Review of The Divine Messenger
Posted: 04 Jan 2024, 11:22
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Divine Messenger" by Matthew Bryce Ervin.]
Have you ever thought of Jesus, the Son of God, as being present in the Old Testament? In the story of revelation, did you know that it was the Son of God present after Adam and Eve sinned? The Bible notes that they heard the voice of God and went to hide because they were naked. For them to hear the voice of God means God spoke a word or words. And John 1:1 says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Do you see it now? This book aims to make us aware of all the Christophanies in the Old Testament and to show how the Son of God has been present right from the beginning.
I have always loved reading the New Testament because, to me, it is the gospel. It is where the life of Jesus, our savior, was lived. However, The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament by Matthew Bryce Ervin has made me look at the Old Testament differently. If you, like me, give little time to the Old Testament whenever you pick up your Bible, then you need to read this book. The whole Bible is called the word of God for a reason, not just the New Testament.
This book explores the different ways and places that the Son of God appeared in the Old Testament before he became a man. Reading this book was eye-opening, as it made me see the stories in the Bible in a new light. It became obvious all the time that the Word of God had been with man even before he was made flesh and dwelt among us. The author discussed the Son of God's various appearances to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, etc., and explained them all extensively, citing many sources. The author also proves the Son of God's presence during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and into the promised land.
The book also proves the Son of God as the "Word," as represented in different languages. I love that this book is well-researched, as the author references many books in different languages to explain his points. I have always had questions about Melchizedek, and I'm glad I saw an explanation about him in this book. Reading this book made obvious the many times Jesus called himself "I AM," the name God introduced himself as to Moses at the burning bush incident.
There was something I didn't like about the book. Many passages of the Bible were quoted many times. Though at different places for different reasons, those passages that tell stories don't need to be repeatedly written once they have been used before, as the stories do not change. Just mention the story and go ahead with what is being explained. However, this is a minor negative aspect, as it does not affect my rating.
What stood out for me in this book was when the author wrote on page 173, "Christ will be to his people what their faith needs." It struck a chord in me. This book is perfect for teaching at religious gatherings. Hence, I recommend it to Christian leaders and other readers interested in the Bible and God in general. Finally, the book was exceptionally well edited, and I'm gladly rating it 5 out of 5 stars.
******
The Divine Messenger
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Have you ever thought of Jesus, the Son of God, as being present in the Old Testament? In the story of revelation, did you know that it was the Son of God present after Adam and Eve sinned? The Bible notes that they heard the voice of God and went to hide because they were naked. For them to hear the voice of God means God spoke a word or words. And John 1:1 says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Do you see it now? This book aims to make us aware of all the Christophanies in the Old Testament and to show how the Son of God has been present right from the beginning.
I have always loved reading the New Testament because, to me, it is the gospel. It is where the life of Jesus, our savior, was lived. However, The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament by Matthew Bryce Ervin has made me look at the Old Testament differently. If you, like me, give little time to the Old Testament whenever you pick up your Bible, then you need to read this book. The whole Bible is called the word of God for a reason, not just the New Testament.
This book explores the different ways and places that the Son of God appeared in the Old Testament before he became a man. Reading this book was eye-opening, as it made me see the stories in the Bible in a new light. It became obvious all the time that the Word of God had been with man even before he was made flesh and dwelt among us. The author discussed the Son of God's various appearances to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, etc., and explained them all extensively, citing many sources. The author also proves the Son of God's presence during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and into the promised land.
The book also proves the Son of God as the "Word," as represented in different languages. I love that this book is well-researched, as the author references many books in different languages to explain his points. I have always had questions about Melchizedek, and I'm glad I saw an explanation about him in this book. Reading this book made obvious the many times Jesus called himself "I AM," the name God introduced himself as to Moses at the burning bush incident.
There was something I didn't like about the book. Many passages of the Bible were quoted many times. Though at different places for different reasons, those passages that tell stories don't need to be repeatedly written once they have been used before, as the stories do not change. Just mention the story and go ahead with what is being explained. However, this is a minor negative aspect, as it does not affect my rating.
What stood out for me in this book was when the author wrote on page 173, "Christ will be to his people what their faith needs." It struck a chord in me. This book is perfect for teaching at religious gatherings. Hence, I recommend it to Christian leaders and other readers interested in the Bible and God in general. Finally, the book was exceptionally well edited, and I'm gladly rating it 5 out of 5 stars.
******
The Divine Messenger
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon