Implosion: Can America Recover from Its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time? [NOOK Book]

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Overview

Bestselling author and international political expert Joel C. Rosenberg tackles the question: Is America an empire in decline or a nation poised for a historic Renaissance?

America teeters on a precipice. In the midst of financial turmoil, political uncertainty, declining morality, the constant threat of natural disasters, and myriad other daunting challenges, many wonder what the future holds for this once-great nation. Will history’s ...
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Implosion: Can America Recover from Its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time?

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Overview

Bestselling author and international political expert Joel C. Rosenberg tackles the question: Is America an empire in decline or a nation poised for a historic Renaissance?

America teeters on a precipice. In the midst of financial turmoil, political uncertainty, declining morality, the constant threat of natural disasters, and myriad other daunting challenges, many wonder what the future holds for this once-great nation. Will history’s greatest democracy stage a miraculous comeback, returning to the forefront of the world’s economic and spiritual stage? Can America’s religious past be repeated today with a third Great Awakening? Or will the rise of China, Russia, and other nations, coupled with the US’s internal struggles, send her into a decline from which there can be no return?

Implosion helps readers understand the economic, social, and spiritual challenges facing the United States in the 21st century, through the lens of biblical prophecy.
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Editorial Reviews

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When people approach evangelical author Joel C. Rosenberg, they often bring with them bracing questions: "Do you believe America's days are numbered?" "Are we approaching the end of America as we have known it?" "Is America simply in decline, or are we like the Roman Empire, stumbling toward collapse?" "Are we living in the last days?" "What does the Bible say about the future of the United States?" In Implosion, the author of Epicenter and Inside The Revolution answers those questions. (P.S. To readers of age of terrorism fiction, Rosenberg is best known as the man behind The Last Jihad and The Twelfth Imam.)

Publishers Weekly
Rosenberg (Inside the Revolution) says he—and his readers—must put everything on the line to save America from economic, social, and spiritual implosion. He points to earlier epochs in American history when people thought the nation would fail and argues that the First and Second Great Awakenings of evangelical fervor turned the nation around. For the first time in print, Rosenberg tells a very personal story not just of his conversion to Christianity but also of his conversion from liberal Democrat to conservative Republican. Further, he tells how he has “detoxed” from politics and believes the most important task of all is making disciples of Christ, saying that the church, not politics, is the “last best hope” for our nation and world. Logical fallacies, generalizations, and “evidence” that is only collected opinion weaken an otherwise passionate, clear, honest portrayal of the author’s prophetic call for prayer, fasting, and political action for God to bring about a “Third Awakening” that would turn the United States around and prevent catastrophe. (June)
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781414373973
  • Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
  • Publication date: 6/12/2012
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Sales rank: 24,808
  • File size: 2 MB

Meet the Author

Joel C. Rosenberg is a New York Times bestselling author with more than 2.5 million copies in print. An evangelical Christian, he is the cofounder and president of the Joshua Fund, providing humanitarian relief in Israel. As a communications strategist based in Washington, D.C., he has served as a senior advisor on two U.S. presidential campaigns and an aide to some of the world’s most influential leaders in politics, business, and the media. A front-page Sunday New York Times profile called him a “force in the capital.” He has also been profiled by the Washington Times and the Jerusalem Post, has been interviewed on ABC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and the History Channel, and has addressed audiences all over the world, including at the White House, the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, and the European Union Parliament.
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Read an Excerpt

Implosion

Can America Recover from Its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time?
By Joel C. Rosenberg

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Copyright © 2012 Joel C. Rosenberg
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4143-1967-4

Chapter One

A COMING IMPLOSION?

im•plode—to collapse inward as if from external pressure; to break down or fall apart from within; to self-destruct —MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY

Is it possible that the American economy—and, more broadly, American society in general—is not simply facing serious challenges or a season of decline? Could America actually collapse in the not-too-distant future if serious, fundamental, and sweeping changes are not made soon? Once, such a question would have struck most Americans as ludicrous—even offensive. But times have changed.

The first time I noticed any serious public discussion of the possibility of the American economy imploding was in September 2010. Senator Judd gregg, the New Hampshire Republican and onetime chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was being interviewed live from the U.S. Capitol by Fox News host greta Van Susteren. They were discussing the massive increases of federal spending, astronomically large U.S. deficits, and unprecedented and unsustainable levels of national debt being racked up by an out-of-control political culture in Washington and the grave dangers these challenges posed to U.S. economic and national security.

"I don't want to be an alarmist," Van Susteren said, "but based on what you say, if Congress can't do a very good job, and if spending is a very effective tool for politicians, and if they add every year, and if the national debt is creating national-security problems as the secretary of state has said, at some point, it seems, we're going to implode."

"That's right," Senator gregg replied. "That's exactly what's going to happen."

At that moment in the interview, Van Susteren struck me as being taken aback by the fact that the senator had so quickly agreed with her. Perhaps she was expecting, as I was when I saw the interview, that the senator would dismiss the concept of an "implosion" as going a bit far. Yet that was not the case.

"So do you have any idea when that's going to happen and what that's going to mean?" Van Susteren asked.

"Sooner rather than later," gregg replied matter-of-factly.

Implosion? It's an awfully strong term. Van Susteren knew it. That's why she prefaced her comment by saying she didn't want to be an "alarmist." Still, to her the evidence Senator gregg was laying out suggested the United States might not simply be headed down an increasingly dangerous path but rather a cataclysmic one.

Yet as startling as the question was, it was the answer, not the question, that was news. A respected U.S. senator was suggesting on national television that he believed America was on the path toward "implosion" unless dramatic, historic steps were taken to change course. It was a sobering moment, made all the more troubling by the fact that gregg had never been known in Washington for fiery, wild-eyed, hyperbolic rhetoric. What's more, few in Washington, or in the country, were at that time in a better position than he was to truly understand the magnitude of the fiscal crisis we were—and still are—facing as a nation.

Over time, however, awareness of those troubles began to spread.

A few months later, a headline out of New York City—the financial epicenter of the American economy—caught my attention: "Rubin Warns of Bond market 'Implosion': U.S. in 'Terribly Dangerous Territory.'" The article began:

Warning of the risk of an "implosion" in the bond market, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin says the soaring federal budget deficit and the Fed's quantitative easing [the printing and pumping of more money into the American economy by the Federal Reserve] are putting the U.S. in "terribly dangerous territory."

Rubin, a loyal Democrat who served as the country's chief financial officer in President Clinton's administration, had never been known for fiery, wild-eyed, hyperbolic rhetoric any more than Senator gregg had been. He wasn't running for political office. He wasn't pontificating before a left-wing special-interest group. He was speaking at an event for business executives, financial professionals, and federal budget experts organized by the Concord Coalition, a "nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to balanced federal budgets and generationally responsible fiscal policy." Also speaking at the event was former U.S. comptroller general David Walker, who has long argued that America "suffer[s] from a fiscal cancer" that is "growing within us," which if left untreated "could have catastrophic consequences" for our country.

Senator Kent Conrad, the North Dakota Democrat and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee at the time, also spoke at the event. He agreed with Secretary Rubin's assessment, saying the U.S. was facing a "defining moment" in terms of our fiscal crisis and noting, "If we fail [to act], our nation will be condemned to second-class status."

Not long after this, Congressman Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee, began briefing fellow members of Congress and speaking at forums in Washington and around the country on the grave danger facing the American economy in view of the skyrocketing federal debt. While Ryan didn't use the term implosion, he might as well have; his message was just as sobering.

"We're on a path where our debt goes from about 68 percent of gDP [gross Domestic Product] to 800 percent of gDP over the three-generation window," Congressman Ryan said. "I asked CBO [the Congressional Budget Office] to run the model going out, and they told me that their computer simulation crashes in 2037 because CBO can't conceive of any way in which the economy can continue past the year 2037 because of debt burdens."

Ryan has noted that by the time his young children reach forty years of age, "just ... three programs—Social Security, medicaid, and medicare—will consume all federal revenues. There will be no room for anything else in the federal budget." He has also warned that "every year we delay fixing the debt problem, we go about $10 trillion deeper in the hole ... adding to unfunded promises that we are making to Americans."

The St. Petersburg Times ran an article on its website, PolitiFact. com, analyzing Congressman Ryan's case. "Paul Van de Water, a senior fellow at the liberal Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, said it's plausible that the [Congressional Budget Office] model could implode as early as the 2030s, though he added that other models analyzed by the CBO do not predict an implosion that soon," PolitiFact reported.

Slowly but surely, the concept of the "implosion" of the American economy was entering the national conversation.

An Unexpected Question

It was during that period that I happened to be invited to the United States Capitol for a private meeting with a group of congressmen. The purpose was to discuss the future of Israel in light of the rising Iranian nuclear threat and the future of the U.S.–Israel relationship given recent partisan political tensions in Washington. Given the subject matter, I decided to accept and a few days later arrived at the meeting just off the floor of the House of Representatives.

During a break in the meeting, I began chatting with the congressman sitting next to me. Soon the discussion shifted from the challenges facing Israel to the challenges facing the United States. We compared notes for a few minutes on the federal government's runaway spending, the exploding national deficit, the out-of-control debt, and our stagnant economy. Then the congressman leaned over to me and whispered, "This city doesn't get it, Joel. If we don't make major changes—and I mean sweeping reforms—really quickly, I'm not sure how much longer as a nation we can actually survive."

I certainly agreed the situation was bad, but in two decades of living and working in Washington, I had rarely heard a lawmaker speak in such an apocalyptic tone. "You really believe it's that serious?" I asked.

"I've never seen it worse than it is right now," he replied. "And most of Congress is absolutely asleep. They're arguing over cosmetic changes, but few people around here seem to realize just how much trouble we're really in."

Then he asked me the question I wasn't expecting.

"Joel, what does the Bible say happens to America in the last days?"

I have to admit, I was startled. It's not that I'd never been asked the question before. I just had never been asked it by a sitting member of Congress, inside the U.S. Capitol.

A few weeks later, I was on the phone with the governor of a large American state. We were discussing the revolutions underway in the Arab world, smoldering turmoil inside Iran, and the growing threats to the nation of Israel from radical Islam. Before long, however, the conversation turned back to the United States. We began discussing the enormous economic and spiritual threats facing our own country and the daunting prospects of how to turn things around. We also wondered who—if any—of the emerging crop of presidential candidates might have the vision, strength, and wherewithal to get this country back on track.

Then the governor surprised me by asking me a question very similar to one the congressman had asked a few weeks before.

"Joel, I'm curious; does the Bible give us any indication as to what will happen to the United States in the future?"

Soul Searching

Though it doesn't typically make news because it doesn't happen in the public eye, many world leaders through the years have asked deeply personal and profoundly important questions of Christian pastors, ministry leaders, and authors, as long as they have been confident that while they were still alive, those sensitive conversations would be kept private and their names would be kept confidential in connection to those discussions. Billy graham is an example of a prominent Christian in whom many world leaders have confided.

In may 1954, for example, Winston Churchill, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, said to graham, "I am a man without hope. Do you have any real hope?" In reply, graham asked, "Are you without hope for your own soul's salvation?" Churchill answered, "Frankly, I think about that a great deal." The pastor gently opened the New Testament and took the great British wartime hero through the gospel's plan of salvation from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

In the summer of 1955, Dwight eisenhower, the former supreme allied commander of all Western military forces in the european theater, who had recently been elected president of the United States, asked Billy graham, "Could you explain to me how a person can be sure when he dies he's going to heaven?" grateful for eisenhower's sincere question, graham shared with the president some key passages from the words of Jesus Christ explaining how a person can be absolutely certain that his sins are forgiven and that he will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord.

In January 1961, John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic to be elected president of the United States, took the Protestant Christian minister aside for a discreet conversation and asked, "Do you believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ?" graham was surprised by the question but responded, "I sure do." The president-elect asked, "Why doesn't my church teach it?" graham told Kennedy that the Second Coming was written about in the creeds of the Catholic church. "They don't tell us much about it," Kennedy replied. "I'd like to know what you think." The minister then shared from the Bible prophecies about the last days, including some of the teachings of Jesus Christ's promise to return to earth in the end Times.

We didn't learn that these powerful men had asked these specific questions until after each of those leaders had passed away. Yet these brief conversations give us a fascinating glimpse into their hearts and minds. Churchill, having helped defeat Adolf Hitler and the evil Third Reich, was serving in his second term as British prime minister. Now he faced a new threat. As he stated ominously just after the war at a college in the American midwest, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent" of Europe, controlled by the Soviet empire. Churchill warned that if the Western democracies were not unified and steadfast in their resistance to Communism, "then indeed catastrophe may overwhelm us all." He saw a terrible new war was looming with the Soviet bloc powers, a war he feared could prove far more horrific than the one the West had just survived and won. Eisenhower and Kennedy, too, saw a nuclear-armed Soviet empire rising, horrible wars engulfing the Korean peninsula and Vietnam, and the risk of apocalyptic new wars erupting in Europe and Asia. The future of their nations and the world looked very grim from their vantage points. No wonder they were looking to the Bible to see if the Scriptures held any answers, any hope at all.

It is one thing, however, for leaders to discreetly ask soul-searching questions about how to know Jesus Christ personally, how to walk with god more closely, how to better understand the relevance of the second coming of Christ and other personal matters related to the Bible. We would hope and expect that they would ask such questions, and it's heartening to know—even years after the fact—that some do. But it is quite another thing for leaders to privately ask whether the Bible offers clues to the possible decline or even implosion of their own country.

There is nothing wrong with doing so. To the contrary, all leaders should feel comfortable asking honest, genuine questions about what the Bible says on any subject, including their nation's future. most of us, however, simply would not expect such questions from our national leaders. In many ways, this is new, uncharted territory. Yet given the state of our economic and cultural troubles, these are the questions people are asking these days.

And it's not just politicians. In my experience, people at all levels of business, media, the arts, sports, ministry, education, and elsewhere are asking as well.

The Most Frequently Asked Question

Until recently, the question I was asked most frequently when I spoke and did interviews in the U.S. and around the world was, "Joel, how can you be Jewish and believe that Jesus is the messiah?" Within the last few years, however, that important question has been significantly eclipsed by another one. These days, the question I am most frequently asked is this: "What happens to America in the last days?"

I also get plenty of variations on the theme:

• Is America simply in decline, or are we like the Roman empire, stumbling toward collapse?

• Do you believe America's days are numbered?

• Are we approaching the end of America as we have known it?

• Are we living in the last days?

• What does the Bible say about the future of the United States?

• Is America even mentioned in end Times Bible prophecy?

• Is America mentioned, described, or hinted at in the Bible at all?

Christians are certainly wrestling with such questions. But I find that Americans from a variety of religious backgrounds— including Jews, muslims, and others—are asking these and similar questions as well. Indeed, often when I am on a secular talk radio show, I'm invited to talk about geopolitical issues related to Israel, the broader middle east, and radical Islam. The conversation tends to come around to my views of how Israel and the nations of the epicenter fit into Bible prophecy, and then it's not uncommon for the radio host to ask me, "So what about America? What does the Bible say about our future?"

Some people ask because they are certain America is, in fact, described in the Scriptures as a significant or even major player in the end Times, and they want to know more. They are looking for hope that we are going to weather the economic, political, moral, spiritual, and other storms now battering us so intensely. Others, however, ask because they are fearful the U.S. is not described in the Bible, and they are wondering, "Why not? And if not, what will happen to us, and how much time do we have left?"

(Continues...)


Excerpted from Implosion by Joel C. Rosenberg Copyright © 2012 by Joel C. Rosenberg. Excerpted by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 A Coming Implosion? 1

Chapter 2 Americas Rising Anxiety 19

Chapter 3 The Case of the Optimists 35

Chapter 4 The Third Lens 55

Chapter 5 Signs of the Times 69

Chapter 6 The Significance of the Rebirth of Israel 83

Chapter 7 Are We Living in the Last Days? 103

Chapter 8 What Happens to America in the Last Days? 115

Chapter 9 The Financial Implosion Scenario 131

Chapter 10 The War and Terrorism Scenarios 151

Chapter 11 The Natural Disaster Scenarios 167

Chapter 12 The Rapture Scenario 187

Chapter 13 The Last Best Hope 209

Chapter 14 A Cause for Optimism: Inside Americas First Great Awakening 229

Chapter 15 More Cause for Optimism: Inside America's Second Great Awakening 261

Chapter 16 Will America Experience a Third Great Awakening? 287

Chapter 17 Can America Again Be a Shining City on a Hill? 319

Recommended Reading 351

Acknowledgments 353

About the Author 355

Endnotes 559

Index 385

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 12, 2012

    It will grab your attention

    Joel Rosenberg, author of nine New York Times bestselling books, writes his most comprehensive and personal work in his newest book, Implosion. The question addressed is: “Can America recover from its economic and spiritual challenges in time?” Implosion is a well-written, easily understandable treatise of Rosenberg’s end time theology, political expertise, historical study, economical research, and biblical perspective.

    What this book isn’t: It isn’t a rant on the government. It isn’t simply his opinion. It isn’t a sensational doomsday approach. It isn’t narrow-minded. And most importantly, it does not leave the reader without hope.

    In an honest, thorough, and credible voice, Rosenberg challenges the Church, individuals, and government officials in ways that have potential to reshape our future and, thus, the future of the entire globe. As much as he shows the planet is headed in a gloomy direction, he also gives reason for doable optimism if we accept the challenge immediately.

    Rosenberg states when his points are speculative. However, in supporting those speculations with facts, statistics, and current events, each of the scenarios becomes plausible. The four scenarios Joel believes “could make America unable—or unwilling—to play a key role in the unfolding prophetic events of the last days are:
    • Economic Implosion—The United States implodes financially and economically.
    • War or Terrorism—The United States is devastated by a surprise military or terrorist attack or series of attacks.
    • Natural Disasters—The United States is devastated by an unprecedented series of natural disasters.
    • The Rapture—The United States suddenly loses millions, or tens of millions, of people when the Rapture happens, leaving the rest of the American people devastated and triggering any number of cataclysmic events.” (p. 127).

    The facts—unreported by the mainstream media—will grab the reader’s attention.

    It is critical that this book is read by as many people as possible while we still have opportunity to make choices for the future.

    (I am a freelance reviewer and was given a review copy of this book with the understanding I would give objective feedback.)

    43 out of 44 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 20, 2012

    To the person that left the last comment...

    Read the book then you can review it which is what this site is for. An awesome book that contains such truth and is truly an eye opener! Highly recommended!!!

    12 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted June 26, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Joel Rosenberg takes a look at current events with a Biblical ey

    Joel Rosenberg takes a look at current events with a Biblical eye. He shows us that no matter how dismal the outlook, there is always reason for hope. He has taken current events and put them into perspective through a prophetic end-times view. He has four chapters in his book just devoted to what way we may implode as a nation; war/terror, financial ruin, natural disasters, and finally the rapture. He showed that spirituality is on a roller-coaster. When things are bad people turn to God and pray and then when things start to get better we kind of shove God to the side. An example he gave of this in the book was the way the nation turned to God after the events of 9/11. Just a couple of months later it was like, okay back to the norm. We read and know the end-time prophecies but seem to sit back and take the attitude that we can’t do anything about it. I believe God will continue to use us until HE is done with us. We need to turn back to Christ and cling to him with all we have. It is just my opinion that everyone should read this book. It gives us a great look at where we are headed if we don’t wake up.

    9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 9, 2012

    Implosion

    “The United States stands as the wealthiest, most powerful nation on the face of the earth. But now, in the midst of unprecedented and skyrocketing federal debt, severe economic troubles, political uncertainty, declining morality, a weak church, growing spiritual apathy and apostasy, historic disasters, and myriad of other daunting challenges, many wonder of America’s best days are behind her” are the words of best-selling author and political expert Joel Rosenberg in his latest book Implosion; Can America Recover From Its Economic and Spiritual Challenges in Time? Rosenberg gives an honest, eye-opening, and sobering assessment of the challenges and dangers facing our country today. Rosenberg gives four possible scenarios that he believes “could make America unable or unwilling to play a key role n the unfolding prophetic events of the last days.” Although these scenarios are only speculative, they are well supported by facts, statistics, and current events. Scenario #1: Economic Implosion - The United States implodes financially and economically. Scenario #2: War on Terrorism - The United States is devastated by a surprise military or terrorist attack or series of attacks. Scenario #3: Natural Disasters - The United States is devastated by an unprecedented series of natural disasters. Scenario #4: The Rapture - The United States suddenly loses millions, or tens of millions, of people when the Rapture happens, leaving the rest of the American people devastated and triggering any number of cataclysmic events. Rosenberg offers a fifth scenario, one that is far more optimistic. This scenario is one of a Third Spiritual Awakening. He devotes an entire chapter to the people, events, and results of the First Great Awakening and an entire chapter to the people, events, and results of the Second Great Awakening. Rosenberg believes these two spiritual movements in the history of the United States gives hope for another movement of God across our country, despite the perceived lack of hope and vision that abounds. Implosion is an excellent book. It has something for everyone. It is not a book on partisan politics and does not set out to blame the federal government solely for the ills of this country. It is not another “the sky is falling” doomsday project. Instead, Rosenberg lays out before the reader the current state of affairs in America. Rosenberg encourages the reader to incorporate a biblical worldview, a “third lens” as he calls it, when looking at the challenges we face. It is well written and researched, fair and balanced. An outstanding work that I highly recommend. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

    6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 13, 2012

    Joel C. Rosenberg's newest book is called "Implosion: Can A

    Joel C. Rosenberg's newest book is called "Implosion: Can American Recover from its Economic & Spiritual Challenges in Time?" This book is an analysis of the current economy, spiritual disposition, and historical accounts of the United States. Rosenberg's book makes his case that we are currently living in the End Times that the Bible warned us about. By using specific situations in American history, and linking events in our timelines with Biblical prophecy and warning, Rosenberg makes a very convincing argument.

    Rosenberg uses examples such as the United States' relationship with Israel, as well as the rebirth of Israel and the Biblical implications of that relationship. Rosenberg discusses life in the last days, and the need for believers to analyze the times and be aware of the signs. Rosenberg also discusses financial fallout, war, terrorism, and natural disasters linked with prophecy to prove his point.

    This book was a very interesting read, that opened up my mind and linked a lot of events with Biblical warnings. What I appreciated about this book was that Rosenberg had clearly done his research - this book uses fact, coupled with Biblical Scripture to make the case that the United States is currently on the edge of a cliff, and monumental change is inevitable. I would recommend this book for any citizen who has genuine concerns about the Biblical era that we appear to be living in.

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 25, 2012

    When Joel Rosenberg's newest book Implosion was released I was e

    When Joel Rosenberg's newest book Implosion was released I was excited
    at the prospect of reading it. Joel's fiction books are riveting and
    interwoven with Bible prophesy. I wanted know Joel's take on the
    economic and spiritual decline of our nation and answer to the question
    is America mentioned in Bible prophesy. Initially, I was concerned that
    Implosion would be very depressing, but instead I found it interesting,
    sobering, personally challenging as a Christian and hopeful because God
    gives second chances. Joel did an excellent job in explaining why he
    and many other experts believe our nation is at a tipping point. Have we
    gone past a point of no return? Every day we see the effects of the
    economic crisis impacting people and business all around us with home
    foreclosures and businesses going under. Just turn on the TV news for a
    half-hour and you'll see the devastating affects the moral decline in
    this nation. Has God taken His hand off this country? Have we sown to
    the wind, only to reap the whirlwind? To answer these questions and
    more, Joel covers a lot of ground. One of the most interesting chapters
    was America's Rising Anxiety in which we learn that people from all
    walks of life, from both sides of the aisle, believers and unbelievers
    alike who are seeing what's going on in the nation and are deeply
    concerned. I was most incredulous about the chapter The Case of the
    Optimists, but Joel did an excellent job in presenting the optimist's
    view in seeing how our nation has overcome perilous times in our
    history. As a Christian, the chapter I appreciated most, the one that
    set the tone for the rest of the book, The Third Lens in which Joel
    shows the importance and necessity of viewing current events through the
    lens of Scripture. From there some of the topics Joel addressed included
    Signs of the Times, Are We Living in the Last Days and What Happens to
    America in the Last Days. The chapters that are the most sobering are
    the different scenarios on what might happen to our nation, like
    financial implosion, war, terrorism, natural disasters and the rapture.
    It was fascinating reading about the first and second great awakenings
    in our nation and it brought me hope that perhaps we will be the
    beneficiary of God's mercy once again. As a Christian the most
    challenging chapter was Will America Experience a Third Great Awakening?
    In this chapter Joel encourages Christians to experience a personal
    revival and tells how we can get right with God. I highly recommend
    this book, to anyone who sees our nation on the brink of Implosion and
    wonders Can American Recover From Its Economic & Spiritual
    Challenges in Time?

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 12, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    America is a great country built on sound principles. Is it poss

    America is a great country built on sound principles. Is it possible that it is crumbling from the inside out? Will implosion be the death of America? In his newest book, Joel Rosenberg takes a hard, thoughtful look at the crumbling of America and what can be done to stop it.

    The word implosion implies that something collapses from the inside, rather than exploding from an outside force. Implosion can be prevented or delayed with movements made to shore up defects. In this new book, Mr. Rosenberg explores what he sees as the causes of America's implosion (i.e. our economic situation, turning from God) and what can be done to stop or slow the decline (i.e. turning to God, a Third Great Awakening). He shows through current events and Biblical passages how the Rapture is nearing everyday. There are wars and terrorist attacks all over the world, Israel is being attacked and supporters are few, the world's economy is grave, which affects that of America, and the list goes on. It is time for Christians to wake up and pray! "If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

    This is a book that will make you think. Mr. Rosenberg took a lot of time for his research and presents his findings in an easy to read book. I recommend it to readers everywhere and pray it will be a wake up call for us. I received my free review copy from Tyndale House for an honest review.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 13, 2012

    I wish I could read it, but anyone that would use the term Renai

    I wish I could read it, but anyone that would use the term Renaissance and juxtoposition that alongside a "third great awakening" as being positive outcomes obviously failed history.

    3 out of 52 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 2, 2012

    Very Timely, Very Relevant Book from an Amazing Author!

    My hubby and I discovered Joel Rosenberg last year when someone recommended his book Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East will Change Your Future. Epicenter was an amazing read! It made me want to read everything Joel Rosenberg has written!

    Implosion is non-fiction but it is incredibly intriguing and definitely a page-turner. It's a very, very timely book. If Joel Rosenberg's name sounds familiar, you may have seen him on Fox News or heard him on Talk Radio. They often interview him with issues pertaining to Israel and the Middle East. He's a political expert who's very gifted by our Creator with great understanding of world events, not to mention with the gift of writing.

    If you can't afford to invest in a new book, I urge you--check out Joel Rosenberg's blog at flashtrafficblog dot wordpress dot com! There are so many articles there that will give you wisdom and make you think about important issues. If you want to better understand what's going on in this crazy, uncertain world we live in, check it out! Oh, and by the way, you can get this book for free by participating in Tyndale's Summer Reading Program through the end of August! Google it.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 13, 2012

    Read before elections 2012

    This is an eye opening book by Joel rosenberg as are all his books. I believe anyone that reads this book will be able to make a more informed decision come november 2012 elections. there really arent any names mentioned but just good sound principles to help make better decisions.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 15, 2012

    Good book

    It keeps a good balance of politics and the bible

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 15, 2012

    Highly Recommended!

    The author writes an alarming perspective regarding America's future. He also gave references to the past about what worked, and what we can learn from it. In summary, will God continue to bless America? Or, are we headed for continued disaster as we eliminate God from America? The book is a must read!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 28, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    Joel Rosenburg’s new book Implosion: Can America Recover F

    Joel Rosenburg’s new book Implosion: Can America Recover From Its Economic & Spritual Challenges in Time? presents thought provoking evidence that America is in trouble. But is America in decline? Is it near an implosion? The author cites political leaders, journalists and political commentators with both sides of the issue. Quotes from Keith Olbermann, Glenn Beck, Al Gore, Charles Krauthammer and quite a few more show the balanced approach he took in presenting the problems in America.

    This book is a study in current affairs, a history lesson, and a Bible study as the current state of America is discussed with reference to the end times of the Bible. He takes a look at America through the lenses of economics, politics, and scripture. He answers such questions as:
    What roll, if any, should Christians have in politics?
    What are the signs of the last days?
    What happens to America in the last days?
    How does the Bible describe the Rapture?

    This is a good guide for Christians to examine themselves, their church, their politicians, and open their hearts for a revival.

    Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted August 23, 2012

    Great Book

    Is America going to continue its fall from the top and end up a second, or even third, tier nation? In Implosion, Joel Rosenberg looks at the evidence, the possible paths for this to happen, as well as the steps that are needed now if this crisis is to be averted.

    Implosion is a well written, well researched look at the current situation in the United States and the historical evidence for hope that the nation can regain its footing. The evidence for the current crisis highlights the concerns that are coming from both sides of the political arena, as well as the biblical truths that point to possible trouble for our nation. The history of the two great awakenings that swept the nation during the 18th and 19th centuries are presented as the evidence that there is still hope if America will humble itself and begin to make the tough choices and changes that are needed to turn us around. And finally, the author urges readers to get involved in the political process and vote for those candidates whose views truly line up with their own.


    Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 15, 2012

    "Implosion" is book written by Joel Rosenberg that cen

    "Implosion" is book written by Joel Rosenberg that centers on
    connecting the current economic and social state of the United States
    with Biblical prophecy and faith. Rosenberg attempts to dissect major
    economic issues in the country, such as financial implosion, war,
    terrorism, and natural disasters with promises implicitly stated in the
    Bible and connecting them with a possible rebirth of America. Rosenberg
    debates his thesis effectively, and I think that overall, he did a great
    job in presenting a solid case. This book is lengthy, so if you do not
    have a genuine interest in this particular topic, historically, it will
    be hard to keep your attention. Otherwise, I would say this one is
    definitely worth a read.

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  • Posted August 3, 2012

    Okay book

    This is a book about the author's view of the future and America's role. The author asks if America can survive despite economic woes, natural disasters and the like. He also tackles the question of America being in the Bible.

    The topic is interesting, but I found the book dull. The author quotes numerous sources to back up his statements, and he seems to know his subject matter. I did like the sections about the Great Awakenings in America and how our country was founded on belief in God.

    0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 26, 2012

    An Attempt at a Realistic Apocalyptic Prediction

    The economy is bad, and probably going to get worse. International relations are strained, and will probably continue to deteriorate. While global warming is debated, the number of increased natural disasters continues to increase. And a quick survey of popular media will make the argument that - as a country - America's morals have evaporated like morning dew in August.

    For those who are familiar with the above subjects and who make an effort to follow national and international news, the above statements probably don't need to be expound on much further. So, the first half of Rosenberg's book comes across like he is preaching to the choir.

    The second half of the book offers up four different dooms day scenarios: Economic Collapse, War and Terrorism, Natural Disasters, and the Rapture. He makes Biblical arguments as to why each scenario is valid and how it might play out in the modern day. However, I didn't feel his arguments were terribly compelling, and I have seen most of the scriptures he quotes interpreted in widely different ways.

    The book closes with brief surveys of the two Great Awakenings in American history, how they happened, who were the key players, and a plea that another Great Awakening happen today through individual citizens turning their hearts back to God.

    I wanted to really like this book. Admittedly, I don't have a great passion for eschatological theology, but I love my country. Biblical advice on what I can do to help prevent her demise is welcome. Unfortunately, this book did not offer me the new information or perspective I was looking for. I have already been living Rosenberg's limited advice for years.

    Perhaps if there is someone who has no concept of how large a trillion is, still believes that Iran and Pakistan are our allies, and is convinced a day will come when all weapons of mass destruction are destroyed, this book might provide the wake-up call needed.

    I think my time would have been better spent praying on my knees.

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 2, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

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