Apocalypse Rising

Dailey, Timothy. Apocalypse Rising. Grand Rapids: Chosen Books, 2016.

Timothy Dailey offers alternative interpretations to end times prophecies in this work. He argues interpreting Gog and Magog as Russia was a product of the Cold War with little evidence, yet he offers little concrete evidence to support his alternate theory. He also discusses the rise of Islam and fall of Western civilization, and America's "role" in end times. At many times, it seemed to be an updated version of Armageddon, Oil, and the Middle East Crisis,  reimagined based on current Middle Eastern happenings. The book is not as readable as some of the works that were produced in the 1970s and 1980s, but it is certain to attract a large audience because of interest in end times prophecies. It does deserve an audience, if only to consider whether interpretations of the past were based on the political climate of the time. Some may agree with the author's conclusions; others will not. The evidence is not overwhelmingly convincing. The author missed out on a great opportunity to remind his readers it doesn't matter how the end times play out because we already know Christ has won. Instead of focusing on encouraging believers, he leaves them with a grim outlook on the future. Perhaps the author should have concluded with the words to the persecuted church in Smyrna: "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10 NKJV). This review is based on an advance reader's egalley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.