Rating: 
Summary: Good ending to the series...
Review: I got on the library hold list pretty early for the book Glorious Appearing by LaHaye and Jenkins. This is the 12th and final book in the Left Behind series, a Christian historical novel based on end-time biblical prophecies. If you've read the entire series up to now, you should enjoy the conclusion as laid out in this book. Well done, and a vivid portrayal of how events could play out during that time. Overall, I enjoyed the series a lot. I did think that the series could have been cut down to eight or nine volumes without losing much in the story. The middle volumes tended to just mark time with not a lot of story advancement. Still, one of the best novel treatments of pre-tribulation rapture theology.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: I read all the series books from the beginning and enjoyed them as fiction. They were not the best written books by any stretch of the imagination. But they were a fun read. This last book was dull, drawn out, and did not have nearly the pay-off it could have had. The visual images were nicely done. Other than that, it was a disappointment. I will recommend it as closure to those who have read the other books, but will preface that with a warning that it is dull and does not have the pay off that one would expect in a fictional series of 12 books.
Rating:
Summary: A Biblical perspective - gotta read this!!!!!
Review: These books have done much to peak the interest of eschatology (the study of end times.) If you want a straight forward Biblical explanation to the model these authors use, you must simply see "The History of the Future - A Commentary on Revelation and Matthew 24" ISBN 1592440681 - the authors take you verse by verse to build the Pre-Mil/Pre-Trib model in a way you will understand. And, its straight from the Bible.
Rating: 
Summary: Thought provoking, disturbing, i.e. worth reading
Review: I have read all of the books, and definitely find myself caught up in the characters and the thought-provoking nature of the subject matter. I did feel the author drew interesting conclusions - some literal and others less so - about what Jesus will do after He returns. I think it's fine to explore it by writing a novel like this; I do hope people will keep in mind this is one man's opinion - or two. My own convictions didn't sit well with how violent Jesus Himself was portrayed. I believe the real hell (fire, brimstone and all) will be the realization that you've forever fallen short of His presence and His love. I really think some of the portrayals are inaccurate as well, in particular, when Samson of the Old Testament is rewarded alongside men such as Abraham and Moses. Samson was actually a bully who rejected the Lord and used his gift of strength for personal revenge and to get gain. All in all, I felt it was good reading, and if it promotes pondering and discussion, that may be a worthy result.
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Bag, But Overall, Enjoyed the Read.
Review: I was thinking before I read this book that it would be difficult to write about Jesus. Especially when it came to prophesy. These writers took a momumental task at writing this book because it is not only based on the prophesy of the Bible, but on their own opinions and research. In my opinion, they took a major risk at writing this novel because everyone has opinions and thoughts of what they think Jesus is really like and what will happen when the world's time has come. Anyone could easily be offended by what they wrote, and as I have read in other reviews here, it is evident Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins have touched the nerve of some reviewers. For me, this book was inspirational and well written. I like the fact they used a lot of scripture. I was most amazed that the writers did show Jesus as disappointed at all that were set against Him. That was really good they wrote how Jesus felt. Some things I was not very happy with, though. I was kind of uneased by the description of the bloodshed and war. I did not like the fact that the writers made the characters (The Believers) so arrogant, like they looked down at the undecided and unbelievers. And what about all the other characters throughout the series? Only a small mention of them, no real reunions other than Rayford and his close family. Overall, this book was a great way to end the series (if it is indeed the ending). It was exciting to read, but at times a little too much. Another note I wanted to add is that it is categorized as fiction, and we all must keep in mind, it is by no means the Holy Bible. Joy.
Rating:
Summary: I would give it 10 stars if I could!!
Review: First of all, let me just congratulate Mr.'s LaHaye and Jenkins. I thouroughly ejoyed this book as well as the previous 11. This book truly had a huge impact on my life, and my walk with the Lord. I learned so much, and my Jesus spoke to me through it. I accord with the Passion of the Christ, I felt as if I was really seeing Jesus for the first time, though I've been a Christian for 10 years, and have been in church all of my life. Although separated by thousands of years, the Lord became real to me through both of these venues. I finished the book in a little less than 10 hours, and I think my hair stood on end the entire time.
Taking communion in our packed, little, country church Easter morning, my mind was drawn to a scene from the book. Rayford was in awe of finally understanding that not only should we talk to the Lord, but that we should listen to him intently. And although, I found it disturbingly hard to let my mind rest and my soul listen, I did feel the Lord tugging on my heart-strings, and I know that the potential for an awesome relationship with Him lies just ahead.
I have gone through and copied the verses mentioned throughout the "Glorious Appearing" and have re-read them along with Revelations, and I see how, fictional as it is, there is great truth there. I mean, true, we have no idea how the Remnant will truly be transported from Petra to the various locations mentioned. We don't even know that they will take refuge at Petra, though the evidence does point there. The point is, they will take refuge somewhere and they will be transported somehow. The semantics do not matter.
I grieve for those who do not believe the Lord our Saviour will have a firm hand when the time comes. He died on the cross to banish our sins, to allow us to commune with himself and God our Father. Were He to let the non believers live after repeated chances, He would not only be weak, but His death and life would have all been in vain. The God of the Bible, my God, is a loving God, but what the author of both the Bible and this book are trying to convey is that at this point, every person on the face of the earth had been shown signs and wonders beyond the imagination of any living creature, and they still refused to accept the Love of the One and Only God. They turned their backs and allied themselve with pure evil. My God is a jealous God, in that He wants the love of all that He made, and to keep those who were filled with hate, evil, lust, and greed around to intermingle with His followers would make the His Sacrifice and the Sacrifice of His Son in vain. The Bible clearly states this.
My hope is that everyone will be able to share in the joy of reading this book, and experiencing our loving Saviour and God who's glory will shine down on you if you will only ask Him!
Rating:
Summary: who would Jesus bomb?
Review: get real. I tolerated reading this because I fear that millions of gullible people will actually believe Tim LaHaye's view of the world. I felt a need to try to understand what they are expecting out of life. I learned that this view is self-righteous, arrogant, and horribly violent. It portrays Jesus as brutally unforgiving, and incapable of even tolerating anybody who disagrees with him. In the end, he humiliates his enemy. All of these actions are in opposition to my belief that Jesus was a man of TOTAL and ABSOLUTE peace and NON-VIOLENCE. Jesus not only turned away from violence, but healed his enemy in the Garden of Gethsemene on the even of his death. Only violence can come from a group of people who refuse to tolerate anybody unlike themselves, pass judgment on them, feel the need to change them, and condemn them to some kind of hell. If they believe in God, I can't picture what kind of god it is. If they believe that ALL people are children of God, they have no business passing such judgments. People have been praying for and expecting Armageddon since 50 A.D. IF this is actually going to happen, no human can possibly determine when. In the meantime, I don't understand why the followers of Jesus do not follow Jesus' teachings. In the meantime, we need to show our love for our fellow human beings by working to improve their lives, NOT by attempting to impose our will on them. Does this kind of book explain why the group of people with the strongest support for the war in Iraq are the evangelical Christians? (last I heard, 87 percent support this massacre) I have posed the question, "Who would Jesus bomb?" to several of these "christians." Not suprisingly, none of them has been willing (or able!) to answer. I think it forces them to consider the hypocrisy of their belief, and they are not willing to face this challenge. As a piece of pure fiction, this book was lively. But it should not be given the slightest credit for having any hint of truth in it. Which Bible are these people reading, anyway? I do not accept the hateful, violent god that is portrayed in this book.
Rating:
Summary: A+ imagry of Jesus' return - C- overall
Review: I have to admit, I truly enjoyed the section of the book dealing with the return of Jesus. However, other than that, this story is the same story of all the other books told over and over again. The dialogue is plodding in many places and I was struck 100 times how little concern Rayford shows for his grandson other than the token hug a couple of times in the book. It was a great ride and I've read all the books, but this one should have been the end (instead you read that they are planning a pre-quel and sequel.) Hasn't this guy earned enough money on one idea that it's not necessary to bleed it dry?
Rating: 
Summary: Not as Good
Review: I've read all 12 Left Behind books and loved the first 11. Book 12, Glorious Apprearing, I thought was long and drawn out. What they covered in almost 400 pages could have better done in half that. For the last installment, that should have been the best with the coming of Christ, was a big let down.
Rating:
Summary: I Enjoyed This Final Installment
Review: While it is hard to look at this series one book at a time, because they all play off each other, I think Glorious Appearing was a good finish. Could it have been written better? Probably. But these novels are not written by elitist English teachers looking to buck the establishment, so don't look for literary awards to end up adorning the mantles of Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. These novels were written to bring people closer to the Gospel of Jesus Christ using an entertaining medium. The first book brought all of us into the world of Rayford Steele. It has been a long road for those of us who have followed this drama. Some books we have enjoyed more than others. I have reviewed most of the books with a positive judgment, based on the fact that Jenkins is not Steinbeck, nor should we expect him to be. Glorious Appearing brings us to a more intimate level with Jesus and of course, His Father. Certain parts could have been shortened, and some parts should have been longer, I agree. But this last book of the series remained true to the writing style, subject matter, and character development that the authors have maintained through-out the series. For that, I give the book five stars. It gives us a clear picture of how the world will change when Jesus returns for His people; there simply is no denying that. I will forever picture the antics between Leon and Nicolae forever and ever, not just in this installment, but in all of them. I will also expect every little boy to be named Kenny Bruce. Bravo Jerry and Tim; I hope to one day be as successful as the two of you. It is my dream to bring people closer to God with my writing. Peace-out! (...)
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