“Our aim is to proclaim the message of hope that this blessed book (Revelation) offers as it comforts God’s people in times of trouble like ours.”  Russell McClann

“Go out there and tell this story to the world.”  Shirley McCann

By Marilyn Miller

Shirley McCann and her son, Russell McCann, have just completed the most challenging Bible Study of their lives – the Book of Revelation from the King James Bible. Unlike most people who attend or lead a Bible Study, the two family members turned their “reading” project into a “writing” project.

They have just released “We Inherited Lies: A Chiastic Structure Study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.” a glossy, 204-page book that aims to be used as a companion text as one reads the book of Revelation.

“No book or person can replace the Word of God,” said Shirley McCann. “Our goal is to remove any intimidation you may feel when reading the book of Revelation. Our goal is to present a broader understanding of the book.”

After diving into a deep chiastic structure study of Revelations (Russell found a chart in their Home Study that helped them understand) on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, the duo started writing the book. That was after Shirley agreed to write the book…she thought they were just taking the Bible Study.  Shirley holds a Master’s Degree in dual subjects and taught school for 25 years.  Russell is a Bible Scholar, who dedicates his life to studying the Word of God, seeking to make complex truths accessible through a clear, common-sense approach. Both are retired.

“When we decided to write this book, it was like ‘What did Jesus say? What did John see?’ That was our two main principles.” Shirley said. “Then, the other thing was that everything we said had to have a scripture behind it. We didn’t just make this stuff up! So, everything we wrote, we backed up with scripture, and, or a historical event. The Revelation is the history of the church, the history of our time, this time, from the time Jesus went back up into heaven, until He comes back again.” Shirley had recently done a history on church history, which overlapped with the Chiastic Structure Study.

“So why don’t we put the two together — history and Chiastic study – and write a book,” Russell suggested.

The book is easy to read, despite the editors labeling it as written for Bible scholars. It’s not a book for the first time reader of Revelation. “This study is for the serious Bible student who desires to dig deeper into God’s truth,” the authors write. They also suggest that as you approach the book of Revelation, “think about a triangle. The base line of the triangle is Jesus Christ, who is the beginning and the end, the foundation of the Bible. On the left arm of the triangle are the history chapters, 1-11, which detail man’s history on earth from the time of John, the apostle and revelator, until the Second Coming of Christ. On the right arm of the triangle are the eschatological chapters, 13-22; these chapters detail the final events of humanity’s time on earth and God’s judgement on believers and unbelievers.”

“Revelation 12 is the chiasmus climax (tip of the triangle), and the climax verse is Revelation 12:7, ‘And there was war in heaven.’ Thus, we begin our study with the climax, Revelation 12:7.”

So, when did they begin studying? In the fall of 2022 (the study) and then the writing in the summer of 2024. The process of writing a book was therapeutic for Shirley. After 48 years of marriage, her husband Alton McCann died very suddenly on August 24, 2025. The book was published on Oct. 28, 2025, which meant the editing had to be done. Shirley was busy coordinating with their publisher, which somewhat took her mind off her aching heart.

Russell and Shirley did their writing at a camp house on Lake Claiborne. “We would sit there, or we would ride around, and we would think about these things. We didn’t use anybody else’s words, no commentaries, just the Bible’s. We just thought, what did Jesus say? And what did John see,” Russell recalled.

What is a beast? A horn? Marks and mountains? The answers are in the book, and they come straight from the Bible. Did a war really take place in heaven? How does God’s system of government look?  Read the book.

“It was just an awesome experience writing the book…we learned so much,” Shirley said. “And it was just…it was done. I mean, through prayer, and we searched, and sought and found and knocked. I would tell Russell all the time that I didn’t understand something. Then we would read some more and it would be like ‘Oh my gosh, this is it.’  And it was that way for months.”

The McCall duo had no problem finding a publisher to take their submission. Thomas Nelson agreed, as Zondervan and Simon & Schuster did. Several more, in fact…But Russell wanted to go with Lucid Books. They submitted an intro and three chapters, and they heard back in a month with a deal. “We love your book…we’d love to partner with you” were happy words.

“You know, this book increased my faith, my assurance, my confidence in God, and I believe with everything in me that it prepared me for Aug. 25, 2025 (the day her husband died). God is good. And I believe that this world is on fire and it’s weak.”

And the question, she says, is not “Is the end near?”

“The question is are you ready now, are you right with God? I counted on 44 different pages; 44 different times we presented Jesus Christ. As the Messiah. The Lord of Lords. The King of Kings, the Redeemer. The Son of God. And that it is through His sacrifice, his blood that we are saved. We present Christ because that is what the Revelation is – Jesus Christ.”

“He’s coming back, and you’ve got to be ready. See Christ, that’s what the whole point of this book is. Don’t believe the lie…even in the midst of the judgment, God has his arms open wide and he’s saying ‘Come here. Come here. Come here.’ Once you’ve made your decision, hardened your heart, there’s no turning back.”

Shirley and Russell went into this project with their eyes open. “I know people are going to get all wrapped up about the mark of the beast and the anti-Christ. People are going to see what they want to see, and things they want to argue about.  The bottom line is Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.”

And He is coming back. Are you ready?