Epicenter 2.0: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future [Paperback]

 

 

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This remarkable book examines the future through the lens of biblical prophecy with an emphasis on Ezekiel 38 and 39. The book is valuable but incomplete in a sense, as it ignores important information on events that might trigger the War of Gog and Magog and almost completely silent on what might follow it as far as Europe is concerned.

In the introduction the author explains how he got to write his best-selling novels and attempts to answer questions like: How serious is the Iran nuclear crisis? Why is Russia selling nuclear technology and arms to Iran? What is the future of the Arab-Israeli conflict and of Iraq? What are the dangers of expansionist Islam?

Chapter 2 deals with the process of the writing and publication of his prescient novels The Last Jihad, The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option and The Copper Scroll, whilst the next looks at the genesis of Jihad. Chapter 4 explains that the lenses of politics and economics should be complemented by a third, the lens of scriptural prophecy. That is the way to understand global evens in three dimensions.

Chapter 5 examines those prophecies that have already been fulfilled, like the restoration of Israel and its spectacular economic growth. Rosenberg predicts that massive oil and gas reserves will be discovered in the Holy Land. The gross domestic product of Israel is already much higher than that of a country like Egypt with more than ten times the population.

Chapter 7: A Czar in Russia, explores the identity of the peoples mentioned in the prophecies of Ezekiel: Gog, Magog, Rosh, Meshech and Tubal based on historical and linguistic clues. Russia has become totalitarian and has invaded Georgia as was expected judging by the quotes from Putin. Belarus is a natural ally that never tasted freedom after the collapse of the USSR. The next chapter shows how Russia is assembling a new Axis of Evil and looks at the Iranian leader's threats against Israel and the West.

The identity of the other nations that will join Russia in the assault on Israel is explored in chapter 9. Russia is extending its military alliance with Iran to include other countries of the Islamic world & Venezuela. One cannot ignore the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) that already includes the People's Republic of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan & Uzbekistan.

Cush is thought to mean sub-Saharan African countries of which Sudan will form part but even South Africa might be involved, whilst Put refers to North African states like Libya, Tunisia and Algeria. Gomer might be Turkey and Azerbaijan and Beth Togarmah is most likely the aforementioned Central Asia Stans.

There will be other allies from the Islamic world. Rosenberg notes that Egypt and Iraq are not part of this alliance, but fails to point out that neither Syria nor Jordan is mentioned. He does talk about the regional powers that will realize that the invasion is about stealing the wealth of Israel (Sheba & Dedan) and Western Countries raising a protest but doing nothing to help Israel (Tarshish).

Russian ambitions for expanding into the Middle East are investigated in chapter 10. Recent revelations about Russian intentions during the 1967 and 1973 wars show how close the Soviet Union came to getting directly involved. The next chapter describes what will actually happen to the Anti-Israel alliance: supernatural destruction through earthquakes, pandemics, comets/meteorites and hailstones; in the confusion they will turn on one another.

The next three chapters deal with Iraq as increasingly prosperous, the building of the Third Temple, the increase in the numbers of Messianic Jews and a big story ignored by the mass media: how Muslims are turning to Christ in increasing numbers in Central Asia, Iran, North Africa and the Middle East. The author is of the opinion that Babylon in Iraq will be the future seat of the Anti-Christ. I am not so sure about that. It might rather be another city in Europe that becomes the capital of a resurgent Europe, the final revival of the Roman Empire.

The last chapter offers advice on what to do in light of these terrifying events, on a personal, local and international level. This includes making people aware of the prophecies and supporting Israel spiritually and materially.

Appendix 1 answers frequently asked questions, Appendix 2 provides the results of a national survey of American attitudes towards Bible prophecy and Appendix 3 provides the full text of Ezekiel 38 and 39. The book is illustrated with maps throughout and concludes with endnotes by chapter.

My problem with Epicenter is that it completely ignores the possibility of a localized war (Psalm 83 and Obadiah) in the Middle East that might be one of the triggers of the Gog-Magog War. This could be a war against Hezbollah, Hamas and their supplier Syria. Even Jordan might be involved. This will explain why these countries are not mentioned in the Ezekiel prophecy - because they will be thoroughly defeated and Damascus might be no more. This humiliating defeat could be the pretext for Russia & Iran to attack Israel. It might also explain why no country will come to the defense of Israel and why the United Nations will sanction such an attack.

In addition, the author totally ignores the role of the European Union. The spectacular destruction of Russia might trigger such panic in the EU that it causes a religious revival that enables ten of these countries to unite under an Emperor to revive the so-called Holy Roman Empire. In such a scenario, Rome will be the religious centre of this superpower, definitely not Babylon in Iraq.

I highly recommend Shackled Warrior by Caroline Glick, The Return of History by Robert Kagan and Menace in Europe by Claire Berlinski for insights into various aspects of global politics & tendencies predicted by these authors that have been confirmed by subsequent events.

Joel Rosenberg is either extremely lucky in his predictions or has an uncanny ability to predict the future. Read this book and then watch the headlines.

This is an easy-to-read book, but very informative. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in Middle East politics. It will give you a whole new perspective and help you understand the fallacies of the conventional wisdom on what the future holds.

Most readers today may not be remember Hal Linsey, of Late great Planet Earth fame...............Well, Hal has be reborn in Joel Rosenburg, who wants to ram the premil, Dispensational,here comes the Russians theology down our throats again. I must have been in the twilight zone when I bought this book, for it only took a few pages to realize I had been had.............Give us a break Joel, you are not modern prophet, your another Biblical forcaster using current events as the susposed key to understaning prophecy...............Its unfortunate that Christianity is often associated with the Hal Lindsays, Pat Robertsons, Tim Lahays, and all those who's employ flawed theology as a means to make a buck. They sell books, but they also sell Biblical BS.......They have history all packaged up in a nice little song and dance, that has yet come to pass, no matter how many times these guys keep updating it.......Wake up folks and smell the Biblical distortions.......I couldn't even finish the book, and not wishing to insult the intellengence of someone who may have some, I threw it in the trash............

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