Kristen Wisen :: Author

The Appearing is my first fictional novel. To understand its inception, I have to take you back twenty years and give you a little bit of background. Be patient – it will all make sense eventually.

My father, Robert Van Kampen, was a tunnel vision kind of guy. I can remember him waking me up early on several Saturday mornings when I was in grade school, to go digging for fossils at a nearby quarry. We’d grab a hammer and a chisel, and go dig. This was during the origins phase of his life.

He also had a sovereignty phase and the last fifteen years of his life was his eschatology phase. When he studied something, it was all out and full force. He left no stone unturned. He had questions and he studied until he had the answer. When he began the eschatology phase, it was merely to have a good, biblical understanding and defense of the pre-tribulational rapture position. This simple exercise turned into a decade of seeking and study, and when it was done, he hadn’t discovered a new “theory”, but found that the scriptures actually gave a clear, orderly warning of signs to look for that would herald Christ’s return. He may have documented it and given it a name, but it wasn’t new. It was biblical.

Thus began a ministry phase of dad’s life, with a passion to warn the church of impending persecution. The pre-wrath position agrees with the pre-trib position that the church will not be subject to the wrath of God. It just places the starting point of His wrath in a different place. Dad wrote several books and funded a ministry that held conferences to teach the church what the scriptures instructed. He came under great scrutiny and criticism, but that didn’t slow him down. The scriptures spoke for themselves. When he died, he left behind resources to encourage those seeking God’s word for His plan for the last days.

Over fifteen years have passed since my father’s book The Sign was first printed, and his passion for truth and understanding continues on in my family. My husband and I have spent hours teaching our friends and church family the scriptural foundation for the pre-wrath position. And the first question that is asked when we are done is, “What is your church doing to prepare?” I know that the elders of my church are keenly aware of current events and take their responsibility to lead and protect their flock seriously. But this question has set my imagination aflame, and it has resulted in the writing of The Appearing.

The Appearing is a fictional account of a faithful church that enters into the final seven years of this earth prepared as Jesus had instructed. I have been told that my subject matter was a massive undertaking, and I heartily agree. As the book poured from my imagination, protagonists and antagonists easily formed and before I knew it, I was dwelling in a cave, waiting for Christ to return. I found that communication with the outside world was limited in the caves. I also found that keeping children busy while hiding was also burdensome. There were times I would be running errands in real life and I had to stop what I was doing and return home to solve an issue with my fictional church. It was very consuming.

In the end, the writing of The Appearing accomplished several objectives. It heralds Christ as Lord and gives a clear gospel message. It lays the groundwork for the pre-wrath rapture, pointing the reader to scriptures that will help in their search for understanding in a non-threatening manner. It encourages the faithful church to plan for the future. And, it is a very exciting storyline that keeps the reader engaged and entertained.

It is my hope and prayer that the Lord would use this offering to His glory, to encourage His church and to proclaim truths from His Word. What He began with the simple study of a godly man has become my first novel.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Colossians 3:23,24


	Home About Kristen About The Book Links & Resources Books Contact Kristen	About The Book The Appearing is my first fictional novel. To understand its inception, I have to take you back twenty years and give you a little bit of background. Be patient – it will all make sense eventually. My father, Robert Van Kampen, was a tunnel vision kind of guy. I can remember him waking me up early on several Saturday mornings when I was in grade school, to go digging for fossils at a nearby quarry. We’d grab a hammer and a chisel, and go dig. This was during the origins phase of his life. He also had a sovereignty phase and the last fifteen years of his life was his eschatology phase. When he studied something, it was all out and full force. He left no stone unturned. He had questions and he studied until he had the answer. When he began the eschatology phase, it was merely to have a good, biblical understanding and defense of the pre-tribulational rapture position. This simple exercise turned into a decade of seeking and study, and when it was done, he hadn’t discovered a new “theory”, but found that the scriptures actually gave a clear, orderly warning of signs to look for that would herald Christ’s return. He may have documented it and given it a name, but it wasn’t new. It was biblical. Thus began a ministry phase of dad’s life, with a passion to warn the church of impending persecution. The pre-wrath position agrees with the pre-trib position that the church will not be subject to the wrath of God. It just places the starting point of His wrath in a different place. Dad wrote several books and funded a ministry that held conferences to teach the church what the scriptures instructed. He came under great scrutiny and criticism, but that didn’t slow him down. The scriptures spoke for themselves. When he died, he left behind resources to encourage those seeking God’s word for His plan for the last days. Over fifteen years have passed since my father’s book The Sign was first printed, and his passion for truth and understanding continues on in my family. My husband and I have spent hours teaching our friends and church family the scriptural foundation for the pre-wrath position. And the first question that is asked when we are done is, “What is your church doing to prepare?” I know that the elders of my church are keenly aware of current events and take their responsibility to lead and protect their flock seriously. But this question has set my imagination aflame, and it has resulted in the writing of The Appearing. The Appearing is a fictional account of a faithful church that enters into the final seven years of this earth prepared as Jesus had instructed. I have been told that my subject matter was a massive undertaking, and I heartily agree. As the book poured from my imagination, protagonists and antagonists easily formed and before I knew it, I was dwelling in a cave, waiting for Christ to return. I found that communication with the outside world was limited in the caves. I also found that keeping children busy while hiding was also burdensome. There were times I would be running errands in real life and I had to stop what I was doing and return home to solve an issue with my fictional church. It was very consuming. In the end, the writing of The Appearing accomplished several objectives. It heralds Christ as Lord and gives a clear gospel message. It lays the groundwork for the pre-wrath rapture, pointing the reader to scriptures that will help in their search for understanding in a non-threatening manner. It encourages the faithful church to plan for the future. And, it is a very exciting storyline that keeps the reader engaged and entertained. It is my hope and prayer that the Lord would use this offering to His glory, to encourage His church and to proclaim truths from His Word. What He began with the simple study of a godly man has become my first novel. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23,24