Why I Wrote Revealed

As an adolescent, I watched an end-time film that terrified me. In the years that followed, I refused to pick up the book of Revelation. The thought of the prophecies written coming to fruition left me in a place that I did not want to go.

Through a daunting winter season, I was inspired to pick up the book that left me so uncertain. This time, I took the Author's hand and read from His perspective. It was in that season that everything changed.

My husband and I had a conversation in which he challenged me to write a story from the perspective of that little girl, blending my experience with student ministry and pastoral counseling into the narrative.

The result of this challenge has been beautiful. Engaged readers have blessed me with this: Revealed is a suspenseful and exciting story that points readers to God and leads them on a journey of discipleship and intercession.

My prayer is that many intercessors will recognize their bold calling as they watch Maddie step into hers.

I have been asked about the biblical interpretations used in writing the books. So, I wanted to share my own beliefs here. As a reminder, The Revealed Book Series is FICTION; however, The Revealed Book Series speaks to my personal biblical interpretation, which is as follows:

I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, and ONE with God. I believe He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life for thirty-three years, and then died a sacrificial death in order to pay our debt for sin and death. After three days, Jesus rose from the grave and ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God as our High Priest. Jesus is the King of kings, and He is the Lord of my life. One day, He will return to Earth as King of all nations. If you follow Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and High Priest to those who are children of the Living God, then we can agree on this doctrine.

Regarding eschatological end-times views, I consider myself a Futurist Pre-Millennial. In other words, I believe that some of the OT prophecies have been partially fulfilled, but most of the end-time prophecies are yet to be fulfilled. As a Pre-Millennial, I believe in a full thousand-year millennium yet to come, during which Jesus will reign as King on the Earth. I believe that preceding this time, the final seven of the seventy-sevens as prophecied in Daniel 9:24-27 will take place in what we call The Great Tribulation—seven years of tribulation where the first three and a half are in relative peace and the latter three and a half are ruled by the man of lawlessness (the final Antichrist), who is given temporary reign on the earth. This period is split by a broken covenant with Israel and the revealing of the Antichrist, who steps onto the holy place and exalts himself above everything that is called God or is worshiped, as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.

That's why this book series exists. I grew up under the Pre-Trib eschatological view. I've shared the fear I experienced when I watched a movie that terrified me. My immediate response was to disregard the book of Revelation. That sounds logical, right? Friend, if you subscribe to this view, what I am about to say may challenge you, and this is a good thing. Please know that I love you and am not here to deconstruct your views. Personally, I am always open to biblical challenge. I hold my eschatological views very loosely and am open to the Holy Spirit aligning and realigning me with the truth at any time. I consider myself a lifelong learner. Your beliefs are yours. I only ask that you read Scripture yourself and allow God to inform your views, and not Eve M. Harrell (or any other infallible human being)

But if you are interested, these are my views, which are based on prayer and study of Scripture.

Now that we have that out of the way, I personally believe we will navigate the tribulation. I believe Jesus will return with the trumpet call of God, as Paul told the Church of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, and as John taught us in Revelation 10:7 and 19:11-17. I am resolved, knowing that the dead in Christ, who were martyred for His Name, will rise first. This is the first resurrection, as detailed in Revelation 20:4-5. It is the "after that" in 1 Thessalonians 4 that I am still studying and asking the Holy Spirit for revelation. Revelation 11:15 teaches us that "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord..." This is the millennium. Revelation 20:4-5 gives me pause (the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended). 2 Peter 3 speaks of the Day of the Lord. Verse eight says that a day is like a thousand years. Zechariah 14 also speaks of the Day of the Lord. Could this "day" be a thousand-year day when Jesus reigns?" And then He gathers up the elect at the end?

These are my musings. . .

All of Scripture does not hinge on one note. And I do not believe that our faith hinges on any particular eschatological view (see my dogmatic views above). This is why I am writing this letter to you today. If you follow Jesus of Nazareth, our High Priest, we can agree that He will return to receive His inheritance and reign on the Earth. We can also agree that Jew and Gentile will be One with God. And my greatest prayer is that we will sit across from one another at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in celebration of the fulfillment of the covenant between Jesus (Our Bridegroom) and the Church (His Bride!) How and when these will take place, only God knows. But we can all look forward to this day. These are the things that truly matter, my friend, and while we can join in the 2000-year debate, in which 6+ views have emerged, I prefer to spend my time encouraging you to follow Jesus as you allow His Spirit to fill your lamp. I will stand by your side rejoicing, praying without ceasing, and moving forward, making disciples as the Lord places His seal on our heads in preparation for the day when we will see Him face to face!

I have summarized the scriptures above here. I will continue to update these if and when the Holy Spirit expands on my knowledge. This has been ten years in the making, and I pray that every year I have remaining will be filled with His instructing me in His will and His way.

I pray that He will do the same for you.

Want to hear more about my backstory in the world of Revealed? Check out this YouTube video here.