"Empire's End" or as it is sometimes called on sites "I, Paul" by Jerry B Jenkins is the adult companion book to "I, Saul", a youth historical fiction about the Apostle Paul. Though Paul wrote a huge chunk of the New Testament, little is known of his personal life. In this fictional telling, Jenkins fills in the gaps starting with the horrors that Saul inflicted on the people of The Way and following him through his conversion and writings.

The story starts off in an advanced writing style that might seem hard to follow for some, but the point is to catch up the reader with the politics of the times. Following the Preamble, the writing takes a more readable fashion so that the reader can become more involved with the storyline. Jenkins is one of the infamous duo who wrote "Left Behind" yet this is the first book of his I have read. He is a brilliant writer, who writes with an intelligent fashion, yet can keep the reader interested without making it hard to understand. I have always wondered how Christians found the 'turning a new leaf' of Paul to be authentic. I don't think I would have believed him until he proved himself. I don't think I would have forgiven him. How many times have I lost something that could have been good because I wouldn't forgive? He takes Paul's story and turns it into not only a thinker, but an adventure story. I would recommend this to anyone, not just Christians as a good thriller. ( )

Title: Empire’s End
Author: Jerry B. Jenkins
Pages: 336
Year: 2015
Publisher: Worthy
My rating is 5+ stars out of 5.
Anyone who is familiar with the Bible will enjoy reading a novelization of the man Paul and his life. Those who haven’t read the Bible may find this novel of vast interest and willing to be open to the Gospel that is clearly shared multiple times in the book. What I really enjoyed was how it made Paul seem that he was a man to whom God spoke and through whom He gave us portions of the written Word we have in the New Testament today.
It was curious to consider what pain, suffering, longings, joys and trails he lived through and with while traveling all across the land. The variety of people he spoke to who both accepted his message and those who wanted nothing to do with the offer of salvation, especially through Paul’s speaking. In the novel, it reminded me of how human Paul was and to not place him upon a pedestal, but to worship God alone.
The book begins and continues to draw readers in by making the reality of the message of God through Paul very believable. Spread throughout the novel is Scripture and it is shown to be as natural as any other story to be shared with anyone we may come across.
Jerry Jenkins brings the ancient world to life and people to us fresh from the past to examine and consider the work God has done in and through their lives. To think of how God spoke to Paul and trained him for the work He was calling him to, taking the Gospel to the Gentiles. The cost to Paul we tend to forget, and this tale gives us pause to consider that anyone who takes up his cross and follows the Lord will pay a cost throughout their lives.
Empire’s End is a great read and frankly if you know of someone unwilling to read the Bible, this novel is a great way to evangelize them. So grab a copy for your own personal library and maybe one or two to prayerfully give to those whom the Lord lays on your heart.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

I had a hard time getting into this book but I am glad that I stuck with it. It wasn’t that the story was slow; it was that I had to keep going to my Bible (which is great) and googling historical events of the era.

There were several characters/ideas throughout the story that threw me and initially irritated me:

• At first I was completely baffled by the horse. The horse was described as a big black stallion, which made Saul higher in the saddle than the men in his command to instill respect for his position. Then the stallion is used as the means of facilitating the miraculous.
• We are then introduced to a romance in Paul’s life.
• Paul was thrown overboard from a ship (I will leave the details for you to read).

Taking the time to think and search through my concerns was one of the true benefits to this story. I learned so much about Paul and his missionary journeys. It also challenged my presuppositions. I came to the realization that there is much that we are not told in scripture, leaving the details of daily life unknown. If all of those details were laid down for us the Bible could never be read in multiple lifetimes.

I believe that the author is taking literary license but is also trying to keep the story within the realm of possibility for the times and the details that we do have sketched out for us.

• The Romans used horses during this time period so it is very likely that Saul rode a stallion.
• Whether or not Paul had a romance is unknown but conceivable. Here are a few Bible scriptures used in the debate as to whether or not Paul had a wife:
1 Corinthians 9:5
1 Corinthians 7:1-7
1 Corinthians 7:8-9
Galatians 1:14
• Thrown overboard? Possibly but not mentioned in Scripture as far as I am aware.

Paul is made human in this story, my meaning being that we are shown pride, anger, and lack of patience, pride, and more pride. I know that I often tend to forget that those that we read about in the Bible that God does miraculous things through are just flawed humans like the rest of us. I took Paul off of the pedestal and placed him where he should be, reality. No human deserves exultation as that can only be given to God.

I appreciated that Paul is shown both as the Godly man that he was and as the sinful man that he was. He was a man who learned (a true disciple), was faithful, and fully trusting when he did not know where the next step would take him.

Some quotes from the story that I truly appreciated:

"If I had learned nothing else as a bondservant of Christ, besides the maddening intrusion of my old nature at the worst possible times, I knew that when He spoke, I was to respond."

"The Lord had hard lessons to teach me, and not all came in threats on my life, being chased out of cities, or even feeling I had been the cause of the deaths of others, including the people at Yanbu and then Nicodemus. I yearned to be victorious for Christ, a conqueror—more than a conqueror. Not just because I had always been a competitor; I believe my heart was pure in this. As a bondservant of Jesus I longed for Him to instill within me the conviction that it was not I who lived, but Christ, so that anytime I proclaimed His truth, His gospel, His message, His story, no one could dispute or deny or reject it."

Paul learned that "Success was not the goal; obedience was."

While I am not in agreement with the author’s theology at all times it doesn't matter. The differences that I hold are not salvific issues and have been debated since the death and resurrection of Christ. Greater minds than mine have debated them without resolution. Only God alone knows for sure. All that matters is that Jerry Jenkins knows and preaches Christ as the redeemer and author of our salvation.

This novel is a human portrayal of a man. Sin, flaws and all. A man that was used mightily by God to serve His will. I pray that I would serve so well.

I received this galley in consideration for an honest review.

Please see all of my reviews at https://blessedandbewildered.wordpress.com ( )

This is a beautifully written biblical story about Paul the Apostle. It goes from his early years as a hater of God and Jesus as the messiah to when he learns to believe that Jesus is the messiah. Much of this probably came from Mr. Jenkins mind but it seems like it all could have happened just this way. I hope to read many more books by Jerry B. Jenkins. I received this book from first look for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

I really liked I, Saul by Jerry Jenkins. It is a contemporary thriller combined with an inventive look into the life of the Apostle Paul. In fact, I gave it a rare Very Highly Recommended rating. So I was really looking forward to diving back into the life of Paul as told by Jenkins. But Empire’s End was a mixed read for me.

Empire’s End, told in the first person voice of Paul, begins with the stoning of Stephen and Paul’s trip to Damascus to continue his persecution of followers of The Way. Following this, Jenkins takes the reader to the Arabian wilderness where Paul begins his three year training. There’s very little historical record of Paul’s life outside of his missionary journeys, so this time spent with Jesus is the author’s imagining of Paul’s time there. Jenkins’ fictional take on this time is interesting and plausible. He never has God saying anything that is not scriptural. In fact, most of what God communicates in Empire’s End is taken directly from Paul’s letters. I hate to say it, but that is what falls flat to me. I am not sure what I expected from a narrative of Paul’s time with Jesus, but this was not it. I guess I expected more interaction.

The novel’s pacing is a bit irregular as well. Some things within the novel developed too quickly, while others seemed to take forever to unfold. I found myself skimming to get to the action. I do think that Jenkins did a good job of making Paul real. Just like all Christians, he needed to be taught, disciplined and brought along in his maturity. Paul did not go from his conversion to being a master preacher/teacher to both the Jews and Gentiles without help from God and fellow believers. Jenkins also does an excellent job at exploring just what it means to be a bondservant, a lesson for all who call God Master. Paul encounters opposition, indifference and loss while struggling to keep his eyes fixed on Jesus.

So, there you have it. If you are looking for a thrilling continuation of the story begun in I, Saul, you are not going to find it here. But if you want a glimpse into what might have been, then Empire’s End could be the novel you are looking for.

(Thanks to Worthy Publishing for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )