Interesting combination of elements - science vs. faith; the ugly underside of scientific competition; the variety of responses in different cultures to impending, unavoidable death...
In a nutshell - a deadly infectious agent is unleashed when an ancient artifact is opened and, with 100% mortality, humanity is doomed to extinction unless the best and brightest scientific minds, cloistered the labs at Los Alamos, can come up with a cure.
Not a good choice for the "happily ever after" fan - this is a pretty grim book overall, although some hope is offered at the end.
(Another book with a misleading blurb, IMO - the man who claims to be Jesus Christ is a sub-plot that takes on a greater role as the book progresses, but is never the primary focus of the story. If you're looking for millenialist fare, this ain't it.)