OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Jesus: The Prequel" by Van Harden.]

Do you know who Jesus was before He was born in Bethlehem to become our savior? According to the Bible, an angel told Joseph and Mary to name their baby Jesus, which they did, making many people believe that this is when He came into existence. However, although His name is never used in the Old Testament, there are many references to Him. In Jesus: The Prequel by Van Harden, the author points out many scriptures as evidence that Jesus has existed in many forms since the beginning of time and that Jesus's birth is the middle of His story, not the beginning. Grab a copy of this short book to learn who Jesus was, how He helped with our creation, and His role throughout time.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the author's skill in explaining the many confusing scriptures found in the Bible. Raised as a Catholic, none of my biblical classes or the sermons in my church ever mentioned that any of the characters in the Old Testament were Jesus before He was born. The way Van Harden explains the scriptures made it easy for me to see the correlation between Jesus and the Christophanies, which are "manifestations, or an appearance, of Christ before His human incarnation." A couple of examples are the "Word of God" and the "angel of the Lord." I liked how the author stressed the importance of knowing more about Jesus before His birth by comparing it to the importance of taking Algebra 1 before taking Algebra 2. Real-life stories like the one the author shared about his young daughter wanting a TV in her room and her creativity added depth to the book. The seven scripture verses that the author used for readers to substitute the pronouns with their names made the verses more personal and relatable.

I did not dislike anything about this professionally edited book. It was well-written, and the biblical readings were well-documented throughout the narrative. The author's writing style is simplistic and easy to understand for those who may have found the Bible difficult to read and understand. There was absolutely no reason for me not to give this book a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to Christians who want to know more about Jesus and His influence before His birth in Bethlehem. I do not recommend it to agnostics or atheists, as it is about religion revolving around the Holy Trinity, consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, etc., which may go against their beliefs.

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Jesus: The Prequel
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What if the story of Jesus didn’t start in Bethlehem, but long before the first star lit up the night sky?

Van Harden’s Jesus: The Prequel is a bold, imaginative, and reverent dive into the cosmic origins of Christ. With a voice that blends childlike wonder and theological curiosity, Harden crafts a narrative that reaches beyond the manger and into eternity past—where divine intention, angelic rebellion, and redemptive love were already unfolding.

This isn’t your typical Bible study. It’s part speculative theology, part devotional storytelling, and part spiritual adventure. Harden invites readers to look at the familiar Gospel through a fresh lens—by asking questions many might be afraid to voice: What was Jesus doing before creation? What did the angels know? How did evil begin, and why didn’t God stop it immediately?

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Harden’s prose is conversational and warm, often humorous, and deeply personal. He doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but he creates space for mystery and awe—a rare feat in modern Christian literature. His speculative retelling of pre-Genesis events isn’t dogma but rather a creative meditation meant to deepen our appreciation of God’s eternal plan.

This book will likely resonate most with readers who enjoy imaginative Christian writing in the spirit of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters or Randy Alcorn’s Edge of Eternity. However, those expecting strict theological exposition may find it a little unorthodox or speculative.