Zombie Apocalypse and the end times: Did the Bible foretell modern life?

"Zombie Apocalypse" is the title of American pastor Paul Begley's new book as he becomes the latest evangelical Christian to declare the end of the world is here.

'Zombie Apocalypse' claims the Bible foretold the current times.Facebook

Begley's book records up to 35 incidents of cannibalism and other demented behaviour which he claims show a zombie invasion is already happening. On top of that he suggests this was foretold in the Bible.

"Superhuman strength, stripping down naked, some cases quoting scriptures, some cases having bibles, some cases saying that they are the Messiah. This is an actual manifestation of demonic spirits, and people what I'm talking about here, this is demon possession," he said according to the Inquisitr.

Begley quotes John 5:28-29 to back up his assertion. The passage reads: "Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment."

Elsewhere in his book he also cites gospel stories of Jesus casting out demons to justify his claims that the end days are here.

Begley is just one among a long list of evangelicals to say the end times are here. According to a survey by the Brookings Institute's Center for Middle East Policy, 79 per cent of evangelicals believe "that the unfolding violence across the Middle East is a sign that the end times are nearer".

The historian Matthew Avery Sutton places that figure at 77 per cent. In his book American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, Sutton argues belief in the imminence of the end times is central to evangelical identity.