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

I say great book but you need to know your stuff; if you don't, now is the time to learn.We have here a wonderful source material for the happenings in the world today and what is coming in the near future for each of us personally. Indeed the third lens of Biblical prophecy is necessary to understand our times. Some may bring up the question of the proper focus of that lens and if Rosenberg understands Ezekiel's prophecies correctly.I agree that perhaps Rosenberg relies too heavily on a certain school of prophetic interpretation; but to stab at the forgiveness of errors these people make would be unwarranted. Any learned Bible student should be aware that at this present time "we see through a glass darkly". Prophecy student's need to and very often realize that we are human and limited and subject to error, though God's Word is not.As we humans stumble through our life's experience on our way home, we come to know our and other's errors as a learning experience. The scripture even tells us this will be thus: I Cor. 11:19 "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." It indeed is the Christian thing to do, to forgive and forget and push forward to that prize, waiting on the Lord to make all things manifest.Indeed, I would say approach Rosenberg's book with caution because it may be a compilation of Rosenberg's life experiences but it is but one view, Rosenberg's. That does not mean that there is not an immense amount of information here. True, there are many scholars that disagree on the meanings of the prophecies in Ezekiel 38 and 39, but it is God's track record that the closer we get to fulfillment of a prophecy the clear it becomes. So don't give up on prophecy. We are guaranteed that it will be fulfilled and most often than not it is not the way that we humans may think; that simply shows God's power, strength and faithfulness to His own word.Rosenberg skips over what Ezekiel 37 meant to Ezekiel's contemporaries. Of course those in exile would think that that prophecy would refer to them, but all that are knowledgeable of prophecy realize that there are multiple fulfillments of prophecy until the ultimate final prophecy is fulfilled completely. It is a pattern in prophecy that a learned student of prophecy comes to realize and recognize. I believe that Rosenberg simply by passed this issue as not essential to his book as he is speaking of our time not specifically those gone by.Rosenberg did not make an error by using nineteenth century scholar's teaching that `rosh' refers to Russia. Everyone, do your home work closely, there are many other sources for this identity. I'll not site them here it is YOUR responsibility to search out a thing not mine to prove it; I simply challenge you to prove all things.I disagree somewhat with Rosenberg's take on "Meshech" and "Tubal" as being Moscow and Tobolosk becausse scholars today see them as the area of modern-day Turkey.There have been attacks on Rosenberg's emphasis on certain nations and their part in this prophecy and Hal Lindsey's interpretation, but again I say we are human and all subject to human error as scripture tells us that we will be. Time and God will show us that the scripture was right all along though we humans may get the best of ourselves and that includes me.Many people don't realize that the most important reason for prophecy is to show God's faithfulness to His Word not to just tell us what is going to happen. We can know generally what is going to happen and be in error on the finer details and still see God's hand on it all. After all who are you relying on in your life, yourself, so called learned people, or God alone?I don't think that "Epicenter" will be just another prophetic disappointment; I say only if we allow it.I for one do not agree that the attack of the prophecy will be so much solely on the modern nation of Israel (as the radicals call `the little Satan'), but that it will include the USA (as the radicals call `the great Satan') as a prime partner of attack. The attack could likely be from the far north of the USA beginning in the oil rich fields of Alaska. I have my reasons for seeing this, I'll not take time to highlight now. One of which is that it would not be expected though Alaska is rich in oil and some Russians have historically stated of wanting Alaska back.You take away from this wonderful piece of information what ever you personally desire. I desire to see God's hand in my life and all of his master plan for His creation.Read the book!!!Despite some difficulties it is a wonderful, enlightening and essential source of information about many nations' activities in the world among other nations. It is a great first hand resource of information on the geopolitical scene because Rosenberg lived it; he was there in the thick of things and spoke to these leaders of these nations.Again, read the book!!!

Mr. Rosenberg's fictional series was recommended to me. I thought I'd try nonfiction first. This particular book seems out of date.

I first became aware of Joel C. Rosenberg when I read his third novel, "The Ezekiel Option." In what I consider the best of his four "end-times" novels, he clearly and persuasively presents a plausible dramatization of the prophecies of Ezekiel coming true. Simply put, the prophet, writing 2,500 years ago, foresaw an attack upon the nation of Israel by Russia, Iran, and several allied countries. For the first time in human history, the prerequisites for such an event are starting to line up, and the "War of Gog and Magog" as Rosenberg calls it, seems ever more possible and even capable of happening in our own lifetimes.In "Epicenter," Rosenberg's first non-fiction book, the author describes these prophecies and what biblical scholars have been able to surmise about them up to this point in history. Russia and Persia (Iran) have never been politically or militarily allied, but now Russia is selling arms to Iran and aiding them in their quest to become a nuclear power. Based on a careful analysis of Ezekiel, Rosenberg goes on to describe ten "future headlines" that we should anticipate and be watchful for. One of the most intriguing "headlines" is that Iraq, in spite of its present unrest and discouraging situation, will experience a period of peace and stability prior to the devastating attack on Israel. Another is that in the "last days" there will be record numbers of Moslems becoming disillusioned with their faith and turning to Christianity instead. Rosenberg uses documented statistics to show that since September 11, 2001, followers of Islam have been turning to Jesus Christ in a big way, even in countries where it is a dangerous thing to question, much less abandon, the Islamic religion.I believe we are living in an age where it is more important than ever for Christians and Jews to familiarize themselves with the the prophecies recorded in the Bible. Approximately 40% of the Holy Scriptures are prophetic, and about half of them are said to have already come to pass. We need to be able, says Rosenberg, to view current events not just in terms of political or economic reasoning, but through what he calls "the third lens of scripture."I feel I have learned a lot from this one book, which is not the first book on prophecy I've studied. I am not a person who is inclined to agree 100% with what any given writer has to say on the subject, but Joel C. Rosenberg has deeply impressed me as someone who really knows his stuff. Fans of Rosenberg's novels will enjoy learning more about his own family history and his personal transition from secular Jew to Messianic Jew and evangelical Christian. Rosenberg's fifth novel, "Dead Heat" is due to be released in March of 2008.

If you're interested in Christian prophecy and seeing how the current signs of the times fit in with it, then this book will certainly provide some food for thought. Joel has to be one of the most unique authors of this age, given how uncannily close to real life his fictional storylines have been, so I tend to pay some attention to what he feels factually is happening in the world, but like many true Americans, I do feel he tends to concentrate perhaps too much on the US's role in much of what is up ahead. And personally I feel it's got next to no role at all, other than to perhaps precipitate much of what is going to happen in the likes of the Middle East. Ezekiel outlined very clearly the aftermath of a nuclear attack on Israel, so we know it will happen at some point, but we also know that unlike the US and many other countries of the Middle East that Israel will survive, because the whole of human history is geared around it - it's very existence is proof of the validity of scripture, as God ordained and stated throughout His Word that it would do so despite everything the world would bring against it. But Joel does outline a lot of very solid facts in the book that I appreciated, and some amazing ones too like the huge numbers of Muslims becoming Christians despite the very real threats of death that are then brought against them by family and friends, and thus I found the book overly encouraging while being very informative.

This book informs and educates on the political, religious and prophetic happenings in the Middle East. Joel Rosenberg has an easy way of writing and is easy to follow through the myriad channels of intelligence that he puts in the book. It really opens ones eyes to all that is going on as well as making you aware of what could easily go wrong in such a volatile situation.

This is one of the best books I have read for a long time, its an interesting take on things

Really interesting.

Excellent book.