Rating: 
Summary: This book and this series. . .
Review: . . .concerns me for a number of reasons.Reason One) The writing is really poor. For someone like myself, who grew up reading the Classics -- and who was always challenged to "reach" and to "strech myself" with regard to my
reading, the quality of the writing (or lack thereof) was a significant "turn-off". Reason Two) The character development is virtually non-existent. While great writers (Charles Dickens comes to mind) frequently used "flat characters" as a literary device, the authors of this
series seem ONLY to use "flat characters". The "Left Behind" characters seem to be "all good" or "all evil" and make the "jump" from evil (or unsaved) to good with a minimum of struggle. I don't see this as realistic. Reason Three) The theology presented is presented as "the" correct interpretation of Revelation, embraced by all "true believers". This is nonsense. The theology of Revelation propounded in this series is a 19th century invention, accepted by only a very small minority of Protestant Christians.
It does not represent what most Christians (regardless of denominational affiliation) have believed about Last Things for the entire history of Christianity. Reason Four) I find the underlying anti-Catholicism derogatory and offensive. If the authors have theological disagreements with Catholicism, I freely respect that. However, Catholicism is not accurately portrayed here -- rather, it is caricatured. (And the notion that the Pope is raptured because he has become a theological Lutheran demonstrates not only an ignorance of Catholic teaching -- but also gross misunderstanding of Lutheran teaching as well.) ....
Rating: 
Summary: So so
Review: I've read all but two of the books in this series but I'm not sure why I keep reading. They are so so at best. If you have a lot of time on your hands or you drive a lot and can get the tapes at the library, great. They are no where near as good as the Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur.
Rating:
Summary: Quick Read but Lacks detail
Review: I buzzed through this book in just a few days. It is a very quick reading book but really lacks in character building. Much of the book is dialect between a few main characters. I found it difficult to indentify with any of the characters and to put myself in their shoes, which in my opinion is the key to good writing. The plot is strong and keeps you reading even though the writing talents just aren't there. The exciting conclusion and cliff hanger did entice me enough to read Left Behind #2, but after reading that I decided that I don't enjoy these books enough to continue through the series. A decent read but it's the same old, same old in the next book of the series. I lost interest.
Rating:
Summary: Leave it Behind!
Review: Like many of the reviews on here I was enchanted with the first book.
"Finally! someone has mapped out exactly how the end of the world will take place."
I read the first book in 2 days. "Tribulation Force" came next, and then "Nicolae", and so on. I caught up to "Soul Harvest" in another week and awiated the next book; the movie as well. Then I started to notice how the authors took certain liberties on explaining the events mentioned in Revelation. After "Assasins" I placed the book on the shelf (permanently) and opened THE book called the Bible. From then on I spent/spend my time and efforts studying the Word of God, NOT the words of LaHaye and Jenkins. I have learned so much more - as well as the *truth* about Christ's second coming; which indeed *already* happened.
Someone else already posted relevant verses (above). Read them -and you will realize that you do not need to spend your time (or money!) on worrying about how God will destroy everything in the future. Once that blindfold is removed we are all free to worship Him, and praise Him for what he has given us. Note: Junior novelizations and board games lessen the credibility of this series. What's next? Action figures?
Rating: 
Summary: Makes you think!
Review: This was a very enjoyable book for me to read. I usually don't like to read novels because it takes up too much time. That said, I was very pleased with the 1st book in the left behind series. In my opinion, it was a pleasure to read but also frightening. If you are a true Christian then you can believe what happened in this book could very well happen in the future. God is all-powerful and can do whatever he pleases so don't be narrow-minded enough to believe it can't happen. Preaching aside, this book was a real page turner and I'm already reading book #2 and have #3 waiting in the wings. It' made me want to seek out more 'Christian' novels to read and to become immersed in the word.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Whether this book is written in elementary vocabulary or higher vocabulary, it makes no difference. It's easy to understand and hard to put down. It may seem harsh to Christians and non-Christians, but it portrays the truth of what will come. Maybe that's not the way people will act when the end is near, but I believe it's a very good portrayal and possibility. I haven't even finished the book yet, but it's awesome. If I didn't have to put it down to go to sleep at night and to eat meals, I wouldn't. It definately keeps the reader interested. I will admit, it can't replace reading Revelations, but nothing can. I love it!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth a quick read
Review: This is a good story, but not great literature. The book does not go into deep exposition and dialogue. It does not explore the intricacies of each character. This keeps it from being great literature in my opinion. It is a good story though. The pace will keep you turning the page and have you wanting to read the next book. I found it best to read in a couple of sittings. The story begins with the believers being called up. The authors tell you about the catastrophes that happen as people have suddenly disappear. Some, like the main characters of Rayford, Chloe, and Bruce have lost family members. The book shows their reaction when they realized that they are now on their own. Another character, Cameron (Buck), is a journalist who tries to find an explanation for all of this. You follow him as he asks different people on their explanation for what has happened. Reading the book does generate an interest in the book of Revelations. Just remember that this is an interpretation of the book. It is not a substitute. I would recommend this book with the warning that once you have read this one, you will really want to read the rest of them.
Rating:
Summary: Definately a keeper
Review: This series and book are definately worth the cost. I have been with the series from the start and have not been able to put a book down until I have finished it. When we get a new book of the series, our family has a battle over who gets to read it first. It is a excellant example of good writing, with action, suspense, theology, romance, and among other things, woven together in a masterful manner. I wouldn't base my beliefs as a Christian on this book as it is an interpretation of one of the many theories of the book of Revelation and the apocylypse, but it helps to give a vivid mental picture. There is a very good reason it is a best seller.
Rating:
Summary: The best way to read Revelations
Review: I was born and raised in a church and unable to ever understand the book of Revelations until I read this book and the ones that follow. Before I picked it up, I was on the edge of devoting my life to Christ and this series gave me the push I needed to commit. We all have the same doubts...that His second coming will not happen in our life time, but LaHaye and Jenkins lead us to believe otherwise. The characters are addicting and it is possible to become emotionally attached to each one; I have cried at more than one moment and that is not a regular occurance for me. I know my review will not outshine those that are already written, but I feel the need to share just how important this novel has been in my life.
Rating:
Summary: Leave it behind
Review: Many, many people have lifted up the LEFT BEHIND series as good Christian writing. Unfortunately, I must disagree, vehemently. As a seminary student, I wanted to at least give the first book a try, because so many Christians are reading this series and seem to enjoy it. So I tried it. I didn't like it. End of story. What's not to like? Well, for starters, even as a Christian I found the plotline required too much suspension of disbelief to be credible. The main characters seem bound by the authors' intention to make leaps of faith and logic that defy the imagination at times. Other Christian writers, even those who write Christian fiction, are able to walk the reader through faith struggles in a way that seems believable - LaHaye and Jenkins cannot, in my opinion. The plot seems wooden, the characters even more so, and quite frankly, I disliked every last one of them from the start, a sure sign that something is wrong with the writing. Christian authors usually write with the intent of inspiring faith in their readers. The best of them, people like Walt Wangerin and C.S. Lewis, are able to work their inspiration without being obvious about it - regardless of faith, the story remains interesting and entertaining. LaHaye and Jenkins, however, show their agenda from the start, and their heavy-handed treatment of the story left me feeling disgusted, not inspired. As a Christian, I was dismayed at the level of intimidation in this book - I can't even imagine what a non-believer would feel. All in all, I felt the level of writing was amatuerish at best. Toward the end of LEFT BEHIND, I found myself extremely disinterested in the story, but wanted to finish it anyway because I felt I needed to give the authors a chance to redeem the story. It didn't happen. The climax was as bad as the rest of it - predictable, uninspiring, and emotionally flat. If you're looking for quality fiction from a Christian point of view, I would recommend you keep searching. Yes, the LEFT BEHIND series is a bestseller, but that's not always an indicator of quality. Try it if you like, but be forewarned - it may not be worth your while.
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