Jerusalem Countdown is a 2011 Christian thriller released by Pure Flix Entertainment based in part on the book of the same name written by Pastor John Hagee in 2006. While the book was written as a prediction of the start of World War III based on his interpretations of biblical end-times prophecies, it didn't have any plot like the film.
When Shane Daughtry, a sour FBI agent, gets a tip about something called The Seven Wonders, it brings him and another agent and former flame, Eve Rearden, onto the trail of a terrorist plot to disrupt an ongoing Middle Eastern peace summit - a plot linked to prophecies in The Book Of Revelation. Meanwhile, a journalist in a Chicago suburb, sees a Middle Eastern man move into the house across the street, bringing suspicious crates with him.
Tropes
- Caught Up in the Rapture: After the bomb threat is averted.
- Codename: Used plenty, mostly with the Seven Wonders plan.
- The Dragon: Matthew Dean, who plays the most active role in the operation. And, to a lesser extent, Nick Tanner.
- Exposition: To a ridiculous degree. Much of the characters' backstories, the Middle East peace summit, The Revolution of God and their operations is all told by characters.
- Going for the Big Scoop: After seeing his neighbor carry some suspicious crates into the house, Daniel starts investigating him, even breaking into his house.
- Hollywood Atheist: Mostly averted, actually. While Shane and Daniel are bitter for different reasons, neither they nor Eve, who grew up with a religious father, are outright non-believers, even if none of them take the end times prophecy seriously. Not until the end of the film, anyway.
- Hollywood Silencer: Used frequently.
- How We Got Here: The film opens at the end of the climax when the Rapture begins.
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: Shane and Eve's last questioning of Nick Tanner.
- Knightin Sour Armor: Shane, who, despite having a bitter personality, cares about saving lives and his job as an agent.
- The Man Behind the Man: In the end, the CIA agent Jack is revealed to have been in charge of the Seven Wonders operation.
- Nebulous Criminal Conspiracy: The Revolution of God, which is according to Jackson, composed of the highest leaders of Russia and Middle Eastern nations.
- Red Shirt: Arland Rockwell, the importer/exporter who contacts Shane and is killed by Nick Tanner.
- Sequel Hook: The film ends as the Rapture has occurred and Shane is driving through the ensuing mayhem to get Eve to safety.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: While the Seven Wonders plan is stopped, the Israeli delegation are still killed and the Rapture occurs, leaving the world headed towards Armageddon.
- Swiss-Cheese Security: The airport tarmac where the Israeli delegation is about to get on a plane is covered by exactly two guards who are eliminated discreetly without anybody noticing. You'd think a foreign prime minister's security would be a little bit tighter.
