The Seraph Seal

The Seraph Seal

By Leonard Sweet, Lori Wagner
Published by Thomas Nelson

I have to admit, I had a hard time putting this one down. The Seraph Seal takes Biblical end-times prophecy and portrays the author’s idea of what that could look like in a fictional story format.  Many of the ideas presented are wonderful examples of how God reveals himself, and His Son Jesus, throughout elements in His creation. There are many references to ancient spiritual, as well as mystical, ideas. Though the Biblical Truths of the Gospel (i.e., Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the only Way to salvation of man) are presented as the Truths they are, however, too much is left unsaid – and deceptively implied.

Many places throughout reading The Seraph Seal I picked up a smacking of ideas similar to “Universalism”. The idea that since God does not wish for anyone to perish (which is in itself a Biblical truth), God will give man-kind enough chances to realize the Truth until no-one ends up separated from God for eternity (i.e., in Hell) – which is not a Biblical truth. It is a tempting belief, but universalism is still a lie as old as Satan himself. Isn’t this the same lie Satan used to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden?  To Eve, Satan first presented a partial truth – “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b).  A partial truth because he takes it out of context to begin his twisting of the truth, i.e, deception. Satan then continues his deception by refuting the remainder of that truth with “You will not surely die. (Gen 3:4b). The same lie of universalism. This is the reason I cannot bring myself to give The Seraph Seal a higher recommendation. To me, it is dangerously deceptive in spreading Satan’s lies.

Recommend?  Yes, but only for a Christian reader who possesses sound, rock-solid Biblical knowledge.  With this in mind, to me, The Seraph Seal presents an example of the deceptive combination of truth and lies that remind this reader (me) of the Apostle Paul’s reference in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 – “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

See a preview of this book here.

The Skin Map

The Skin Map

By Stephen Lawhead
Published by Thomas Nelson

The Skin Map is the first book I have read by Stephen Lawhead.  I am a fan of author Ted Dekker and I expected The Skin Map to be similar to books by Dekker or Randy Alcorn, but I was disappointed.

The story consists of a young man, Kit Livingstone, being visited unexpectedly by his great-grandfather, Cosimo Livingstone. Cosimo then engages Kit, though somewhat unwillingly, in a sort if time travel by means of what Lawhead calls “leys”.  These leys are “pathways” said to be scattered throughout the earth and allow “travelers” to physically leap between realms.

The storyline, though somewhat interesting, is a bit too “New Age” for this Bible believing Christian (me). There are a few references to God, including page 285 where the evil-portrayed character Burleigh states “There is no God” and Cosimo responds with “You are wrong, … Utterly, fatally, and eternally wrong.” However, moreover the idea of God is referenced vaguely such as providence. Being promoted by a publisher of primarily Christian material, I expected this book to at the least briefly point to the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (which is central to Christianity). Merely a sentence it two would suffice. However it does not.

From a purely literary standpoint, the storyline starts out a little slow, including unnecessary detail, but ends a bit too abruptly. The twist at the end jumps the reader to a place where too many questions are unanswered.  Even though this is the first of a series, another chapter or so to explain how some of the characters get from one place to another would help tremendously. It left me wondering what happened in between and a little disappointed.

I received this book as a free eBook from the publisher for review. As to whether I will reading the continuation of this series, I will probably do so only if again can do so free.  I would more than likely not spend money on this series.

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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

See a preview of this book here.