Review Says New Bible-Based Novel Falls Short of Its Subject

A review in Christianity Today says a new novel retelling the war in heaven does not live up to its large subject. The Battle for Heaven and Earth is written by Mark M. Yarbrough, president of Dallas Theological Seminary, and Jerry B. Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind series. The reviewer argues that the book treats holy material too casually, with weak prose and flat characters. The review was published on November 10, 2026.

What the Review Found

The reviewer says the novel opens with a nod to Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, with the archangel Michael saying, "Call me Michael." The comparison ends there, she writes. She says the book describes God as a cloud of light and the making of Adam in a way that feels mechanical.

She also criticizes the dialogue. Fallen angels speak in modern slang, and the heavenly choirs sing songs she describes as off-putting. In her view, the characters seem to lack depth, and their personalities blur together.

The reviewer notes that the authors describe their book as reaching readers where no biblical novel has gone before. She writes that the style of the book does not reflect the reverence of its subject.

Context

The review places the novel within a wider discussion about Christian storytelling. The reviewer writes that Christian authors have produced some of the most influential works of Western art, drawing on Scripture. She points to C. S. Lewis, who wrote that the style of a book about heaven must itself reflect heaven. She argues that this standard matters more now, as AI-generated text becomes common. The review is an opinion piece by a single critic, and the authors' view of their work is reported as they have stated it.

What to Watch

The reviewer calls on Christian writers and publishers to pursue excellence and to take seriously the task of writing about God. The authors have said their goal is to reach a wide audience with accessible reading. Readers and other critics are likely to continue discussing how far popular Christian fiction should balance accessibility with craft.