The American Prophecies: Ancient Scriptures Reveal Our Nation's Future

How is America tied into ancient biblical prophecies? According to author Michael Evans, a fundamentalist Christian minister, biblical prophets already predicted that America is doomed to collapse unless its government stops accommodating the Arab world for the sake of oil and instead offers full military and diplomatic support to Israel. He believes that God wants Israel to have full control of the West Bank and Gaza, and Americans are risking God's wrath by not fully supporting this biblical mandate. Evans also theorizes that much of America's problems--including the attack of 9-11--are indications of God's fury over America's split allegiance between the two famous descendents of Abraham: Ishmael and Isaac. "We are caught in a tug of war between two brothers--between oil, political expedience, and conscience in many ways--and it our decisions and polices concerning these two brothers that will determine whether the United States will survive or go the way of the Roman Empire," he writes. Evans's prophetic foundation begins with the parable of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32-44), in which he interprets the various signs Jesus gave his disciples to mark "the final age and his return." Obviously, the Bible can be interpreted many ways, and Evans uses 17 chapters to weave in interpretations of scripture that support his theory that America faces a mammoth choice--ruin or salvation. Although actual quotes from scripture are rather sparse throughout the book, he concludes with a five-page index of "Ancient Prophecies" that indirectly support his theory. One caveat--Evans ( Beyond Iraq ) does not hide his vehement anti-Muslim leanings. This book will probably be offensive to Christians who practice religious tolerance and lean toward a more-inclusive solution to American diplomacy in the Middle East. -- Gail Hudson From Publishers Weekly 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 Hitlerx92s 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.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Evans, whose last book, Beyond Iraq (2003), tied biblical prophecies to the current war, here ascribes the hostilities between Arabs and Jews to the ancient sibling rivalry of Abraham's sons: Ishmael, from whom the Arab world descends, and Isaac, a patriarch of the Jews. Evans believes that the U.S., if it expects to receive God's blessing, should side unequivocally with Israel and shun Arab countries despite the lure of oil. Readers will react to the author's theologically driven politics according to their own beliefs, but Evans does offer an interesting history of the relationship between Jews and the U.S. from the earliest days of this country (Haym Salomon was one of the chief financiers of the revolution). In a chapter entitled "Treason," Evans flays Bill Clinton for pressing for a deal between Israel and the PLO. Yet on the topic of the Bush family's well-documented relationship with the Saudi royal family, he is conspicuously reticent. Fans of LaHaye and Jenkins' Left Behind series will be clamoring for this incendiary but sure-to-be-popular work. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved From the Inside Flap These words, spoken by his pastor to a future president of the United States, set the tone for author Michael D. Evansx92 impassioned and wide-ranging exploration of current events in the light of ancient Scriptures and Americax92s place in biblical prophecy. From the time George Washington placed his hand upon a Bible and swore the oath to become the first president of the United States, the Jewsx97and more importantly, a Jewish homelandx97have occupied a crucial place in Americax92s history. The second president of the United States, John Adams declared toward the end of his life, "For I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation." Now, internationally renowned Mid-East expert and biblical scholar Mike Evans traces the efforts of American Christians to help establish a Jewish State through a "prophetic memorial," a declaration presented to five successive American presidents outlining the biblical mandate for a Jewish homeland. Evans describes in fascinating detail the events that led in 1948 to the birth of the nation of Israel. The hatred of the Arab world for the Westx97and toward America in particularx97can be traced entirely to this nationx92s identification with Israel. America flirts with danger, Evans says, when it accommodates the Arab world merely for the sake of oil. As God said to Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." Americax92s prophetic future hangs on the nationx92s moral vision and clarity. The hostility of Islamic fundamentalists towards America can be explained succinctly, Evans asserts: it is rooted in bigotry, the ancient prejudice against Jews. Yet, says Evans, "America is cursing what God has blessed (Israel) and blessing what God has cursed (rebuilding Babylon [Iraq]). Does the Bible reveal what will happen to a nation that does this? A thousand percent yes!" Mike Evans is the bestselling author of Beyond Iraq and has published articles in periodicals throughout the world, including The Wall Street Journal and the Jerusalem Post. He has been a confidant to leaders in Israel for more than two decades. He is the founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team that organizes thousands to seek peace in the Middle East. Michael Evans, bestselling author of Beyond Iraq, has published articles in periodicals throughout the world, including the Wall Street Journal and the Jerusalem Post. He has been a confidant to leaders in Israel for more than two decades. He is the founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team that organizes tens of thousands to seek peace for the Middle East. He and his wife, Carolyn, have four children. Read more