The Last Disciple

Written by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer

Narrated by Doug Lamoreux

First-century Rome is a perilous city as Nero stalks the political circles and huddled groups of believers. To be safe, Christians must remain invisible.

Gallus Sergius Vitas is the only man within Nero’s trusted circle willing to do what it takes to keep the empire together. He struggles to lessen Nero’s monstrosities against the people of Rome—especially the Christians. But as three Greek letters are scrawled as graffiti throughout the city, Nero’s anger grows.

As the early church begins to experience the turbulence Christ prophesied as the beginning of the last days, an enemy seeks to find John’s letter, Revelation, and destroy it. Meanwhile the early Christians must decipher it and cling to the hope it provides as they face the greatest of all persecutions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Release date: Oct 4, 2004
• ISBN: 9781414325248

Hank Hanegraaff

Hank Hanegraaff es presidente y moderador de la junta del Instituto Cristiano de Investigación, con sede en Carolina del Norte. También es el anfitrión de un programa nacional de radio que se escucha a diario en todo Estados Unidos y Canadá, y en el mundo entero por el portal equip.org de la Internet. Hank ha escrito más de veinte libros.  Considerado altamente como uno de los principales autores y apologistas cristianos, Hank está profundamente dedicado a la preparación de los cristianos para que estén tan familiarizados con la verdad, que cuando se presenten las falsificaciones en el horizonte, las puedan reconocer de inmediato. A través de su programa de llamadas en vivo, responde las preguntas a partir de una cuidadosa investigación y un razonamiento sólido, además de entrevistar a los líderes y pensadores más importantes del momento. 

Reviews for The Last Disciple

[robeik_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A basket full of interwoven plots centred on the supposed fear that the Roman Emporer Nero will have for a text in the newer written book of Revelation by the apostle John. It pre-supposes that the things written by John are prophesies of the current time - i.e. focused on the threat that Rome is for the newly emergent church - the persecution, the fall of Jerusalem. Others dispute this line - but that is for other forums to discuss.The authors also indicate in a prolog that they are taking a line against the "Left Behind" series, which I am not familiar with. Apparently this concerns the power of Satan, something these authors say is diminished.However, I enjoyed it as a book to read in the train on the way to and from work. The authors contrive quite a few circumstances, and the explanation are at time hard to follow. And in the end it ties up only one loose end - the rest are left hanging.

[tikilights_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book with a fascinating theology presented! This series lays out a pretty convincing case that the tribulation has already happened and that Nero is the anti-Christ. To read this book, you definitely need an open mind, especially considering the popularity of the Left-Behind series and its fans that are very defensive. Be fair and openly look at Hanegraaff's biblical arguments and then decide what to believe when you've finished the book or the series. The characters are very well written and the many storylines are mostly all interesting to read. I never had a problem leaving one plot to be taken to another. This book is more for teens and up because of some the content

[adriel_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A well written fiction about the persecutions of the Christians during the Nero rule of Rome. The main character is a Roman advisor of Nero's who disagrees with the persecution and stands up to Nero in order to minimize the destruction of the Christians. Hank Hanegraff is the Bible Answer Man and believes that the great tribulation occured during this time in history.His basis: Exogetical Escatology - See his book by the same title.

[dubiousdisciple · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m unaware of another book out there that presents the preterist view in a fictional story, and that alone earns The Last Disciple recognition. If you need a reminder, preterism is a branch of Christianity that believes most of the prophecies and covenantal promises of the Bible have been fulfilled. Armageddon is over. Much, if not all, of Revelation has occurred. The setting for the book is the years of Nero Caesar’s reign, just prior to the war of 70 AD, when the Romans overran Jerusalem. Nero, of course, is the Beast of Revelation, and a beastly fellow he is! The story is told primarily from the viewpoint of Vilas, a trusted advisor, who recognizes Nero is in the throes of madness. He meets up with John the Apostle, the author of Revelation, and together they flee the tentacles of the Beast. This is the first of a series, though I haven’t yet seen evidence of future books.Fiction is not Hanegraff’s bread and butter. I guess that’s where Brouwer comes in. For the record, I’ll say the fiction is moderately well-written and the plot engaging enough to hold my attention, but that hardly seems to matter to readers. Reviews are all over the map. If appears that you’re a preterist, you’ll love this book. If you’re a futurist, you’ll hate it. If you’re undecided, you should probably save the fiction until you can enjoy it, and study the Biblical foundations of preterism first.

[sparkleandchico · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

There are three books in this series, The Last Disciple is the first. This book was not dissimilar to The Advocate by Randy Singer that I have just read.

It took me a while to understand what was going on in this book. There were numerous characters and the author jumps around a lot amongst the different scenes. It was difficult to keep track of the plot and storylines. I found myself re-reading whole sections to keep on track. I also found that I wasn't gripped by the main story and became indifferent to what was going to happen by the end.

The book is set in the first century and Nero is in control. The authors present a view that is supposed to contrast the Left Behind series of eschatological events. Basically, the majority of biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled, the Great Tribulation has already happened and the anti-christ has been revealed. There is an explanation of this at the end of the book alongside the biblical reasoning for this interpretation. This is not a view that is held by most Christians who expect the rapture, tribulation, anti-christ etc at some point in the future.

Whilst personally I don't hold the views of the authors, as it is fiction, this would not have influenced my rating had the story been more comprehensive. Some characters seemed to become lost as the book progressed and we never learned what happened to them. Maybe this will be addressed in future books but I probably won't be reading them...

I appreciate that the authors made the point that end time views are not something for Christians to divide over and that it is good to keep the dialogue open. I agree and am interested in the various views on the subject.

This book could've been interesting but it was also full of graphic violence, torture and some sexual content although the latter wasn't graphic. There was no bad language. I am rating this as okay but wouldn't recommend it as it just didn't hold my interest.