Father Elijah: An Apocalypse

This was a fast paced book. I really enjoyed it. The 600 pages flew by. Michael O’Brien has a beautiful way with words. I think it was well crafted and cover the theme very well.

Michael D. O'Brien has authored an intriguing, valuable novel focusing on end-times theology, conflict and culture. Father Elijah is both a page-turner and an enlightening, insightful book. The theology and philosophy that O'Brien presents in the novel serves to enhance the plot and never stalls or undermines the coherent plot. O'Brien writes from a Roman Catholic perspective on theology and end-times prophecy. He does an exceptionaly job of highlighting the mystery of God's ways along with the incarnational nature of the Trinity that is both transcendent and immanent.O'Brien excels at character development in the book and shows the struggles and tensions involved in living a Christian life in the challenging culture of our times. A provocative point in the novel is that the end times are eerily similar to our current times. The church in the novel, as in reality, faces the temptations toward universalism, pluralism and democratization of its beliefs and practices. The focus on the church in the novel is on the Roman Catholic Church that includes some of its unique issues such as papal authority and celibacy of priests. I think all Christian readers will identify with the temptations the Christian characters face.The novel shows how the citizens of the world are looking for a savior and leader to arise from among humans who will inspire without challenging lifestyles. Their hopes are in the progression of the human race that includes the modernist ideal of a rejection of dogmatic expressions of faith in favor of humanism regardless of reality shows to be true. Their is the conflict between affirmation of humanity's state and repentance and salvation from humanity's state. Characters in the novel are faced with the choice of pursuing self-idolatry or submission to God.I think readers will enjoy reading this novel and will gain insights and awareness into Scripture, truth and the signs of the times. Some protestant readers may be off-put by some of the Roman Catholic theology, but it should not repugnant to even the most Reformed Protestants--there are just some differences of ephases on issues such as Mary and the Pope--not something to get distracted by.I definitely look forward to reading the other books in this series.

This was my third time I read this book. I was amazed at the depth of this book. The first time, it was a faith-filled page turner that could be read again, because it was written on more than one level. The second time, I could see the depth, but I was reading it with my husband, so I was interested in what he thought of it. This time, I decided to reread it before reading Elijah in Jerusalem. I can't believe all that I missed. The plot is excellent, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. On the surface, it would seem that the subject matter is dated. The book was written twenty years ago when people were speculating on what would happen at the turn of the millennium. However, Michael D. O'Brien has written a timeless story where the characters struggle with faith in the real world. Father Elijah has suffered the loss of his family in childhood and lost faith. He has experienced conversion yet he still struggles with keeping the Faith when confronted with evil. His friend, Anna has lost the Faith, because it seems incompatible with the modern world. Other characters within the Church struggle with good and evil. Ultimately, what amazed me the most was the recurring themes of free will, salvation, and trust in God rather than our own strength, especially in the face of evil. Seemingly minor characters, such as the Holy Father, Father Prior, and Don Matteo, are a great source of wisdom for Father Elijah, because they remind him that everyone, even the President of the EuroParliament, is a child of God, who was free will to love and follow God or to reject Him. We must also remember this when dealing with souls who choose evil over good causing others pain and loss. We must forgive. That is a big challenge. Realizing that we are not expected to do this without God is therapeutic. The book is so well researched and well written that I can only scratch the surface in this review. That's what is so amazing. Read the book. Read it!

The events of the Apocolypse are confusing enough, Biblically speaking, so an attempt at a fiction story is quite a feat! But Mr. O'Brien's book does a wonderful, laudable job! It is insightful and will appeal greatly to the Catholic perspective of the last days. I have only very minor issues with some aspects of the book, such as, the emphasis on the "masculinity" of the Church(?!). For instance, a scene in the book where some of the Priests have gathered for Holy Mass are upset over the "de-masculinity" and "neutering" of the Church is a bit much. The paternalizing carries over some in the follow up novel, "Father Elijah in Jerusalem", with a sort of "be obedient and leave the Apocolypse to the men" theme;) It's a minor annoyance though as the book (both, really) is very creative and O'Brien's narrative is lush and evocative. I agree with another reviewer who mentions seeing a little "recycling" of former descriptions, but it too is minor. He is to be commended for a beautiful book(s) that really should remind each and every believer to be "ever watchful; not drunk and carousing"…the time of the Man of Sin can so stealthily sneek up so subtley in these times, where sin is so blurred in everyday life, as to appear completely and sadly "normal" (would we even notice when he chips away our faith:'-(. I thoroughly enjoyed these books (albeit frighteningly) and again, the 'complaints' are easy to gloss over, as he truly tries to stay focused on the true evil--the coming Malignant One. I personally had a hard time putting them down. I'm sure this was O'Brien's intention; I was compelled to review the Book of Revelation and some of the Old Testament apocolyptic prophecies again and again. Oh, the times are a 'changin' indeed...these are the labor pains; those with eyes should see, those with ears should hear..

Reading this for the first time in 2022, I appreciate how the author’s imagination has tackled the events depicted in the Apocalypse. He couldn’t have foreseen how Covid would arise and change the political, medical and social scene, but the way he depicts greed for power and secretive ruthless machinations is spot on. I look forward to reading more books by O’Brien.

This book differs from most I have read in the past year due to the effort in defining the main character. Instead of the usual 2 dimensional hero with all the required set of skills and expertise, Fr. Elijah has to develop and grow constantly to meet his challenges. Perhaps my own back round as a catholic helped me recognise the redemptive nature of these challenges and how they were met. They were well worked out though through the majority of the plot. I felt the only drawback was the manner in which the book finishes. The end seems to make the assumption that the reader is completely synchronised with the catholicity of the hero. This may not always be the case and many readers may be lost at the last hurdle.

Absorbing, gripping read by one of my favourite writers, Michael O'Brien. Story of priest, (born David Schaffer) -Father Elijah as he becomes - who has experienced traumas as a Jewish youth, escaping the horrors of the ghetto to rise to dissying political heights before turning his back on the world's power and fame to find himself. Father Elijah is about David's confrontation with the spirit of the antichrist during the final year of the 20th century. Part of a series.

Good book

Brilliant hassle free transaction, thank you. A great book