2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
The leader of Iran steps up to the podium at the United Nations and announces that his country currently has three nuclear missiles in the air racing towards Israel to wipe the country from the face of the planet. It is a shock to both the world listening to the speech and to the reader who just started following these events as well. This is the extremely engaging and riveting beginning to the story of The Twelfth Imam: Rise of the Antichrist by James W. Parker.
Along with the attack on Israel, Iran also has multiple attacks planned for the Great Satan of the United States as well. These attacks immediately change the way of life for all in the U.S. as well as around the world. Coupled with millions of people suddenly disappearing into thin air, these events radically shift the global landscape in almost every way. The eschatology of Christianity and Islam begin to be played out on the world stage.
In this state of flux, a man claiming to be the Mahdi, or the Twelfth Imam, rises to power in the Middle East and soon sets his sights on ruling the entire world. There are those who oppose his machinations and ally themselves against him and the regime that he begins to set up across the globe. The physical and spiritual lines begin to be drawn in the battle for the hearts and very souls of all mankind.
This book is quite unique from any other end times books that I have ever read. The author pulls together the prophecies from both Christianity and Islam and weaves quite the interesting tale of what could happen in the last days of planet Earth. I would not have thought it possible that the two would mesh together, but Mr. Parker does a fine job of pulling it off.
Though the story itself was quite strong, the characterization of the individuals making up that story left me wanting more. None of them were really well fleshed out with them all lacking any real depth. I did not have any character that I readily identified with or truly became invested in. I think that part of the reason for this was that the book seemed just a bit too short and did not allow the author the space to bring these characters to life in the story.
Another thing that bothered me a bit was the abruptness of the end of the story. The conclusion felt a bit rushed and stopped right in the middle of big happenings in the plot. I don’t know if another book is planned to continue the story or not. If so, this might explain where this one ended.
I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I would actually put it at 2.5 overall, but I rounded down because of the problems listed above. In this case, a great story does not overcome the weak characterization of the participants in it.
******
The Twelfth Imam: Rise of th Antichrist
View: on Bookshelves
Like rssllue's review? Post a comment saying so!
-- 03 Aug 2016, 17:04 --
The bo
