Okay, the year 2000 has been and gone. But the world just before the century’s change was an interesting place, filled with questions of endings, failure and loss. American Christians weren’t immune to false prophecies of the end of days, and Stanlay Baldwin’s scary novel, 1999, offers intriguing insights into temptation’s lure for today.

Protagonist Matt is sure God wants more for him than just hosting a Christian radio talk-show. When a religious leader, intriguingly called Profett, invites Matt to join a team spreading hope in a failing world, he's quickly convinced. Profett knows his Bible. He speaks to the people’s need. But how do we tell the difference between answered prayer and cruel temptation?

People and places are convincingly portrayed in this novel. Present day questions—a woman’s place in ministry for example—are debated with persuasive argument. And unsinkable relationships prove far more vulnerable than we'd like.

1999 is a Christian novel laced with natural Bible discussion. But it’s never preachy, and it faces the flaws of failed Christianity with unflinching honesty. Most telling, near the end, is a character’s comment, “Amazing … what we can learn from the Bible when we read what it really says.”

The year 2000 has been and gone, but this novel is well worth reading for the present day.

Disclosure: I picked it up in a sale. ( )