Armageddon Now: The End of the World A to Z

by Jim Willis, Barbara Willis

Don't be left behind. Who knew that doomsday would be so hot? Environmental disasters, disease epidemics, the popularity of reality television, and strife in the Middle East, may all be signs that time has come today. Weak and ailing after the end of the Cold War and the financial spree of the nineties, the timeless notion that the end is near is once again exerting a powerful influence on pop culture, politics, religion, and Mel Gibson.

So you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction? Authors Jim and Barbara Willis mine the religious and secular divide as they examine the history of apocalyptic beliefs in Armageddon. The authors explain the various omens and prophecies as well as the actual events that may trigger the end, such as collisions with asteroids, nuclear war, the oil crisis, global warming, and famine. They report that even the death of Pope John Paul II has some prognosticators predicting eminent doom, or at least doom coming relatively soon, which in any case would make investing in treasury bonds a bigger risk.

But as the authors point out, there have always been plenty of signs pointing to the boom in gloom: predicting the order of finish kept Nostradamus in print for centuries, and the ancient Mayans helpfully projected that calendar sales would drop to nothing after 2012. They are all part of the long history on the end of history.

Fire or ice, bang or whimper, asteroid or alien, act of God or human folly, Armageddon Now is all over doomsday prophecies. From alpha to omega, it is packed with 200 entries and 100 illustrations. Satan, saints, survivalists, and evangelical preachers known for their views on Biblicalprophecies receive their due. In the end, the end has never been so thoroughly covered as in Armageddon: The End of the World A to Z. It's the last word for the end user.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

450 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

We are sad to announce the passing of our father, James Willis, Sr., who died at home in South Carolina, on Friday afternoon, June 7th. We know that as a minister, teacher, and author, he meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people, all over the world. Robert Kalil, host of Typical Skeptic, once said that Jim "mastered the esoteric and spiritual principles and lived the life." He has been called an inspiration by many trying to find their own path to a greater and broader grasp and perception of their own sense of spirituality.

​A theologian, historian, and musician, Jim Willis earned his Bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music, and his Master’s degree from Andover Newton Theological School. He has been an ordained minister for over 40 years. While serving as an adjunct college professor in the fields of comparative religion and cross-cultural studies, he was the host of his own drive-time radio show and part-time musician. His concern for spiritual growth in modern-day society prompted a series of lectures on historical studies and contemporary spirituality. Upon retirement, he was determined to confront the essential, mystical Reality that has inspired humankind since the very beginning of time. A background in theology and education led to his writing more than twenty books on religion, the apocalypse, cross-cultural spirituality, and arcane or buried cultures, specializing in research bridging lost civilizations, suppressed history, and the study of earth energy, dowsing, and out-of-body experiences.

https://www.jimwillis.net/
https://www.facebook.com/jimwillis.au...
https://www.youtube.com/c/JimWillis

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like a lot of people don't like this book but I can't understand why. I found it quite informative and will probably reference it multiple times. Christianity is the main theme, of course, since the authors are both Christian and American, but they don't preach. Far from it. They manage to take what I see as an unbiased approach. Perhaps what throws people off is ita textbook like layout and readability. I bought this book for information and not entertainment. That may account for my higher praise.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely an interesting read