Implosion:Can America Recover From its Economic & Spiritual Challenges In Time? by Joel Rosenberg predicts the possible implosion of America unless there are turnarounds on many fronts, especially the spiritual. Rosenberg begins:

"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? ....

"Many Americans genuinely fear that God is preparing to remove his hand of protection and blessing from our country—or perhaps already has. They fear that unlike previous dark times in our national history, God may not intend to help us turn things around and get us back on the right track" - Implosion p. 1, 10.

He goes on to detail the situation the country is in, delving into many subjects in chapters titled: "America's Rising Anxiety," "Signs of the Times," "The Significance of the Rebirth of Israel," and "What Happens to America in the Last Days?"

He paints several possible scenarios of catastrophe in "The Financial Implosion Scenario," "The War and Terrorism Scenario," and "The Natural Disaster Scenarios," showing us how little it would take to bring a country even as strong and seemingly vigorous as America to its knees.

The only viable solution he sees is a great spiritual awakening, the likes of which have gripped America twice before. He gives a brief history of these revivals in chapters titled "A Cause for Optimism: Inside America's First Great Awakening," and "More Cause for Optimism: Inside America's Second Great Awakening."

Though I live in Canada, where many things aren't in quite the same state as the U.S., the moral climate here is, if anything, even more secular and godless and I found Rosenberg's book sobering. Even if Canada avoided the hazards ready to pounce on the U.S. (financial implosion and terrorism attacks), we would still be in trouble if our big neighbour to the south stumbled and fell because our economies are so interconnected.

The two chapters on the Great Awakenings are informative, inspiring, and motivating in the way they inspire the reader to hope, work, and pray for a third Great Awakening. Here is Rosenberg's call to action, from the book's end:

"... I believe with all my heart that if we are to avoid implosion as a nation, we must repent of our sins and turn to Christ—personally and nationally.

Will you join me in that endeavour? Will you pray with me for our nation, for the church, and for a Third Great Awakening? Will you examine your own heart and seek your own personal revival? Will you work to engage your church and your culture with the truths of Scripture? Will you ask God to show you whether he wants you to be involved in political change, and if so, how? .... What are you and I willing to devote to saving this country?" - p. 348

Implosion is a realistic read for unprecedented and troubled times. ( )

One of the best books on politics and religion

Good background for developments as they stand. KH ( )

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. ( )

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