My Review of "MIDEAST BEAST," by Joel Richardson and why you should buy it.

Here is a review I did on Joel Richardson's new book "MIDEAST BEAST." I had done this a while back on my Xanga blog and finally got a chance to post it here on Blogger. I hope you enjoy it. I highly reccomend this book. Buy it and read it.

               This post is for Christians only, to discuss Joel's new book that proves, in my opinion, the Antichrist will rise through Islam in the Middle East. Where do you think the Antichrist will rise and what is your scriptural support for your beliefs? Revelation 20:4 says Tribulation Saints (Christians and Jews) will be beheaded by the Antichrist during the tribulation period. Do you still believe the Antichrist will be head of the European Union or United Nations driving a flashy limousine? Or maybe you believe the Antichrist will head another nation also like the United States or Russia. We want to hear from you too. What is your detailed scriptural support for what you believe? Maybe you believe all of Revelation finished during the Apostle John's life. Please give scriptural support for your beliefs.Lets all have a discussion of these things that are so important. 2/3rds of the bible is prophecy.  Do you feel the church Pastors read enough of the biblical prophecies in church?  Maybe you feel it is wrong for a Pastor to even teach prophecy to the congregation. If this is what you believe we want to hear from you also, give us you scriptural support. If you think it is wrong to teach prophecy why do you think most of the bible is about prophecy? what is the most common way prophecy is fulfilled, symbolically or literally? Please give your scriptural support. Lets all have fun and discuss prophecy today and Joel's teaching in the coming Islamic Antichrist.
     This is Joel's 2nd TRUMPET WARNING to the church, thus his 2nd book on this same subject that Antichrist nations will rise through Islam, first being  New York Times bestseller The Islamic Antichrist, published in 2008. Brother Joel's concise clear exegetical analysis of scriptural prophecy pertaining to the Antichrist BREATHS FRESH AIR into eschatological circles. This book, a huge conundrum to all other theologians that conclude without evidence (eisegesis) the Antichrist rises in Europe or the United Nations, easily dispels according to Joel their arrogant Western thought. Surely this book, with its extensive scriptural evidence, cuts through all the NONSENSE & EISEGESIS commonly used with chalkboards and calculators to SO-CALL-PROVE the Antichrist will rise through the EU or UN with a new version of Christianity or the Pope. Joel PROVES sculpturally it isn't going to happen THAT WAY. I could never picture Christian kings of Christian countries beheading Christians and Jews during tribulation in fulfillment of Revelation 9:14-15, 16:12-14, 20:4, seems to clearly indicate; four powerful demon angels were bound at the River Euphrates until Gabriel's time of the end prediction to Daniel in Daniel 12:9; three unclean spirits released LIKE FROGS also released at Euphrates River; the kings of the East and 200 million are JUST EAST of the Euphrates River. All this added to Brother Joel's extensive exegetical analysis with DETAILED QUOTES of all the OLD OUTDATED EU & UN promoters with their calculators and chalkboards proves Joel is the leader of a new movement in eschatological schools teaching proper exegesis of biblical prophecy.
        New York Times best selling author Joel Richardson, once Islamic but now a Christian and Minister to Muslims, once again will surely set the tone for all future biblical prophesy, on how prophecy should be interpreted, on the Antichrist, commonly called the Beast in the bible, the 666 himself. Here is a book review I have done of Joel Richardson's latest best selling book called MIDEAST BEAST: The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist. This gem of a book can easily be found and bought on Amazon.com published by WND books out of Washington D.C., copyrighted, just published and released. Just click the above book link to buy, I guarantee you WILL NOT regret it. This is not the typical prophecy book that is long on tooth theory and short on scriptural support. Also, Joel quotes all the current theologians as to what exactly they believe about the Antichrist and why. This book is good for theologians also since it simplifies with summary what all the current theologians believe and where those beliefs originate. For that reason alone this book is a book all should own and have on their book shelf, if even as a reference book.
       I want to say if you want to be on the forefront of Antichrist prophecy this is the book to have, with all the other theology books. There is a great deal of summarizing going of all the theologian's views in this book. This is not shallow theology seen quite often in many books on prophecy. This is deep thinking. The type of  theology book that drains your brain when reading, but in a good way. This book teaches proper prophetic interpretation on the Antichrist. Brother Joel fulfills his promise in the title. This book truly is The Scriptural Case for an Islamic Antichrist.
       There is only one thing I've seen scripturally I disagree with in this book. This is minuet when considering his title though.  I feel there will be two Gog Magog wars, one at the beginning of tribulation and one at the end of the 1,000 year millennium. Joel says Gog and Antichrist are the same. This is an interesting view indeed and Joel does commit three whole chapters on Gog and Magog and why Gog and Antichrist are the same. These three chapters came across a little bit murky as sometimes prophecy does. But considering the size of the book and the details in it I do not feel this really detracts from the quality of the book. I do plan to go back and reread these chapters to consider what Joel says more deeply. I still feel Joel proved his case scripturally, that the Antichrist will truly rise through Islam in the Middle East.
       As also a teacher on scripturally sound prophecy I highly recommend this book as THEE ONE BOOK of prophecy to own, to get, as authoritative being sound scripturally on the deciphering of biblical prophecy as to the who, the what, where why and how of the Antichrist,  MIDEAST BEAST, will RISE in the very near future through Islam in the Middle East. Brother Joel backs up ALL of his scriptural interpretations using not only sound hermeneutic principals, as well as quoting most of the post modern theologians responsible for the European Union and United Nations theories that say the Antichrist will rise through a revived Western Empire whose False prophet will be some post modern religious movement or Catholicism. Here is only some of his 8 huge pages of annotated bibliography for those into research.
       Brother Joel pulls no punches as he exposes of, throughout the book, of which are mostly weaknesses of argument, with 8 pages fully annotated bibliography of interpretations on prophecy espoused and promoted by such theology greats as follows but not limited to: David Reagan, John Woolvard, Chuck Smith, Dwight Pentecost, Gleason Archer Jr., Pollard, Tim Lahaye & Ed Hinson, H.C. Leupold,Jamieson Fausse & Brown, Jerome, David Neff of Christianity Today, James Smith, William Smith, Ralph Smith, Larry Harper, Matthew Henry, Lang, David Guzik, Robert Thomas, C.F. Kiel, Edward Young, Arno Clemens Gaebelein, Nathan Jones, Max Blumenthal, John C. Whitcomb, Grant Osborne, G.K. Beale & Sean McDonough and many many more too numerous to list.
       He also uses other extensive historical evidence as Josephus, Ancient Christian Commentary , not forgetting Taludic, Midrashic & Rabbinic sources, Nigel Pollard, Lactantius, Hippolytus, Herodotus,
       The structure and eloquent prose of the book is such that one literally cannot put it down once started from the summary preface statement through the detailed 259 pages to the full page of recommended sources for researchers, 8 full pages of detailed bibliography notes and 5 full pages of index for later return to certain areas of the book.
       Brother Joel hits a home run with this book and backs up all his claims with scriptural evidence as to why the Antichrist will not be driving some flashy limousine coming from Western Europe somewhere. He not only proves this scripturally but also linguistically and culturally by a detailed comparison and contrast between Western and Eastern thought as to how scripture was written in the East (Middle east) and not the West. This book is a ten on prophecy teaching.  Buy this book and see your future.
       So, for those that are looking for some cutting edge teaching on the Antichrist, this is the book. For those having trouble rationalizing an Antichrist that rises from a Western European country that beheads Christians and Jews in fulfillment of Revelation 20:4, you gotta read this book. For others that have seen the Islamic Antichrist theories online in places this book has your name on it, buy it. For the rest of you that have trouble imagining an Antichrist that rules the world from a tiny Islamic country, Joel gives answers for your view also. This book is cutting edge teaching on your future, the near future, the coming future of the MIDEAST BEAST. Get this book and be prepared as God warns us in scripture. Buy this book and see your future. I really liked this book and felt it is the best teaching on the market for the coming Islamic Beast, the MIDEAST BEAST, the Antichrist. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, I give this book a solid 10.  See the many questions in the first paragraph and lets discuss Joel's book, having fellowship breaking bread together, to discuss prophecy and Joel's book.

Here are some comments on my Xanga blog to this review that I pasted here for those interested:

The bible said that the tribulation period and the end of the world was to happen during the lifetimes of the apostles and that "the" antichrist was already there: (After describing the end of the world and the end times) "Verily I say unto you, not one generation shall pass before all these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:34) "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists" (1 John 2:18) The world was supposed to end 2,000 years ago. Posted 7/19/2012 5:15 PM by agnophilo-

Brother Mark, thank you for visiting. I hope and pray you will find the Real Truth revealing the GOOD SHEPHERD in all your endeavers, Not true. Read the page before to get the context. Here is Matthew 24:1-14, let's read it. The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times-Don't mix these two things these passages are about, two separate prophecies fulfilled at two separate times. Matthew 24:1-14 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Notice the disciples are asking two things in ones sentence of Christ-- A) When will be the destruction of the 2nd temple. B) What will be the signs of your 2nd Coming? To the disciples they were of both the same time for they though the Temple would only be destroyed at the end of the age. To them there was no life once the Temple was destroyed. They assumed that would be the end of age. As a side note to this this is massive evidence for the gospels and most of the New testament being written before 66 AD. How do we know this? We know it because this very thing was thought of by all the Jewish disciples as SO INCONCEIVABLE that they associated it with JUDGMENT DAY and the end of all things. And of course we know Christ prophesied that not even one stone would be upon another, Matthew 24:2. So the truth is there Mark. You only need to open your heart and let God in. Now lets read what Christ said. 4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Notice that what Christ was talking of here, prosecution and death of Christians, went on at least until late third century AD. Lets read more... 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Here Christ is saying the gospel of Jesus Christ must be preached throughout the earth and THEN and ONLY THEN the time for the 2nd RETURN will come. When we look at Luke 21:5-7 we see that Luke is recording the same discussion from a different person's perspective. This will shed more light on the same conversation. See Luke 21:24--Here it is lets read:They will fall by sword and be taken as prisoners to all the nations. (Christ is talking about the Jewish Diaspora again; and this is all to occur BEFORE the 2nd Coming) Now lets read on...Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Once again just as in REAL ESTATE every thing is about LOCATION LOCATION--In interpreting scripture, and especially prophecy everything is CONTEXT CONTEXT. Here Christ is talking about his 2nd Coming and when and how the world wide Christians will know WHEN he will return the 2nd TIME, Christ said after Israel returns and becomes a nation again, ruling Jerusalem again, when Jerusalem is being trampled on by Jews instead of Gentiles, when those things are fulfilled, Christ will soon come. For when speaking about this very same thing Christ says in Luke 21:32 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Whenever Christ said "The Time will come" he was speaking of a distant future. Once again you seem to be purposely interpreting scripture out of the context of what Christ was talking of. God will hold you accountable for twisting his words, if you doing this on purpose. Christ was already speaking of the Last Generation and how Jerusalem would be trampled on by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles was fulfilled. Since you are a nonbeliever what do you care what Christians believe? Instead of bothering Christians why don't you go to an Atheist site? Why do you always have to bring the smell of death with you everywhere you go? Don't you believe in Liberty? It is very hard for anyone to take you serious when all you want to do is argue all the time. God Bless, Brother RobertLeeRE Posted 7/20/2012 12:05 PM by RobertLeeRE

Mark (Agnophilo) left a huge post (August 2nd, 2012) that had absolutely nothing to do with the original post nor did he answer any of the scriptural evidence I gave him last time. This convinces me he is NOT interested in truth, rather argument. Mark is bitter to God, thus all Christianity, and is not interested in truth. He is only interested in harassing Christian web sites and Christians on Xanga. His constant bickering and arguing over insignificant points he takes out of context frankly wears me out and I do not have the time for his NONSENSE he dishes out to everybody here on Xanga. For that reason I have chosen to block him and remove his blathering dribble he calls thinking and writing. In the name of Liberty and Freedom of Religion, I choose to block him for I do not have the time nor energy to talk with this completely INSINCERE IDIOT. He only believes people with the right views and beliefs should have freedom of speech and Liberty. He is the best example of how ALL LIBERTY comes not from Atheists or Agnostics like him but from CHRISTIANITY. That is why you do not see Christians going to other Atheist blogs where Atheists gather to try to bother them and disrupt the discussion with constant OUT OF CONTEXT statements and derailments which is the exact definition of TROLL. He believes in none of this LIBERTY which is why he feels the constant need to find Christian blogs on Xanga, being the TROLL he is, and attack them with things he constantly takes out of context. From here on out all us Christians will call him THE OUT OF CONTEXT MAN. We will call him this not to belittle him but to expose him for who he is, a person that never has a coherent argument but takes everything out of context, EVERYTHING. So OUT OF CONTEXT MAN, you are no longer welcome here, GET LOST. BYE BYE! Posted 8/2/2012 11:06 PM by RobertLeeRE

The only problem I have is with what I consider to be the description, from Brother Joel, of the millenial reign of Christ. It makes more sense, and is in harmony with the greatest news of all time, that the reign of Christ began at Pentecost, and continues beyond his second coming. Why? Because Christ truly reigns when people let him be God. Posted 9/8/2012 2:32 PM by David W. Lincoln@facebook

@David W. Lincoln@facebook So you take Joel's view that the Antichrist will rise through Islam? I think your view would be classified as amillennial or postmillennial. This was the predominant view by the church until the late 1800's when Darby came out with his dispensational views which would be considered mainstream today. This view is mostly the older mainline church like, Catholicism, and some of the protestant churches. There was a time when they would teach that the only time Christ would come back is when the church ruled the earth for a 1000 years. This view gradually became more difficult to defend WW1, WW2 and all the little wars. people eventually started to realize the world was not on a path of getting better, of ever getting better. So what is your scriptural support for that view? God Bless, Brother RobertLeeRE Posted 9/8/2012 3:12 PM by RobertLeeRE

Well, I take this approach, Brother RobertLeeRE: It is most unwise to read into scripture. Given the hostility to objective reality, there isn't, nor will be, all that much for Jesus to work with for a millenial reign which begins with his second coming. "A Second Look at the second coming" by T.L. Frazier does a fine job of communicating where I am coming from. Posted 9/22/2012 12:55 PM by David W. Lincoln@facebook

Brother David, Thank-you for visiting again. I must apologize for I actually lost track of our conversation. I thought this was the first time you commented and took it out of the context of your other, and mine, comments. this caused me to give a rather more pointed comment rather then this more brotherly one. I am glad I seen that and removed it. There was such a gap between this and the last one I completely forgot. I guess I have been busy lately. @David W. Lincoln@facebook     I understand your approach and where your coming from. I do not agree with them but I understand them. i am afraid I think of your position being weak according to scripture. But then again I gather you might feel the same about me. But these differences although major according to prophecy are minor according to the body of Christ worldwide. We are both brothers and if Christ walked by in our age we would both be following Christ and sitting at his feet listening to every word that proceeded out of his mouth. So in that sense we are same and these are little minuscule differences. Of course when it comes to teaching scriptural prophecy we are like night and day. Only time will tell I guess as to who is interpreting scripture properly. God Bless, Brother RobertLeeRE Posted 9/22/2012 6:06