4 out of 4 stars
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The Last days. Dooms day. End of the world. The end of the Age. These phrases represent when our world will end. Throughout history humanity has struggled to fathom the end times. Can we perceive what will transpire? When and where will it take place? Daniel Friedmann tackles this head on in the third instalment in his Inspired Studies Series titled Roadmap to the End Times. As a scientist and having studied in religion, Friedmann works to harmonize science with the biblical account. He states we can recognize how and when it will happen. We can even speed up the date. In this book he shows a blueprint for the universe and humankind’s existence. The Torah, which encompasses the Written Law and the Oral Law of Judaism is the key to unravelling this mystery. By using these manuscripts, the writer sets out a pattern that correlates biblical stories with events in history. If we know the past pattern, then figuring out the details of the future will be easier.
Friedmann covers a lot of ideas is this book. One of the most fascinating for me was how he reached a conclusion on a world ending date. There was a significant time spent developing this position. Most surprising was his usage of the creation story in getting the timetable. The author theorizes our end date to be around 2240 CE. The key word is “around” because since man possesses free will we may detain the incident by our decisions. We can advance it along by creating a more fitting world for God. We must recognize the time is near and work to present an environment for God to inhabit. Friedman ends with an outline of how we can quicken the coming of the last days.
The author provides a multitude of endnotes, appendixes and websites for further research on topics dealt with in the book. I appreciated this since I come from a Christian point of view and did not know much of the Oral Laws in Judaism. These extra research tools helped me fill in the gaps of my knowledge. The only drawback is I had to stop in the middle of a paragraph and go to a website or appendix which interrupted my reading the text.
Throughout the book I disagreed with Friedmann on theological issues. One example is in chapter 9. Here the author asserts "Adam and Eve went against their one commandment: not to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil until the end of Day 6—instead, they ate three hours before the end of the day. Had they obeyed the commandment, Adam, and Eve would have given birth to the Messiah and ushered in the World to Come. But they failed to do the right thing during this critical period and as a consequence were expelled from the Garden of Eden, leading to our existence in this world." The Jewish view is that there will be two Messiahs. Messiah ben Joseph's role is of political and military nature and he will defend Israel against the forces of evil. Messiah ben David will come next and he will lead the world in justice and peace. Ben David will finish rebuilding the 3rd temple so that God can come once again to live among us. For me there seemed to be a hole in this logic. If Adam and Eve did not sin, then why the need of a Messiah? They already dwelt with God in the Garden of Eden. The Messiah would not be needed to bring us back to peace with God and men.
Even though I differed with Friedmann on many viewpoints, it did not prevent me from enjoying the book. The book deepened my knowledge of another view of God and humans. I give Roadmap to the End Times a 4 out of 4 stars. It was carefully researched and illuminating. This book would be good for anyone who wants to explore ideas of religion and are curious about the end times. This is not a book for anyone who prefers a light read. Friedmann goes in depth on many subjects and you will need extra concentration for the reading. If you put in the effort, you will not be disappointed.
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Roadmap to the End of Days
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