Review by H0LD0Nthere -- Roadmap to the End of Days
Posted: 19 Apr 2017, 17:09
[Following is a volunteer review of "Roadmap to the End of Days" by Daniel Friedmann.]
4 out of 4 stars
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There have been many books written about the end of days, Armageddon, TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World As We Know It), or whatever you want to call it. Usually they are based on idiosyncratic, supposedly never-before-revealed interpretations of cryptic clues supposedly found in the Bible, or of the writings of Nostradamus, Zoroaster, or other traditions that predict disasters such as the Mayan calendar. They draw on mankind’s many rich traditions of history being a series of distinct epochs separated by major, world-ending disasters. Often they predict that the world will end very soon, such as within the next year or two.
Usually they are bunk.
This book is different.
The author, Daniel Freidman, does not claim to know an exact date for the end of days.
Nor does he claim to have many specific details about how it will all play out.
Nor does he predict that it will happen in this generation.
Nor does he urge us to any particular bizarre action to either prepare for or prevent the end.
These four facts alone give the book tremendous credibility.
This is not to say that the book makes no claims. Friedmann gives a very specific outline of human history from creation to the end, based on the Torah (the Hebrew Bible) and other Jewish writings and commentaries, including the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). Even the idea that history has a distinct beginning, middle, and end … and a plan … and God who has planned it … will not find agreement everywhere. So there are plenty of claims made here, which can be argued on the evidence.
The controlling metaphor in the book is that human history resembles a glass maze. There are several different possible paths through the maze, but only one exit door. As we move through the maze, we can see bits of it, but our view is also a bit misleading sometimes. At times we might be able to actually see the exit door through a pane of glass, but we cannot get to it directly. At times it might look like we’re near the exit when we’re actually far away, and at other times the reverse will be true.
Whether or not you agree with Friedmann’s choice of sources or his conclusions, the glass maze is a pretty good metaphor for many things in life and history.
This is not the sort of book that is spoiled by, well, spoilers, so I can tell you that like the other traditions mentioned above, Freidman also sees history as a series of epochs set off by periods of disaster. In this case, the goal of history is for people to finally follow God’s ways, thus achieving God’s ultimate goal: humans’ union with Him. Each epoch of history, on Friedmann’s view, represents an opportunity for the human race to turn to God and thus bring about the end of days. Each time we don’t, it ushers in the next century of so of disasters, and then the next epoch. For example, Friedmann argues that human history could have ended in the first epoch, if Adam hadn’t eaten the fruit. Humanity has had a number of chances, and has blown them all. We are now in the sixth and final epoch. At the end of this one, history will come to an end.
One very useful principle employed in this book is one that balances God’s plan with human free will. On Friedmann’s view, God has a general outline for human history, but people, depending on our individual and corporate choices, can alter details of the plan. So, for example, various events are assigned a “default date” by God, but this date can be delayed slightly by people’s choices (e.g. by a few days, months, or years). This subtle idea makes Friedmann’s argument a lot stronger than those of authors whose end-time scheme depends heavily on very precise dating.
About the research, I have three things to say.
First, this book is well-researched and well-exegeted. Friedmann is clearly familiar with his Biblical and extra biblical sources. As someone who is familiar with the Old Testament, I recognized all his references and thought his exegesis was solid (i.e., his interpretations are in harmony with the letter, spirit, and context of the text). Friedmann does have to cover a lot of territory, such as the history of Israel, the intertestamental period, and Jewish history all the way down to the present day, in order to build his case. This could be overwhelming for readers to whom all this is new. Nor does Friedmann spend any time establishing that his sources and his interpretation are correct, as against all others. If he got into the details of that, this would be a much longer book, perhaps encyclopedia-length. As it is, readers who are interested in establishing the credentials of what he says are referred to his endnotes and sources. You can also read Friedmann’s other books, The Genesis One Code and The Broken Gift, for more about how he interprets the timing of the creation epoch.
Secondly, about helps. You will find that only about 60% of the book is the main text containing the author’s thesis. The final 40% of the book consists of a glossary and extensive endnotes that will refer you to many sources. Also, throughout the first 60% you will find many tables and charts that help to illustrate the various schemas that are being proposed for the cycles of history, complete with dates given in both the Biblical and Gregorian calendars. I happen to have received this book on my Kindle. That is not the best format for reading tables and charts, or for navigating endnotes. Ideally, I like to be able to flip back and forth, comparing the contents of chart to the prose that describes it. I also like to be able to flip to the back and read an endnote, keeping my finger in the chapter I was reading so I can return to my place easily. Trying to do either of these things on a Kindle will drive you to the end of insanity. So, for those who want to really study Friedmann’s book in-depth, or want to keep it for a reference, I urge you to buy a hard copy. If I had had a hard copy, this book review might have been much more detailed (and perhaps more succinct).
Thirdly, Friedmann offers a distinctly Jewish perspective. This book will be gold for those who accept as authoritative the Torah, the Kabbalah, and related writings. However, you would never know from reading it that there was such a thing as the New Testament. In fact, many NT writings cast further light on the details of the plan that Friedmann is expositing. But he ignores them completely. If you include data from the New Testament, then some events that Friedmann predicts for the future have already happened. Others happened or will happen differently from how he describes. Still, because Friedmann exegetes the OT so well, Christians will find many Biblical insights in his overview of God’s plan. They just may get a surreal feeling when Friedmann talks about the “Messiah Ben Joseph” and the “Messiah Ben David” but doesn’t mention Jesus. It’s sort of like hearing someone give a very detailed and credible summary of the plot of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but never mention the Ring.
Since this is not really a book that it’s possible to “spoil,” I can end by telling you Friedmann’s very sensible advice for those who want to apply his insights to daily life. What it boils down to is, live a godly life. Seek God, and seek to obey His laws. This is how Freidmann tells us we can prepare for The End. He doesn’t advise building a bunker in your back yard, wearing a tin foil hat, or anything of that nature. What a breath of fresh air.
I give this book four out of four stars. It is well-researched and well-written addition to its genre. Fans will want to keep it as a reference book for when they’re studying their Bible or Torah.
******
Roadmap to the End of Days
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
There have been many books written about the end of days, Armageddon, TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World As We Know It), or whatever you want to call it. Usually they are based on idiosyncratic, supposedly never-before-revealed interpretations of cryptic clues supposedly found in the Bible, or of the writings of Nostradamus, Zoroaster, or other traditions that predict disasters such as the Mayan calendar. They draw on mankind’s many rich traditions of history being a series of distinct epochs separated by major, world-ending disasters. Often they predict that the world will end very soon, such as within the next year or two.
Usually they are bunk.
This book is different.
The author, Daniel Freidman, does not claim to know an exact date for the end of days.
Nor does he claim to have many specific details about how it will all play out.
Nor does he predict that it will happen in this generation.
Nor does he urge us to any particular bizarre action to either prepare for or prevent the end.
These four facts alone give the book tremendous credibility.
This is not to say that the book makes no claims. Friedmann gives a very specific outline of human history from creation to the end, based on the Torah (the Hebrew Bible) and other Jewish writings and commentaries, including the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). Even the idea that history has a distinct beginning, middle, and end … and a plan … and God who has planned it … will not find agreement everywhere. So there are plenty of claims made here, which can be argued on the evidence.
The controlling metaphor in the book is that human history resembles a glass maze. There are several different possible paths through the maze, but only one exit door. As we move through the maze, we can see bits of it, but our view is also a bit misleading sometimes. At times we might be able to actually see the exit door through a pane of glass, but we cannot get to it directly. At times it might look like we’re near the exit when we’re actually far away, and at other times the reverse will be true.
Whether or not you agree with Friedmann’s choice of sources or his conclusions, the glass maze is a pretty good metaphor for many things in life and history.
This is not the sort of book that is spoiled by, well, spoilers, so I can tell you that like the other traditions mentioned above, Freidman also sees history as a series of epochs set off by periods of disaster. In this case, the goal of history is for people to finally follow God’s ways, thus achieving God’s ultimate goal: humans’ union with Him. Each epoch of history, on Friedmann’s view, represents an opportunity for the human race to turn to God and thus bring about the end of days. Each time we don’t, it ushers in the next century of so of disasters, and then the next epoch. For example, Friedmann argues that human history could have ended in the first epoch, if Adam hadn’t eaten the fruit. Humanity has had a number of chances, and has blown them all. We are now in the sixth and final epoch. At the end of this one, history will come to an end.
One very useful principle employed in this book is one that balances God’s plan with human free will. On Friedmann’s view, God has a general outline for human history, but people, depending on our individual and corporate choices, can alter details of the plan. So, for example, various events are assigned a “default date” by God, but this date can be delayed slightly by people’s choices (e.g. by a few days, months, or years). This subtle idea makes Friedmann’s argument a lot stronger than those of authors whose end-time scheme depends heavily on very precise dating.
About the research, I have three things to say.
First, this book is well-researched and well-exegeted. Friedmann is clearly familiar with his Biblical and extra biblical sources. As someone who is familiar with the Old Testament, I recognized all his references and thought his exegesis was solid (i.e., his interpretations are in harmony with the letter, spirit, and context of the text). Friedmann does have to cover a lot of territory, such as the history of Israel, the intertestamental period, and Jewish history all the way down to the present day, in order to build his case. This could be overwhelming for readers to whom all this is new. Nor does Friedmann spend any time establishing that his sources and his interpretation are correct, as against all others. If he got into the details of that, this would be a much longer book, perhaps encyclopedia-length. As it is, readers who are interested in establishing the credentials of what he says are referred to his endnotes and sources. You can also read Friedmann’s other books, The Genesis One Code and The Broken Gift, for more about how he interprets the timing of the creation epoch.
Secondly, about helps. You will find that only about 60% of the book is the main text containing the author’s thesis. The final 40% of the book consists of a glossary and extensive endnotes that will refer you to many sources. Also, throughout the first 60% you will find many tables and charts that help to illustrate the various schemas that are being proposed for the cycles of history, complete with dates given in both the Biblical and Gregorian calendars. I happen to have received this book on my Kindle. That is not the best format for reading tables and charts, or for navigating endnotes. Ideally, I like to be able to flip back and forth, comparing the contents of chart to the prose that describes it. I also like to be able to flip to the back and read an endnote, keeping my finger in the chapter I was reading so I can return to my place easily. Trying to do either of these things on a Kindle will drive you to the end of insanity. So, for those who want to really study Friedmann’s book in-depth, or want to keep it for a reference, I urge you to buy a hard copy. If I had had a hard copy, this book review might have been much more detailed (and perhaps more succinct).
Thirdly, Friedmann offers a distinctly Jewish perspective. This book will be gold for those who accept as authoritative the Torah, the Kabbalah, and related writings. However, you would never know from reading it that there was such a thing as the New Testament. In fact, many NT writings cast further light on the details of the plan that Friedmann is expositing. But he ignores them completely. If you include data from the New Testament, then some events that Friedmann predicts for the future have already happened. Others happened or will happen differently from how he describes. Still, because Friedmann exegetes the OT so well, Christians will find many Biblical insights in his overview of God’s plan. They just may get a surreal feeling when Friedmann talks about the “Messiah Ben Joseph” and the “Messiah Ben David” but doesn’t mention Jesus. It’s sort of like hearing someone give a very detailed and credible summary of the plot of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but never mention the Ring.
Since this is not really a book that it’s possible to “spoil,” I can end by telling you Friedmann’s very sensible advice for those who want to apply his insights to daily life. What it boils down to is, live a godly life. Seek God, and seek to obey His laws. This is how Freidmann tells us we can prepare for The End. He doesn’t advise building a bunker in your back yard, wearing a tin foil hat, or anything of that nature. What a breath of fresh air.
I give this book four out of four stars. It is well-researched and well-written addition to its genre. Fans will want to keep it as a reference book for when they’re studying their Bible or Torah.
******
Roadmap to the End of Days
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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