RamistThomist
Puritanboard Clerk
This is the conclusion to the David Shirazi series.
Even though this is the standard spy-thriller, it’s still quite good. In terms of technical novel-writing, it succeeds at all levels. It also communicates an urgency for the gospel. And while Joel Rosenberg’s eschatology is off (and I will argue that even on pre-trib standards it doesn’t always work), he captures the “prophetic thrust” of the Middle East.
Basic plot-line: David Shirazi is an Iranian-American who is a CIA asset in Iran. In earlier books Shirazi had penetrated the Madhi’s intelligence network, but time is running out.
Rosenberg writes his novel around the Shi’ite concept of the “12th Imam,” the Islamic lord of the age who would destroy the Great and Little Satans. Not surprisingly, this ties in with current speculation on Iran.
Problems:
Even on a pre-tribulational reading of Gog and Magog, it’s not clear that his scenario fits. Ezekiel says Israel will be at peace, then the nations of the world will strike. Okay, but Israel is not at peace and the nations of the world aren’t striking, just Iran, Hamas, and Syria. Even the bogeyman Russia isn’t involved, and Russia is key for Rosenberg’s larger scenario.
Even though this is the standard spy-thriller, it’s still quite good. In terms of technical novel-writing, it succeeds at all levels. It also communicates an urgency for the gospel. And while Joel Rosenberg’s eschatology is off (and I will argue that even on pre-trib standards it doesn’t always work), he captures the “prophetic thrust” of the Middle East.
Basic plot-line: David Shirazi is an Iranian-American who is a CIA asset in Iran. In earlier books Shirazi had penetrated the Madhi’s intelligence network, but time is running out.
Rosenberg writes his novel around the Shi’ite concept of the “12th Imam,” the Islamic lord of the age who would destroy the Great and Little Satans. Not surprisingly, this ties in with current speculation on Iran.
Problems:
Even on a pre-tribulational reading of Gog and Magog, it’s not clear that his scenario fits. Ezekiel says Israel will be at peace, then the nations of the world will strike. Okay, but Israel is not at peace and the nations of the world aren’t striking, just Iran, Hamas, and Syria. Even the bogeyman Russia isn’t involved, and Russia is key for Rosenberg’s larger scenario.
