The Visitation

by Frank E. Peretti

Book Overview

The sleepy, eastern Washington wheat town of Antioch has become a gateway for the supernatural--from sightings of angels and a weeping crucifix to a self-proclaimed prophet with an astounding message.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0849911796
• ISBN13: 9780849911798
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: W Publishing Group
• Length: 519 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

The Visitation wasn’t what I thought it would be.

I thought The Visitation would be about Jesus visiting a town but it was totally different. I didn't understand the point of the phone conversations between the visitor and the minister. I felt that the town’s people acting as Biblical characters was silly. The investigative journeys were too drawn out but informative to the identity of the visitor.

Another great, albeit different, book from Peretti

First, for all you fans of Frank Peretti, you need to know that this book is not quite like his other works. I've noticed that many people have given this a less than five-star rating because they feel that this does not meet the par set by Peretti's other books. I hope I can try to explain why that may be. This book tells about a small community to which a self-proclaimed messiah shows up. This book is not in the same vein as his "This Present Darkness/Piercing the Darkness" duo or "The Oath." I submit that it is just as good--just different. The people who will appreciate this book the most are those who grew up in, or have had extensive experience with, pentecostal/charismatic churches--especially those in small towns. This prerequisite fits me well--I grew up in the Assemblies of God (still a member) and always attended small-to-tiny churches as a child. In this book, Peretti captures that setting perfectly. While some others have criticized this book as being overly critical of specific denominations, I must say that this is not what I take from the book at all. In this book, Peretti (in my view) primarily criticizes the ease with which most Christians are manipulated by apparent spirituality. So often many of us have seen an entire congregation agree with one evangelist unanimously, only to also agree with another evangelist a week later--never mind that the positions taken by the two "evangelists" are polar opposites. This book portrays that problem well--not so much in the example I just gave, but in the general sense that people are willing to accept everything that appears to be holy as holy. We were never given such a command by God, nor admonished to do so by the apostles. (1 John 4:1) This book will encourage you to think on your own; to engage in the Berean exercise (Acts 17:10-11) before swallowing whole whatever the next guy brings to town. Our hope is in God, and He never changes--regardless of what the newest "evangelist" would have you believe. Test everything--1 Thess. 5:21.

Complex, layered Christian fiction

THE VISITATION was the first book by Christian author Frank E. Peretti that I have ever read. Previously, I avoided Peretti's work because I just wasn't sure that Christian fiction could be worth my time. I was sorely wrong, and I'm glad to admit it. THE VISITATION was a very well-written novel, by Christian OR by secular standards. THE VISITATION is about an ex-pastor and his grapple with issues of faith and God's faithfulness, his search for the truth surrounding some strange events that occur in his town, and his discovery of a Jesus-like man who suddenly arrives on the scene.THE VISITATION is a suspenseful thriller written in a well-timed manner. The characters are varied and interesting, and the story is multi-layered and complex. Frank Peretti's writing is honest -- he writes about humanity in all its imperfection and sinfulness; he doesn't skirt around delicate issues, and he never takes the easy or cliche Christian way out.I would highly recommend this book, and any other Frank Peretti book. I am consistently impressed with his honesty and his skillfully written spiritual thrillers, and THE VISITATION is no exception.

How does Frank do it?

I always look forward to reading Peretti, but this is the best one yet. One moment, I was chuckling out loud; the next, I was trying to swallow the lump in my throat. Frank brought me back to some very personal and private places and left me wondering, "How did he know?". I've now got a new attitude toward church "stuff" and toward people. Thanks, Frank.

Without a doubt, my favorite Peretti book yet!

After reading This Present Darkness (A++) and Pierceing the Darkness (A-), I was dissappointed by the Prophet (which I never finished) and The Oath (C-). I decided to give Peretti one last chance with the Visitation. I'm glad I did. One of my chief faults with Peretti is that his protagonists (esp. ministers) tend to be SuperChristians, who never doubt, who never question, who are ever obdeient, and ever ready to selflessly serve. The protagonist in this book,Travis Jordan, is a real person who is confounded by a God who he loves and trust. Kyle Sherman, another of the books minister is young, energetic, nïave, and at times goofy (such as when he shouts at a room full of ministers, "Read your Bibles, folks!"). Also, there are no sacred cows in this book. It could be considered a satire on the excesses of charasmatic churches, the spiritually cold churches, and Super Churches. (The Chapter on the Cathedral of Life sums up my experience with Mega Churches). I could not put the book down. I'm glad Peretti hasn't lost his touch. I eagerly look forward to his next offering.

very healing for people who've gotten lost IN the church

Frank Peretti got right to the heart of many things that happen in the Christian journey. It's fiction, but it is very real life stuff, as he tells the story of a burnt out pastor through flashbacks and through the challenge that gets to him when he'd rather not be reached. I laughed more than ever in a Peretti novel, and at times I thought he was reading my mail or going to the same conferences. He touches on all of us in every different kind of church, and the insights all draw us to love more and point fingers less. It's so accurate it's scary, but I will read it over again many times in spots. His word pictures of the mega-church atmosphere were especially thought-provoking. And the focus on a real relationship with Jesus, rather than your pastor or your denomination's particular church rules and flavors, was profound stuff. Not a perfect ending of the Justin story, but in the last couple of paragraphs I found myself weeping, the book had so moved my heart, and its conclusion was profound in the simplicity of the words. As a pastor, I found this a book that I could recommend to anyone, in or out of the church. Peretti and Randall Arthur are the two Christian novelists most in touch with real world people. They make you want to sit down and have a talk, just regular folk.