The Twelfth Imam

The Twelfth Imam, by Joel C. Rosenbarg, is an end times thriller with an interesting twist.  As in many of his other novels, Rosenberg synthesizes his knowledge of biblical prophecy about the "Last Days" with current political situations to create a fictional, yet plausible scenario.

In this case, a young CIA agent and son of Muslim refugees to the US, David Shirazi, finds himself confronted head on with the question of what he really believes as he attempts to uncover a nuclear arms stash and searches for truth about the Twelfth Imam, the Muslim messiah whose coming signals the end of the infidel and the reign of Islam throughout the world.

According to Muslim prophecies, the Twelfth Imam will only appear when the Muslim world has either completely destroyed the infidels, specifically Jews and Christians, or is prepared to do so.  In Rosenberg's scenario, that means the secret creation of enough nuclear weaponry to destroy Israel and the US.  In an interesting twist, Rosenberg's novel posits that the Twelfth Imam and the Antichrist are one and the same.

Not only is this book a great read, but is educates readers about the plight of Muslims around the world, confronts them with the reality of what the Muslim beliefs really mean for a non-believer, and forces readers to think about their own faith.  If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you think, I highly recommend Rosenberg's The Twelfth Imam. 

***Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for my honest, unbiased review.***