I am approaching the review of this book from two different directions, one writing style and the other the illustration of Biblical prophecy in a fictional story format. I recall reading LaHaye's Left Behind series at roughly the same time I was getting into the Harry Potter series. I found myself having the same response to the writing in Thunder of Heaven as I did to the Left Behind series. This is an interesting story but I really wish he (LaHaye) had the writing skill of J.K. Rowling. That would really hit the series out of the park. As it is, LaHaye and Parshall weave an intriguing story that is decently written but it won't go down as a classic. (Though I rather doubt anyone really expected it to.) I am a visual person and the stories LaHaye and Parshall weave help me think about and understand the end times prophecies in the Bible. This series is set in the pre-trib period of time and hence includes different references to scripture than the Left Behind series. I recommend this book and its prequel to all who are interested in looking at end times scriptures in a novel sort of way and I am looking forward to the next book in the series which is reportedly due in August 2012. Joshua Jordan's reputation is on the line when his controversial RTS system fails to protect Flight 199 as it takes off from Chicago and is show down by a terrorist missile. The government is taking no chances and starts an investigation of Joshua's entire defense program. Unfortunately, the Israelis, longtime allies of the United States, are desperate for the technology. When Joshua flies to the Middle East to assure them of the RTS's reliability, he is captured by the Iranians who wan the secret for the defense tool for their own use.With Joshua out of the country, Abigail Jordan is left in charge of the Roundtable and sets out to defend her husband to the media and to the commission set up to investigate RTS. But America is under attack - a bombing in the Mall of America and rumors of even more potential atrocities have this covert team desperate to find additional bombs before they are set off.As man vs. man and nation vs. nation come together in an epic battle, nature takes over and makes the final blow. And as world events begin setting the stage for the "end of days' foretold in Revelation, Joshua Jordan must weigh the personal price he must pay to save the nation he loves.From Tim LaHaye, creator and coauthor of the world-renowned Left Behind Series - the most successful adult fiction series ever written - and Craig Parshall comes this epic story ripped from the headlines of world events and filtered through Scriptural prophecy. Set in the very near future, Thunder of Heaven chronicles the earth-shattering events leading up to the Apocalypse foretold in Revelation.My Review:I was sold from the first page and glued to this riveting fictional tale of the thunders of Biblical prophecy about to be unveiled in the latest sequel to Edge of Apocalypse. Not knowing which direction the threats would be coming from the terrorist plot for nuclear bombs within the US, to the imminent threat against Israel's demise from Iran, it seems like no place is safe anywhere on Earth. While the pages of the Bible get closer to Revelations final chapters, the story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until end. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and a must read for followers of Bible Prophecy, end-times fiction. Makes you wonder just how close are we to hearing the proverbial rumblings of thunder on the horizon even now.
