Title: The Jesus Ring
Author: Daniel Harry
Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-64559-729-2
Pages: 312
Genre: Christian, Religious Science Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewed By: Susan Brown
Pacific Book Review
Faith is trust, trust in a God that can’t be seen but, for those who believe, know exists. That type of faith brings understanding, in moments of need, God will be present. Faith, the guiding force in this novel, inspires the protagonists of this novel to answer and adhere to His higher calling because they believe in His presence in their lives.
This novel is a little bit action adventure, a little bit sci-fi thriller, a little bit apocalyptic allegory, but overall, it is predominately an interpretation of the biblical record chronicled in Revelations, the final book of the New Testament. Revelations prophecies the coming of the kingdom of God which is an end to present time and the beginning of a world made new through God’s intervention. It details the struggles between good and evil which become so egregious that God steps in, destroys the forces of evil and establishes a new order for believers. It also chronicles the Messiah’s return.
Against this biblical backdrop, author Daniel Harry weaves a tale which begins when the main character, Peter Christian, finds an ancient ring on a beach in Florida. He slips it on … and his whole world changes. He is transformed from a down-on-his-luck American veteran suffering from PTSD to one of God’s “Golden Wardens,” a true believer who is called to help save humankind from itself.
The ring, worn throughout the ages by many, including Jesus, not only changes Peter physically into a “golden giant,” it also allows him to communicate with God. With God’s guidance, Peter is given the knowledge to build advanced and innovative machinery — energy generators, food processors, medical scanners — that will reshape how humans function in a post-apocalyptic world. He is helped in his task by 11 other men, known as the “Golden Disciples.” The stakes are enormous — to save the world God has created for humans or to fall under the domination of Satan and his followers.
Peter gathers together his faithful deputies at a communal compound that allows them all to work independently on tasks entrusted to them. Each is chosen because they too have been called to participate in the epic fight to repel Satan’s forces. Peter must convince many. He says to the U.S. president: “Mr. President, I’m not asking permission. God has told us it’s a battle to the very end, and I intend to follow God’s instructions to the letter. This is no longer a democratic country. This is a stronghold for God’s favored, and we intend to spread it throughout the globe.” He, and his compatriots, must also fight Satan’s Harvesters, giant human-eating creatures that devour the unfaithful, as well as the army he sends to the conclusive Battle of Armageddon.
On the surface, this is a story about good and evil. But dive in and you’ll be swept away by the author’s commanding writing. Not only is the storyline gripping, the characters are well-developed and believable. The author’s writing is forceful, to the point, and consistent. He creates for the reader a warrior hero who taps into, not just his humanity, but that of others around him to do God’s work. He stays true and focused on the intrinsic message in Revelations. And what is that message? Does good win out over evil?
Have faith. This novel, imbued with the presence of God, has the answer to these questions and more.
