by Chuck Black
CHAPTER 5
1. Leinad and Tess climb the canyon walls to be with the King. Who do they represent here? Can you find the passage in Scripture for this scene?
2. What do the Articles of the Code represent?
CHAPTER 6
1. In this chapter Leinad represents a new biblical character. Who is he now?
2. We hear about the Knights of Chessington for the first time. Who do you think they represent?
3. Leinad asks Quinn if Moradiah, Quinn’s betrothed, has a “heart for the King.” Leinad understood the significance of 2 Corinthians 6:14. Look up that verse.
Why do you think it is so important?
4. Toward the end of this chapter, Leinad’s biblical representation changes again. Who does he represent now? Who does Lady Moradiah represent?
5. Quinn and Lady Moradiah begin their reign over Arrethtrae in “self-glorification.” Quinn didn’t start out so prideful; his relationship with Moradiah slowly distracted him from having an attitude the King would approve of. Have you ever found yourself saying things or doing things because your friends influenced you?
CHAPTER 7
1. Lady Moradiah is charismatic, and when she speaks, her words flow “like sweet honey from the comb.” Often the people who speak the sweetest words have bitter lies they’re trying to hide. Have you ever heard something that sounded good, but you knew it was a lie?
2. The first significant event in this chapter is when Leinad single-handedly defeats all of Lady Moradiah’s knights. What biblical event does this represent?
3. Soon the people of Chessington resent Leinad’s presence. Every time they see him they are reminded of their apathy toward following the King and the Code. Have you ever felt like other people were annoyed with you because of your faith?
4. When Leinad tries to warn the people and he is ridiculed, his biblical representation changes again. Who does he represent now?
5. Leinad receives a message from the King to allow Kergon and the Kessons to overtake Chessington, but Quinn’s pride causes him to refuse to obey the King’s wishes. Because of Quinn’s refusal to listen to the King, the City of Chessington is decimated. What biblical event does this portray?
CHAPTER 8
1. Who does Leinad represent in this chapter?
CHAPTER 9
1. Leinad, Tess, and Audric refuse to kneel and swear allegiance to Kergon. What biblical event does this portray?
2. Who do Tess and Audric represent in this chapter?
3. Leinad, Tess, and Audric make a stand against Kergon. They refuse to swear allegiance to someone other than the King, even though they know they will die for their convictions. Have you ever made a stand when the consequences seemed like they would be more than you could bear?
4. A stranger rides out from the lair of the dragamoths and aids Leinad, Tess, and Audric in their struggle against the beasts. What two biblical events does this portray?
5. Who do you think the “man from a distant land” is in the Kingdom series? Who do you think he represents?
6. Tess says, “I am afraid, Audric, but I am not a coward.” Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s what you do in spite of fear. Have you ever done something for God even though you were scared at the time?
CHAPTER 10
1. Leinad begins to wonder if his purpose is to guide the people of Chessington from disaster to peace over and over again. Then Leinad realizes that the time of captivity in Daydelon is almost over for the people of Chessington. His reflection is interrupted by a Silent Warrior’s message from the King: Kergon will be destroyed and his rule over the people of Chessington will end, so they can return to their beloved city. What do the events in this chapter represent biblically?
2. Leinad tells the people of Chessington not to despair, because the King of Arrethtrae is “with us … we are His people. One day He will bring peace to Arrethtrae. There will be no more slavery, no more fighting, no more thirsting, and no more hunger.” What is this a foreshadowing of? What does this represent biblically?
3. Leinad tells the people of Chessington that the “King did not leave us; we left the King.” God promised that He will “never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b). Have you ever left God’s will, but found Him waiting for you to return to Him? Find more verses in the Bible regarding God’s promise to never leave us.
CHAPTER 11
1. In this chapter, who does Leinad represent?
2. Who do the Noble Knights represent?
3. Leinad refuses to leave Greshane even though it means Leinad may die at the hands of Shadow Warriors. Greshane says, “You are truly … a man of the Code.” Greshane is referring to the fifth Article of the Code: “Never abandon a fellow knight in battle or in peril.” Leinad shows what he truly believes by staying with Greshane. Remember that actions speak louder than words. Have you ever had an opportunity to be a witness by your actions?
4. Gabrik is delayed in giving Leinad the foretelling because the Dark Knight and his Shadow Warriors keep him preoccupied in battle. (Look up Daniel 10:10–14 and 10:20–21.) What does it represent biblically?
5. What is the foretelling?
CHAPTER 12
1. Leinad experiences righteous anger when he realizes that his brother Zane feels no remorse or sorrow for his wickedness. There is a passage in the Bible regarding righteous anger. Find that verse.
2. Leinad gives the people the “promise.” Find other Old Testament passages that give the Jews and the whole world the promise that a Savior was to come to earth and save us.
3. The promise of the coming Prince was fulfilled when Jesus was born. His mission on earth was to teach us about God and to die on the cross for our sins. The Bible tells us that anyone who believes in Jesus and that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Have you ever put your faith and trust in Jesus?
ANSWERS TO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 1
1. Moses.
2. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 2
1. The Life Spice represents the “Spirit of life” or the “breath of life” described in Revelation 11:11. It also represents the immortality that we receive as believers in Jesus after the resurrection.
2. The Bible says that we are held accountable for every word we speak. Therefore, we should be very careful as it says in James 5:12: “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.”
CHAPTER 3
1. The last plague (death of the firstborn) as written in Exodus 12:29.
2. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 4
1. The children of Israel fleeing through the Red Sea.
2. Silent Warriors, or angels.
3. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 5
1. Leinad represents Moses, and Tess represents Joshua (see Exodus 32).
2. The Ten Commandments.
CHAPTER 6
1. Samuel.
2. The religious leaders of the Jews and, more specifically, the priests (Levites).
3. The Bible warns us to not be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” If we are, our service to the Lord can be hindered, and we will probably face many additional challenges in life.
4. Leinad represents Elijah, and Moradiah represents Jezebel.
5. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 7
1. Answer based on personal experience.
2. Elijah and the prophets of Baal offering sacrifices to their gods.
3. Answer based on personal experience.
4. Jeremiah.
5. The fall of Jerusalem as prophesied in Jeremiah 27.
CHAPTER 8
1. Daniel.
CHAPTER 9
1. Three faithful servants of God refusing to bow before King Nebuchadnezzar, as written in Daniel 3:8–18.
2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
3. Answer based on personal experience.
4. This event has dual symbolism to show Daniel in the lion’s den and the fiery furnace of King Nebuchadnezzar.
5. He is the King’s son, the Prince. Biblically, He is the preincarnate Christ.
6. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 10
1. Daniel’s realization that the Israelites’ time of captivity is almost over (Jeremiah 29:10 and Daniel 9:2), the fall of Babylon, and the return of the Jews to Israel.
2. This foreshadows when the King and the Prince establish peace in the new Arrethtrae. This represents Christ’s return and the peace He will establish on earth when He reigns.
3. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 11
1. Nehemiah (read Nehemiah 2:5).
2. The religious leaders who eventually become the Pharisees.
3. Answer based on personal experience.
4. The spiritual battle between the angels and the demons. The event specifically represents the demons’ desperate attempt to keep the angel of God from delivering messianic prophecies to Daniel.
5. The message that the Prince is coming to save the kingdom. In this scene, it directly symbolizes the incredible prophecy given to Daniel (Daniel 9:20–27).
CHAPTER 12
1. Ephesians 4:26.
2. Isaiah 7:14; 53:1–12; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9.
3. Answer based on personal experience.
AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY
The prophets of the Old Testament were men of great faith and conviction. Chastised, beaten, and even killed for the words of truth God gave them to speak to the people, they courageously fulfilled their mission in spite of the inevitable fear they must have felt. In many instances, God intervened to protect them and, more importantly, to reaffirm the truth and authenticity of their message. It is because of the valor of these men that we have the prophecies and unapologetic truth of the Old Testament today.
Through the fulfillment of these prophecies, the incredible truth of God’s Word becomes evident and builds faith. At times God’s message to the people was one of blessing and prosperity. At other times it was a message of discipline and punishment because of the sinful hearts of the people.
The prophets often felt abandoned by God’s people, but the Lord always preserved a faithful remnant. These were the men and women who stayed true to God despite the lure of the world. Their hearts were every bit as courageous and bold as those of the prophets. Through them, God also revealed His love, faithfulness, and compassion. Together, the faithful and the prophets brought the resounding message of hope to the world—the message of a redeemer—to the humble and to the meek.
Kingdom’s Hope, the second book in the Kingdom Series, has told the story of these chosen few through allegory. The following paragraphs reveal some of the analogy between the adventures of Leinad and Tess and the true story of the prophets and people of the Old Testament.
Once again, as in Kingdom’s Dawn, Cedric tells the story of his mentor, Leinad. In Kingdom’s Edge, book three, Cedric will be the central character, but Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope focus on Leinad, who represents characters and prophets from the Old Testament. With this understanding, one can see Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Nehemiah, Malachi, and others all represented at various times in the character of Leinad.
Tess and Audric represent the faithful remnant that stayed true to the Lord and did not abandon the prophets even when the rest of the nation turned its back on them. Some literary freedom was used to develop the romance between Tess and Leinad. However, one could speculate that there was a special understanding and relationship between the faithful and the prophets. Tess and Audric represent such biblical characters as Joshua, Caleb, Debra, Ruth, Jabez, and Jonathan.
Quinn represents the kings, both good and bad, of Israel and Judah. As a whole, their commitment to the Lord was as wavering as that of the people and in some cases much worse.
The Silent Warriors represent God’s holy angels. Conversely, the Dark Knight and the Shadow Warriors represent Satan and the fallen angels. Zane represents the unrepentant mass of mankind that begins with Cain and carries through to the evil people at the time of Noah’s flood and beyond. The redemption of Zane is not an impossibility, for God desires that none should perish: “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15).
The sword in all of the Kingdom Series novels represents the Word of God. The challenge in Kingdom’s Dawn and Kingdom’s Hope was differentiating between the real swords used in the Old Testament battles and the “Word of God” sword used by the prophets to reveal God’s will to the people. Extreme care was taken to create allegorical content centered on the sword that directly symbolized God’s Word through the prophets.
Many significant biblical events are portrayed, such as the release from captivity in Egypt, the wandering in the wilderness, the receiving of the Law, the glorious days of David, the Babylonian captivity, and the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem. Many of these biblical events were prophesied. Probably one of the most dramatic prophecies ever given is the messianic prophecy given to Daniel (Daniel 9:22–27). This incredible prophecy of Jesus Christ’s arrival, triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and eventual earthly reign is the substance for the climactic scene at the end of the book. It was through men like Daniel and his Holy Spirit inspired words that the people were given hope … hope of a Savior to come.
Kingdom’s Hope concludes at the end of the Old Testament, where the prophets faded into the past and all waited for their prophecies to be fulfilled. Unfortunately, as time wore round the edges of expectation of the coming Messiah, those most qualified to recognize Him were blind and unaware that He was suddenly among them.
It is my earnest hope and prayer that all who read this novel will be inspired to search the Scriptures and recognize the one who is among us even now and call Him Lord. Our only hope is in Jesus Christ alone!
As it is written in the Prophets:
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”
Mark 1:2
WHEN DARKNESS INVADES THE LIGHT, THERE
IS WAR. BUT ONE MAN BRINGS HOPE …
It’s up to Leinad to free the people under the fierce and mighty Lord Fairos! From the chains of slavery, by the jaws of dragons, and close to the arms of love he must go.
KINGDOM’S HOPE BOOK TWO – Available Now!
Multnomah® Publishers Keeping Your Trust … One Book at a Time®
THE ULTIMATE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD
AND EVIL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN …
A young peasant doomed to hopelessness and despair. A “stranger” who trains him in the art of the sword. An entire kingdom hanging in the balance of good and evil.
KINGDOM’S EDGE BOOK THREE– Available Now!
Multnomah® Publishers Keeping Your Trust … One Book at a Time®