Kingdom's Reign (20 page)

1. The Great Sea represents the separation between heaven and earth. On his voyage to the Kingdom Across the Sea, Cedric meets Cullen of the United Cities of Cameria. What does Cameria represent?

2. Cedric explains that Cameria stood strong with Chessington when times became difficult. In what way is this an allegory for today?

1. When Cedric arrives at the Kingdom Across the Sea, he is reunited with his friends. They cannot enter the great city because the Silent Warriors are guarding the entrance. Only the Prince is deemed worthy to enter. Find a passage in Revelation where only Jesus is worthy to accomplish a task.

2. Cedric and the rest of the people could only come to the King by trusting in the Prince. What Bible verse tells us that the only way to the Father is through Jesus?

1. The Prince has prepared a home for each of His Followers. What Bible passage promises a home in heaven for each believer?

2. All of the Followers of the Prince are invited to partake in a grand feast. This is symbolic of a great supper that is to take place in heaven, described in Revelation 19:7–9. Can you find a parable that Jesus taught concerning a great supper?

3. In this chapter, Cedric is surprised to discover that not only is Leinad still alive, but he looks young again. Leinad explains that the Life Spice has restored his body. What does the Life Spice represent here?

1. In this chapter we finally learn the mysterious identity of Talea. Who does she represent?

1. The Prince continues to teach and train the Knights of the Prince. He warns Cedric that “the most dangerous threat of evil is when it seems to be absent.” This foreshadows the rebellion yet to come. Why is this statement so true even today? Find Scripture to back up your answers.

2. This chapter tells of Lucius's reign of terror in the kingdom under the pseudonym of Alexander Histen. What time in Bible prophecy does this represent?

3. Read Hosea 6:1–3 and Hosea 14:1–7, and describe how this parallels when Gabrik relays the repentant words of the citizens of Chessington to the King and the Prince.

1. The Prince and His army travel to defend Chessington against Lucius and all those who serve him. Can you
find Bible verses that talk about Jesus' returning with His saints to defend Jerusalem?

2. Which great biblical battle is represented in this chapter?

3. Read Philippians 2:10–11, and describe which scene in this chapter is used to symbolize this biblical event.

1. What does the Wasteland represent?

2. The Prince begins to rule in Arrethtrae. What does this symbolize biblically?

3. The Prince gives authority to His faithful knights to help Him rule in the kingdom. Can you find any Scripture to support this?

1. Cedric tells us that Cullen's good attitude helped the other Knights of the Prince overcome their feelings of apprehension. Have you ever encouraged someone who was afraid to obey God?

2. Cedric encourages the knights in leadership to gain the trust and respect of the people they rule. Why do you think this is wise?

3. Cedric and William enjoy a close relationship that surpasses even that of brothers. Why do you think this is? What does this represent, and can you think of a Bible verse that talks about such a relationship?

1. In this chapter, Cedric teases Talea about her greater age, and Talea replies that she has lived her whole life where age is irrelevant. What is the significance of her statement?

2. Kendra tells the story about how her brother and younger sister became Followers of the Prince, which caused a great division in their family. Later in her story she says she doesn't know what happened to her siblings. What does this symbolize?

3. Earlier in
Kingdom's Reign
, a terrifying creature called a scynth attacks the crew of Cedric's ship. Now we learn more about this beast. From the book of Revelation, can you find what this creature might represent?

4. Cedric and Cullen apprehend the leader of the vicious warriors that attacked the procession of knights. Cedric is initially angry with the man because of his words against the kind of freedom the Prince offers. However, Cedric later pities the man because of his ignorance. One of the great paradoxes of Christianity is that you are most free when you surrender your life to Christ. Have you ever completely surrendered to Christ?

1. In the beginning of this chapter, we read that there are occasional skirmishes with Histen loyalists. What does this symbolize, and why is this significant?

1. Cedric journeys to Chessington to see the Prince. During their visit, the Prince asks Cedric how he is faring in his performance as a knight. When Cedric says he has continued his training, the Prince responds, “Knighthood is in the heart and in the mind.” What does this mean?

2. What do you think is significant about the bitter wine?

1. In this chapter, Cedric and Talea duel. What does this symbolize?

2. Cedric realizes that the King gave Arrethtraens the right to choose evil or good. Why do you think the King allowed His people to choose for themselves? What does this represent, and what does it mean for us?

1. In this chapter we finally learn what the secret meetings were all about. What major biblical event is allegorized in this chapter?

2. Why does Jaret choose Alexander Histen over the Prince?

1. Cedric states that “the wicked heart of man” aided in the release of the King's enemies from the Wasteland. Find some Bible verses that talk about the nature of humankind without Jesus.

1. What is the importance of Cedric and Talea's encounter with the scynths?

1. Find the verses in Revelation that are symbolized by Lucius and his evil army surrounding Chessington.

2. What is the significance of the Vactors of Fire? Why does the King use them to execute His judgment on Arrethtrae? What does this symbolize?

1. What does New Chessington symbolize?

2. The Kingdom Series is exciting because it is an allegory of the greatest story ever told. However, what is even more exciting is that this story isn't
just
a story. Everything in the Bible is true. Therefore, not only can you enjoy the drama of this fictional story, you can also be a true follower of Jesus Christ in reality. So I ask just as Cedric did: do you believe?

1. The United States of America.

2. The United States and Great Britain played key roles in reestablishing Israel as a nation after World War II, a significant fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Since then, these nations have supported and helped protect God's chosen people through much adversity.

1. In Revelation 5:1–7, God holds a book that is sealed, and an angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” No man was found worthy in heaven or on earth except for Jesus.

2. John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

1. John 14:2–3.

2. Luke 14:16–24. In this parable the master of the house invites everyone to come, but only a few do.

3. The Life Spice represents God's power over all life in the universe—from the power to heal here on earth to the redemption of our bodies by the Resurrection, as stated in Romans 8:23.

1. Talea represents the children who died in the womb.

1. First Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Lions sneak up on their prey and pounce on them when they least expect it. Therefore, we should never become lackadaisical in our walk of faith.

2. The rise to power of the Antichrist as described in Revelation.

3. Many Bible verses foretell how the Jews will return to the Lord in the last days and finally accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

1. Revelation 19:11–16 and Zechariah 14. There are many others.

2. The battle of Armageddon.

3. After the duel between the Prince and Lucius, everyone kneels before the Prince, even His enemies, just as everyone will kneel before Jesus and proclaim Him Lord.

1. The bottomless pit that Satan and his demons are cast into for one thousand years, as described in Revelation 20:1–3.

2. The reign of Jesus Christ as our earthly king.

3. Luke 19:12–19 and Revelation 20:6.

1. Answer based on personal experience.

2. After suffering under Lucius's tyrannical and diabolical
rule, the people of Arrethtrae are probably still leery of anyone in authority. Cullen's direction is also wise because people respond positively to a trustworthy leader.

3. Cedric and William have been given a purpose beyond any other: to serve the Prince. This purpose bonded them through times of persecution and triumph. This represents the fact that when we accept Christ and His calling, we become part of the family of God, which transcends blood ties. A good verse describing such a close friendship is Proverbs 18:24.

1. Just as there is no age in the Kingdom Across the Sea, there is no time in heaven. James 4:14 says, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

2. Jesus says in Matthew 10:35 and in Luke 12:53 that His truth will divide families, because some will believe and some will not. Kendra didn't know what happened to her siblings because they were taken when the Prince came for them. Read Matthew 24:40–41.

3. In Revelation 9:1–12, a frightful creature rises out of the bottomless pit that is described as being able to torment men like a scorpion. This is one of the seven trumpet judgments and is probably symbolic rather than an actual creature.

4. Answer based on personal experience.

1. The Bible indicates that during the thousand-year reign there will still be sinners. So even though Jesus comes to earth to rule, there will be a need for correction and discipline. The world still isn't paradise because of man's sinful nature and free will to choose right or wrong.

1. This signifies the fact that although we should honor God by following His commandments, it is our hearts and minds that He is most concerned about, for out of the heart flows the important things of life. Read Proverbs 4:23. Also in Revelation 2:23, God says He searches both the hearts and the minds of people.

2. The Bible often mentions sealing the believers of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, as in Ephesians 1:13. Many of the Jews will be sealed to God during the Great Tribulation as well. The bitter wine represents sealing the believers of Jesus and preserving them against the final Day of Judgment.