Customer Reviews

Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse: The Official Field Manual for the End of the World

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Jason Boyett is the author of A Guy's Guide to Life, Things You Should Know By Now, and a few others. With this new book he is branching out into the field of end times prognostication and date setting. Or, maybe I should say that with this book he is branching out to show the folly of those who would try to be end times prognosticators and date setters.

Jason's books are targeted at a younger audience, those in and around the quarter-century age range. As such, while I was reading his book I felt very old, almost as if I was in my forties or something. The book is full of youthful slang and otherwise hip language. It's not what I am used to or the way I usually speak, but ol' gramps here can understand that it communicates especially well to youngsters. Which is not to say that it doesn't communicate well to us old timers, because it does. But the style is definitely aimed at a younger audience.

In fact, after I read it I came home one day to find my 13 year old son reading it. My son is an avid reader of sci-fi, especially the Star Wars books. He will read 2-3 Star Wars books in a week at times but he has never been excited about reading religious books. But he is enjoying this one very much.

The book is written in a very snarky, comedic tone. But, Jason has done a remarkable thing in being snarky without being mean spirited. I have to admit that, when I started reading the book I had my antennas up a bit, thinking he might go overboard. But, though he poked fun where fun needed to be poked throughout the book, there was no malice in any of it. While some may want to scold Jason for being so flippant, the truth is that all of the date-setting and anti-Christ predicting that goes on these days is quite ridiculous and there is something to be said for treating these things as the ridiculous things they are.

Because of the slang, the hipness and the snarkiness of the book you might be tempted not to take it seriously. And while this may never be a Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society Book of the Month selection, you would be surprised at the depth of material he has included here. There is a good deal of research beneath the humor. Jason has done an excellent job of describing all of the major eschatological positions and has fairly outlined their positions, along with their strengths and weaknesses. I particularly appreciate this, because when you are talking eschatology, it is easy to caricature the different views, especially the ones you disagree with.

The book is most effective in chapters 2-3 where he gives an extensive catalogue of end times date setters throughout history. I'm no eschatological scholar, but I've done a fair amount of research into eschatology and he has found a bunch of date setters that I was unaware of. I say that these chapters are the most effective because this is where his snarkiness is most appropriate. If there is one group of people throughout history who deserve snark, satire and caustic wit it is date setters. As Jason says, if there is one passage of Scripture that many eschatological literalists fail to take literally, it is the words of Jesus that no man knows the date or hour of his return.

These two chapters list dozens of end-times date setting scenarios and the cumulative effect is greater than the sum of the parts. While I don't remember every detail of every date-setting scheme that is listed in this book, the sheer volume of them speaks volumes. Someone who reads something like this and still wants to predict the date of Jesus' return will have to ask themselves, "what makes you different from every other date setter who has been wrong throughout history?"

Along with chapters 2-3, he is also effective in chapter 4 as he lists several candidates for Anti-Christ. If the favorite sport of some is date setting, the second favorite is "guess the anti-Christ." Jason lists several potential anti-Christs, including Nero, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbechev, Bill Clinton, Saddam Hussein, the Pope, Prince Charles and Bill Gates. Again, his sarcastic style is effective here in showing the silliness of the whole enterprise of seeking to guess the anti-Christ.

I will quibble with him on a few things. As he went through all of the date setters I was aghast that he could have left Harold Camping off his list. Jason, Jason, Jason - you'll have to include something on him in a future edition. We amils have always been pretty smug, thinking that date setting was the private domain of wacked out dispensationalists. But Harold Camping is an amil and his antics have wiped those smug looks off our faces. Camping is the closest thing we've got to a William Miller for this generation. Hal Lindsey is a close second, but Camping takes the lead.

Also, just because it is one of my pet hobby horses, I want to point out that this book makes the mistake of saying that premillenialism was the dominant belief of the early church. It's understandable why the author would say this, as it is a point that has been proclaimed by nearly all premillenialists and conceded by most post and a- millenialists. However, it is not at all certain that all, or even a majority of early church fathers were premil. In his book Regnum Caelorum, Dr. Charles E. Hill shows that there was a diversity of opinion of millennial views amongst the church fathers. True, there were some premils, there were many who weren't, and there were many more for whom a millenial position was hard to nail down. I only bring this up because, as I said, it is a hobby horse of mine (and probably no one else really cares) and because this argument carries great weight with many. Many believe that the doctrines held by the early church fathers carry greater weight in these debates because they lived closer to the time of Christ. Their nearness to the time of Christ is what gives them the greater weight.

He also includes an interview with Paul Meier, formerly half of the Minirith-Meier team, who is also an end-times aficionado. Meier is interesting and puzzling. He thinks you can tell alot about a person by their millenial view. Because I believe that the church has inherited the eschatological promises given to Israel I am supposed to be a guilt-ridden, yet well educated and financially well off perfectionist who is so insecure that I have thrown Israel out as God's favorite child and put myself in his place - huh?? On the other hand, Meier, being a dispensationalist, shows a fair amount of humility regarding end times views, and this is refreshing.

All in all I enjoyed the book and can recommend it highly. Like I said at the beginning, the writing style is not exactly up the ally of many of us old geezers, but this would be a good book to give to a younger person who wants an introduction to eschatology. It would also be a good book to give to someone who is an eschatological fanatic. Hopefully, the witty, sarcastic tone will help them to see that no one is really taking them seriously, so they shouldn't take themselves so seriously.

A few weeks ago Jason Boyett wrote me to ask if he could send along a copy of his latest book, A Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse. I rarely turn down a book, so told him I would be glad to read and review this one. He encouraged me to review it honestly and to pan it if I felt that was necessary. He must believe in the old adage that "no press is bad press."

The Pocket Guide, which is written in a style reminiscent of Douglas Adams' famous five-part trilogy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is a "comprehensive guide to the last days, a must-have for apocalypse watchers, readers of Revelation and all-around Armageddon obsessives" (from the back cover). To translate, it is a book that pokes fun at those who think they have the end-times all figured out and who like to claim they know when the end is coming. It also seeks to bring just a little bit of clarity to the concepts and terminology surrounding the end-times.

Inside you'll find all kinds of interesting information. The book kicks off with an apocalyptionary (let me assure you that Microsoft Word does not have that book in its dictionary) which defines many of the terms one needs to know to undertake a study of eschatology. It includes words like eschatology. To understand the author's writing style, which is clearly meant to appeal to a younger audience, here is an excerpt from his definition of Antichrist. "The Antichrist is akin to a devious evil twin of Jesus, in that his hidden agenda is not just the world domination thing but also to oppose Christianity by torturing and destroying all those who refuse to lick his proverbial boots. But not for long, as Jesus also has an agenda - to expose the Antichrist as a fraud, go medieval on his pointy satanic tail during the battle of Armageddon, and reign for a thousand years in his stead. According to dispensationalist theology, the Antichrist is scheduled to appear halfway through the Tribulation. There will be a parade." Later in the book is a chapter that lists and evaluates many of the favored choices of Antichrist among end-times prognosticators such as Nero, the pope, Hitler, Bill Gates, and so on.

The heart of the book is two chapters that detail the hundreds of times a person has declared that "the end is near." These doomsdayers, ranging from Romulus (founder of Rome) to Martin Luther to Pat Robertson and beyond, have often gathered immense following, but so far their success rate is approximately zero percent. The book wraps up with a discussion of the various eschatological beliefs (where amillennialism seems to fare quite well) and then with a grab-bag of topics that did not rate a chapter of their own. A highlight in this final section is an interview with end-times expert Paul Meier.

There were a few times in reading this book where I would laugh out loud, and then catch myself and question if the ends times are really a topic we should make light of. There were other times where I wondered if Boyett had crossed the line between humor and blasphemy. At best I would say there are a few places where he may be towing the line. Another concern (though one unrelated to theology) is that he teaches that the early church leaders were nearly unanimous in their belief in premillenniallism. That is a common belief, but one that is inaccurate as recent studies show that there was a variety of beliefs in the ancient church. And finally, Boyett uses the "millions and billions of years ago" language that does not sit so well with those of us who believe in a young earth. Beyond those concerns I found this book tremendously enjoyable and I can't deny that I learned quite a bit through reading it.

The Pocket Guide is the anti-Left Behind. Boyett writes with humor and insight, and accomplishes what must have been one of his main goals - to show that we just cannot know exactly how or when this world is going to end. Some things are hidden from us, and we need to believe that God has good reason in this. This book will help convince you that we sometimes need to leave well enough alone.

I bought this book on a whim and really enjoyed it. It's a sort of Dave Barry's Travel Guide to the End Times. There's not much else I can say that hasn't already been said by the other reviewers, but this book really was a treat. Boyett's "snarky" tone is perfect for the material, and like the others have said, it's never mean-spirited. And it's irreverent, yeah, but never blasphemous.
An interesting thing to me was that I could never put my finger on the author's own beliefs, as he gives unusually even-handed coverage to an issue which usually polarizes opinions in the Christian community (but is usually, in the end--no pun intended--unimportant).
One minor complaint is that, while one certainly shouldn't expect a book like this to be uminmpeachably fault-free, the author is clearly not an historian (as I am). As such, I noticed a few errors he made that stand correction. His dating on the life of Zoroaster is way off, and he lists Nero as the son of Marcus Aurelius (who died well over 100 years after Nero did--oops). Nero was actually the adopted son of emperor Claudius (and may have had him killed in order to take the throne). Marcus Aurelius's son is the ever-popular Commodus, one of the few Roman emperors almost as hated as Nero.
Overall, a nice, funny way to spend a few idle hours.

This book absolutely rocks!!! I've never read anything so funny in my life. I've read other books by Boyett, but this one takes the twinkie!!! Boyett pokes fun at just about everyone in this pocket guide. From Pat Robertson to Abaddon (read the book and you'll understand), Jason spares no one. With his usual dry humor, Boyett guides the reader through a humorous ride of the end times, past and present!!! (That was my attempt at Boyett humor) It was ride I wished would never end.
My ultimate fear is that people will read this book and take it seriously. To those that do, all i have to say is...SHUT UP!!! (Read the book and you'll understand!!!)
Seriously, come on people. Everyone has to learn to laugh at themselves. That's what this is all about. Even Jesus had a sense of humor, why else would all those people invite him over to their houses to eat??? I feel like the end time loonies (and you know who you are) have taken themselves too the extreme. To them I say, "Quit looking at the sky!!! Look at yourselves and laugh!!!"
I applaude Boyett for his hard work and courage to take on this controversial topic. This is an obviously well researched piece of material. From the glossary to the grab bag, this was a book I couldn't put down. Each false prediction kept getting better and better. Jason, you deserve a pat on the back and a kick in the butt!!! Well done good Sir!!!!

This book is a humorous look at the prideful attempt of humans to predict the mind of God, and particularly when and how God will end the world. Boyett clearly shows that it is funny, and somewhat pathetic, when humans claim they have a complete understanding of God and His timing. Lots of laughs here as Boyett takes us back in time surveying the many failed predictions. I can't beleive I missed that picnic at 3 a.m. on Long Island in 1925 waiting for Gabriel! And how many times can one man (Chuckie T. Russel) make predictions and still get people worked up? A bunch.

I'm no scholar on the end times, but I found this book informative. It was a good start on understanding the terminology and the general flavor of the "end times gang". The Apocolyptionary, or glossary, was particularly helpful, and at times just plain funny. Where else can you get a brief understanding of chiliasm, and learn to use the name Abaddon (the chief fallen angel of Satan) in a sentence! Subsequent reading shows me Boyett has a good understanding of his subject, with some surprising insight and much clarity for the un-initiated.

Before purchasing this book, I read the reviews on this site. Those who criticized the book for being irreverent, I think, generally missed the point. Like some of those who posted reviews, I consider myself a devoted Christian, and take the Bible very seriously. It seems to me that Boyett wasn't finding humor so much in the subject itself, but rather in the vain attempts of people to explain the mysteries of God. Sure his writing is a little edgy, but I smiled a lot and learned something too.

The measure of any good intro book, such as this pocket guide, is that it gives you a good understanding of the subject, yet urges you to pursue a deeper understanding elsewhere. That is what this book did for me, with several really good laughs along the way. Its a quick read, and well worth the effort.

What an incredible combination of humor and information. I was impressed that even Jerry Jenkins of the "Left Behind" series recognizes that Jason is an up a comer in the world of eschatology. If you have read any of the "Left Behind" books, then you need to read this book also. This book goes into why people believe what they believe, and what to look out for when people talk about end times prophesy while being funny at the same time. I warn you, you will laugh out loud when reading this book.

My favorite section is the timeline of doomsayers. The research for this section must have taken years. It covers everything from ancient Persia to modern day Indiana, California, and Texas. It is amazing how many things have happened in our country over the past thirty years that people just don't talk about. I'm glad Jason has exposed so many things that the mass media has tried to keep hidden.

I appreciate Jason's ability not to take himself too seriously. This book has an obvious respect for The Bible while taking to task people who try to distort what it says, or doesn't say. I can see where simple minded people might miss the point of this book, and try to be critical of the author, but overly critical people usually have a hidden axe to grind, so I rarely take their opinions too seriously.

Great work Jason, I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

This book is funny, witty, and shows a knowledge of popular culture. It is not for the serious prophecy scholar. However, it does not puport to be so and is quite entertaining. It is worth reading for entertainment and is, at times, appropriately funny.

This book is an easy read, but chock full of information. It's also hilarious, but not to the detriment of the content.

It's a great compilation of information that I think would otherwise be either very scattered throughout different literature, or stuffed in between too much theoretical speculation and guessing about the future.

Jason Boyett does a great job telling the facts and letting the reader decide their own theories about the ultimate fate of the world; perhaps with an occasional, but subtle reminder of what's really important.

If you read as much theology as I do, then you probably feel the need from time to time to take a break.

I came across Jason Boyett's Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse: The Official Field Manual for the End of the World (Relevant books, 2005) in a bargain bin at a local Christian bookstore. I took it home that afternoon and read it from cover to cover. The book definitely delivers what it promises: an entertaining, lighthearted look at the best and worse of Christian speculation of the End Times.

The book opens with a glossary of the most relevant apocalyptic terms. I first thought that beginning a book with a glossary would be boring. But that's because I was underestimating Boyett's corny/clever sense of humor.

For example, under the heading for Abaddon, Boyett gives a brief definition of the chief fallen Angel from revelation, and then he makes sure we don't confuse Abaddon with "the German death metal band of the same name, renowned for their combination of classical music with melodic black metal and philosophical lyrics. Also horrifying, but in a completely different way." Using the term in a sentence, he writes: "Don't select that mangy dog from the pound. It might be Abaddon."

The Pocket Guide features a chronicle of End-Times scares and prophets from 2000 B.C. until today. If you think the Last Days madness phenomenon has only appeared recently, you should look into Boyett's book. The number of Last Days prophets that have appeared throughout Christian history will surprise you. Even a cursory glance over the list of weird prophets and prophecies provides important perspective on today's doomsayers.

The funniest section of Boyett's book lays out a list of "potential anti-christs" and how each manages to (loosely) match up to the list of characteristics found in Scripture. Boyett includes Nero, Hitler, Saddam - but also Reagan, Kennedy, Gorbachev, and Bill Gates! From reading the chapter, it seems that Boyett went to the internet to find the looniest choices for Antichrist in the world and then showed how the conspiracy theorists will make anything fit their view.

(How does Ronald Reagan go hand-in-hand with the number 666? "Ronald Wilson Reagan: three names, six letters each. There's your 666. Plus, when the president and Nancy retired, they lived in a Bel Air mansion given to them by wealthy friends. Its address? 666 St. Cloud Road. Nancy had the number changed to 668." How's that for proof?)

Boyett quickly summarizes the different interpretations of Revelation, specifically regarding the Millennium and the Rapture. But the reader should not expect an accurate academic summary of these views. Boyett rushes through the material, providing comic relief along the way and more than a few historical anecdotes. He doesn't take himself seriously enough to worry about a few minor errors in his descriptions, and neither do I.

Boyett's Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse is a lot of fun. It would make a good bathroom book for any student of theology!

It's as simple as this: It's funny and satirical. It includes awards for best end-times entertainment called the "Endies" and gives a hysterical list of possible anti-christs that will have you rolling on the floor.