Joel C. Rosenberg. The Tehran Initiative. Tyndale, 2011.

Shi’a Islam—centered in Iran—believes that there were twelve great Imams, Muslim leaders, who succeeded Mohamed. The twelfth one disappeared and, according to Shi’ite teaching, will return alongside Jesus to set up a worldwide caliphate.

Sunni Muslims have a similar belief that their Mahdi or savior will come with Jesus to establish Islam worldwide. It might not take too much for someone who claims to be the Twelfth Imam to convince Sunni Muslims that he and the Mahdi are the same person.

Christians, naturally, would see this differently. I recall having a conversation a number of years ago with a Christian scholar about Iran. He said with an ironic smile, “How can we support a country whose goal is to offer hospitality to the Antichrist.”

Over the years I have read a number of works of fiction based on the biblical end times—not just apocalyptic stories, but stories of the Apocalypse. I can think of one published before the twentieth century, I think it was called Raptured. Then there was the A Thief in the Night series. One novel featured Pope Sixtus the Sixth (get it?). Of course, the Left Behind series was a big seller.

The Tehran Initiative appears to be more realistic than any of these others. First of all, it does not claim to interpret Bible prophecy. A few characters do. A few interpret Islamic prophecy as well. But at its core, this book is simply a techno-thriller in the vein of Tom Clancy.

In this case a man claiming to be the Mahdi and the Twelfth Imam has appeared. He has performed a few unusual miracles and appears to have escaped an assassination attempt. People seem to almost instinctively bow to him and call him lord. Though Arab and not Persian, he has persuaded the theocrats of the Islamic Republic of Iran that he is the real deal. He has declared that he will lead Muslims to rule the world. That includes wiping out both the Little Satan, Israel, and the Great Satan, the United States.

The story focuses on David Shirazi, an Iranian-American who works for the CIA. His cover is that he is a German citizen who works for a German telecommunications company. He gets in a few jams, but basically learns that Iran has built a number of nuclear warheads. Under the Twelfth Iman’s direction, Iran will use them to annihilate Israel. Israel does not cover a whole lot of territory, so this is no idle daydream.

One clear question to the Imam is—what about Jerusalem? Muslims value “Al Quds,” too. The Mosque of Omar supposedly shows the spot where Mohamed ascended to heaven from and returned with a message from Allah. On the other hand all Muslims venerate Mecca above all cities, and Shi’ites also value Qom in Iran.

Besides the adventures in Iran with Agent Shirazi, we follow Marseille, an old family friend who may become his girlfriend. Those guys attempt to have a personal life, but it is not easy. We also get some drama from Najjar, a nuclear scientist whom Shirazi helped to escape from Iran.

We also follow President Jackson. Jackson had studied in an Islamic country for grad school, so he believes he understands Muslims. He also feels the United States should go along with the United Nations more, even on Israel. This may make him a little more naive about both Iran and the Mahdi. But if you negotiate with people who call you the Great Satan and whose crowds shout, “Death to America,” what can you expect?

In this case, expect a techno-thriller with a somewhat realistic apocalyptic connection.

For what it is worth, this is probably the first book I have read not associated with Clancy that actually tells a story in a way similar to what he did.