Behold The Future, by Esther Russ
[I do not typically review books such as these but for this one I made an exception because the author once gave me the original manuscript to read and comment on. After reading it carefully, I felt there were some significant errors and that it was not wholly representative of what the scriptures taught. However, I told the author that if she simply wanted to publish the book, it would most likely sell in churchianity because the thesis of the book is very unique, even bizarre. Since most churchians leap at the most novel book to hit the shelves, I assured the author that it would indeed sell and make it into most Christian bookstores. It appears my prophecy was true. It is listed in Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and it is available in Christian book stores. An article in the Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper in Michigan was published about it (for such a curious thesis as this book details could not help but draw the public eye). I disagree with many of the themes of this book, but hold the author in esteem insofar as she has spent a great deal of time, even years , writing this book]
I will start be outlining the central thesis of this book. The author believes that a giant asteroid will come from space and hit the earth, causing cataclysmic damage all over the earth and the subsequent extinction of humanity on all continents but one. This, in and of itself is not so strange as this has been foretold in the scriptures (at least the asteroid has been foretold). What is strange is the idea the author writes that before the asteroid hits earth, many of the governments, led by the USA, will band together and build a huge city of refuge in Antarctica The city will be constructed in space, and let down through the atmosphere to rest in Antarctica, and have all the dimensions of the New Jerusalem (as well as the characteristics) in the scriptures. In fact, the author believes this city will be the New Jerusalem spoken of in the scriptures. Those who believe in the scientific projections of the incoming asteroid will leave house and holdings, to fly by large airliners to the Antarctic in order to enter this city of safety, which will be impervious to the effects of the asteroid. This idea is chiefly taken from the "sea of glass" phrase in Revelations 15:2, and coupled with Ezekiel's "wheels within wheels" prophecies (chapter 1) as well as scriptures which speak of "eagles" and other scriptures to create this fanciful theory. Aside from the thesis itself, there were some things in the book that were incorrect. One of them was a mistake on page 148 that said only 7 souls were saved in the Ark, during the flood. The scripture says "eight souls were saved by water." - 1Pt:3:20 Another issue I had with this book is the separation of the gentile church and "Israel," of whom the author labels as "Jews." This idea carries into the 144,000 Jewish souls (of whom the author thinks are babies -perhaps because the Greek revelation says they have not been defiled with women?) of which the author mistakenly lumps all Israel into the house of Judah. We know that the Jews only comprise 3 tribes, those being Benjamin, Levi, and Judah. However, the 144,000 includes 12 tribes, of which the 10 lost tribes shall be reunited in the end of time according to prophecy. The author is obviously blind to the identity of the protestant church, that those saved and redeemed souls within her are considered the blinded House of Israel, according to scripture. If this were known to her, the entire idea of Antarctica would be thrown out since the prophecies state that the "Israel of God," of which Paul speaks of, and which the UNITED commonwealth of Israel is, will return to the land of Israel on the West Bank. Another problem with this book is the notion that the 4 beasts in Daniel chapter 7 are representative of four large world power in the end of time. Most significantly, the last beast as characterized in Daniel is said to have produced a "little horn," which shall "speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws." The author thinks that the last end time power of Babylon (which is difficult to ascertain if she means an entire empire, or the city of Babylon itself centered in Iraq, of which is prophesied to never be inhabited again - Jeremiah 50:35-40) shall do away with the Catholic , Protestant, and general western populace's Christmas and Easter celebrations. However, this is clearly in error as the prophecy has already been fulfilled in the Papacy as it has succeeded in changing the seventh day Sabbath, and moved it to "Sunday," as well as do away with the biblical feasts days in favor of pagan holidays with "christ" trappings. In reality, the four Beasts are the world empires Nebuchadnezzar saw in his initial vision, that of ancient Babylon, Medo-Persia, the Greeks, and finally, Rome. Some more minor problems was the prospect of being able to build such a huge city in space, the finances necessary to construct such a monolith, and the logistics involved in getting the city to the ground in one piece are mind boggling to say the least. Additionally, the idea that this city will have the 12 gates of the tribes of Israel, as well as the gems built into the 12 foundations, and so on makes one wonder just when the world took a liking to anything "Israelite." As of now, everyone except the USA (and even this favor is waning) wants the Jews to give up their land for peace, or be driven from their land completely. To add to the incredulity of this, the scriptures say no immoral person will be allowed entrance into the city. It seems that there will be a very small number of faithful after all since most of the world is immoral. There is also the problem that Isaiah counsels people to "hide thyself" in the inner chambers (Isa:26:20) when the stuff hits the fan, NOT go to Antarctica. Also, the notion that America will rise in power and prestige when it is so clearly waning, and becoming more godless, is also suspect. The author also denies the historical and ancient interpretation of the "sons of God" procreating with the "daughters of men," found in Genesis. The idea of "cloning" is proposed in its place (the author admits her aversion to the historically held view). The idea that the anti-christ will reign from Jerusalem and will slaughter Jewish babies is also proposed (I was curious to see how the author derived this, but no scripture was given to support it). Finally, aside from all of these problems, the book is interesting to read, and as I said before, presents a truly unique perspective that I have never heard before, and most likely others have not heard either.