Many people are curious--what does the Bible tell us about today's headlines from the Middle East? Is Armageddon just around the corner? What should Christians do? This book shows how Babylon and Iraq fit into the Bible's prophecies of last-day events. It brings understanding of God's plan in our perplexing age. It points readers to Jesus, the only source of security in today's tumultuous world.
He is an Old Testament scholar as well as an authority on Middle Eastern history and geography. A licensed tour guide to Israel, he has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East over the past 25 years, leading over 70 different trips throughout the region to countries including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey. He twice visited Iraq as an official invited guest of Saddam Hussein’s government.
When he is not working, traveling to the Middle East, or speaking, Charlie enjoys spending his time writing, reading, and golfing. He is a devoted (some would say fanatical) Macintosh computer user, and he collects antiquities—especially oil lamps from biblical times.
Charlie and his wife, Kathy, have been married for over 33 years, and they have two grown children—Ben and Becky. Becky and her husband are both graduates of Moody.
The Rise of Babylon starts off quite interesting as a primarily history-news story feeling book. Delving into Biblical and secular historical accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah and their interactions with Egypt, Persia, and Babylon. Juxtaposed against this ancient history is the (now aging) history of Saddam Hussein coming to power and rebuilding the Middle East. The last twenty percent really dives into Judeo Christians end times discussion and includes a little prognostication from the author. Primarily Dyer sticks to Biblical text for this end times portion reference Revelation, Isaiah, and Daniel.
This book falls into a weird space in that non-Christians would not be inclined to pick this up, history loving Christians would probably prefer something deeper, and the "recent events" contained inside are now over 25 years old.
The book is easy to read and, being an introduction to end time prophecy, is interesting. However, you cannot find the rationales behind his interpretation of the prophecies, which is a bit disappointed for believers with average knowledge on eschatology. Nevertheless, it is good for anyone who wants to know about the prophecies on the end times, though information in the book is, of course, outdated.
I thought it was an okay read....not my favorite but not the worst I've ever read. There were parts of it that were fascinating. I really enjoy reading End Times Bible prophecy type books...This has always been a topic of interest to me.
Written in 991, it's interesting to see the advice not to interpret prophecy by current history be obviously good! Since Saddam Hussein is long gone now in 2016, presumptions about his role in the end times are of no real value. BUT, of real value is the very readable history of Babylon in the Bible and the background of the Arab and Persian countries in the news every minute in 2016, post 9/11. Past history is always good to read. While it won't be Saddam, Babylon, the city, and the spirit of idolatry and rebellion from the days of Nimrod, will rise again and will be destroyed in the great and final battle of Revelation. A good read if you are studying Revelation, as I am.
Interesting and descriptive of madman Saddam Hussein's ambition to become like Nabukhadnezzar only more powerful. His dictatorship led to terrible acts against his own people, the author describes Saddam did not consider Bible prophecy and history, recent history shows his end.
Covers history of Babylon from bot scripture & other ancient texts, goes into prophecy of the end times. Pre tribulation rapture. ends w/salvation message.