First published 2026
Chris Jennings examines the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff to reveal how apocalyptic Christianity has transformed American politics. The book opens with federal agents surrounding Randy Weaver's Idaho cabin on August 21, 1992, beginning an eleven-day siege that would leave Weaver's wife, son, and dog dead, along with a US Marshal. Jennings traces the doomsday beliefs that drove the Weaver family back to 1870s interpretations of Revelation and the rise of Christian fundamentalism. He shows how nearly 60 percent of white evangelicals now expect biblical prophecies to unfold soon. The federal response at Ruby Ridge galvanized many Americans, birthing the militia movement and fueling the conspiratorial politics of the Trump years. Jennings argues that understanding the Weavers' story provides the key to comprehending America's political descent and potentially reversing it.
Genres: history, christian-fiction, non-fiction, 21st-century, apocalyptic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: Idaho
Period: 1992
384 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company
Content warnings: death, violence