Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform

by Joel C. Rosenberg

2009 Retailer's Choice Award winner!
Inside the Revolution takes you inside the winner-take-all battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of the Middle East. It includes never-before-seen profiles of the Radicals, the Reformers and the Revivalists. It explains the implications of each movement and the importance of each leader–not only through the lenses of politics and economics but through the third lens of Scripture as well. Today, wars and revolutions define the modern Middle East, and many believe the worst is yet to come. ? ?

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History, Politics, Christian, Islam, Faith

513 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Note: This is a different person than the fantasy author, Joel Rosenberg

Joel C. Rosenberg is the founder of The Joshua Fund and the New York Times best-selling author of THE LAST JIHAD (2002), THE LAST DAYS (2003), THE EZEKIEL OPTION (2005), THE COPPER SCROLL (2006), EPICENTER (2006) and DEAD HEAT (2008) with more than 1.5 million copies in print. THE EZEKIEL OPTION was named by the ECPA as the Gold Medallion winner of the "Best Novel of 2006." Joel, an evangelical Christian whose mother is Gentile and whose father is from an Orthodox Jewish background, previously worked with several U.S. and Israeli leaders, including Steve Forbes, former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky, and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has been interviewed on hundreds of radio and TV shows.
He and his wife have four sons and live near Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes, there are books which start out slowly, but you know if you stay with it, you'll feel it was worthwhile. Then again, there are books like this which prove your initial hunch was correct. This book begins with quotes and discussions with recently retired U.S. Army General Jerry Boykin. I thought that name was familiar, and wondered if he was the same U.S. General who had been regularly appearing at evangelical revivals preaching that the US was in a holy war as a "Christian nation" battling "Satan". It is / was, so I initially wondered if the book would be "Born-again" Christian prostelitizing by Rosenberg, or a thorough review of the forces at play in the Middle East. After being fooled during the early part of the book when Rosenberg does spend some time discussing the forces of Jihad in the Middle East, in short order the more prevalent message of the book becomes clear. I can save you some time and just tell you that rather than read the book, just log onto his Joshua Fund website and make your financial donation now. Rosenberg is the founder and President of The Joshua Fund, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity that seeks to "Bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, according to Genesis 12:1-3", and that's the message of the book. His transitioning to a Christian-evangelical message with its Biblical prophesy made me feel I was being preached to, or was taking a bible study class. If that's what you're interested in, then you'll enjoy the book. If you're more interested in explainations of the turmoil in the Middle east based more on political, economic or societal insights, then you might be interested in a more secular book.

[Idealist- Realist · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here are my comments and observations on this book.

1. It's politically and religiously motivated work. 40% Political and 60% religious.

2. It undoubtedly campaigns Christian mission. As a Muslim reader, I'm 100% unconvinced about its narrative on Christianity. My religion is the ultimate truth as what the author's think on his religion. There's no wrong with my religion. There's wrong with the interpretation of the Qur'an but not with my RELIGION. NEVER.

3. The book is clearly BIASED. HE divided his work in 3 parts; the RADICALS, the REFORMERS, the REVIVALISTS. He defined RADICALS as those who have extreme ideas like that of Osama bin Laden and his followera, Ayatullah Khomieni and his followers. He even categorized religious Muslims as radical ones. REFORMERS for him are those leaders that SECULAR and PRO-DEMOCRACY or PRO-WEST. Lastly, REVIVALIST are the ones reviving the mission of Christianity. What makes it BIASED is that it underrepresented Muslims as he only gave attention to the RADICALS and the REFORMERS (secular). He didn't give a room for mainstream or MODERATE MUSLIMS. It needs to be noted that are SECULAR are far different from MODERATE Muslims.

4. His work is lacking of sources. He didn't show evidence or authentic sources on some of his arguments. Some are mere self-observations.

5. This book is designed to breed ISLAMOPHOBIC sentiment.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked "Epicenter", you'll probably like 'Inside the Revolution'. Rosenberg digs deeper, and explains in detail the historical and personal background of how the primary 'groups' have come to believe, in what they believe. 509 pages have never flown by faster. Grouped into three main groups, "Radicals", Reformers" and the 'Revivalists', Rosenberg has interviewed numerous people for their 'first hand' perspective in their own words.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a non-fiction book that seems huge but actually was easy to read. If you are at all interested in the Middle East and Islam/Christianity, I would really recommend reading this book. If you can't get through the whole thing, I would at least read the last third of the book which describes all of the amazing things that God is doing in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries. Really eye opening for me to read. Gave a broader perspective of current events overseas. Definitely worth the time investment to read (at least for me it was).

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Joel Rosenberg (himself a Messianic Jew), is able to interpret the modern day conflicts in the Middle East (which he calls the "epicenter") in light of Biblical prophecy and make a compelling case that God is up to something HUGE in these "latter days". He is NOT some radical nut case ... he intellectually reviews the history of the region and its leaders, what they are saying they believe in, and he reviews what they are declaring their intentions to be. In the book, Rosenberg breaks down the groups of people into three categories : The Radicals (terrorist jihadist types), The Reformers (moderate Muslim leaders who desire peace in their region and hold to a form of Islam that is inclusive of other religions as well as open to democratic reforms), and The Revivalists (Muslim background believers in Jesus Christ as well as nominal Christians-turned "devoutly Christian" believers in the Middle East).
The first part of the book is devoted to making a clear case that Radical Muslim adherents are intentionally planning to annhilate and take over the West ... These people are openly stating their intentions for all the world to hear and they are doing everything they can to make it happen. Rosenberg documents this carefully.
In the section on the Reformers, Rosenberg talks about the Reformers of the Middle east like the King of Morocco and the king of Jordan. Most compelling was his interview with leaders of Afghanistan and Iraq who are courageously attempting to lead their countries out of "war" mode and into a free democracy ... yes, a taylor made for the Middle East "democracy", but nevertheless, a country more open and free and representative of all faiths and peoples.
And the last part of his book, details the amazing revival taking place inside some of the most radical Islamic countries ... There is an explosion of conversions to Christianity taking place inside places like Sudan and Iran and Iraq and Afghanistan ... Rosenberg documents the amazing stories of Muslims who found the true God through encounters with the Living Christ in dreams and visions and miraculous healings ... These things are so real and point to the wonderful fact that no matter how the precarious political balance of power turns out, God is still at work and will be found by those who truly are searching for lasting Peace.
Rosenberg's book is so compelling and current. What makes it even more amazing is that God is using a JEW to reach out to Muslims in the Middle East with a message of Hope and Peace.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, especially in light of the current events in Iran and their recent threat toward Israel and the US.
I bought this for my dad, who is Christian, with a curiosity about Muslims and what they really believe. He loved it and gave it back to me to read and has been passing it around to family and friends.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very timely and interesting - a good perspective on what's happening right now in the middle east.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Great insight on what is happening around us during this current political nightmare.
God will prevail! I know how it ends....... you can too, read your Bible!

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very exciting commentary on what is happening in the middle east. Amazing true stories of how many muslins are turning away from Islam and turning to Jesus Christ. In most of the stories, there are many name changes because of the danger involved in the individual getting saved and their families. Highly recommended for all Christians.

[Joshua Hedlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fair and informative book on the complex nature of modern Islam and its implications for the world's future. The book is divided into three sections covering "Radical" terrorists, moderate "Reformers," and "Revivalists" converting to Christianity. Joel Rosenberg has a conservative right-wing perspective that strengthens the book in some places while weakening it in others, but the book's greatest value is the vast content derived from direct, personal correspondence with people all over the world - Muslims, Christians, US government figures, Middle Eastern leaders, and more.

The "Radicals" section focuses on the history of Iran since the 1979 revolution and the ensuing effects on terrorist activity. There is a lot of really useful information here for anyone who wants to have a better understanding and context for current events involving Iran. That said, while I agree with Rosenberg that many dangerously underestimate the risks of Islamic terrorism, I think his bias may have overestimated the risk, which I think is borne out by the hindsight of the near decade since the book's publication (Iran was apparently not 1-2 years away from a nuclear bomb, and the radical Ahmadinejad is no longer in power. In general I think Rosenberg's missed expectations or interpretations may have been affected by placing too much emphasis on people's spoken words, including some admittedly concerning poll results, rather than people's revealed preferences through their actions, perhaps combined with potential nuances lost between languages and cultures.) Nevertheless, it's a solid section and I learned a lot.

The "Reformers" section addresses not merely "moderate" Muslims as a general group - which Rosenberg says don't get nearly enough attention or respect - but specifically focuses on Muslim government leaders across the Middle East and Africa, and their inspiring pro-active efforts to stamp out radical ideology and promote democratic freedoms in their countries. The king of Morocco is one such hero, but the star figure is Iraq's first president Talabani, an experienced Kurdish Muslim seeking to unite his country's divided groups against terrorism while building a relationship with Israel. This was the best information I've ever read on moderate Islam from any perspective, and it not only taught me a lot but made me very excited about the future political prospects for numerous Islamic countries. The author's political bias shows through here with his unequivocal defense of the Iraq war, and US military interventions more generally, but he made a very compelling case for the positive outcomes of such American partnerships with Middle Eastern moderates. I don't know if this information is so unfamiliar because the right doesn't like to praise moderate Muslims and the left doesn't like to praise Bush's military adventures, but this section significantly impacted my views on the subject.

The final "Revivalists" section covers the accelerating growth of Christianity in Muslim countries. It talks about the supernatural dreams and visions that are well-known to anyone remotely familiar with this subject, and the different strategies and emphases of converted Muslim evangelists across the Middle East. The book's earlier background about the effects of the Iranian Revolution helped me understand how the widespread disillusion among the largely nominal Muslim Iranian citizenry has created a wide-open door for the power of the Gospel, and, in contrast to some of the more fiery figures on the right, Rosenberg uses this section to highlight the crucial Christian themes of "loving your neighbor" and "loving your enemies." The section's primary weakness comes from trying to find too specific of connections to Biblical eschatology in current events, as the hindsight of a decade bears out. Overall, however, the section confirmed my existing optimism for the spiritual future of the Middle East.

With hundreds of pages packed full of information, this book is not a short read - but it's written at a very accessible level that will keep you coming back until you finish. If you're interested in a solid book from a Christian conservative perspective that will greatly improve your understanding of Islam in today's world, I highly recommend it.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh, this was OK. Although a Christian myself, it seems to me that most Christians are a little too comfortable and conditioned to "good news" to take world affairs or Islam seriously. They just rely on the works of "other Christians" too much for fear of being "distracted" by "worldly opinions."
Of course, pursuit of "worldly knowledge" should never override a Christian's pursuit of God, but people take that to extremes because they don't like hearing about the brutal realities of this fallen world.
When it comes to terrorism or war, which most Christians (heck, most Americans) know nothing about anyway, Christians say that it is "simply" evidence that this world is controlled by Satan. True, but most Christians leave it at that and don't bother finding out more.
Christians think that informing themselves about the world will distract them, but they have no problem being distracted by the Super Bowl.
Because Christians already know the endgame of the world, they feel that staying informed is unnecessary. And tons of Christians travel to Israel every year wholly ignorant of the complex threats our Jewish brethren over there face. It's not like Americans have to live with daily Grad and Qassam rocket barrages.
Still, it was interesting how God works in the Middle East. Most Christians in America consider the Mid East a spiritual backwater infested with Muslims and terrorists (which most American Christians consider the same thing). It is outrageous how isolationist against Muslims the church has become. American Christians today seem to think that we are at war with them or something. No. God loves them, too. We have to remember that.

[Trevor Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great crash course in Islam and Mid East politics. I knew virtually nothing about the area, other than reading the news. But guess what, there is so much the news doesn't cover about the area. I had no idea the fight some of these political leaders had actually getting the U.S. to send troops into their countries. Iraq had petitioned for U.S. support since the early 90's. Afghanistan the same; it took 9/11 for our government to say, oh OK, now we'll listen to your pleas and send troops in to help you.

Also, there are thousands, if not millions, of Muslims becoming Christians. There are radio and TV programs about Christ by x-Muslims to current Muslims getting ratings that put our TV moguls to shame.

This was a very informative book. It educated me, helped me see miracles God is working, and increased my faith in the Lord. The only weakness was in the last chapters which became a little too Evangelical for me. But that is only a personal opinion, and not any shortcoming of the book or author. Hence the five star rating. This is a must read!

[Judith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World by Joel C. Rosenberg has the breathless tone of missionary fervor throughout, although the first two thirds of the book are largely historical. Rosenberg frequently quotes his many interviewees directly, lengthening his account of 30 years of terrorism. He stresses the danger inherent in Iran's nuclear ambitions, detailing Ahmadinejad's threats in terms of Islamic eschatology, but trumps it all in the end with Christian Apocalypticism. He appreciates the good will of the Sufis he has met, but still insists the only way to a personal relationship with God is through Jesus. Meanwhile, he reports millions of Muslims are converting to Christianity; these are, in his system, the "MBBs," Muslim Background Believers, and they are to be aided by his "Joshua Fund," to which our contributions are welcome.
Not my cup of tea, of course, but also not well-written.

[Carolngary22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was extremely interesting and informative. Joel has traveled all over the Middle East and interviewed the prominent and ordinary folks who are involved in decisions that effect us all. This is a must read for people who want to know what's really going on.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the research and thought Joel Rosenberg puts into his books. If you want to know the real-deal of what's going on in the middle east this is a book you should read.

[Jon]

I've read a few of Rosenberg's thrillers in the past, but this is the first non-fiction book I've picked up by him. By the way, I did a wiki search and verified that Joel C. and Joel are different authors - the latter wrote some really fun novels based on Dungeons and Dragons back in the late 70s and 80s, called the Guardians of the Flame series. Different fellow, now unfortunately deceased.

Rosenberg seems to enjoy alliteration, as his subtitle reads "How the followers of Jihad, Jefferson and Jesus are battling..." and his major section divisions within the book are the Revolutionaries, the Reformers and the Revivalists. There's also the Resisters, the Reticent and the Rank-and-File.

Some parts of the book were an interesting trip down memory lane for me, as I was in college, with an Iranian roommate (wonder what became of my friend Muhammed Husseini?), when the Iranian revolutionaries stormed the U.S. Embassy and took our folks hostage for 400 days. It seems as if the media only broadcast a small portion of what was going on, and/or I might have merely been oblivious to the big picture back in my school daze.

The book has become a bit dated at this point, as it was written in 2009, before the fall of Ghaddafi in Libya and the civil war in Syria began, but his description of those regimes seems fairly accurate, depicting those leaders as being the type who play the Islamists against the West, depending on which they feel is a bigger threat to their regime at any given point. In a 2009 interview with Lt. Gen. William Boykin, Boykin states that he thinks the Iranian regime could have a nuclear bomb in three years - so far that hasn't materialized...that we know of.

Something interesting that Rosenberg says about Islam:

"As you study the Qur'an, you will find that Islam is a works-based religion. Therefore, Radicals - and all religious Muslims who take the Qur'an seriously - constantly have to be thinking about a "51 percetn solution." They must constantly strive to do more good works that bad, lest they be dammed for all eternity. The problem is that the Qur'an does not provide a way for Muslims to assess how they are doing throughout their lives. There are no quarterly report cards."

So, when the Radicals claim that the only "true assurance or secure promise of eternal salvation is to be a martyr - and ideally a suicide bomber" there must be a certain temptation for some Muslims to accept the sure thing.

And yes, the rumor is confirmed in this book. The U.S. did, indeed support the mujahadeen in Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion.

"In July (1979), President Carter authorized a half million dollars in covert financial aid to the Islamic rebels known as the mujahadeen..."

Of course, aid continued under the Reagan administration until the Soviets were forced to withdraw from Afghanistan, but it all started with Carter. LOL.

Just as a reminder of what life was like under the Taliban in Afghanistan, before the Coalition invaded to drive them out and destroy Al Qaeda,

"Children were beaten by their fathers and psychologically abused. Their schools were shut down. Their toys were taken from them. Movies were forbidden. Television was forbidden. Radio was forbidden, except for a station that continuously taught from the Qur'an. Games were forbidden. Kite flying was forbidden. Concerts were forbidden. Playin music in public was forbidden. New Year's celebrations were forbidden. Christmas decorations were forbidden. Christianity was most certainly forbidden. Museums were closed. Zoos were closed. Dissenters were jailed. Others were murdered. Apostates were executed."

If you're interested in getting a good deep background on what has been happening for the last few decades in the Middle East, this is a great book to read. There are some especially interesting things going on with the underground spread of Christianity that I hadn't heard about at all before this. As a soothsayer, Rosenberg hasn't quite got it down, but he certainly has done his legwork on this one.

[David Clark Saia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joel C. Rosenberg, is a Jewish Background Christian, a writer and communication Strategist.

By far one of the best books I've ever read. I have never felt more involved in a book until I came across this one because it involves everone. Talks about the Middle East Theocratic history always captures my attention. Joel captured and creatively wrote the anecdotes of his travel interviews of important people in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Central Asia, Israel, West Bank, Europe, Canada and USA, regarding the Conflict of the Middle East. He told the story of how the different ideologies of Islam involving Eschatology and it's influence through Radicals and Reformers have had impact on the government of the day. Many died from this struggle. The Reformers who loved Jeffersons Declaration of independence, fought the Radicals so bad for Democracy. On the other hand, many Muslims renounced their faith quietly but some publically to become Christians during this time of trouble.

I got to know more about the 2 types of Islam, the sunni's and the Shia's. They both have opposing views about the Quran and their Twelfth Imam - Mahdi, the Muslim Messiah. Some believed that performing Jihad the Holy War, would hasten his return to rid the world of evil. This gave rise to Extreme Radicals of Islam who were religiously obligated to kill Infidels. Groups Like during Ayatollah Komeinis time in Iran after 1979, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah's Shia Muslims Terrorist Organization the Hezbollah and Osama Bin Laden's Al Queda Sunni Muslim Terrorist Organization time of rule, and Khalid Sheik Muhammad's 9/11 events and others all lead to the loss of many life. Radicals see/saw USA as the great Satan and Israel as the little Satan so they fought them mostly. "innocent life is the enemy of terrorism" they thought. The statistics was appalling, I was horrified. Deaths, poverty, illiteracy rates, disease, drug abuse, rape, was high in this areas.

With the help of USA during President Bush time, plus Reformers like Hamid Kassai of Afghanistan, Jalal Talabani of Iraq, and others, fought so hard they removed the radicals to have Democracy. The King of Morocco - Muhammed VI used a very effective 12 step program to combat the Radicals in his reign.

[David Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook provided new insights and perspectives for me on the dynamics of history, politics, economics, and especially religion in the Middle East. Danger from Islamic extremists is painted in clear but balanced terms. There are also hopeful signs of political reform and balance. I was surprised and fascinated by the progress Christian revivalists are making in heavily Muslim countries. Since this was written 10 years ago I now have a desire to do more research on what has happened since.

[Wes F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrowed this from Hoopla.com and wished I didn't have to read it on the computer (couldn't get it to download to my iPad). Some very encouraging testimonies in this book of how God is at work mightily across the Middle East & Centra Asia. Didn't agree with everything, but a decent read overall that had some great mini-biographies of some key personalities/believers. I gave it 3-1/2 stars in my Reading Log.

[Paul Gover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for understanding the situation we have gotten ourselves into and what not to do in the middle east in the future. Just wish a few politicians read this stuff. I'm not religious and think they all have very serious problems, but some more than others.

[Cindy Parker]

This was a well written and researched book. One that provides great insight to the events of today. Joel Rosenberg, the author, has worked with the U.S. government and lives in Israel. He understands what is happening in the world.

[Hamman Banjiram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book. If you want to gain some more insight into the situation in the Middle East, the you have got the right plug. Very interesting, and very easy to read. God bless you as you read. You won't regret it'

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read. Well-written, easy to read, chock full of information. If you want to more fully understand what is going on in the MidEast, read this book!!!

[Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even with the caliphate basically ended, I don't think it is too late for every one to read this to understand the mindset of the extremist Muslim. Definitely recommend!

[Sherri Scoffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended reading. Much needed education for every American.

[Ben Zajdel]

Inside the Revolution is Joel Rosenberg's latest work on the current events transpiring in the Middle East and what affect they have on the Western Evangelical world. It is reminiscent of his previous work, Epicenter, but this time Rosenberg focuses on three revolutions that he has labeled that are occurring in the Muslim world today.




The first revolution that Rosenberg identifies is that of Islamic Radicals, more specifically the current regime in Iran. Rosenberg gives a brief history of Iran's power struggle in the late seventies, including the fall of the shah and the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini. More modern story lines are detailed, such as the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a short biography of Osama bin Laden. He discusses these Radicals' theology and what methods they are employing to spread their revolution.




The second revolution is that of Reformers, as Rosenberg calls them. These are devout, practicing Muslims who embrace democracy, more specifically a Jeffersonian brand of democracy. He gives the examples of several Muslim kingdoms that are succeeding by using Western ideas combined with Islamic ideology, such as Morocco and Jordan.

The third revolution is being promoted by what Rosenberg calls Revivalists. These are Middle Easterners of Muslim and Christian descent who have become evangelicals and are now spreading the gospel throughout their respective countries. They are using many tools, such as satellite television and underground churches to gain converts.

I feel as if Rosenberg portrays the Radicals one dimensionally, never really giving their side of the story. There is a reason why Radical Muslims are so hateful toward Westerners. I would like to know why, but Rosenberg never addresses that issue. Rosenberg also makes prophetic claims regarding the current events in the Middle East, claiming that what is happening right now is predicted in the Bible. The scripture portions he uses to support those claims don't work for me, and I disagree with his interpretation. I feel that Rosenberg is well-connected and has insight into Middle Eastern affairs, but he is not a Biblical scholar.

This book is full of wonderful stories of Muslim people escaping tyrannical dictators that use religion to enslave, politically moderate Muslims that are ignored by the media and shouldn't be, and Arab Christians who are risking their lives to show their fellow citizens the love of Jesus. Rosenberg's research was extensive (perhaps too extensive: this book is over 500 pages long). He interviewed countless intelligence officers, ministry leaders, and Muslim government officials.

It's an informative read, but too slanted toward Rosenberg's point of view. I realize it is impossible for any author to be completely objective, but Rosenberg's agenda is quite transparent.

[Craig Adamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of Islam and how it is and isn't functioning in the world today.

They first part of the book in particular is very informative. Started to wane in interest in the 3rd section. Pretty interesting to read about the influence of Christianity and the amount of danger facing people who choose to leave Islam and embrace Christianity. Definitely not an open society. Ironic that Muslims make such a big deal about any perceived slight in how they are treated here in America, and yet this book points out repeatedly how dangerous is for all religions, even Muslims, face in Muslim-dominated countries. Countries that run by Muslim or Sharia governance are very regressive and oppressive regimes that certainly do not appear to promote the "peace" that the Koran promotes.

The Author does a good job of throwing cold water on some myths about Islam, as well as clarifying where Islam is duplicitous in how the Koran is interpreted by various factions. There is no doubt that Christianity has its own set of problems in interpreting the Bible. However, those interpretations have not resulted in millions of deaths of their fellow believers. Although, I believe there is a strong example of Christianity being perverted to justify slavery in the US. Using the Bible to justify forcible slavery of blacks in this country was reprehensible and went on far too long, but comparatively speaking it is a smaller tragedy. Islam is being corrupted regularly and daily while being used to oppress over a billion people. Millions of Muslims are being murdered and enslaved every year and that appears not to be stopping any time soon.

A good book for a brief history of Islamic world. And then an interesting take on how Islam, Christianity, and Judaism can actually work together and co-exist. Refreshing and non-judge mental look at Islam.

[Rodney Harvill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside the Revolution, How the followers of Jihad, Jefferson & Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World, by Joel Rosenberg. In this book, Mr. Rosenberg divides the Middle East into three ideological groups: radicals, reformers and revivalists. The radicals are the Islamic extremists who embrace jihad and include both leaders and foot-soldiers. The reformers are Muslims who reject jihad and embrace democratic reform in their respective countries. They may or may not accept the right of Muslims to leave Islam. The revivalists are Christians, mostly converts from Islam and sometimes former jihadists, who evangelize within the Islamic world, often at great risk to their own lives.

The accounts of the revivalists stir my heart. Apparently, the greatest evangelist in Iran was the Ayatollah Khomeini. His extremism, intended to enforce Islamic values, turned many Iranians away from Islam to Jesus. There were numerous accounts of conversions involving dreams and visions of Jesus. God is clearly working in the Muslim world using means He hasn't used in two millenia. Something is afoot, although I am not entirely sure what it is.

The book was written in 2008 and does not address the events of the last few years. Nevertheless, it is insightful and is worth reading.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, this is very much a religious missionary type book. The goal is to get everyone on board with converting the Muslim world to Christianity. Or at the very least, donate to the Joshua Fund (spoiler). What I liked was the insight and the interviews and the actual reporting of what is going on in the Middle East as far as Politics, Freedom and Christianity is concerned. What I did not like was the call to arms in the cause of Christian missionary work in the Middle East. That is extremely dangerous. I don't really understand the request either. Is Joel saying; be a missionary for your Christian beliefs or for his Christian beliefs? In the Christian world we have Baptists, Evangelists, Seventh Day, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, Mormons, etc. Are we all to go preach Christianity in Iraq and Iran? Or just the "Born Again" Christians? I really like all of Rosenberg's books, but they all have that one part that goes overboard on preaching. I really recommend the first two thirds of this book. And I am interested to see just how quickly Christianity becomes "allowable" or mainstream in the Middle East, as it seems a long way off right now. It will be a modern day miracle if it occurs anytime soon. Epicenter is the better non-fiction from Rosenberg.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Not just entertaining, but meaningful. In many ways it has made a measurable change in my life and faith. Joel C. Rosenberg is a Messianic Jew who writes about Islam and the Middle East. This book is in three parts. The first part is about the Radical Muslims, the ones who believe "Islam is the truth and Jihad is the Way". It will scare you. It did me. The second part is about the Reformers, the ones who believe "Islam is the truth but Jihad is not the Way". This was enlightening to say the least. The third part is about the Revivalists. These are Muslims who have come to accept Jesus Christ. Their stories are inspirational and life-changing.

I know that reading about Islam, Jihad and the Middle East may not be everyone's "cup of tea". But if you can only read one book about it, I believe this is the book to read. Obviously I highly recommend it.