Reading The Revelation Relic by Rob Jones - Both a Timely and Critical Exploration of Fiction's Role in Any Culture...

 

Having another shooting in the US last night was just another way to point out that there is something wrong in our country and it's affecting the entire world... Indeed, there have been many more books written at this time, it seems to me, than ever before that is spotlighting the events now occurring in our Culture...

No, I'm not talking about the choice to create what I call a "treasure hunt" book that centers on the Bible. There have been and will continue to be, I am sure, many books written with that book as a central focus. What I'm talking about is "how" and "why" if was written. You see, for me, the use of another book as a basis for creating a new book requires some basic considerations. For instance, in the copyright for the book, it refers to "historical fact" as being a basis for some of the material... Yet, for many of us living in today's United States, we have become abundantly aware that (1) there is at present a determined plan to eradicate historical fact--or change it! (2) there is at present those in politics who are working to deny what we actually see to be true with our own eyes, yet it is denied to the point that legal actions are reflective of that inaccurate set of lies and (3) the insertion of religion within the political arena has become so extreme that any book written at this point is subject to question... or at least to garner closer attention.

But that is not why I decided to explore this book in an essay fashion. I think it is the very first time that I have rejected the use of some characters created for this adventure. My only rational thought was that the author refers to the book as an adventure, thought it would be interesting to younger readers, and decided to include a set of individuals who are actually supposed to be "the good guys..."

From an "adventure" standpoint; i.e., they handle the action and interaction with villain groups well. The problem is that these are individuals who are part of a new government oversight group (I surmised) called HARPA--‘The Heritage, Artifacts, and Relics Protection Agency. Sounds like it would require a group of talented professionals in various fields. What the reader got, however, was an almost constant barrage of dialogue of what you would expect from a group of high school students throwing jabs at each other, and more... For me, it was so inappropriate that it was disruptive to being able to sink into the depth this book required readers in order to follow it. Specifically, this book is heavy with ancient history of "secret" this or that group, together with present-day groups following the trail of the "treasure" for the power that it could or would provide the new owners.

Especially since it centered on the Book of Revelations from the Bible and it's supposed message. In this case, the writer of the Book, John, for some reason, decided to hide the last book he wrote, as given to him directly from God. (I don't know about you, but if God had dictated a book to me to share, I'd have shared that last chapter no matter what it said...)

You know folks, I started this post with a wonderful and enthusiastic praise song by a group who obviously are excited about God! The song they are singing is from Revelations 19. It seems to me that this is the main crux of where the divide really is for people at this point in the United States and perhaps across the world. The corruption of the meaning of words, especially from religious books. 

In fiction, if a mean of a word is corrupted, such as for the fantasy genre, it is up to the writer, AND the reader to decide whether they want to read an entirely new, possibly, vocabulary from another world. Personally, I find it tedious for an entire book, although I learned many different languages from Star Trek when it first was written... LOL

But that was pre-2015, especially, when a master manipulator entered the national political world and began to lie. So much so, that what was true then became false, and what was false was true as long as one individual decided it was, or he used his "power" to change it. He fought about fake news consistently, except for those news stations who chose to play his game and support his lies. And where are we now? Mass shootings at every level of America's culture...

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‘The stories in the Bible are just that – stories. Scary stories designed to keep gullible people like you in line.’--Russian Treasurer Hunter

Neverov was former KGB and he’s been relic-smuggling for thirty years! We have to presume he already knows about Gallo.’

Whoever was involved in these things was always well-armed.

‘Wait for just a second,’ Quinn said. ‘Isn’t the real question why we’re trying to unearth something that might trigger the Apocalypse?’

 It’s considered a matter of vital national security. We have been chosen because we don’t officially exist and any mission we undertake can be totally denied. If we get caught, we get disavowed.’ 

‘We’re not just chasing relic smugglers any more, Hunter,’ Jodie said. ‘If this has something to do with the Revelation and the Apocalypse, then sure, that scares me.’ ‘Revelation and Apocalypse are the same thing,’ Lewis said, mouth full of ham and cheese.

Lewis laughed. ‘Right, so that’s what you think is in store for us? The holy spirit of an enraged god bursting out of an ark and melting us all down?’ 

‘This can’t be about revenge, Colonel,’ Amy said. ‘That’s not the goal of this team. HARPA is here to secure the Revelation relic, Revelation 23 and the Tabula Dei and bring Kandarian to justice.’

I included this particular video because it is easy to follow and does not make an effort to go deeply into the Book of Revelation. But, especially, because he says what it is not... For instance, all the individual pieces that he mentions that can be found in the Bible, none of those issues are included. Except about the Apocalypse. Instead a "lost" last chapter is created which includes symbolic statues of different living things such as an eagle... To me, this is a routine expectation in fiction so I enjoyed reading the background provided for each along with its supposed message... Still there was the continual assumption that doom and gloom follows...

And, of course, that depends upon what choices you as a reader have made as a part of present culture...

Take for instance, if you support war and violence against others, such as is happening right now with the attack on Iran by the President...

You may find that you support war, indiscriminate murder, such as on the streets of Minnesota, or by governmental officials at various levels against citizens... There will always be differences of opinions. And, opinions might change for an issue, such as Abortion, based upon each different circumstance... 

What each of us have accepted merges into one culture, normally. A democracy also allows groups or states to have different rules and regulations; however, as a nation, such as with the Covid Pandemic, normally a nation-wide action would and should have been declared to prevent as many deaths as possible. However, when power overrides the good of the common man, a major division ultimately will occur and must be dealt with.

Actually, if I had not been disrupted by the type of dialogue, I'd have recommended this book as a good "treasure hunt" novel...

Wrapping his arms around Amy’s waist, Hunter said, ‘Can we stay for just one song?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Go down!’ ‘All I wanted was a dance!’ he said. ‘To the next balcony, Max!’ But he was already leaning over the wrought-iron balustrade and scanning for the next way down to the sidewalk.

Those who think using jokes or sexual innuendo during a business, or, particularly, a tense time, for many will be going too far... Sorry to say, all of these jibes, even if playful,  toward one another was just a reminder of what we are seeing on the news daily... Like J.D. Vance suggesting that The Pope should consider what he is saying as opposed to our so-called president!

So I hope you all understand just how easily this book, mixing death and destruction with references of the Bible, may instinctively result in a need for a writer, in my personal opinion, to better consider the setting of a book in relation to the culture at any given time. Many have pulled out, for instance, the book 1984 to consider in light of today's chaos. There is much that was projected in that fictional novel that appears to reflect today's world, only in this century not the last. Sooner or later, I'll take the time to read this one and perhaps do a similar essay...

Books have a very important role in every culture. They play either a positive or negative role, not necessarily because of how the book was written at the time it was, but because of whether or not, it reflects what we are experiencing in daily life...now...

For instance, for a time, especially in Florida, th governor was pushing for banning books, changing what was being taught, and more...Now it has spread upward and but been pushed behind the scenes due to bigger crises such as tariffs, food and gas prices, loss of medical assistance...and insertion of war into our lives for no acceptable reason, especially from a minority! But this does not mean that a governor such as DeSantis, who was recently in the news, is still trying to negatively impact the cultural lives many have lived for most of their lives.

Feedback on this type of indepth analysis of books in relation to today's cultural issues are always welcome...

Gabby