The Last Disciple
by Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff
Review by Joseph Shields
What if the Antichrist has already been revealed? The first book in a gripping new series by best-selling authors Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff explores the lives of Christians who struggle to survive and spread the Gospel during the climactic turbulence of “the last days.” With the enemy seeking to decipher the code of John's letter, Revelation, and destroy the church, believers must cling to the hope Revelation provides as they face the greatest of all persecutions. A spellbinding story of faith and fulfillment of prophecy. Discover the "code" of Revelation as you begin to see it through the eyes of the persecuted believers to whom it was written.
The above summary from the author’s website is the broad synopsis of The Last Disciple, the first in a series of at least three historical fiction novels based on the Revelation of John. Written in part as an answer and alternative to the wildly popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye which sets all of the events of Revelation as far future events, Brouwer and Hanegraaff weave a tale as seen from the perspective of the first century Christians to whom the letter was written. The characters are a mix of fictional and historical figures from all levels of Roman society including Nero, John, slaves, soldiers, gladiators, Jewish leaders and more.
The Last Disciple is a tale that reflects the difficulties and persecution that Christians faced in the first century under the vicious rule of Emperor Nero. There are vivid depictions of Christians awaiting their turn in the arena to face wild beasts. There are gruesome depictions of their bodies being used to light the streets of Rome. There are moments of tension as Roman soldiers raid house churches arresting some members while others flee and, as with any good novel, there are also moments of romance, intrigue and mystery as a paranoid Rome fiercely attempts to decipher the “code” of Revelation and track down this “treasonous last disciple,” John. Each character’s faith is put to the test as they face the challenge of counting the cost as a disciple of the “Christos” in a seemingly chaotic and hostile culture.
Note: While some critics have accused the authors of promoting a preterist interpretation of Revelation (all prophetic events in Revelation were fulfilled in the first century), this reviewer is aware of no such claim by or evidence indicating the authors support a full preterist view. Rather they seem to espouse that while many of these events were fulfilled in the first century we yet await Christ’s return (partial preterism) as opposed to none of the events being fulfilled until the far future, leaving the first century
Christians clueless as to the meaning of such a letter amidst their intense persecution.
