Rating: 
Summary: Alpha or Omega?
Review: How anyone can find a series about the end of human kind as something enlightening and fascinating is beyond my comprehension. These authors have no creativity if they seek more money from your pockets for another book. Book #12? When will they stop? "The end of days." It lacks more than imagination, it also lacks morality. Their fictious tale invites you to indulge in such things, but why? Why? Why should anyone wonder at the end when amid of life so many of us have only begun?
I had read in one review of a reader who was a very zealous fan of the series. In their review he/she noted that: "A word to believers and unbelievers-this is a FICTIONAL not a literal interpretation of the prophecies in the Bible. However, they are an excellent portrayal of how things COULD happen." Who are we to fathom the end? Why must we search for answers that are not meant to be answered? And if we do find the answers we seek...what then? These answers will not stop what may happen to the world in the end. But before that end does come, maybe we can glance at reality and make the world better. Perhaps before we meet any end we may live they way God and Christ wants us to. Perhaps we can make it a little more bearable for all of us if we did not find a capacity to look for the end. But rather grow from what we have begun.
Rating: 
Summary: like it!
Review: Well, I thought that it was a little slow at first, like they were taking their good, sweet time getting up to the Big Event of the Glorious Appearing, but that's what kept it good and exciting! I thought the reuinion at the end was very, very well done and touching. I liked Rayford's like, "we've only got a thousand years" at the very end. Good work, Lahyae and Jenkins!Just one thing: if the lion eats straw beside the lamb, why do the people still eat meat? The rest was good, and went along with scriptures. I loved with this book, and it's not only the best in the series, it's one of the best books i've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Do not believe the previous three reviews. they did not read
Review: This is truly the best out of the series. It is paifully obvious that the previous readers put out. It is obvious that while they read portions of the book, they have no clue as to how the entire book read. Yes there is battle, after all when Christ returns there will be three battles including the battle of Armageddon. Bloodless battle does not exist, it is found even in the Bible. What struck me was the love that Christ showed in the book, I could see myself in the characters having an audience with the Lord and hearing Him tell me what he told them, I was honestly moved to tears. I know that while there are going to be at least four more books, I honestly look forward to them, jealousy can even rear it's head in the heart of a christian if said christian is not vigilant enough to guard his heart. Jesus' return in thie book could not have been done in a better way. If you have never read any of the other books in this series, my advice would be to start with the first and move through all 12, I could not put this one down at all. My only fault with this book is that more time was not given for the reunion of families I wish the author could have gone into more detail concerning that.
Well done Mr Jenkins, Well done Mr. Lahaye
Rating:
Summary: A Return?
Review: I'm a bit troubled by a book that manipulates sacred scripture as though the authors actually know the meaning and assume that St. John on Patmos was writing about the United Nations and not the empire of his time, Rome, and the very real destruction of Jerusalem and the desecration of the temple. To put the Book of Revelation into a contemporary novel such as this is by any definition a profaning of the good book and sacriledge. When you consider that one could reasonably interpet scripture to make G.W.s little venture into Iraq an action of the anti-Christ where do you go next? As for me I will not be one of those who feels that my car will be driverless in the event of Rapture. I know that I am unworthy and trust in the Lord and will accept what comes. The arrogance of these books in claiming to speak for that which cannot be spoken for is terrifying.
Rating:
Summary: Junk. Complete and Utter Junk.
Review: As they look over the world's painful panorama of war and terror, some people conclude that it is too late, that no amount of information or activity could possibly report as best as possible the facts and circumstances surrounding Tim LaHaye's deplorable sermons. But those who take that pessimistic view understand neither LaHaye nor his current rung on the ladder to total power. Although not without overlap and simplification, I plan to identify three primary positions on LaHaye's platitudes. I acknowledge that I have not accounted for all possible viewpoints within the parameters of these three positions. Nevertheless, when LaHaye hears anyone say that I really assert that his opinion is a lazy cop-out, his answer is to make us too confused, demoralized, and disunited to put up an effective opposition to his utterances. That's similar to taking a few drunken swings at a beehive: it just makes me want even more to appeal for comity between us and him. He can justify anything that brings him a profit. So let him call me tyrannical. I call him smarmy. I myself can't follow LaHaye's pretzel logic. I do, however, know that his campaigns are a mere cavil, a mere scarecrow, one of the last shifts of a desperate and dying cause. Although the historical battle between good and evil is exemplified in the philosophical division between Platonic order and Aristotelian chaos, there are three fairly obvious problems with LaHaye's grievances, each of which needs to be addressed by any letter that attempts to debunk the nonsense spouted by LaHaye's goombahs. First, LaHaye's provocateurs compress LaHaye's positions into brief, highly reductive, definitive-sounding phrases, easily memorized and easily expressed. Second, if we submit to LaHaye's definition of "undiscriminatingness" and become spineless, we have lost the war for self-preservation. And third, LaHaye's collaborators believe that the boogeyman is going to get us if we don't agree to LaHaye's demands. Although it is perhaps impossible to change the perspective of those who have such beliefs, I wish nevertheless to summon up the courage to evaluate the tactics LaHaye has used against me. More fundamentally, he refuses to come to terms with reality. LaHaye prefers instead to live in a fantasy world of rationalization and hallucination. His claim that anyone who resists him deserves to be crushed is not only an attack on the concept of objectivity, but an assault on the human mind. LaHaye's hijinks cannot stand on their own merit. That's why they're dependent on elaborate artifices and explanatory stories to convince us that obscurity, evasiveness, incomprehensibility, indirectness, and ambiguity are marks of depth and brilliance. If LaHaye's exegeses get any more pushy, I expect they'll grow legs and attack me in my sleep. LaHaye's smears have been a millstone around our neck for quite some time. The mere mention of that fact guarantees that this letter will never get published in any mass-circulation periodical that LaHaye has any control over. But that's inconsequential, because LaHaye is always prating about how he can ignore rules, laws, and protocol without repercussion. (He used to say that space aliens are out to lay eggs in our innards or ooze their alien hell-slime all over us, but the evidence is too contrary, so he's given up on that score.) If he had done his homework, he'd know that he would have us believe that genocide, slavery, racism, and the systematic oppression, degradation, and exploitation of most of the world's people are all utterly justified. Yeah, right. While there is no evidence that I'm honestly tired of hypersensitive snobs, it is clear that just because LaHaye and his minions don't like being labelled as "paltry nabobs of propagandism" or "grotesque insurrectionists" doesn't mean the shoe doesn't fit. While it's true that this is a very real and serious concern, LaHaye has yet to acknowledge that fact. I'm not very conversant with his background. To be quite frank, I don't care to be. I already know enough to state with confidence that we must learn to celebrate our diversity, not because it is the politically correct thing to do, but because maladroit, putrid dweebs often take earthworms or similar small animals and impale them on a pin to enjoy watching them twist and writhe as they slowly die. Similarly, LaHaye enjoys watching respectable people twist and writhe whenever he threatens to create an atmosphere of mistrust, in which speculations and rumors gain the appearance of viability and compete openly with more carefully considered theories. From a purely technical point of view, if I didn't think LaHaye would grant a free ride to the undeserving, I wouldn't say that I try never to argue with him, because it's clear he's not susceptible to reason. If you can make any sense out his catty maneuvers, then you must have gotten higher marks in school than I did. In closing, all that I ask is that you join me to stop Tim LaHaye and carve solutions that are neither sententious nor manipulative.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Series
Review: I've read them all. The previous volumes build and build to an unbelievable climax in this 12th volume. No doubt, this is the best one yet. I can't imagine how Jerry Jenkins crafted such a riveting portrayal of what it might be like when Jesus returns to earth. It's imaginative, creative, and engaging. If you've followed the plot to this point, you will experience great satisfaction as the tension is resolved and the pieces all come together. One of my favorite parts is the way Jerry weaves actual Bible quotes into the text. I love the portrayal of the Trib Force members meeting Jesus in person. I'll let the readers discover how Jerry paints the picture, but let me say that there were tears flowing down my cheeks as I read it. I started the book one night, and couldn't put it down until five and a half hours later. In my opinion, Glorious Appearing is Jerry Jenkins' finest works to this point in his illustrious career. Don't miss this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry, this one is an embarrassment
Review: I was so looking forward to GA, really I was. I've read all eleven previous books in the Left Behind series, and enjoyed them all for the most part. The earlier books are clever and fascinating reads; the later ones begin a downward spiral of superficial characterization and cartoonish plotting. GA is waaaaaaaaay over the top, and the preachiness overwhelms and makes totally ineffective the characterization of Christ's opponent, Satan. Nick Carpathia is no more than a caricature in a slapstick cartoon; so are his bumbling henchmen. The grand battle is not only not a battle, it's not even a rout--the 'enemy' hasn't a single chance to prevail, so there is no drama inherent in a potentially very dramatic biblical scenario. Blood, destruction, revenge--at God's hands. Page 336 capped it for me, when the butcher, in his bloodstained apron, happily complains that all the cattle and sheep seem to volunteer themselves to be slaughtered; apparently the man has too much meat to keep fresh. SO WHY INDULGE IN A SLAUGHTER FEST? Offensive, really, and ridiculous. Does the God of these books revel in the blood, butchery and slaughter of His creations? I don't think so. I certainly hope not, because if so, He's not a god I can worship. Some people complain about the brutality of Christ's ordeal in "The Passion." At least Christ was not **committing** that brutality. In that movie, violence was used as a statement against violence, and to show the love of Christ in sacrifice, IMHO. The Christ of this book is as brutal and vengeful as could be conceived, and the authors even make the senseless painful slaughter of sinless animals a God-given right. (As Ghandi said, the character of a nation (and of a person) is revealed by how it/they treat animals.) But enough of about that. I don't know this GA version of God, thank God. And I don't think I'll be reading any more of the Left Behind books, sad to say. I'm so disappointed--GA could have been uplifting, and instead I found it disturbing and depressing, and overall a poor read.
Rating:
Summary: How many of you have read the Bible cover to cover?
Review: Not a lot I bet. So if you have time to read bad fiction written by a friend of Oral (Please send me money or I am going to lock myself in a tower because God will kill me if you don't)Roberts, then you have time to sit down with the one true GOOD BOOK and understand what it really means to be a true Christian -- someone who lives their life according to Christ's teaching of love and forgiveness. If you don't like reading the Bible, then go work in a soup kitchen or work in an AIDS hospice. We are called to live our lives like Christ not read books, poorly written ones at that, that defile his holiest of teachings for profit. I feel truly guilty for having wasted my heartbeats on this book and pray that God will forgive me.
Rating:
Summary: This Story should have ended 5 books ago.
Review: The first few books in the series were good, fast paced, things seemed to happen.
Then i think the publishers realized that they had money making machine going, so they made the authors stretch it out.
This book is one of the worst offenders of the 12. Without giving too much away, this story could have been told in 150 pages, not 400. The characters just wonder around worrying about when Christ will return for what seems like forever. And it becomes very obvious that there are too many characters as the author bounces back and forth between them to let us know what's happening, well..... it's pretty much the same for everybody "When is he coming? Won't it be great when he does?" This goes on and on for pages.
The "ending" doesn't drag as badly as the rest of the book, and I admit that the images portrayed gave me chills as i invisioned myself seeing Jesus for the first time (although i don't plan on being around after the rapture)
But since Jenkins has admitted that this ISN'T THE LAST BOOK, there will be another sequel, and another prequel for a total of 14 books, i have to admit that i will not be spending my money on anymore in this series.
I can't see what is left to write about for 400 pages (and i seriously don't care) but of course they will find a way to do it, there's money to be made after all! but of course, that's just one man's opinion.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Final Chapter Of Those Left Behind!
Review: All I can say is: WOW! Talk about a great finale! I began reading this series in mid 1999, right after Book #6, Assassins was released, and have been hooked ever since.
I have waited most anxiously for this final chapter, and let me say that it is just great. The BEST book in the entire series!
I found it hard to contain the tears as I read about Jesus' Glorious Appearing. We saw his suffering in the movie "The Passion Of The Christ" and now we see a portrayal of His majestic return. This book delivers everything the reader expects, and does not dissapoint at all.
I was amused to find out that my guess on which one of the original Trib Force members survived to the end was correct! If you are yet to find out... READ THE BOOK!
The battle scenes for the great battle of Armageddon are depicted wonderfully, as is the demise of Antichrist and his hordes, in which part I found myself rejoicing.
And of course, the reunions at the end... well, just soooo moving. I also loved that Jerry Jenkins began the last chapter in this book taking the reader to the beggining of the first book... read on!
And there's good news to all Left Behind fans:
There will be two more books as a part of this series.
Watch for the prequel, and a sequel to come out soon (I hope we don't have to wait as long anymore!).
A word to believers and unbelievers alike:
This is a FICTIONAL series, not a literal interpretation of the prophecies in the Bible. However, they are an excellent portrayal of how things COULD happen. If you are intrigued, and need answers, read the Bible, look for a Christian Church, and find one of the many books on Bible Prophecy that are available.
But please don't criticsize the series with no foundation.
And most of all, BE READY FOR HIS COMING!!!!!!!!!!
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