Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is it really just fiction..., January 1, 2003
This review is from: Unholy Empire (Chronicles of the Host, Book 2) (Paperback)
Unholy Empire is the second book of a trilogy that follows the story of how Satan forfeited his place in Heaven--and took a third of the "Host" fellow angels with him. I thought that I came across this fine book by accident, however,
I am not so sure that God did not lead me to it. The first book is based on what may have actually happened in Heaven during those first days of creation. The first book totally drew me into the story, and at times I felt as if I was not reading a fictional account on what may have
transpired, but that I was given a ring-side seat to witness the events as they actually took place. I was hopeful that the second book would live up to its predecessor. I was not disappointed; the second book was fantastic!!. I read through it in a couple of days, the author
D. Brian Shafer has really done his homework, he weaves the story with imagination, creativity, humor and insight. I must admit that I have not been up on reading the Old Testament in quite a while, however, after reading "Unholy Empire" my interest for reading the Old Testament has been increased. Also, as a fringe benefit, my walk with God and how I relate to Him has deepened. It has put this verse in a new light for me...
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12 NIV I cannot recommend this book enough; it is a work of art. And it just may change your life...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The early Old Testament from an angelic perspective!, August 7, 2005
This review is from: Unholy Empire (Chronicles of the Host, Book 2) (Paperback)
This, D. Brian Shafer's second novel in the series, was just as intense and insightful as book one. He gives us a behind the scenes look at how the forces of darkness would have most likely viewed the events of the early Old Testament from Adam and Eve to the death of Moses. It shows how they would have been working through people to try to stop God's promise of the Seed coming through the line of Abraham. There were a few things I wish the author would have mentioned to clear up a few Biblical misconceptions that people have, but these are just an aside, as the amount of information covered was so vast that these little points were probably not viewed as important. One is that in Genesis, chapter seven, Noah took seven pairs of clean animals (by their sevens, male and female), and only one pair of the unclean animals. Even with the alternate interpretation, at least seven (three pairs and one extra) of the clean animals were taken aboard. The second thing that people gloss over is the manna in the desert. Most people do not realize that God gave them manna (bread from heaven) in the morning, but he also gave them meat (quails) to eat every evening. Read Exodus, chapter sixteen. Now to what I learned from this book. In the section where Moses returns with the ten commandents, Mr. Shafer points out something that I had forgotten. The fact that Moses melted down the golden calf and then ground it to dust, placed it in the water, then made the people drink it. I think he took a bit of fictional license with Moses using an axe to destroy the golden calf, as Exodus chapter thrity-two just says he burned it. Maybe there is another Biblical reference I missed. Also, though Aaron later tells Moses the calf just appeared in the fire, the Bible says earlier that Aaron fashioned it with a graving tool. The people also refer to the calf as representing the gods and not the Lord. It probably represented the Apis bull, which was Egyptian cult worship. Mr. Shafer does a great job of showing how the fallen angels worked through the religions of that time. I most vividly remember the Egyptian gods and what they represented, then how the plagues God sent were tailored to humble each of the gods in turn, up to the last and greatest one. This was a new insight into the plagues that I had not realized until I read this novel. Mr. Shafer opens your eyes to the overall picture of what was happening in ways, and from a point of view, that you have never looked at these events with before. The way the fallen angels tempted the people to turn against whoever God was working through at the time, was also very well done. This book opens your eyes in many, many other ways, and I believe that this novel would be great to give to someone who is lax in reading the Old Testament. It gives a Biblical overview that is presented in an insightful and interesting manner, letting you see that the promise of Christ was there from the garden. Highly recommended! Pick up this series now! You won't be sorry.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reader from California, December 8, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Unholy Empire (Chronicles of the Host, Book 2) (Paperback)
Great pick up from the first book--Exile of Lucifer. If you haven't read it you need to read it first. Shafer deals with the massive search and destroy mission carred out by Satan and his troops as they try to stop God's plan of redemption through Israel. Great insight into spiritual warfare and how the enemy operates in the affairs of men and women. I highly recommend it!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
