The town of Ashton is steadily being encompassed by spiritual darkness. The main characters, Marshall Hogan and Hank Busche, are fighting this shroud of darkness. Marshall, the former New York Times editor, moved there with his family to have a less hectic life. He runs the local newspaper there called The Ashton Clarion, formerly headed by Ted Harmel, who got run out of town by the Omni Corporation or the Universal Consciousness Society. (They are both connected in many ways.) Hank Busche is the new pastor, that was accidentally voted in by the congregation, of the Ashton Community Church, that used to be pastored by Reverend James Farrel. Marshall goes to pick up his daughter from Whitmore University because his wife has to get groceries. He interrupts the class, and the woman giving the lecture, Professor Juleen Langstrat, told him to wait outside. After the class is over, he apologizes to Sandy and they begin to argue. She ends up getting a ride home with a friend. Marshall was talking with Kate, his wife, and she mentions some stuff about what Sandy had learned from the lecture that day. She tells him that it sounded kind of weird, like reaching inside your inner self and stuff like that. So, having that reporter sense, he decidedes to check it out, and finds out that she also does therapy sessions involving the same type of material. He soon learns that it’s witchcraft, neo-Pagan type stuff. Just like Ted Harmel, Marshall and his reporter, Bernice Krueger, stick their noses where they shouldn’t be. They soon find out that they may be on the same path that got Ted Harmel, along with many other important people, kicked out of town. Hank Busche feels the burden to pray for this town, because recently, there has been so much evil occuring there. He soon confronts demons in both Ron Forsythe and Bobby Corsi, along with the demons in charge: the Strongman and Rafar, the Prince of Babylon, who are in Alexander Kaseph, the head of the Omni Corporation, and Juleen Langstrat, the head of the Universal Consciousness Society. Marshall Hogan and Hank Busche are fighting this present darkness. Marshall fights the physical side of it, (flesh and blood, while not actually harming anyone) while Hank Busche fights the spiritual side of it, renouncing, rebuking, and casting out demons in the name of Jesus as he goes, being the man of God he is. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12, NIV)
This book relates to me and the world in how there is a spiritual battle raging inside of all us between angels and demons, God and Satan, good and evil.That’s why Christians need to petition and intercede for the souls of men. The evil side usually wins if someone is not a Chrisitan, no matter how many good deeds they have done, and obviously if someone is doing bad deeds. The good side has won only when the Christian is doing what he should do as a Christian, like witnessing. Angels and demons are spirits; that’s why we cannot see them, unless we enter the spirit realm. They literally fight, with swords at least. They are both created beings; just like mankind. Demons, along with Satan, used to be angels until they were thrown out of heaven for their transgressions against Elyon. (Most High) “12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!13 You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. 15 But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. 16 Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, 17 the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?” (Isaiah 14:12-17, NIV)
The theme of this book is that spiritual warfare happens, and it’s a part of every single person’s life, and he or she can either choose to overcome evil, or help the evil side win. My recommendation for this book is that if you are a person that likes Christian, supernatural suspense thrillers, than this is definitely the type of book you’d like to read. There is tons of fast paced action.(angels fighting demons and chasing them away, especially when the warriors grab the little demons and use them to bat and swat away other demons) There are really good match-ups: angel warriors face demon warriors, Tal, the Captain of the Host, faces Rafar, the Prince of Babylon, and the General faces the Strongman, both that report directly to the highest superiors: God and Satan. These things actually happen: there are groups that sabotage towns and cities for Satan. Demons help them and do Satan’s biddings. Major weaknesses for all demons are praying and rebuking. In the book, angels get strength, speed, and healing from what they call the “prayer cover.” It helps them carry out big operations that they would otherwise fail, because of being sheerly outnumbered.