Light in Darkness: Seven Messages to the Seven Churches - Christian Book for Bible Study, Spiritual Growth & Church Leadership

I had heard Rick Renner speak on this book and it moved me greatly. I wanted to know about these biblical times, to understand the world the early church lived in and get more on individuals mentioned in the Bible. Wow. Photos, stories, and hope. I learned so much just being about 3/4 of the way through the book. I had had no idea the world they lived in and the tribulations they faced made so much sense with the controlling powers being so evil. Even as I learned about that era, I become aware of what I do not want in my own society! The faith of those people is made so real, it shows me how any of us in seeking God could see their results. The Greek is simply explained and adds a depth to the content that I greatly, greatly valued. I wrestled with the numerous martyrdoms of the early church but in reading this, what they dealt with was clearly explained and why. It is a phenomenol explanation of how they reclaimed one person at a time much of an empire back from paganism and other dead cultures. If you want to understand what seems to be an impossible venture that yet succeeded, if you want to see the strategy God used to make the impossible possible, you will love this. Not enough can be said about the beautiful detailed photos that bring it to life.I homeschooled two sons and this book teaches the Roman empire in the most effective way I have ever seen. It would be a powerful tool to use for budding curious minds, with sections dealing with the cities, the leadership of each city, of the Caesars, the structure of each place and the empire as a whole. For the inquiring mind that wants to know, this is satisfying. I am also a credentialed teacher and taught the Roman empire but this gave me a real understanding. Even teaching it, I never understood how slavery factored in that complex society. This is the first resource that explained their society effectively. It is the next best thing to walking in that era, in that time to see God do a phenomenol work.If you live in an erea that is completely dark and evil, it is inspiring to see how they succeeded. They did it with God's guidance; it is possible to do again. I will not forget the Lord who John saw and the powerful descriptors used in explaining that . Wow. Rick Renner's inspired undertaking makes simply a very tough subject accessible and informational. It pushed me to ponder the areas God wants to change, as He changed the Roman empire. It may be light in darkness (well named) but it also is light for the ages, for such a time as this.