Rescued

by John Bevere, Mark Andrew Olsen

EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT SUSPENSE…AND SOMETHING MORE…! A father trapped in a terrible underwater accident. A son desperate to do something--anything--to save him. A digital read-out ticking down toward certain death--and a fate more horrible still… For Alan Rockaway, his teenaged son Jeff, and Alan's new bride, Jenny, it's been little more than a fascinating tourist submarine excursion, a leisurely end to a weeklong church-couples' cruise. Then the horrifying crash and the plunge toward the unknown…. Everything Alan has assumed about himself, about what awaits him in the future, is flipped upside down. In the ultimate rescue operation, life or death is just the beginning!

Genres: Christian, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Faith

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Marked by boldness and passion, John Bevere delivers uncompromising truth through his award-winning curriculums and bestselling books, now in more than 60 languages, including "The Bait of Satan," "Drawing Near" and "Driven by Eternity." He is an international speaker and co-host of "The Messenger" TV program broadcast worldwide.

John enjoys living in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lisa, also a best-selling author and speaker, and their four sons.

Reviews

[Jaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOOOO! . Este es el libro que necesitaba; definitivamente, me hizo reflexionar mucho, me hizo preguntarme a mí misma si mi fe estaba bien delante de Dios.
Esta historia es lo que todos (cristianos y no cristianos) necesitamos. Te hace reflexionar tanto que cuando terminas de leerlo, quedas con lágrimas en los ojos.
100% recomendable. Aún no salgo del shock que tengo por este libro.
Definitivamente, tengo que cambiar mi vida, entregarlo todo a Dios, y pedirle perdón por mis pecados.
Agradezco a los autores por haber escrito este libro...una novela para el alma.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estoy un poco conmocionada por esta historia. Confieso que me ha hecho pensar y preguntarme a mí misma sobre el curso de mi vida.
Una historia que al principio me pareció un tanto confusa, se convirtió en una fabulosa novela de redención.

[Tweet Tweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Added it

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast read for me; I started reading it Friday during my breaks at work and finished it Saturday night. The main part of the story takes place in maybe an hour's time (we'll say three hours, max). Initially, it was slow-going until chapter eight when a runaway computer-controlled boat catastrophically collides with a tourist submarine, after which point I had hard time putting it down. Overall, though, I would say the pacing was intermittent for me. The character development is good, overall, and the latter portion of the book really caught my attention. The "ending" ending of the book was "so-so", though, so I don't know how strong of a finish I would say the book had. I think the "message" of the book, however, is quite important and something we do not like to think about in the American/Western Christianity practiced today.

There are "two stories" being told in this book with occasional diversions into "explanations about the past", and these diversions into "the past" disrupted the flow of the story for me. The book starts out in the future in New Jerusalem after Christ has returned and a group of Christians are arriving for some kind of meeting that is about to take place; it has something to do with each member of this group becoming aware of a "Pit" (Gehenna, maybe?) in which souls are paying the wages for their sins that sits just outside of and next to New Jerusalem. Apparently, there is a reason why they have not seen this Pit before "now" and now they are going to be given the explanation as to why they suddenly are aware of it. This explanation is given in the form of the story told that takes place in "our present day" (but still "the past" of the believers in New Jerusalem hearing this story). But then there are moments where something happens "in the present" portion of the story where the author(s) take the reader "back in time" to a significant event or group of events that occurred to some of the characters and then we are taken back to the "present" portion of the narrative and the book begins moving forward again. I really do not know that these explanations were necessary to move the story forward; I think we had enough character development with what was given in the present (as well as the various emotional responses still present due to prior decisions) that these excursions into the past were not necessary.

Furthermore, the "reason" behind believers in New Jerusalem suddenly becoming aware of this Pit at different times had to do with a warning. The warning is that rebellion against Yahweh and Jesus could occur again. The rebellion of Lucifer had not antecedent, no precedent, no warning, and yet it happened. Conceivably, it could theoretically happen again. Hence, the Pit is a reminder of what has happened and that it could occur again. I don't know how "biblical" that interpretation is as I have never heard such a "warning" spoken of or preached about, but it does seem to be a reasonable explanation of this passage in Isaiah 66 (verses 22-24). I am not discounting it; I just don't know how much I agree with it.

I think the book is a valid warning against "cheap grace" and "cheap salvation." In America, we want to make it easy to become a Christian whereas if we look at Jesus' ministry, He did not make it easy to follow Him. He allowed a rich, young ruler to walk away from Jesus because the man could not take that last step of selling everything he had to give to the poor and follow Jesus; Jesus did not run after him and say, "hey, hey, hey! I'll cut you some slack and let you follow me. You just have to promise you'll do these things for me at a later point in time." Jesus let the man walk away because he was not ready to hear and obey the message Jesus gave him. Today, we hear so much about Yahweh's love and grace, but rarely do we hear about Yahweh's judgement and holiness and righteousness and purity, about the lives set apart from the world we are called to live. Yes, Paul said, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Yahweh forbid! How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" to the church in Rome, and to the church in Galatia he said, "It is for freedom that Christ died to set us free." But Paul also said, "Stand free, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery", a yoke of sin. It seems like most books I see in the bookstores or in the book sections of Walmart and Target are about how much God wants to bless you and make you happy; I rarely see books calling people to holiness and repentance and righteousness, to stop embracing sin. I think this book is a warning against selling a watered-down version of Christianity that essentially inoculates a person against conviction and repentance, that says a person can 'be saved' and still live whatever kind of lifestyle he or she wants to live (even if it is in direct contradiction of how we are called to live in the New Testament).

I also think the warning in this book is more to those who outwardly profess to be Christians but have never truly repented of their sins, who live one way in church and a different way in the world. The "Judgment Scenes" in the book were truly horrific for me; there was something about them that was quite gripping and seared my soul. We see moments of where people who were believed to be "church leaders" and "strong Christians" stand before Jesus and are cast out because their names were not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Do we really take the warnings of Jesus seriously? I know some people who believe that Jesus was still "Old Testament" and operating under "the Law" while He lived and taught until He was crucified, died and rose again, and that after He died and rose again, He became the fulfillment of the requirements of "the Old Law" and "Old Covenant" and now we are under a "New Covenant" and that whatever He said before His resurrection fell under the “Old Covenant” and no longer matters. Jesus warned that people will be held accountable by their words, that we will have to give an account for every careless, idle word spoken and that our words will either condemn us or justify us when we stand before Him (Matthew 12:26-37). Another strong warning Jesus gave is that it would be better for a person to have a millstone tied around his or her neck and be tossed into the sea than for such a person to cause a child who believes in Jesus to sin, to turn away from Jesus (Matthew 18:6). The Lord says time and time again that we need to have a penitent heart and to avoid hardening our hearts through rebellion and sin, through refusing to remain obedient to Him, and I think that is a cause for concern today in Western "Christian" America because it seems at times like we are more concerned about living the way we want to live, with "our rights" and who is sitting in the Oval Office than we are Who is sitting on the thrones of our hearts and the salvation of our neighbors and secular friends.

The "Judgement Scenes" also brought to mind the times in the Gospels when Jesus talked about how those who call out, "Lord, Lord!", to Him when they stand before His throne and are turned away. How easy it is to forget that whatsoever we do to the least of those among us, we do unto Him. May my focus be turned back upon what is important after reading this book because the authors are correct when they say that where we spend eternity is the most important decision facing us "today" and how we live can impact the eternal destination of those around us.

The "moment" with Hal Newman before he "died" died - that was pretty horrific. I already knew what was happening because of the way he reacted each time the portable defibrillator was being used to restore his heartbeat and bring him "back to life" - the way he kept begging/yelling, "No, no! Please, don't!" with the fear, the terror, the horror in his eyes. The "Judgment Scene" merely confirmed what I knew to be the case, and it was equally horrific to read the consequences this man had to face, this man who was so well-respected in his church and yet how he lived a double life, how he dishonored Yahweh with nearly every decision he made outside of church. It was a horrific scene in the book.

I had a feeling that Alan Rockaway, the pastor, was probably going to face hearing, "Depart from me; I never knew you" as well when he stood before the Throne. I was not sure of the reasoning behind it, but I felt he was not going to hear, "Well done!" The reasons given for him surprised me, to be honest, as I did not know what to expect (other than how he treated his former wife and how it led to his divorcing Terri and then marrying Jenny). The evidence of Alan's lack of true repentance was his continued twisting of Scripture to justify himself, his life, his choices, his sins, and this led to his leading people astray by preaching a false gospel from the pulpit that tickled people's ears instead of convicting them of sin and pointing the way to repentance and obedience as well as the true freedom found in Christ. I will not lie, though. I thought he would be revived by his son's efforts and "saved," that he would go on to live a long and changed life on earth. I was shocked when that did not take place.

The "ending" ending of the book kinda bothered me, in some ways. Alan is said to have had two sons, Jeff and Greg. And yet we know nothing of Greg's eternal reward. Jeff turns out to be Storyteller in the New Jerusalem sections of the book. His mother, Terri, would eventually remarry and she "makes it" into Heaven as well. His father, Alan, was brought back to life to reveal to his church his eternal reward as well as the false gospel he had preached for decades and ask their forgiveness for misleading them before calling them to repentance before Almighty God and leading them in repenting. The pastor and Terri are waiting for Jeff to show up in Heaven and the family is reunited! It is such a wonderful moment! But, wait! Where is Greg?!? Where is the Rockaway's other, younger son?!? Did Greg not make it into Heaven? He is mentioned a time or two in the book, and then he disappears from its pages. I know he is not the focus of the story; it is the relationship between Alan and Jeff as Jeff frantically tries to save his father and give his father a second chance and how his father uses that second chance to repent and "get his heart right with God" as well as lead his congregation back into a right relationship with Yahweh. Still, though, I was sad that Greg apparently did not make it to Heaven (as that seems to be the implication by his being mentioned after a certain point in the book and definitely not mentioned as being in New Jerusalem).

If you made it this far, I apologize for the length of my review. It provoked a lot of thoughts within me and I partially used this review to make sense of what I read.

I thought the message of this book was powerful and timely. It took a bit to get going, and some of its pacing felt off, but its message is still important and timely and warranted, I think, in today's day and age. I read it not quite knowing what to expect, so it held more than a few "shocks" for me that definitely grabbed my attention and encouraged me to keep reading (not that there was any concern over my stopping once the story kicked into "overdrive" after chapter eight; I was invested enough in the book by that point to finish it and see how it ended). I know the line between "grace" and "legalism" can be pretty fine, but we are also told that faith without works is dead and that we as Christians are to not to abuse our freedom to continue to willfully engage in sin. I could see myself reading this again at some point in the future, and hopefully I will be "further along" in my walk if I read it again and I learn something new from the reading.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book 5 stars and it is my favorite book. This book is fiction, only many of the relationships in this book are happening today. Rescued is a book about a Pastor and his family and how the Pastor divorces his wife with no biblical reasons and how it affects his family and his church. This book is also going to keep you on the edge of your seat. You will get to know the L-rd and what the Bible teaches in many ways throughout this book. You will get so attached to the characters!

A friend mailed me this book a bit over 2 years ago when I was going through a very difficult time. I thought, ok I will read it but it probably won't make me feel any better as I was so broken at the time. Boy, was I WRONG! I had my husband, who was a pastor get involved with another woman in our congregation and divorce me and marry her. I was so relieved that someone, especially men, would write about this as it is so prevalent in today's society. Which it should NOT be. I clung on to Terri, (the wife), and felt and understood her pain and how it affected their sons. I was glad in the book that the dad kept a relationship with his sons, as my ex did not.

More books like this need to be written. This is what happens in life and churches today and Believer's need to stop sitting in the pews thinking this won't happen in their church. This books teaches us to walk a holy walk with our L-rd and that we will be judged one day! This is truth.

We also need to weary of the "counterfeit grace" teaching in many Western churches today. Please, after you read this book, read in the Bible Matt. Chapter 7, especially the following verses:

Mat: 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Mat 7:22
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

Mat 7:23
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

[Adrienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book hardly caught my attention but continued to read since I loved most of John Bevere's nonfiction books...and finally towards the end is where it drew me in. Alan, a pastor, falls for Jenny who sings for the choir many years after his marriage was failing but near death experience he realizes it was him that failed his wife. But Jenny is the other woman, and thought his wife Terri didn't support him nor his ministry and the only good thing was the two sons they had together. However he gives a confession live on streaming back to his church he pastors at and his oldest son, Jeff is along but no one helps make the rescue. Jeff sees an opportunity to get the scuba gear and go in to save his father regardless of things he disapproved of concerning his father. But Jeff did have the opportunity before the disaster to hear about a heroic thing his father done to save another, like a shepherd going after the one lost in the parable Jesus gave in the Bible. This was moving and touching. Then the part about at the Judgment seat with a glorious light, Jesus, and how all things are revealed for all to see...the one Alan knew for sure would go was a no. So now he's terrified where his eternal life will be spent...now I'm curious. I am driven in two perspectives that the author(s) may take on this for an ending and know the author has to take one of them.

Those moments where it was good, I will say it was an mediocre/okay read. I wished the parts were good would've kept that same momentum throughout the book! (I think I read the other book(s) that the co-author helped with...will double-check.)

I received this book from a contest win years ago. I have always wanted to read this book since I have read his nonfiction material and love, but to write fiction piqued my curiosity.

Adrienna Turner
Author of God is in the Equation
www.dream4more.org
2.75/3 stars

[Dian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't put this book until I've finished it!! I read this novel and feel blessed^^

Novel ini mengingatkanku akan banyak hal..

Bagaimana kita ingin momen terakhir kita terjadi? Apakah akan dihabiskan untuk mengutuki orang lain? Atau dihabiskan dengan meneriaki orang-orang terdekat kita? Apakah kalian akan berada dalam kesibukan kantor? Atau akankah kalian mempunyai momen terakhir yang akan menginspirasi keluarga dan teman kalian yang membuat iman mereka dikuatkan?

One thing for sure, I want my life to be useful for Him..

Hal kedua yg kupelajari adalah inginkan selalu kehadiran Roh Kudus.. Tidak cuma sekedar beribadah,tp benar2 inginkan hadiratNya krn tanpa hadiratNya, kehidupan kita akan kosong..

Hal ketiga yg kudapatkan adalah jangan pernah berhenti mengasihi orang lain dan mengabarkan Injil kesukaan itu..

At last, you'll never know when the times come so be prepare!!

[Ginger Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

The read was very good. I couldn't put the book down. However, it confused me in my theology. Unfortunately people want to put the chains on christians and paul writes in the bible that we are free. It says not to use your freedom to sin but that you are free. This book then takes away the freedom. Our salvation does not come from us it solely from Jesus dying on the Cross. Galations 3:21 I do not nulify the grace of God for if righteousness comes from the law then Christ died for nothing. I do believe as Christians we need to hold fast to our strong walk with the Lord and to walk in the spirit. But being able to do it because I want to and not because I have to allows me to worship the Lord with all of my heart and love him for freeing me from the chains that bound me. I no longer live the roller coaster christian life.

[Yo Leo Ficción Cristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

RESEÑA COMPLETA


La historia está narrada de una forma peculiar, de modo que salta del presente al pasado muchas veces, lo cual hizo que me sintiera un poco perdida por momentos. Además, ésta es una historia dentro de otra historia; así que hay personajes que intercambian opiniones sobre lo que sucede en el relato.

[Carrie Westover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Life on the Line

Very well written book that makes you look at your life and ask the big questions; Will I go to heaven?; Am I a true follower of Jesus Christ or a counterfeit Christian?; Does my life reflect how I really feel about Jesus ?
I read this book in one sitting then spent time on my knees praying.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually reading this book and getting mad the whole time I was reading. However, I kept going to the end and was rewarded. If you get frustrated while reading, just know that it gets wrapped up nicely at the end...the very end.

[Brian Ming · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you contemplate the concept of eternity, how your life measures up to God's standards, and how things will appear after your end, this is the book you need to read. It is very well written, and compelling story of how things will happen after we pass from this life to the next.

[Tori Greenlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first three chapters seem out of place and confusing but once you get past them, this book is amazing. Some of the characters are obvious what'll happen but for anyone struggling with their faith or looking for it, this is the book for you.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The moral lessons taught in this book are top-notch and necessary for everyone to read and become familiarized with.

The writing was disappointing, fluffy, surfacey, and simple-minded.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced story - and a reminder why we put faith in God, and live for Him instead of ourselves. Quick to read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griping

This short, but action packed bookcaught my attention from the beginning. It has a very thought provoking premise. I'm going to go back to Driven by Eternity to review.

[Angela Medina]

Stay for the ending.

[Marshal Covin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Struggled through the first 3/4 of the story. While I love that Christian authors are tackling the theological nuances of salvation- John Brevere could have gone into greater depth and been more explicit in his exposition of what it truly means to be saved.

Romans 10:9 says: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

That’s all that there is to it. Yes- the book of James talks about faith without works being dead and distinguishes between real faith and a counterfeit faith- BUT the reader of this book is left wondering, “wait, did these characters ever fulfill Romans 10:9 or not? Did they accept God and gain a salvation which cannot be taken away? OR did they never actually accept Jesus at all?” The premise of this book is great and it’s an important read. I just would have liked less ambiguity in the narrative. The authors explanation at the end of the book is helpful, but I shouldn’t have to wait until the last 5 minutes of the book for the author to clarify such an important point.

It’s also important to know that when you are saved, your salvation cannot be removed. (“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
The author makes it sound as though some were saved only because they repented at the last minute before dying… that is not theologically sound. Once we have accepted Jesus, our salvation is assured. Obviously- that does not at all mean we have a free pass to continue to sin, but regarding salvation, our sins can no longer condemn us to an eternity separated from God. It can still wreck our lives like it did the protagonist in this book- but it cannot separate us from God.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.5.21.NIV

Overall, the book is worth reading to get your mind thinking. I do really like how the author touched on “cheap grace”- a topic covered extensively in “The Cost of Discipleship” by Diedrich Bonhoeffer, but everything could have used more exposition in the narrative.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful and gripping account of heaven and hell which causes everyone to pause and consider what their relationship with Christ is really like. Also a powerful reminder that those God has entrusted as teachers have the grave responsibility of preaching the truth even when it's unpopular. And lastly an incredible tale of revival.

[Heather Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued was a wonderful book. I loved the beautiful fictional story with the nonfiction truth woven within it. There were many parts of this story that I could relate to as a person who has spent most of my life in different churches. The sickening hypocrisy and false grace gospel are so toxic to true salvation.

[Milisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I expected. The message is strong, but the way it’s written sometimes felt a little forced or even unbelievable to me. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t fully connect with the style. It left me somewhere in the middle—appreciating the intent, but not sure the delivery worked for me.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great awakening to what we are here for! Also that this is not a joke. The decisions we make on earth affect how our eternity will be spent! We as Christians are here to be a light... a beacon of hope to this dark generation. We must stay focused and not get distracted by the cares of life!

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

O livro começou muito bom, aí ficou umas 200 páginas bem parado, com um monte de backstory, pra aí nas últimas 40 páginas ficar bom de novo. A história é muito boa mas o jeito que foi escrito não me encantou.

[Denise Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

I didn’t want to put this book down. It grips you and makes very clear what God’s Will is regarding our walk with Him. After reading ‘Rescued’ you know you have to get copies for your family/friends, Christians or not!

[Hernan Rueda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the entire book as I was doing the chores Lol.
As John Bevere himself says. This is a fiction book about spiritual truths.
Great book

[Pieteronella Missionary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, I love the way it put eternity into perspective. It is a very captivating book that makes me think about the choices I make in this life.

[Christine Fancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic theatrical audio! I cried and loved it!

[Bill Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather implausible. Ended up okay, but it sure had me wondering what the point was going to be.

[Kelly Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!! Great book!

[A.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this novel from two pastors who had differing opinions as to the book’s theology. When it was recommended that I read it I thought I was getting into heavily ideological fiction like The Shack, or The Screwtape Letters and prepared myself to search for theological mis-steps and/or profound truths.

I was pleasantly surprised that in Rescued, by John Bevere and Mark Andrew Olsen, story has pride of place and ideological intentions take a back seat, making the book an excellent, engaging read.

Rescued is the story of Alan Rockaway and his semi-estranged son Jeff. Alan is the pastor of a 6,000 member mega-church in Denver who leads a vibrant ministry and is married to a beautiful, devoted wife.

The problem is that the beautiful, devoted wife is not Jeff’s mother and in his eyes, Alan is not the iconic pastor everyone thinks he is. A submarine accident and a live video feed ultimately lead Alan and Jeff towards confronting Alan’s divorce and the hole in their relationship. But is it for the better?

While the story of the Rockaways will engage you emotionally, Rescued has even more to offer. Much of the book focuses on mysterious characters in the afterlife watching the story of Alan and Jeff unfold, while asking their own questions about life and faith. Without giving anything away I can say that you’ll experience a little of bit of Heaven and a little bit of Hell, quite literally, while reading this book.

Rescued reads like a thriller. It’s not too long, with a fair amount of action and plenty of dialogue. Olsen’s writing will have you flipping pages quickly, so start reading early. I guarantee you’ll be up late trying to finish.

And what of the theology?

In a note following the final chapter John Bevere says: “The themes of life, death, and the Hereafter woven into this story are gleaned from my nonfiction work Driven by Eternity, and in it you will find further expansion of the two certainties I keep ever before me: what I do at the cross of Jesus Christ determines where I will spend eternity, and the way I live as a believer determines how I will spend it.”

Simply put, the nuances of real, true salvation are the focus of Rescued. Though you may find something in the book that you disagree with – because theological differences abound among us – you won’t find anything outside of an orthodox Christian perspective. It doesn’t dive as deeply as The Shack, but it’s not as light as a Ted Dekker novel.

Enjoy reading Rescued. It’s my favorite kind of reading – an exciting story that leaves you thinking!

(This review can also be read at Chris Jager's blog www.bbhfiction.blogspot.com Posted simultaneously with permission.)