I’ll be honest here. I wasn’t going to write an opinion on Joel Rosenberg’s The Last Jihad, published by Tyndale Fiction with a copyright date of 2002 even though the novel was written somewhat prophetically before the 9/11/2001 acts of terrorism. With such astounding endorsements from Rush Limbaugh, Vince Flynn, and Sean Hannity, how could I resist such a novel knowing my propensity for political thrillers such as those of Vince Flynn’s? Admittedly I bought this novel some time ago but hadn’t managed to get to it until recently. Since it’s been published, Joel Rosenberg has produced not only subsequent novels in this series but non-fiction books with prophetic tendencies. Check out his website to examine these in depth looks at the current and future explosive conditions in the Middle East with Israel in the center of it all. He’s sold millions of books and his latest The Tehran Initiative will release in October of this year.
This story focuses on greed, corruption, Jihad, and Israel’s survival. With an airborne attack on the President’s Thanksgiving motorcade, Israeli Commandos foiling an attempt to launch a nuclear missile into their country by Iraqi forces, and the last minute discovery of an inside attempt to assassinate the President once again, the United States and Israel race the clock to prevent a potentially devastating nuclear assault. In other words there’s a lot going on in a very short period of time. The pressure is ratcheted up with the nuclear threat hanging over every decision resulting in the no-win “nuke or be nuked” clincher.
Rosenberg’s sources had to be good ones, and the research he must have done shows up well. Christianity plays a minor role but is introduced organically, challenging one of the main character’s belief systems.
But here’s my problem with this novel, and I take into consideration that it is a first novel. There was quite a cast of characters in this story, and out of the buffet of people, including the co-protagonists, I only cared for two of them, both peripheral characters and one of those not even appearing until the novel was near its end, the other one getting snuffed. Some of the dialogue between certain characters didn’t work for me—seeming awkward along with their interactions. The action came and went, but it was difficult for me to invest in the story itself in spite of its potent reality because I didn’t care about most of those who were primarily involved.
To top it off, the story concludes with a significant cliffhanger which always feels like a setup for the next book.
So. Although I know The Last Jihad is a thriller and that this and his other novels are wrapped in potential reality with stunning assertions and prophetic possibilities, I appreciate the novel, but it’s not one I particularly liked.
Father, you watch over Joel and you lead him. Please continue to inform him and give him insights into this difficult and volatile world we live in during these last days. Please protect him and his family from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.