Roadmap to the End of Days: Demystifying Biblical Eschatology To Explain The Past, The Secret To The Apocalypse And The End Of The World (Inspired Studies)

The history of the world, as well as current events, may all be a part of the religious “End of Days,” at least according to author Daniel Friedmann. The notion of the end times spans multiple theologies, from Christianity to Norse mythology, and Friedmann acknowledges several texts to support his claims. By using various religious texts as well as historical events, Friedmann explains how the religious prophecies have almost come to pass and he provides a map on how to achieve the end goal of ultimate peace on Earth.

Friedmann has an audience in mind with his writing—mostly followers of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism—but he does not exclude those less familiar with those respective texts. He clearly explains his references and effectively, using footnotes and guiding the reader to the glossary as needed. He carefully lays out each chapter at the beginning of the book, making it easy for a scholarly reader to find certain passages quickly. Even though it is written academically, the language used is common enough for the casual reader to enjoy and understand. The glossary itself is written in a language that is easy to understand, further allowing those less familiar with the texts to continue learning.

There have been several times in which the end of the world was expected to happen (including the end of the Mayan calendar that coinciding with December 21, 2012, and multiple dates predicted by Harold Camping), so many so that it almost seems to be a running gag. Even though it is easy to make light of such predictions, Friedmann keeps the tone serious and concentrates on historical facts and the text in each of the religious books. 

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. There are very few grammatical errors, which makes it easier to get engrossed in the information. The footnotes and glossary were easy to use, and an in-depth knowledge of religious texts is not necessary. I appreciated the brief chapter summaries early in the book; instead of reading like a novel, this book could easily be used to support arguments in an academic setting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about how history and current events line up with Biblical prophecies. I would not necessarily limit it to only Christians, but rather anyone who has an open mind about religion. My own religious practices are quite liberal, and I never once felt pressured into believing certain claims simply based on one text; because of the inclusion of several scriptures, anyone with an interest in religious history will find themselves enlightened in some way.