Of Such Is The Kingdom, PART I: Discontent and Insurrection: A Novel of the Christ and the Roman Empire
About this ebook
The non-conformist, Manaheem, Herod's foster brother, is hired by Herod to foment an insurrection against Pontius Pilate, whom he distrusts. Manaheem recruits the blacksmith, Barabbas, to be the insurrection leader, to the dismay of Barabbas' Godly but fearful wife (when he finally tells her).
The mendicant, an unfortunate but pensive young man named Timotheus, joins with an older beggar completely unsympathetic to his musings.
Pontius Pilate sees himself as a weak ruler, but his wife pushes him to be stronger and to even take over Herod's territory.
Manaheem re-unites with his former wife, Claressa. In need of more money, he tries to blackmail Herod over his illicit affair With Herodius, his brother’s wife, but, Herod decides to marry Herodius and send his present wife back to her father. John the Baptist preaches to Herod and looses his head. Herod's palace is attacked, and suspecting Pilate, he tells Manaheem go ahead with the mission. Barabbas is successful in forming a group of insurrectionists and they rehearse for the big day. But will the insurrection succeed? .
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###WRITING STYLE: The writing style is a unique eclectic style, combining poetry, straight dialogue and 1st person stream-of-consciousness narrative with the 3rd person narration.
About the author
I, James M. Becher, was born on June 8, 1943 of a Christian family and accepted Christ at an early age. Interested in writing and drama since High School, I graduated from a Christian high school, where I participated in several plays, got A's in English, and wrote write several short stories, poems and articles, usually incorporating my faith into my writings. While attending St. Petersburg Jr. College, in St. Petersburg, FL, I won second prize in a writing contest with a Biblical short story, which forms part of my first novel, Of Such Is The Kingdom. I attended Bob Jones University, in Greenville, S.C., and then Clearwater Christian College, graduating with a B.A. in Bible-lit. I went on to Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1974 with a M.Div. Ordained in November of 1974, I served in different Ministries, one of which was a foreign student ministry. It was there I started writing my first two novels, and there, I met my dear wife, Berenice, from Venezuela. We were married in 1980 and went to Caracas, Venezuela in 1989 for an extended stay, where, along with teaching English, I completed my purposeful time travel novel, "Impossible Journey, A tale of times and Truth," using a friend’s computer. Upon returning to the U.S., I tried in vain to purchase a computer without proper credit, and then one day a man came to my door with a computer, and said the LORD told him to give it to me. So, because of the Lord plans, I was able to also complete the Biblical novel, "Of Such Is The Kingdom". Also shortly after returning to US, I began publishing a self-help ezine, my articles from which form my self-help book "Principles of the Kingdom." In 2006, I revised and expanded Of Such Is The Kingdom. Then in 2012, I had the opportunity to preach a Christmas sermon, which resulted in my writing “The Christmas Victory, A Gem of A Sermon, All Wrapped Up In A Historical Novel.” This year, I submitted Of Such Is The Kingdom to WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, and, following their editorial assessment, completely revised it again, with historical accuracy fact-checking and fine-tooth-comb editing. ---James M. Becher
