The American Prophecies

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY AUG 1, 2004

Does America have an explicit role in biblical prophecy? Absolutely, says Evans, a journalist and popular Christian speaker who has come to believe that America is at a crossroads predicted in the Bible. Speaking from a deeply conservative perspective that lauds unqualified support of Israel and decries the"myth that Islam is a peaceful religion," Evans explains that the only reason why Islamic terrorists hate Americans is"simply because they hate us"--an unconvincing tautological argument that ignores the history of several ill-advised U.S. interventions in the Middle East. In 17 chapters, Evans employs a rather tortured biblical hermeneutic to persuade readers of the need for war in Iraq--and a future war with Syria--as well as for stepped-up support for Israel to conform with biblical prophecy. He often ties Muslims with Nazis, arguing that Muslims have adopted Hitler's campaign to exterminate Jews. This book may resonate with ultra-conservative readers who already believe that America is the center of the cosmos. Other Christians will be alarmed by the way it promotes hate-filled stereotypes of Muslims even while it argues that Muslims are dangerous precisely because they promote hate-filled stereotypes of Jews.