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Authors: Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed

The Guardian

BOOK: The Guardian
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What Readers Are Saying about
The Guardian

Up-and-coming authors Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed nailed it with this entertaining, first-rate-thriller. The action never stops—I simply couldn’t put this book down!

—Mindy Starns Clark, award-winning, bestselling author of
Shadows of Lancaster County
and
The House that Cleans Itself

I haven’t read a book front to back in a long time but
The Guardian
was one that I just couldn’t put down! I knew Robbie Cheuvront was a very creative person from writing songs with him over the years. But as a novelist, Robbie has, without a doubt, taken his craft to a whole new level! Robbie and Erik have outdone themselves!

—Richie McDonald, former lead singer of LoneStar and award-winning songwriter

Having been privileged to work with Robbie cowriting songs and recording in the studio, I’m certain anything with his and Erik’s names on it deserves a closer look—he is the definition of multitalented.

—Chris Waters, Grammy Award-winning songwriter
and food critic columnist

The plot is captivating. The characters are believable. The pace is fast. You absolutely must read this book.

—Ben Stroup, writer, blogger, and consultant,
TheContentMatrix.com

Well congratulations, Pastor Erik and Pastor Robbie, for writing such a thrilling first novel. I picked up
The Guardian
and could not put it down. It had me on the edge of my seat from the first page, and I couldn’t stop turning. The writing is fresh and relevant, and the storyline is incredibly gripping. You’ll be taken in right away and immediately invested in the characters and their phenomenal, perilous, life-threatening quest. A definite must read.”

—Pete Wilson, author of
PLAN
B, senior pastor of Crosspoint Church, (Nashville, Tennessee),and host of the blog
Without Wax

DEDICATION

For our wives, Tiffany and Katrina,
who have sacrificed more than anyone would know
so that we can minister and write.
We love you and thank God for you.

© 2011 by Robbie Cheuvront and Erik Reed

Print ISBN 978-1-61626-278-5

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-60742-538-0
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-60742-539-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.

For more information about the authors, please access the following Internet address:
http://www.thejourneytn.org/

Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683,
www.barbourbooks.com

All scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
®
, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover design: Faceout Studio,
www.faceoutstudio.com

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses
.

Printed in the United States of America.

Table of Contents

A Note from the Authors

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Epilogue

Discussion Questions

About the Authors

Preview Chapters The 13: Fall

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORS

Thank you for taking the time to read mine and Erik’s first novel,
The Guardian
. We hope you will be edified and enjoy the story. And that’s just what it is: a story. Erik and I do not, never have, nor will we ever proclaim to be scholars of the book of Revelation, prophets, or anything of the like. We simply were intrigued by a passage of scripture in Revelation that mentioned a little scroll and took note that there was never any more mention of it throughout the rest of the book. Being scatterbrained and creative (to a fault sometimes!), the story almost wrote itself. We do not intend for anyone to read into the story for some cryptic meaning or solution to the book of Revelation. It is merely a fictitious story, one that is focused on Anna Riley’s journey of faith. Nothing more. The scriptures are clear: no one knows the hour except the Father. We’ll leave the decoding of Revelation to others, if they wish. But ultimately, we just yearn for the return of our Savior, whenever God chooses that to be.

—Robbie and Erik

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

R
EVELATION
10: 1-4, 8 Esv

PROLOGUE
Patmos Island Prison,
60 years after the Crucifixion

J
ohn came to, finding himself still in his cell—still lying on a cold slab of rock, which sent stiff, cold pain through his lower back. His old age had begun to betray his once healthy, strong body. He was sure that his frail frame would soon give out completely and leave him an invalid. His head throbbed with a mighty headache from the vision. It was the Lord’s day, and he had been praying when it happened. He remembered the last image, as if he were standing there yet, standing at the top of a great mountain, beside a beautiful angel, looking out over a new Jerusalem, with Christ at the throne. His hands trembled and his brow was soaked with sweat. He was both terrified and overjoyed at what he had seen, the beauty of a redeemed creation, the Christ sitting on His throne. John didn’t know how long his vision lasted. All he knew was that he had to write it all down. He had been commanded to do so.

He stood from his bed and walked over to the parchment lying on his table. He took the pen and ink and began to write:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy …

As he wrote, he lost track of himself. The words flowed from his pen like water. Indeed, just as Christ had promised, the Holy Spirit was bringing remembrance of all that had been shown to him.

… Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

John immediately stopped writing. His stomach started to churn. What was it? What was this sudden sickness he was feeling? Then he remembered. The angel had told him to eat the scroll. He had. The angel told him it would be sweet like honey to his lips, but would turn sour in his stomach. It had. And now he was feeling the sickness of the scroll in his belly.

John stood and walked back to his bed. He lay down rubbing his stomach which was now violently churning. He felt a moan well up from deep inside of him. He fell to the floor, bent over holding on to the wall and began to cough. Violently cough, and gag. And then he felt it.

John was now scared. He couldn’t breathe. Something blocked his airway. He reached inside his mouth and felt his fingers touch something. He latched onto it and pulled it out. He heaved and gasped for breath as the obstacle dislodged from his throat and fell to the floor below. He knelt down to see a tiny scroll, covered in mucus and stomach acid.

John continued to suck in deep breaths, his lungs burning as the fresh air came in. He tried to stand. He held the tiny scroll in his hands, his fingers trembling as he grasped the corners to open it. Suddenly, the room was enveloped in a blinding white light, causing him to stumble backward. He stopped when he reached his bed, but only because his legs were kicked out from under him by the slab. He found himself sitting again and trying to focus on this great light.

“Do not fear me, John, servant of Christ,” a voice that emanated from the light spoke. “I am Micah, a messenger of the Most High.”

And with that, the bright light dimmed. John removed his hand that shielded his eyes. He recognized this being. It was the angel who had given him the scroll in his vision.

“Greetings from our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ,” Micah said.

“Th–thank you,” John muttered. “And also to you.” The angel continued. “I have been sent here to explain the gift you have been given, John. Its purpose is great.” “Do you mean this scroll?” John asked. “I do,” Micah answered.

BOOK: The Guardian
7.38Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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