The Scepter and the Star


Book Description

John J. Collins here offers an up-to-date review of Jewish messianic expectations around the time of Jesus, in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He breaks these expectations down into categories: Davidic, priestly, and prophetic. Based on a small number of prophetic oracles and reflected in the various titles and names assigned to the messiah, the Davidic model holds a clear expectation that the messiah figure would play a militant role. In sectarian circles, the priestly model was far more prominent. Jesus of Nazareth, however, showed more resemblance to the prophetic messiah during his historical career, identified as the Davidic “Son of Man” primarily after his death. In this second edition of The Scepter and the Star Collins has revised the discussion of Jesus and early Christianity, completely rewritten a chapter on a figure who claims to have a throne in heaven, and has added a brief discussion of the recently published and controversial Vision of Gabriel.




The Scepter and the Star


Book Description

"In The Scepter and the Star, John J. Collins turns to the Dead Sea Scrolls to shed new light on the origins, meaning, and relevance of messianic expectations. The first Christians were Jews who believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah - the Christ; Christians could be called "followers of the messiah." Other Jews did not accept this claim, and so the Christians went their own way and grew into a separate religion. The disagreement about the identity of the messiah is the root difference between Judaism and Christianity." "The recent disclosure of the full corpus of the Dead Sea Scrolls now makes it possible to see this disagreement in a fuller context than ever before. The most stunning revelation of the new evidence is the diversity of messianic expectations in Judaism around the beginning of the common era. The Hebrew word "messiah" means "anointed one." According to the scrolls, the messiah could be a warrior king in the line of David, a priest, a prophet, or a teacher. He could be called "the Son of God." Jesus of Nazareth fitted the expectations some Jews of the time had of the messiah. The majority of Jews, however, had quite different expectations."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved




The Kingdom of Israel


Book Description

Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.




The Scepter's Return


Book Description

Two rival kings must unite to defeat a malevolent god in the “wise and humorous” conclusion to the Hugo Award–winning author’s Scepter of Mercy trilogy (Publishers Weekly). When Avornis falls, the Banished One will reign supreme. Rival kings Lanius and Grus each covet solitary power, but realize that a kingdom divided cannot stand against the evil god who enslaves the minds of men through their nightmares. Once, Avornis was safe from his dark influence, protected by a powerful talisman supplied by the pantheon of deities who expunged the immortal called Milvago from their ranks. But that was centuries earlier, before the Scepter of Mercy was lost, and only through its recovery can Avornis survive. Now, Lanius has a daring—most likely impossible—plan, but it requires the cooperation of his fellow ruler, the warrior and usurper king Grus. If they fail to work together they will die together nevertheless, along with everything that is good and right in their world. Hugo Award winner Harry Turtledove brings his Scepter of Mercy trilogy to a spectacular end with a story of courage, conflict, and selfless sacrifice. In The Scepter’s Return, as in the previous books of the series, the acclaimed world-builder reimagines epic fantasy, leaving his own special imprint on the popular genre much as he has done with the alternate history for which he is so justifiably renowned.







The Prince and the Scepter


Book Description

"The King is dead!" was the cry heard throughout the realm of Aldarra; dying suddenly of a mysterious illness; a malady mysterious to most, but not to all. Join our story as King Artemus's son, Prince Jared returns after his nine years self-imposed exile. Accompanied by his loyal companions, Raglan the woodsman and Pym the former innkeeper; as they match wises against the treacherous Chancellor Argyll, and his half-brother Lord Tyrell. A tale woven from the legends of King Arthur and Camelot; as Prince Jared must battle Lord Tyrell according to the Ancient Law of Trial by Combat. A fantasy adventure brimmed with bravery, loyalty, truth and rediscovered love; and the bringing in of a new age, and the knowledge of the One God. The Prince and the Scepter is the first installment of the The Realm of Aldarra Trilogy. Other following titles are Schemer's Moon and The Mark of the Zealot. Jacques M. Averett, originally a California native, moved to Colorado in August of '92. Presently living in Denver Co. for the past eighteen and a half years; various interests include writing, art, photography and music.




The Bastard King


Book Description

Since the loss of the Scepter of Mercy, the kingdom of Avornis has been threatened by its magic-wielding neighbors, until King Lanius and King Grus risk everything to bring the missing scepter home.







Judah's Scepter and Joseph's Birthright


Book Description

John H. Allen (1847 - 1930) was an American minister and author, best known for his 1902 work, “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, An Analysis of the Prophecies of the Scriptures in regard to the Royal Family of Judah and the Many Nations of Israel, the Lost Ten Tribes.” The book is organized as follows: Part First. The Birthright; or, the Promise of Many Nations to Abraham I. Introductory II. Race Versus Grace III. The Sceptre and the Birthright IV. Jacob’s Seed Divided Into Two Kingdoms V. All Israelites Are Not Jews VI. The Broken Brotherhood IX. The Jews Go to Babylon and Return Part Second. The Sceptre; or, the Promise of a Perpetuated House, Throne, and Kingdom To David I. The Sceptre, and the Davidic Covenant III. The Tearing Down and Rooting Out IV. Vindication of the Personal Promises to Jeremiah V. A Royal Remnant That Escapes VI. The Prince of the Scarlet Thread VII. The “Prince of the Scarlet Thread” and “the Royal Remnant” United Part Third. The Veil Lifted From the Abrahamic Nations I. Lost Israel and the First Overturn Located II. Jacob’s Pillow-Pillar Stone III. The Other Overturns IV. Dan — the Serpent’s Trail VI. A Few More Identities VII. A Study in “Scarlet” IX. The Two-fold Aspect of Prophetic Israel




Salvation for the Righteous Revealed


Book Description

Why is there such an ethical emphasis in Jesus’ gospel proclamation? This work finds the answer in Jesus meeting his audience within their own conceptual realms and then expanding those realms to point to the nature of his salvation. The bulk of this work investigates the soteriology of Second Temple Judaism, especially of the Qumran Scrolls. The apocalyptic lesson was the demand of a greater covenantal obedience, held in tension with God’s grace, a demand met through sectarian revelation and involving a somewhat diverse messianism. Within these conceptions, Jesus affirms that salvation is indeed for the “righteous,” but as defined through himself as the unique Messiah. This work is particularly useful regarding the Jesus—Paul debate, for it provides a diachronic solution grounded in the cultural-historical milieu of the times.




Recent Books