Customer Reviews

Distant Thunder: Book One of the Lightning Chronicles

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Thrillers work best where they tap into a mixture of fact and plausibility. The tensions in the Middle East, the views of religious fundamentalists and terrorist attacks are all fact. In this novel, the events described are interpreted as evidence of the truth of the prophecies of Ezekiel. The author is a Christian pastor whose writing `is designed to awaken a sleeping America and a lethargic church to the probabilities of renewed terror and prophetic fulfilment.'

The two main characters in this novel are Ty Dempsey, an American pastor, and Moshe Eldan an Israeli fighter pilot. Dempsey, by teaching what he believes to be the truth about Old Testament prophecies, finds himself in a growing conflict within his church. Eldan, in his role in the defence of Israel knows of the constant threats to that small country.
The novel is written as a series of time lined events, and this presentation works well. One does not need to believe in biblical prophecies to understand and enjoy this novel. Some will enjoy it because of their religious views, others despite them.

While I enjoyed elements of this novel, especially the action sequences involving Moshe Eldan, I believe it will appeal most to those who either believe in Old Testament prophecies or wish to explore them further.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Just a caveat before starting: The author's views do not match mine on Biblical prophecy. However, I am a fan of any book that gets people to search the Bible and analyze how current events fit into prophetic timelines, particularly when such searching prompts a new or renewed commitment to Christ. I found it interesting that this book uses Ezekiel's writings rather than the more popular Daniel and Revelation when it comes to current prophetical applications. I also appreciate the Christian elements in this book when it comes to relationships and changed hearts.

That being said, I'll be reviewing this book more from an entertainment perspective than from a doctrinal perspective.

Overview

While a spiritual awaking is happening in the US, events in Israel set the stage for nuclear holocaust. Pastor Ty Dempsey challenges his congregation to take Biblical prophecy seriously, much to the consternation and anger of some of his main church leaders. On the other side of the globe, Israeli pilot Moshe Eldan starts to connect the dots of Biblical prophecy and experiences a loving, saving God for the first time.

The Author

"Jimmy Root Jr. is the Lead Pastor of Family Worship Center of Smithville, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. He is a student of Biblical Prophecy and an avid supporter of Israel. His writing is designed to awaken a sleeping American and a lethargic church to the probabilities of renewed terror and prophetic fulfillment."

My Review

In addition to the two main characters, the author does a great character development of a number of people elemental to the story, even getting into the mind of a suicide bomber.

He also does a fabulous job jumping back and forth across the globe (not to mention the centuries) throughout the book, keeping my interest engaged as parallel stories emerge.

Fast-pasted and driving, this book has the elements of a good thriller, including the realization that the book's events are not all that far-fetched given the timeline of recent events that have already occurred.

The climatic ending definitely sets the stage for another book - it's one of those that leaves you a little disappointed that you can't read the next happenings right away...

For more information on this first book of The Lightning Chronicles series by Jimmy Root Jr., see The Lightning Chronicles website.

Thanks to author Jimmy Root Jr. and Pump Up Your Book Promotion for the review copy of this book.

As a Christian I love a book that is fiction, yet based on the Bible and current events. As much as I loved reading the Left Behind Series, Jimmy Root's book Distant Thunder topped those. I am anxiously waiting to read the second book "A Gathering Storm". I enjoyed this book for many reasons. It starts out with the prophet Ezekiel being strongly nudged by God to go to those who think he is already insane and pass along God's word. I thought to myself that I don't know if I would have his courage and stamina to do what he did. It showed his human side. His feelings about not wanting to appear insane yet his willingness to do God's bidding. From the set up of Ezekiel, which is the background context for this book we are taken to modern day. We view the lives of three very different factions. First there is Ty, the preacher in Missouri who has more or less gone along with the status quo when preaching feel good messages. When his brother is killed in battle God starts dealing with him. His preaching is beginning to step on some toes. We see the way God works in his life when he brings the woman he has prepared for him into his life. She is his prayer warrior during the troubling times ahead. We enter the life of Moshe Eldan a military man in Israel. His wife has become a believer. I think one thing I really enjoyed about his character was the fact that it was made clear that he had not enveloped his own Jewish beliefs which left him open to his wife's example. The story didn't end with this wonderful and explosive conversion that we read about in so many books. It was real to life. His struggles physically, emotionally and spiritually left you wanting to read more. Finally we enter the life of men like Hamid, Yaed, and the cab driver who consider all American's, Jews and anyone else who are not followers of Islam to be infidels. We are brought along on their journey to meet Allah by carrying out what they believe they were born to carry out.

This book held my attention from the first page. Especially since I was able to see so many correlations between what is happening in our own lives with what was being told in the book and backed up by scripture. It was a powerful book. It in no way put down anyone of any religious beliefs. It brought out their beliefs and how they came to those beliefs. I was very impressed. However, as a Christian and an American I believe we need to stand up for our own rights and stop letting them be trampled on. I felt this book motivated me to take a look at my own life, including my prayer life and ask myself some very important questions. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my friends

It was Ezekiel who prophesized that Israel would some day be destroyed. Jimmy Root's thriller takes us even further into this story in Book One of The Lightning Chronicles. Distant Thunder is not only instructive in the interpretation of this prophecy; he has created a reality into which each of us can step! Where will you be?

In Plattsville, Missouri, Pastor Ty Dempsey preached from Ezekiel, Isaiah and other passages, and tied the prophetic words into what was happening in today's world. The Chairman of the Board and some others were not pleased; they wanted the quiet feel-good sermons he had been preaching to continue. But how did the congregation feel about it? Most importantly, was the Pastor following God's guidance? For surely he now spoke with new strength and faith in what he shared! Ty believed that God had given the United States over to the narcissistic desires and godless living many wanted and explained why he thought this.

In Northern Israel Moshe Eldan was living within that prophecy. He was a pilot for the Ramat David Air Base and was one of those who nightly patrolled Israeli airspace. He had become even more vigilant since Israel was now completely alone. The United States had become noncommital and a fence walker to keep the black gold flowing. And then one night he was shot down, landing in enemy territory. As he worked his way back, he discovered... Ah, I think you'll have to read the book to find that out! What I will tell you is that for the first time, at the request of his wife, he had recently attended a lecture which explained the meaning of the prophecy from Ezekiel.

Planning had started in 1991 when the KGB directorate head, seeing what was ahead for Russia, stole the entire arsenal of portable, tactical, nuclear weapons that had been stored. Now those who supported his actions were joining with other countries to use those weapons against Israel and America!

And in Kansas City, Missouri, Hamid Jamal placed duct tape around him, converting his body into a humanity-killing bomb, as he prepared to attend a concert at a large arena.

The fulfillment of prophecy was happening throughout the world.

Jimmy Root writes in his dedication, "to the Christian Church of America, my hope is that an awakening to the realities of the world will occur." Root has written an excellent thriller to help accomplish that hope. The novel flows easily into and out of reviews of prophecy into today as experienced by believable characters that are living as prophecy is fulfilled.

Well-written, action-packed flight/war scenes, a delightful love story, and so much more. This is a must-read in my opinion!

G. A. Bixler

loved the tension maintained throughout. root's attention to detail is convincing. like balls in the air, the reader is suspended between three different arenas of action at once - but still sees each individual character lifelike in their relationships and routines. great read!

Israel throughout its existence has stood tall, but no one should think of them as saints. "Distant Thunder" takes a fictional situation that holds some ground in reality, the question of what would happen if the world turned its back on Israel. Following the story of American Pastor Ty Dempsey and Israeli military man Moshe Eldan, Jimmy Root weaves an intriguing what if story of a world turning to chaos. "Distant Thunder" a fascinating thriller sure to keep the pages turning.

It is always interesting to read books that compare prophecy of the Bible with current events. I liked the layout of the book with the change of locations, and I especially like the characters of Moshe and Tasha. I would have had liked more development of the complex conversion from Judaism to Christianity by these characters. The relationship between the husband and wife was touching.

Unfortunately, there were several things that were distracting to me. I knew right away that the book was written by a pastor because of the storyline of the challenging church member and the poor attacked pastor who can do no wrong. It is one that shows up in many fiction books written by pastors. Also distracting are a few scenes of emotionalism that are exhibited in the Charismatic movement.

Aside from these things, Distant Thunder is still well-written story and a good start to a series of prophecy thrillers. With the changes in our world today and the constant threat of terrorism, we can not ignore the comparisons.

In Plattsville, Missouri Pastor Ty Dempsey grieves the death of his brother in Iraq through his sermons. However, the Deacons are concerned with his recent ramblings; as Ty insists he spoke with God who says Isaiah's prophecy of the world ending is coming because Israel will react to Syria having nukes by destroying their neighbor. On top of that with Iran ready to retaliate, the prophecy of Ezekiel will come forth with destruction of much of the Middle East and Russia.

At the same time that Ty is shouting fire and brimstone end of days, Israeli Defense Forces Captain Moshe Eldan has family issues to contend with since his mother-in-law died. His wife Tasha grieves her loss by converting to Christianity and she insists Jesus has told her he wants Moshe to do likewise. When Moshe's plane is shot down over Syria, he becomes a POW only to learn a horrible secret that could bring the end of days to Israel.

Dempsey and Eldan personalize this exciting thriller as the world turns anti-Semitic targeting the destruction of the Jewish state. They are the opposites as the Pastor needs the destruction of Israel if his belief of the End of Days has begun while the fighter pilot zealously defends Israel's right to survive. Although a strong belief in salvation through Jesus is throughout the solid story line; ironically at the root of the first Lightning Chronicles is the fundamental belief that for the Ezekiel's prophecy of 568 BC to occur, Israel must survive until the slaughter of the Jews led by the Anti Christ bringing together all the other nations against the country. Although the female characters never gel like the two lead males, fans will relish this profound look at religious zealousness by the prime descendents of Abraham as death to Israel is needed for the start of the End of Days.

Harriet Klausner

A well-implemented proverb states: "Life imitates Art." In the case of Jimmy Root Jr's new prophetic thriller it is art that imitates life. Root has delievered a stunning, and sometimes frightening story seemingly from today's headline news. Realizing that the manuscript must have been completed in early 2008, the fictional scenarios created by Root truly reflect the prophetic. In his terms, this is a thriller based on Bible prophecy, and so it would seem.
Distant Thunder begins with the premise that a new administration has arisen to power and is bent on pulling America out of its involvements in the Middle East. It aslo takes an incresingly anti-Israel stance. One of the two main characters of the story, Pastor Ty Dempsey, suffers the loss of his younger brother to the failing war in Iraq. He struggles to deal with his grief, but in his darkest moments Ty receives a new understanding of Old Testament prophecies, passages he'd always believed were meant to be interpreted more figuratively than literal. However, his new revelation is that both America and Israel will soon become targets of a renewed round of terrorism. Dempsey boldly preaches his findings to his congregation and in so doing stirs up a hornets nest of conflict. His only saving grace if found in horror. What he has prophesied has come true.
Root's second main character is an Israeli f-16 fighter pilot named Moshe Eldan. Moshe's character creates a wonderful picture of the perseverance-at-against-all odds that is lived out in the everyday lives of Israelis. Moshe's wife, Tasha, has experienced a conversion and desperately desires her husband to find life in her Messiah, Jesus Christ. Moshe balks. But Tasha begins to share a series of prophecies she has learned at her church, prophecies concerning Iran, Syria, and Russia. Though Moshe is not convinced that this new religion is for him, he cannot discount the fact that the prophecies appear to be coming true. His saga turns frightening after he is shot from the sky in an ambush by Russian Mig-29s. While attempting to evade falling into enemy hands in Syrian territory Moshe discovers a plot to launch a nuclear tipped missile at Israel from the Golan Heights. Moshe must get back across friendly lines, warn his people, and somehow save his country.
The strength of this book is that it will hold your attention. Root has crafted a story that intertwines current events with Bible prophecy, yet he captures the reader's attention and holds it until the very end. I could not lay Distant Thunder aside.

Jeremy Thomas
Slam Dunk Reviews
[...]

If you like Joel Rosenberg, you will love this book. However, instead of the story being told from "the top down," this book is written from the point of view of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. The characters are well developed and defined, believable and the situations they face may be tomorrow's headlines. I couldn't put the book down.