Lily Among Thorns
Multi-Layered Characters Found in Lily Among Thorns
Bible Study
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Multi-Layered Characters
Stefan Gerard Strobeck: Dedication
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Stefan Gerard Strobeck
In Annette K. Mazzone’s novel Lily Among Thorns, the main character, Lily, faces a world filled with suspicious individuals and questionable figures. The story takes place in a future where the government corruption quickly turns into tyranny, afterward Christians face prospect of persecution. Genesis 6:11, The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Throughout Lily’s arduous journey Christian’s must keep a low profile as they keep their intent true while hidden from the oppressive government lackeys.
These christian characters include powerful officials and former lovers who walk a fine line between good and evil, providing help to the Faithful believers all the while concealing their Christian Faith from the “Tyrannical Global Cabal.” Matthew 24:10, And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
The Bible says in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you.” Commander Stefan Strobeck fits this verse perfectly because he should be Lily’s enemy, yet he shows moments of genuine kindness reviving within a once devoted Christian Faith.
Strobeck’s first day on the job at Security Police Force Headquarters, a terrible place where dissidents and the Christian Faithful are severely mistreated. Stefan’s authority gives him power over Lily and after her failed escape attempt. Stefan comes off at first as an unyielding interrogator and just another cruel official. But then without warning he speaks with empathy toward Lily and even confides he himself sees no need in taking “The Mark”.
Stefan Srobeck also reveals a painful truth: “The only reason why people like me have been given places of authority is because of the apostate feel-good churches and preachers who are afraid to preach the “Truth.””Amos 8:11, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread nor thirst for water but of hearing the words of the LORD.
However Stefan turns to repentance when he admits, “When I saw the sincerity on your expression, when you were with Rawlands, you reminded me of someone near and dear to my heart, and right there and then I knew I was on the wrong side of things.” Matthew 3:8, Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.
Stefan Strobeck represents a true repentant archetype; he works for an evil system but maintains his true Faith and helps the innocent like Lily whenever possible, yet continues to lie low in the process under the radar of an all encompassing oppressive government. Readers are not only intrigued by Stefan’s journey of Faith but it makes him a most fascinating and interesting character.
Multi-Layered Characters
Jared Joseph Hargrove: Heartbreak
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Jared Joseph Hargrove
Jared first appears in Lily’s memories as the handsome, rich boy who broke her heart. The Bible warns in Proverbs 26:24-25, “He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not.” Lily learned this lesson the hard way with Jared.
Within the span of a five year separation. Jared redeems the time and leaving his troubled childhood in the past. He looks to the future and learns the meaning of True Love alone the way. 1st Corinthians 16:14, Let all your things be done with charity.
Jared finds Lily at Hellish Headquarters, he risks everything to help regain her Freedom. His treatment of Lily reveals a repentant Heart. He respects Lily’s Faith, provides for all her essential needs, an apartment, a car, and gives her a job ensuring Lily is safe and cared for. He even affectionately gives her his childhood King James Bible, saying, “If I had to guess why I wanted my own Bible in the first place. I now know it was because I was supposed to pass it on to you.” James 2:17, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jared however struggles with his insecure feelings over Lily affections for Caleb. When Lily turns down Jared’s romantic advances, he goes impatient. During which time on their vacation getaway in Hawaii, they fearfully argue. Jared shouts, “What, do I have to be a martyr to a cause in order to get any kind of romantic reaction from you?” This divulges his insecurity of Caleb’s warmth of affections for Lily.
Jared eventually comes full circle and acquires the Biblical Knowledge; the meaning of True Love is prioritizing the other persons happiness over your own. Jared represents how an individual can be reformed and still look to a future where his True Love Arabella awaits.
Multi-Layered Characters
Lillian Kathleen Everett: Unpretentous
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Lillian Kathleen Everett
Taken from a loving HOME; Lily is incarcerated at the National Training Rehabilitation Center, where women are imprisoned for their Christian Faith. Lily befriends a fellow woman prisoner named Stevi, who may look rough and tumble, “dressed in mostly black leather,” and comes from a harder background than Lily. But she becomes Lily’s closest and dearest friend in the camp.
The Bible says in Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Stevi proves this verse true throughout Lily’s imprisonment.
When one woman struggles to complete their heavy workload, the other women rally together to complete the task. Stevi on one such occasion organizes the other women to help Lily. She whispers, “We can’t have you falling behind. Not to worry. Let me have a talk with the others, and we’ll figure something out.” This kindness from someone who looks so tough shows that appearances can deceive. John 7:24, Judge not according to appearance , but judge righteous judgement.
Stevi also shares her faithful journey with Lily. She became a Christian in prison and accepted Christ “like the thief on the cross.” The women encourage each other through the dark times by quoting the Holy Scriptures by reminding their sisters in Christ as it is written in 1st Thessalonians 4:18, Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When Lily plans her escape, Stevi notices but does not stop her. Instead, she says goodbye with love: “Goodbye, Lily, and good luck.” Lily responds, “I’m not saying goodbye, because I know, and look to the day, we shall meet again in a better place.”
Stevi appears to be the rough outsider but her good character proves the old adage “Appearances are often Misleading”.
Multi-Layered Characters
Caleb James Rawlands: Righteous
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Caleb James Rawlands
Caleb seemed to have had it all a loving Christian home-life and as a young lad adventurous vacations the stuff legends are made of spent in Australia on his ancestors The Rawlands Ranch. He paid a high price for his Christian Faith. The loss of his Best Friend Jared. Lily, the loss of the woman he loved and of Hearth and Home to live a lonesome life on the run. His heartache is to the extreme and yet Caleb remained faithful. Matthew 19:29, And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
These Faithful archetypes are just a reflection of everyday individuals living in a time of “Great Tribulation” amongst the stage set in the novel “Lily Among Thorns” a larger than life theme about the “End Times”. And as a world grows gloomier, the lines of propriety become more clearly defined with each passing day. Good people shall remain good and evil people shall wax worse and worse Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
You are cordially invited to meet these unforgettable archetypal Faithful characters yourself? Purchase Lily Among Thorns and discover how Lily and the cast of characters in Lily Among Thorns refuse to give up and maintain their faith in Jesus Christ.
CREDITS
Holy Scriptures, King James Bible
Male Portrait Calla Negra, on Pixabay
Background Portraits by Jesus is our only Hope, on Pixabay
