The Ezekiel Option

Joel C. Rosenberg has written an outstanding novel. Taken from today's headlines, the Middle East is unsettled due to new oil discoveries in Israel. Jon Bennett, Presidential advisor is directly impacted by a government overthrow in Russia. He consults his mentor, former Mossad agent Eliezer Mordechai. Dr. Mordechai exposes Jon to the prophecy from Ezekiel 38-39, which tells of an uprising of Middle Eastern nations along with Russia. These nations intend to attack Israel. This is so familiar that it is uncanny.

This is an action packed thriller from start to finish. It is a very fast paced story that is very well done. This book is an end times novel based upon Exekiel 38-39. Rosenberg has developed a plausible interpretation of those Scriptures and developed a great novel around them. I read both of the author's previous novels, "The Last Jihad" and "The Last Days". While both were excellent, he has definitely taken this one to a new level. Even if you are not a big reader of novels, I would recommend this one.

I'm not always a fan of Christian literature, but this was one of a few exceptions. I am not a fan of the Left Behind series, but this much different...much much better. The plot is immense, but easy to follow. From moscow to Washington, Jerusalem to ancient prophecy--the story takes us around the world and weaves a thrilling story that is easy to follow and hard to put down. It brings us to the point of judgement day...and I won't give anything else away... By the time the book turned "Christian" I didn't really care. It was brought into the story in a way that made sense, that was fluid, and I didn't feel preached at. Really, a great thriller for any reader, Christian or not. A few other books that fall into the Christian themed thriller but crossover successfully are: Monster, The Didymus Contingency and The Oath...actually, most of Peretti's books are decent. But those three and The Ezekiel Option are the best so far...of course now I have to read all of Rosenberg's previous novels. Last Jihad and Last days here I come!

I confess that I found the LEFT BEHIND series to be an embarrassment to Christians and the Church. As a Christian, I think it's important that Christian fiction be at least as intelligently written (if not far better) than secular fiction. With THE EZEKIEL OPTION, Mr. Rosenberg has given us something that Christians can be proud of. For an equally good read, I recommend James BeauSeigneur's CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY.

Joel Rosenberg has been called a modern Nostradamus. I think he is a modern Issachar: he "understands the times" and "knows what [to] do." People who want to understand the War on Terror-who is behind it, what drives it, and how it will resolve-should read THE EZEKIEL OPTION. Joel marches Biblical prophecy off the pages of the Bible and weaves it into in a story that informs, entertains, and mesmerizes. Joel is not a prophet (he leaves that work to Ezekiel, Daniel, and John the Revelator), but he is well versed in the Scriptures and a gifted story teller. By using fiction studded with prophetic truths from the Word of God, Joel helps arm us for battle and anticipate the victory ahead. THE EZEKIEL OPTION is fiction that is relevant. Biblical prophecies are, after all, history that is sure to happen.