Rating: 
Summary: This book will make you believe!
Review: Although I have been a Christian since I was five, this whole series has made me look again at my relationship with God. It will make you seriously question your faith. I personally think that Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins are gifted writers and researchers, and that they just get better as the saga continues. With each word I read, I wanted to find out more about the people who had been left behind. I was thouroghly engrossed in their triles and tribulations that I was exclaiming out loud whenever something exciting happened (which was often).Nicolae Carpathia is dead. Was he shot? Was he slewn? Did Rayford do it? These are the questions that you are left with at the end of the last book, _Assasins_. It was enough for me to be waiting on pins and needles for the next book to come out. As soon as I had time, _The Indwelling_ was in my hands and was quickly devoured. The whole Tribulation Force is once more throwwn into turmoil. Rayford is stuck in New Babylon, the murder of Carpathia seemingly on his hands. Buck is desprately trying to find his old friend, Chaim Rosenzweig who is lost in the crowd at the Global Gala (a celebration of the Antichrist, kind of like a bigger version of the World's Fair). Chloe fights thoughts of killing her baby, Kenny (I'm sure they ment no reference to South Park)to keep him from entering the enemy's lair. Tsion has strange out of body experiences that make him question his sanity. And, David and Annie, two believers on enemy ground, try to avoid being discovered. There is also Hattie, who is thought to be in prisson in Brussles, but who is really running free through the US, which threatens the safety of the safe house. Meanwhile, Carpathia is being prepared for his funeral and his body size is multiplied twenty four times to make a bronze sculpture of him. Can the troupe survive all of this? Will Carpathia ever come back from the dead to be indwelt by the devil himself? Read this book to find out. I was very happy with the attention that was put into detail this time around. Some of the other books seemed rather rushed so that the author's could fit the whole Tribulation into seven books. But, with the change to twelve total books, they seem to be much less hurried, and put more attention to detail and good writing. This series has really put Revelation into much easier terms for me. When I looked at the book (Revelation) itself it was hard to understand each thing. Of course, these books are just interpertations of what might happen, but I still understand better. All of the characters stood out for me, and I was excited to turn the pages and find out what happens. At some points, I was wondering, along with the characters, if some people were good or bad, and eventually if Nicolae was really the Antichrist. I can't really express how good this book is to you unless we were face to face, so let me just say that this whole series is worth reading and it will spiritually influence your life. I can't wait to read _The Mark_ coming out this fall.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm thankful but somewhat disappointed
Review: I'll credit this book for the creepy, exciting indwelling and resurrection. The mortuary passages were great and built suspense. I just wish they had concentrated more on writing of that type and less on yet another plane crash and familiar chase sequences, etc. I'm all for tons of detailed technical descriptions of this weird, alternate world. Also, can't there be any nice women in the series? This latest Donna or whatever is yet another sarcastic, mouthy type trying to one-up the men or younger women, it seems to me. I'm thankful that these authors have undertaken this project and for its popularity, but I think they need some help. How about licensing some trusted colleagues to do the kids' series so they could concentrate on the quality of the adult series? They might also hire some technology experts for a couple days to iron out implausible devices and communications? Recording on videodiscs? I suppose maybe DVDs. Untraceable internet feeds? Why does the safehouse have power at all? Is Ken Ritz's money buying their gasoline and jet fuel? Why doesn't the GC ever track their little jets on radar and scramble a fighter to shoot them down? Wouldn't the GC easily block all sat-phone traffic that they can't readily decrypt? A bit more in the explanation department would help. These books would have to go a long way before they'd risk being over anybody's head. David Hassid's humor with Blod was funny at first, but it was carried too far. I didn't see the point with that pushy Toy guy demanding VIP treatment. I really didn't understand the bad cop/good cop thing with the statue talking and Leon's frightening declarations. It was scary until Carp was resurrected and acted like Mr. Rogers. Why did Leon speak about becoming the new Potentate if he knew all along Carp would come back? I wish this whole resurrection thing had been stretched to 100 pages or more. These 1-star reviews by people claiming to hate the series crack me up. A 1-star review in the 7th book in a series that you hate? Come on. I'm sure most authors would love to have the people who hate their books keep on buying the hardbound editions. I agree that the value/word count isn't there and wish they were released only as paperback, as I think some of Peretti's were. However, the readers need to lighten up. Did any of you ever consider that the publishers may be mostly at fault? I doubt the authors set the price or decide the packaging/format. They could self-publish, but then maybe they would lose some of the professional packaging and promotional power. They may have signed a contract and are under the gun to churn these books out. If the books are so trivial to read in an evening, then just split the cost with 5 friends and pass them around! Enough squawking. Anyway, I'm still grateful at the way this message is being hammered to the mainstream and the great PR they get on the NYT Bestsellers List, etc.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Entire Series!
Review: I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed reading this book. I have read all of the Left Behind series and this was the best of all. If you have not been saved, this book will convince you of the need to be saved. I salute Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins for making the Bible prophecies seem so real. I can't wait to read the next in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Just another sensational, campy "end-time" novel
Review: I read a couple of other novels very much like this 12-volume series. These books all promote the dispensational, premillennial view of the "end times" and the parousia (Second Coming of Christ). This belief system was formulated by John Nelson Darby about 170 years ago. It is merely ONE INTERPRETATION of the biblical books of Daniel, Revelation, as well as some portions of I & II Thessalonians, Matthew 24, and Mark 13. The part about the 24-foot image of Carpathian (the "Antichrist" or "Beast") bleching forth black smoke and demanding obeidience is so pathetically CAMP that I can hardly believe how any enlightened, educated Christian--or anyone else for that matter--can really think that this is what the future holds for us. There's the rub, though. LaHaye and Jenkins have been indoctrinated to accept only one view of the Second Coming of Christ. And it is the dispensational, premillennial, Darbyite one. Anyone else who believes otherwise is some kind of heretic, I suppose. Two of the other books of this kind that I once read are Salem Kirban's 1970 novel, 666, and Ernest Angley's 1950 novel,Raptured: A Novel About the Second Coming of the Lord. Kirban condemned ALL Christian rock music as apostate, and Angley's story was so literal in its interpretation of Revelation that it was so unbelievably camp!
Rating:
Summary: I have been saved
Review: Back tracking, yes there was. Are the authors the best writers, probably not. Did it get the message across? Oh yes it certainly has. I was searching, looking for the TRUTH and having a hard time just accepting the simplicity of accepting Christ Jesus into my life. This book series has helped open my eyes and my heart. I am not sure what some of these other reviewers thought life would be like once the rapture happens. Realistically, this could be it. But now, I won't have to worry about what life would be like during that seven year tribulation, because I won't be here.
Rating: 
Summary: addicted to mediocrity
Review: An earlier reviewer asks, "Why the fuss? This is just fiction...". The "fuss" and criticism over these books is because there is no getting around the fact that they are poorly written series. The "fuss" is because the very fact that these books are selling so well confirms what many people think of Christians -- that we are often a non-thinking people who buy and believe anything that has a Christian label. The "fuss" is because Christ calls us to higher standards in everything we do (and write, and read) than non-Christians, not lower standards.The "fuss" is because it is seems painfully clear to me that the authors and publisher have sold out to the idea of making money rather than writing and selling quality fiction. When Jesus was on this earth he was furious -- yes, re-read the passage, **furious** -- at those who were selling trinkets in the holy temple. So many wonderful, inspiring and thought provoking Christian books are gathering dust in Amazon's warehouse...do your spiritual life a favor and spend your money on some of those books instead of the "Left Behind" trinkets!
Rating:
Summary: Not Braindead but Inspired
Review: For those with harsher remarks, remember that the purpose of the Left Behind series is not to have rave reviews as an excellent novel, full of round characters and archaetypes. The book series has been written to inspire people to follow God and His son Jesus, and to live a fuller Christian life. To me, the series has fulfilled its purpose amazingly well. Each book entraps me more, and the Indwelling is no exception. I have received countless inspirations on life from these books, and will continue reading them for that reason. The Indwelling furthered this intensity. If you are into reading for inspiration, I strongly suggest starting with the first book and catching up, and continuing with The Indwelling. If reading occasional Bible verses and scriptures bother you, if you are looking for round, well developed characters who undergo life changes (with the exception of Chaim and perhaps Hattie), if you read for structure and style, the book may not be for you. Take the series, especially The Indwelling, for its up-front value; judging it solely on whether or not it will make it to "Oprah's Book Club" for being well written is like judging a church service on how well the people who attend it dress. I strongly suggest the book for those who want to learn more, to be inspired more and to be further entrapped.
Rating:
Summary: Tripe?
Review: The person who wrote the review about this book being tripe, have you read revelations? This book will not be correct in interpreting some of these prophesies, but the bottom line is that Jesus Christ is COMING. He is going to rapture the church soon and our time to accept Him is getting shorter and shorter. This books tries to show us the horror we would have to face if we wait to long and miss the rapture. Don't discourage other readers from finding the TRUTH about Jesus Christ. This book is also trying to show unbelievers what Christ did for us.
Rating:
Summary: not enough book for the money
Review: Although I enjoy the story of the left behind series and enjoy seeing what will happen next I continue to be disapointed in how much is covered in one novel. I feel ripped off with reading an entire book just to learn what happens in a few days. Ever read a Michner novel? He can cover in about one chapter what Lahaye and Jenkins cover in one book. I won't be buying another one of the series.
Rating:
Summary: back to nonstop action
Review: this book was much better than the last 2. it was full of action and again edge of your seat stuff. i was also very happy that this one didnt go back into the past over and over again. it said what needed to be said if only to refresh the readers memory and moved right back into action. i will admit that im not going to have a hard time waiting for the next installment(s) but will more likely than not read them..::smile
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