Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse: The official Field Manual for the End of the World
by Jason Boyett

“This guy is gonna be so let behind.” —Jerry Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind series.

The book jacket states: The End is all kinds of nigh. So go ahead and start with the panicky noises. Then, crack open this handy book. It’s your comprehensive guide to the last days, a must-have for apocalypse watchers, readers of Revelation and all-around Armageddon obsessives.

I, myself, fall into the category of “all-around Armageddon obsessives” so I found this book to be a very interesting and enjoyable read! Jason Boyett writes with great humor and satire of what’s been foretold in the Bible concerning the End Times and Armageddon. Chapter one is a glossary of Armageddon, what the different words and events mean — titled Apocalyptionary (A Glossary of the End). Chapters two and three are a time line to the End Times. Chapter four is titled Know Your Potential Antichrists (A Gallery of Candidates) which is a crackup with candidates such as the Roman Emperor Nero, the Pope, Adolf Hitler, Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Saddam Hussein, William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton, Prince Charles, and Bill Gates.

Chapter five is titled Fun with Eschatology (A Painless Introduction to Apocalyptic Theory). And, the last chapter, Chapter Six is Armageddon Grab-Bag (Miscellaneous Items Not Long Enough for Chapters of Their Own) which includes silly things like: Best Independent Film: Apocalypse III: Tribulation, Best Classic Rapture Movie: A Thief in the Night, Best Novel: Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days, Best Television Program: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Best Portrayal of Satan: South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, Next Best Portrayal of Satan: Al Pacino in Devil’s Advocate, and so on.

There is a list of invaluable resources of books written by scholars concerning the End Times for those who are serious about the subject and thirst for more knowledge and signs in today’s world.

I recommend this book for anyone who’s not too serious about the End Times and needs a good laugh instead of being scared out of your wits about the end of the world. For those, however, who are serious Bible studiers, this may offend you or make you wonder what Mr. Boyett is all about or where he’s coming from (or actually, where he’s going in the end!). As far as Mr. Boyett being left behind? Well, I’ll leave that up to God and the Seven Judgements, the Seven Seals, Seven Trumpet Blasts, Wrath of the Seven Bowls, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!!!

Reviewed by Susan J. Shelley