MIDEAST BEAST by Joel Richardson

Narrated by Joe Geoffery

     Convincingly Defies Conventional Wisdom

This is a book for those wanting to know more about the modern debate over Biblical end-times prophecy.  Before this book I had already read Richardson’s earlier book GOD’S WAR ON TERROR, so I knew full well what the title implied.  This book is a more focused treatment on the idea that the Antichrist of Orthodox Premillennial Christian Eschatology will be of Middle-East origin. I think he makes a good case. Richardson here explains cogently how the conventional idea of an Antichrist of Roman-European origin does not hold up to close scrutiny.  The idea that Ezekiel’s Gog and Magog are not Russia—as many Premillennial divines have traditionally taught—but are demonstrably proven to be the Antichrist and Asia-Minor (modern-day Turkey) is well developed by Richardson.  He cites the many related scripture references that make it clear that Russia is not a satisfactory match for Gog and Magog. His explanation of how the Islamic Caliphate, headed by the Turks,  neatly fulfills all the scriptural requirements for the fourth kingdom of Daniel chapter 2 and the fourth beast of Daniel chapter 7—and that Rome patently does not.

The book is narrated by Joe Geoffery who reads the book in an inflectionless monotone that is sleep-inducing. This is a non-fiction book, so there are frequent lengthy quotations of sections excerpted from related books. When shifting from Richardson’s text to the quotation Geoffery offers no audible cue to help the listener mark the transition. He does not even grant the listener an extra pause, but maintains the same pace that he gives for breaks from one paragraph to another. In the main, Joe Geoffery is more of an obstacle to understanding the text than he is an enhancement. To his credit, he does have precise diction so it is easy to understand the words he is saying.