Review of VANISHED by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal

About the Book

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, John “Haggs” Haggerty has a front-row seat to the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture—including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Meanwhile, his own world feels like it’s falling apart. He’s still caught in the grief of messing up his relationship with his ex-wife, and he’s trying to keep it together so that he can show up for his adult daughter before she wants him out of her life entirely. As both personal and professional situations push him to the brink, Haggs finds himself stretched further than ever in his desire to be the kind of good person he knows he should be.

Just when it seems as if things might turn around, Haggs is forced to decide between his need to find solutions and his need for personal redemption.

More details

ISBN-13:9781400350735 Publisher:Nelson, Thomas, Inc. Publication date:07/01/2025 Series:The Vanished Series , #1 Pages:336

My Thoughts

This is a story about the end times from the Bible and how different fictional characters in the book are affected by the events. General John Haggerty is a dedicated physician and on the task force to try to stop a global pandemic. Unfortunately, the illness cannot be contained and in his pursuit of trying to save people, he almost loses his beloved daughter Sonya. The novel is over three-fourths of the way done before the Rapture occurs, so it is not the focus of the story. The real focus is what comes before and how people react to wars, famine, earthquakes and rampant diseases. The U.S. government has a task force for everything but what they don’t have is a relationship with God that could help them have the wisdom to get through these times. The characters were realistically portrayed and flawed, and the plot moved quickly to a semi-conclusion. The story isn’t really over because at the end of the story, the Tribulation is just beginning for those who were not rescued during the Rapture. I liked the story, especially the way the scriptures were accurately represented in a way that encouraged people to get right with God before it is too late to do so. This is the first fiction book that I have read from this author and I found it to be well-written and thoroughly enjoyable.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction about the End Times, Rated PG-13

About the Authors

Founder and host of Turning Point for God and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, David Paul Jeremiah, was born February 13, 1941, in Toledo, Ohio. He is one of four children born to James and Ruby Jeremiah. During his childhood, his family moved to Dayton, Ohio, where his father, James T. Jeremiah, served as Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church. In 1953, the Jeremiah family moved to Cedarville, Ohio, when his father became the President of Cedarville College—which is now Cedarville University.

Growing up in a pastor’s home, David was immersed in ministry from an early age. During his senior year at Cedarville College, he felt God’s calling to enter full-time ministry. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963, and that same year he married his college sweetheart, Donna Thompson. After graduation, they moved to Dallas, Texas, where David attended Dallas Theological Seminary. He received his Master’s degree in Theology in 1967. Completing additional graduate work at Grace Seminary, he was granted the Doctor of Divinity degree from Cedarville College in 1981.

In 1969, David and Donna began a church plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with seven families in attendance. He served as pastor at Blackhawk Baptist Church for twelve years. During that time the church grew to 1,300 members, Blackhawk Christian School was founded, and The Bible Hour television program was launched.

In 1981, the Jeremiah family, which now included four children, followed God’s call and moved to California when Dr. Jeremiah became the senior pastor of Scott Memorial Baptist Church, which is now Shadow Mountain Community Church. Today Shadow Mountain Community Church is one of the largest churches in San Diego county with eight satellite locations including Hispanic and Arabic congregations. The main campus of the church, located in El Cajon, California, is also the home to Southern California Seminary and Christian Unified Schools, a multiple site kindergarten through twelfth-grade Christian school district. Website: Dr. David Jeremiah

With 20 years of experience in the publishing world, Sam O’Neal is passionate about serving authors who write great stories. He launched Write Great Stories, Inc., after working for legacy brands including Christianity Today, LifeWay Christian Resources, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Sam works with A-list authors including Dr. David Jeremiah, Max Lucado, Bishop T. D. Jakes, Louie Giglio, Dr. Dharius Daniels, Kathie Lee Gifford, Charles Martin, and more.

Passionate about God’s Word, Sam has served as the primary editor or content producer for three Bibles: Quest Study Bible, Life Connections Study Bible, and the Bible Study Bible. He also develops curriculum material for authors including David Platt, Tony Evans, Matt Chandler, Michael Todd, John MacArthur, and others.

Sam has a literature degree from Wheaton College and a master’s in Christian studies. He has dedicated his career to making complex ideas approachable for everyday readers.