A well-crafted, if sometimes-difficult, religious treatise.
A detailed exposition of prophetic writings related to the biblical kingdom of Babylon.
Mattiello’s debut frames world history as Satan’s epic struggle for survival and dominance in the midst of God’s creation. He says that Satan, having convinced the human race to disobey God through the exercise of free will, went on to structure society in a way that was conducive to his own plans. Ultimately, the author asserts, the devil can be blamed for the most evil aspects of geopolitics across the centuries—but it’s his use of idolatry, he says, which truly turns human hearts against God and “leads to division among people.” Furthermore, he points out, “he promotes [idolatry] by subtly embedding it in our culture” via materialism and global trade. With this background in mind, Mattiello takes readers on a journey through history, connecting empires, wars, and religions to a wide range of biblical prophecies, especially as found in the Old Testament’s book of Daniel and the New Testament’s book of Revelation. Babylon is the one true unifying theme of the work, as Mattiello posits that it was not merely a kingdom of ancient history, but also that, in Scripture, it represents the power of Satan’s earthly kingdom, which will come to destruction in the end times. Mattiello has painstakingly researched and written this work, which displays years’ worth of study and consideration. Writers have attempted to decipher such prophecies for centuries, but readers will find that Mattiello goes further than most, tying modern occurrences to these ancient visions; he sees the struggles of modern Israel, the rise of militant Islam, the increasingly secular nature of Europe, and many other trends as proof that the last days are imminent. The final product is intriguing, if often densely formatted; indeed, the book’s subject matter may seem quite foreign to readers who haven’t steeped themselves in prophecy studies.
A well-crafted, if sometimes-difficult, religious treatise.Pub Date: Jan. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-973612-56-8
Page Count: 326
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: May 22, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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