Racing Towards Armageddon

Racing toward Armageddon, Michael Baigent, ISBN 9780061363184

An interesting book, in which the author of the books that the "Da Vinci Code" is based on waxes poetic about the suicidal drive to bring about the end times by the major monotheistic religions.

In it, he describes actual moves being made by various evangelical, muslim extremist and zionist groups to bring Armageddon to reality. For instance, in order to rush across the Holy Mount and blow up the Golden Mosque, Zionist extremists would have to be ritually bathed in the blood of a pure red heifer for fear that they might be impure as they crossed the site of the holy of holies. Extremists in America are attempting to breed this cow so that the zionists can "pure"ly blow up the mosque and precipiate WWIII. I mean, if youre going to destroy mankind, you better be ritually pure, yes?

He also describes how Armageddon has already come to pass, in that a Christian General, Kitbuqa, acting on behalf of the Mongol hordes, razed Baghdad (Babylon) in 1258, then crossed the Euphrates and, having taken Aleppo and Damascus, took up position on the plains of Jezreel (Armageddon). A Muslim army was dispatched, and one bloody battle later, Kitbuqa's head was sent back on a pikestaff to Cairo. From the Muslim version of Revelations point of view, this was the prophecy come true (although most Christians and Muslims dont appear to be aware of it).

Baigent also makes an interesting point: Why didnt John mention Muslims anywhere in his prophecy? Unless the Muslims are not going to be fighting in the end times, its curious that he saw nothing about Islam or Mohammed in his dreams.

He also dissects Revelations in terms of what John actually meant: the beast with 7 heads (heads = hills) was Rome, and the 10 crowns were the 10 Seleucid kings from the east that he expected to defeat Rome.