Premonition

by Randy Ingermanson, Randall Ingermanson, R.S. Ingermanson

Book Overview

An extraordinary stone box was recently discovered in Jerusalem-the bone-box of "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." This is his story . . . It's the year A.D. 57 and Jerusalem teeters on the brink of revolt against Rome. James, leader of the Jewish Christian community, has an enemy in high places. And two very strange friends . . . Rivka Meyers is a Messianic Jewish archaeologist from California, trapped in first-century Jerusalem by a physics...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310247055
• ISBN13: 9780310247050
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Zondervan Publishing Company
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Great story, book is new condition, I can get all three for a great price and add to my library

If you love historical books and time travel this ones for you!

Christian/Jewish histroy in a fictional story is solid

Premonition was a gift to me from the author with the understanding that I write an honest review of his work. I did not read Transgression (the 1st in the series) before diving in to this; however that oversite was not a barrier to getting hooked on this from page one. You can read the editorial reviews yourself to get the details. For me, this book touched my christian historical interets and my heart in a big way. I highly recommend this book for all readers, you'll learn a little history and gain an insight to what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I am diving into Retribution next - cannot wait to continue to journey!

Excellent sequel to "Transgression"--highly recommended

Since reading Randall Ingermanson's first novel, "Transgression" (now out of print - temporarily, I hope), I've anticipated this sequel. It was worth the wait. (It would help to read "Transgression", but it's not essential; "Premonition" stands on its own.) Is it a blessing or a curse to know the future? Can the past be changed by knowledge from the future, or does this knowledge only lead to self-fulfilling prophecies? What happens if the information isn't accurate or complete? Read "Premonition" to find out. The story begins with not-so-newlyweds Ari and Rivka in first-century Jersualem: a botched time-travel experiment has stranded them there. They've found a place to live, sharing a house with their friends, Baruch and Hana. They subsist on the generosity of others, since Ari the foreigner of unknown background is unemployable. But he soon becomes a breadwinner thanks to his knowledge of physics. The plot thickens (I've always wanted to write that) when he soon runs afoul of the Wrong Person. Rivka becomes an apprentice midwife to a tough, but appealing woman named Marta. She has to prove herself first, and does so without intending to. Her vindication comes unexpectedly. Since Rivka comes from the twentieth century, it should be easy for her to head off disasters and benefit the residents of her new home. Her near-eidetic memory should help her "recall" events before they happen. But there's a problem: not all her sources are accurate. Josephus (a young man here) wrote of this era, but his reports are sometimes biased. This leads to flawed results that Rivka can't anticipate. She loses a lot of standing in the community when one of her prophecies comes true - but subtly, not dramatically. As far as the people are concerned, she blew the opportunity. And they have long memories. "Premonition" is strongly character driven. The plot is good, of course, but the personalities, interactions, and growth of the principal characters are what give the book its power. Baruch and Hana are the most prominent, but many others are living, breathing individuals as well. The spiritual struggles are convincing as a Messianic Jew (Rivka) tries to teach her formerly atheistic Jewish husband about Yeshua. I liked Ingermanson's depiction of Yaakov ben Joseph (James, the son of Joseph and brother of Jesus). While he isn't a central character, he dominates his every scene. He's different from my image of the author of the New Testament epistle. Ingermanson pulls this off by having him radiate joy and love. When I mentally graft this James onto the persona of the author of the epistle, I see someone who's enthusiastically encouraging, not sternly admonishing. Inevitably, the last few chapters build to a conclusion that's emotionally gripping. Knowing what happens to this beloved church leader makes finishing hard, but seeing James living his faith only increases his stature. Queen Berenike and her brother Agrippa are completely opposite to this. Ingermanson

HIS BEST YET!

PREMONITION grows out of rich research, patterned plotting, gritty detail, and the pitiful lot of prophets. The author delivers on his warning of first century culture shock and provides new depth to the relationship, 'Abba.' PREMONITION pits one woman and her man against the stream of history--knowing the future, powerless to prevent being part of it. Ingermanson's best fiction yet.

New Heights For Contemporary Religious Literature

Premonition by Randall IngermansonRivka, an archaeologist and Messianic Jew and Ari, her physicist husband, are swept through a hole in time from contemporary USA into first century Jerusalem. They try to bridge the gender, generation, religion and language gaps. Rivka has an eidetic memory and recalls passages from Josephus, the First Century historian. She struggles to find a way to communicate critical information to a culture that is unprepared to hear or to accept her because she is considered to be a "seer" or false prophet. This book is about relationships: woman to woman; woman to man: man to man; man to child; and man to God. Premonition is filled with episodes of high drama - crises that will keep you turning the pages into the night. One of the most beautiful passages concerns Ari wanting to identify with the inexpressible grief of his best friend. Without words, Ari kneels on the ground alongside his friend at the ash heap and dusts himself with ashes. One can feel the agony of the soul and almost hear the groans of spirit with grieving spirit. Ari understands complex linear operations, fiber bundles, Hilbert spaces but has to struggle with how to introduce basic physics such as gears for a water lift to supply water for the Temple. He believes in a personal God but has inner struggles about why a good God would permit evil to exist. He likens this to quantum mechanics, which don't make sense - yet work. Many of the first century Biblical characters have a place in this book: Paul, Governor Festus, James, King Agrippa, Queen Bernice, Gameliel and others. Conflict and stress evolve from Jewish religion and culture. Dr Ingermanson seems equally at home in painting word pictures of tender, gentle love or hideous, malicious acts of violence, humiliation and degradation. The book was well researched and has a ring of authenticity. It is thoroughly entertaining and offers a greater understanding of the activities at the Jewish Temple, the priesthood, morning prayers for the men, festivals; and the stoning of persons. I was brought to tears during a scene in which one of the priests had a monumental inner battle with hate. The brutal, malicious killing of priests made him hate the perpetrators of the crimes. The struggle was not for his life, safety or freedom but to be able to claim victory by releasing the hatred in his heart as he faces death. The final chapters present a problem. The tension is so great that it hurts to go on and yet the reader can't stand not to find out what happens next. The images of friend with friend and the "redemption" of an innocent child will linger long after the covers of the book are closed. Surely Premonition will earn a special place - a singular place - in contemporary literature.