phyllish
Written on Oct 7, 2019
My rating is 4.5 stars
Be prepared to reevaluate what you think you know about angels, demons and spiritual warfare! Author Chad Pettit tackles this important subject in a fictional work which combines scriptural truth, imagination, and artistic license to present a picture of what this heavenly battle could look like. You just might find your preconceived notions not only challenged but also perhaps even thrown out the window.
While Fate of the Redeemed picks up the story where Fate of the Watchman ended, the direction this story takes is quite different from the first, emphasizing the trials and persecutions of believers and the role of angels in their lives.
As Lester begins to act on the compassion awakened in his heart, he is faced with fiery trials, far beyond any he had ever experienced or expected. Through this adversity, he questions everything he has believed about God and struggles as he watches everything in his life fall apart. While I still have high hopes for him, don't expect his behavior to be that of a strong and noble Christian. I felt compassion for him and if I knew him to be a living person I would start praying for him because he needs it!
Maintaining a careful balance between giving an accurate depiction of the violence of man against man and sharing too many sordid details, the story pierced my heart for the plight of the Somali believers. Ibrahim's dread of the extremists and desire to protect his newly orphaned granddaughter had him torn between shielding the two of them and helping the prisoner who had been tortured. What would I do if faced with a similar situation? I can only hope my faith would be strong enough to lead me to do the right thing.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this story for me was the depiction of the battles fought in the heavenly realm. I won't share any specifics but will say that if you have read any of Frank Peritti's works and now think you know what spiritual warfare looks like (okay, maybe I'm talking about me), Fate of the Redeemed will cause you to consider what the Bible says about this to see what is truly known.
Are the concepts presented in this story contrary to scripture? No. Are they vastly different from what I have ever pictured? Absolutely! Do I believe the author has all of these details right? Maybe some, maybe not some. Am I intrigued by them? Absolutely!
Despite any misgivings I may have about some of the possibilities shared, the conclusion Lester came to and the wisdom shared by Draven about how the Lord Himself fights for us is indisputable and encouraging. No matter what you face, dear child of God, remember this above all else:
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-38
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.