly woven into each chapter (actually, onto almost every page).

So, if you like great characters, a well-constructed plot with multiple-layers, and want to imagine a new way in which the world could end (or not!), this is the book for you. The Omen, meets the Da Vinci Code, meets The Italian Job.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars How will the world end? May 21, 2011

By wheelsms

Format:Paperback

The Seraph Seal is a well-written, intriguing, thought-provoking, and entertaining yarn. It has the flavor of a Dan-Brown-does-apocalyptic-literature-divine-conspiracy novel, yet it thoroughly entertains in a fast paced, page-turning, can't-put-it-down style.

The story begins with the birth of nine individuals on December 21, 2011. The story then fast forwards to April 2048 where it weaves these nine lives together. Will they unite to bring in a new age of humanity or usher in the kingdom of God? is the question the reader is asked throughout the story.

The authors designed the book as "engaged fiction," an invitation for the reader to participate in the story and determine whether the authors' scenario would be yours and whether or not you would choose a different ending. In Part V of the book, the authors include the details from the main character's journal he maintained throughout the story. I found it very helpful and constantly flipped back and forth to double check details as I was reading.

The authors accomplished their purpose in the sense that I enjoyed the story but did not care for the ending. I would have chosen a different one. I found the conclusion a bit too new age-ish for my taste.

The book is religious, but not biblical. It is heavy on symbolism and syncretism as it draws from Mayan calendars, Kabballah, art, philosophy, Jewish and Christian traditions, sci-fi fantasy, new age ideas, and the book of Revelation. It emphasizes faith in God, but not necessarily faith in Christ. It presents the notion that people united in love can usher in the dawn of a new day. The main character lays down his life for his friends, and is then reborn in a new time and place with a second chance to change the world.

In recommending the book, keep it mind it is a work of fiction, not a theological treatise on the end times. It succeeds as the former, but not as the latter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.