false 2 0 false false Sat Jul 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 07 15:33:58 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 07 19:02:58 -0700 2008
Dealing with end-times prophecy is a touchy subject that Rosenberg is refreshingly able to handle with care; never once does it come across as though he is condemning or guilt-tripping the reader into believing his points or religious perspectives, nor does it ever seem that his intent is to deceive or manipulate for personal gain. It is clear that his purpose is solely to inform the reader of the Biblical implications of current happenings in the Middle East.

While Rosenberg's research and analysis of the present-day countries that may have descended from the ancient lands mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 appears valid, his predictions regarding their involvement or lack thereof in a large-scale Middle Eastern conflict are not strong. One large example is the lack of any U.S. support for Israel in the event Israel is attacked, which is very difficult to believe given the strong ties between the 2 countries today, and the U.S.'s role in establishing the state of Israel in the 1940s. Another is the mention that Germany or even France and Spain could be aligned against Israel in an end-times conflict. This is not to say that these relationships cannot or will not dissolve over time, however, in the present century, a change seems unlikely.

Ultimately Epicenter's analysis of the Middle East through Rosenberg's unique perspective and analysis of Biblical prophecy is an intriguing read, but falls short of the mark in demonstrating that present tremors in the Middle East are a harbinger of the world's end in the next decade or so.]]>