Epicenter by Joel C. Rosenberg

I'm always finding books that I love and want others to read. It's what I do. But rarely do I find a book that I INSIST others read. A book that I believe to be critical to some kind of understanding desperately needed in the Body of Christ.

"Epicenter" by Joel C. Rosenberg is one of those rare books. In our day and age, it is a book we cannot afford to miss. With heads of state changing rapidly, military actions being threatened on nearly every side, and Israel smack in the middle of it all, “Epicenter” is critical to our understanding of past, present and future events.

Joel came on the scene through his fictional premier titled, "The Last Jihad" and was immediately touted as a "modern Nostradamus". His fiction paralleled modern political and economic events almost to the timing of such events. After publishing his third novel, titled "The Ezekiel Option", the publishing industry clamored for a "how to" book explaining his reasoning and deduction.

What resulted was "Epicenter", a chronicle of Joel's publishing history and a manual on just how he comes to his fictional conclusions that are so deeply imbedded in fact. This book reads so smoothly that you can almost hear the voices of those Joel talks with, and see the events he portrays in his discussions.

But even more vibrant and vital is the sense of truth and urgency you get from reading "Epicenter." He also chronicles historic events, such as September 11th, the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, current president and madman of Iran. He quotes from world leaders and world power brokers, such as Benjamin Netanyahu, currently seeking election in Israel, and Senator John McCain, currently seeking the presidency of the United States.

And Joel has done his Biblical homework as well. Centered on the prophecy in Ezekiel 38 and 39, "Epicenter" will drive you into Scripture, and ultimately will drive you to your knees in prayer for our nation and for our world.

This book is more than just a crash course in end-times theology; it is an education about world politics, economics, and power—all viewed through what Joel calls “the third lens of Scripture”.

I highly recommend all of Joel C. Rosenberg’s writing. His fictional titles are nothing like the series made famous by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins—these books are ripped from the headlines unlike any other, and collectively they have made the world sit up and take note.

But I find Epicenter even more powerful in that it is based in fact, truth, and personal experiences. The list of people Joel quotes and interviews, people who know what they are talking about, is lengthy and astounding. And as you read, your mind will see the chess pieces on the world’s playing board in motion, and you will be shocked at how easily the pieces fall into place.

Every pastor, every Sunday school teacher—oh forget that! Every CHRISTIAN should read this book. We MUST stay informed about our world and how Scripture is unfolding, both out front and behind the scenes. We MUST learn how to pray and how to think in this post-modern, pre-apocalyptic generation.

We MUST read “Epicenter”, and keep your Bible handy when you do.

Happy Reading!

Deena