cover image Iraq: Babylon of the End-Times?

Iraq: Babylon of the End-Times?

C. Marvin Pate. Baker Books, $12.99 (144pp) ISBN 978-0-8010-6479-1

For nearly every American war, enterprising Christians have published books about how the enemy du jour is, in fact, the prophesied enemy of the last days. So it is no real surprise to see C. Marvin Pate and J. Daniel Hays's Iraq-Babylon of the End-Times? hitting bookshelves this month. What is surprising is the book's low-key, reasoned argument that Saddam is not actually the ultimate Big Bad. Refreshingly, the authors show admirable restraint and refuse to hazard predictions about Saddam's role in biblical prophecy, preferring to simply lay out biblical prophecy as they understand it and to embrace a stance of ""Christian humility"" about possible interpretations. They also challenge other evangelicals who claim that Saddam's rebuilt Babylon will be the center of the Antichrist's new world government, arguing instead that ""Saddam will probably soon pass from the scene."" The final chapter stresses that ""an overemphasis on the imminent end and the accompanying consequential hopelessness of the world situation does not serve the cause of Christ."" Well said... but then why the doom-and-gloom book cover and teaser title?