The Circle is a series of books involving Thomas Hunter, the central character, who travels between two worlds--a version of the present day, and what appears to be the far future, where spiritual realities appear to have taken on physical form.
The original version of the books circle around, or form a loop. Its interesting, and something that I've seen before in sci-fi circles. I thought how it might be possible when reading through. However, the further on that the books go the clearer it is that they're not just fantastic, or some form of science-fiction. They're allegorical--talking about Christianity in some sense. So I found the following interesting in light of that connection to reality and true history:
Excerpt from an interview with Dekker, printed in the back of the omnibus edition of The Circle (ISBN 978-1-59554-792-7)He isn't stating anything absolutely here, and to be fair this is the first of his books (and the only interview with him) that I've read, so I might be taking things out of context. If I am, then I'm more than willing to be corrected or advised of the truth. However, I find this slightly worrisome. We'll leave aside the issue of predestination versus free will for now. But he essentially asks if evil will exist in "the next life." I don't see how that can be read from scripture. I would say that the Bible is clear that Hell, sickness, death, disease, and everything that has to do with the curse will be cast into the Lake of Fire, forever.
8) Black is a redo of history. Do you think history will be redone in the far future?
Ted: I'll answer with a question. Do you believe that humans will retain their humanity in the next life? That is, will they still have a free will? If so, they would still have a choice for evil, yes? Remove that choice and we essentially become like robots in the future.
So if evil exists in the next life, will anyone choose it, the way Lucifer first did? I suppose so. And if so, would the event involve another fall so to speak? We don't know. Perhaps this allegory I've penned is closer to the truth than one might think. Then again, probably not.
All quotations from the New American Standard Bible
Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 21:4
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away
Revelation 22:3-4These aren't the only verses, but the ones easiest to find when I flipped to the end of my Bible. I find the Circle an interesting story...but in the end it is only that. I don't see how you can read Scripture and seriously postulate that there will be another opportunity to sin, to fall, to disobey God. The reality of Heaven is that we will forever be in the presence of God and will forever worship Him. To me the possibility of another fall sounds like reincarnation or a yin-yang cycle. Frankly it isn't an appealing future at all. I look forward to heaven where I will be without the failings of my mortal flesh, where I will not sin, where I will be in the presence of God forever instead of a world full of temptation.
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
If God is truly omnipotent then why does evil get "another chance" to tempt mankind? Does it mean that the second death mentioned in Revelation above is only the second of an endless cycle?
Are we to be pitied if our hope doesn't rest in Christ and in eternal life, but instead has the possibility of an eternal cycle of "re-do?" The original ending of Green involves Thomas Hunter going back to the start of Black with the "God" character Elyon sending him there so that he can "do things over" in an effort to save his son (an apostate who doesn't enter heaven--like the dwarves in the stable in The Last Battle). My interpretation of the implication of the "circle" that Thomas keeps repeating his life in the same way, unable to save his son.
This was typed a bit quickly, and as I said I haven't read more of Dekker's writing. I'm not trying to condemn the man, not at all. I just noted the theme of the book and the interview question above and was slightly concerned. If you've read his books and see something different then please enlighten me--I'd love to learn more.
~Matt
