Rating:  Summary: Bad Writing, Unstable Theology Review: I read "Left Behind" and "Tribulation Force" and then I stopped because I could not understand what kind of theology it was based on. I decied to research further by reading LaHaye's "Revelation Unveiled" to get a better understanding of what he was basing this story off of. I couldn't get past the first several pages because it didn't seem like he was interpreting scripture responsibly. I think the main reason why christians, and anyone really, should stay away from the series is because it seems to be based on scripturally unsound doctrine. How can LaHaye or anyone else know exactly how things are going to pan out enough to write a fictional story about it? It is one thing to have an opinion about what will happen, but to actually write a story about it and risk adding or taking away from the Bible (the clear warning given at the end of Revelation) seems dangerous. As a christian, why would you want to expose yourself to something that could be very wrong just for the sake of entertainment? The second reason I wouldn't recommend reading it is because it is horrid writing. As a voracious reader of everything from the Classics to V.C. Andrews (not the greatest writing, either), and a writer by profession, I don't even like admitting I exposed my self to such literary refuse. So I don't understand the appeal to the series at all based on those reasons other than the powers of darkness, :).
Rating:  Summary: The beginning and the end Review: This book taught me a lot about what the beginning and the end is. It gave me more thought about God, and what Jesus has done, and will do for the world. For some, the ones who believe, it is only the beginning to the beginning; for those who were not raptured, but will see the glorious appearing. But for others...people who fallow, and continue to fallow Nicolae Carpathia, it is the beginning of the end. This book to me is the most amazing thing that could ever have happened to me. It has taught me that there is more out there to come in life, and I need to search for more than whats just here. It has helped me figure me out spiritually, and continue to learn and progress in that area. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Rating:  Summary: Left Behind Review: This book really open my eyes to the bible. I know that things might not happen the way the books describe it. For me it gave me a reason to want to learn more abot the bible prophecy and learn all I can befor the end of the world about Jesus. The book was well writen and enjoyable. In the first night I read almost the entire book. I had to make myself put it down. I have also completed read the second installment of The LEft BEhind Series. Tim LaHaye out did himself with the complete series I fell. I can wait to start on the third book. Aletha
Rating:  Summary: This is FICTION, remember! Review: I read a lot of the reviews and was surprised to see that so many people were looking for some deep spiritual meaning. Take this book for what it is, fiction, not scripture.
Rating:  Summary: Exciting! Review: I'm a new fan of this series, and though I recently realized that the series has been out for a few years now, and finally got around to checking it out. This is my first time reading Christian fiction and I must say that I am very impressed. It is the kind of book that you can read cover to cover in one sitting because of the exciting events that take place. The characters were well defined and the plots were well developed. Whether you are a religious, spirtual, or skeptical person, I recommend reading this this book. It is very interesting and if it does nothing else to grab at you, it will at least put your mind at work. Great Book!
Rating:  Summary: A Very Good Depiction Review: For the most part I consider myself an Atheist, but religion and the various definitions of the end of the world always interested me. The Left Behind series is a great application of the events in the Bible placed in a real-life environment. My only problem with this book is the occasional piece of "propaganda" ("Did they not know that Christ/God was the way? The truth? How could they not know" and things like that), but it's still not enough to turn me away from reading this book. Thankfully, the author was wise enough to keep it to a minimum.It's not going to turn me to God anytime soon, but it is still a great story.
Rating:  Summary: Daniel Day-Lewis made the movie better Review: The inspiring story of a quadriplegic man from a working-class family who learned to express himself artistically through painting with his left buttock, the only part of his body with appreciable fine motor control. Guaranteed not to leave you dry-eyed. I might have rated it higher if I had not seen the movie first, I suppose. There's something about the visual impact of thisstory that somehow doesn't work in printed form for me but it is definitely inspirational.
Rating:  Summary: Exciting story ruined by liberal theology Review: When I first heard about the Left Behind books on my local Christian radio station, I thought, "What a great idea! A series of fiction books based on the most exciting, action-packed book in the Bible!" And the book starts out in a promising fashion, with vanishing people, car crashes, plane crashes, suicides, empty wombs, and enough other sorts of mayhem to make any fan of Arnold Schwarzegger movies excited enough to actually read a book. Unfortunately, Jenkins and LaHaye let their wishy-washy, liberal theology get in the way of a great story. Here's my problem: not enough people get "left behind" for any close reader of Revelation to accept as realistic. Have these guys actually read the book? Don't they know that "narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it"? If that's the case, then why does everyone who's still around after the rapture know someone who was taken by it? If only a "few" will find the way, then it seems to me that some of these people should be shaking their heads and saying, "I don't know what the big fuss is. All my friends are still here." I wish I could say, as so many of my friends have, that I could put theology aside and read Left Behind as an adventure story, but that's not possible. If this is how Jenkins and LaHaye want to present their beliefs, I plan on skipping the rest of the series in favor of Harry Potter.
Rating:  Summary: A Religious Thriller Review: I'm not a regular church attendee, nor do I believe in revelation's prophecies. However, I am interested in religion, and I thought this series sounded quite interesting after having been told about it by a friend. I was NOT disappointed. I think the story, and the characters, are wonderful. After reading this first book, I am going to buy every book in the series. The two authors have over 160 published books to their credit, which speaks for itself. Both are eminently qualified to write on religious subjects. La Haye is a minister who has published over 40 non-fiction books, translated into 30 languages. He holds doctorates in both theology and literature, and is a man of many outstanding accomplishments. Jenkins, in addition to working as an editor and publisher, has personally published over 100 books, and in dozens of well-known magazines. After perusing the other reviews, I think I see why some readers have poorly rated this book. Most of the readers who give poor ratings are not really interested in religion. Therefore, they see the books as an effort to "scare, and convert" them to become born-again Christians. Who knows if the authors feel they may "bring some people to God." Personally, I read the story because I enjoy religious thrillers! I didn't feel like they were trying to convert me. My advice is, if religion and religious subjects turn you off, don't buy this book. What I enjoyed most about the book is just seeing how ordinary people might react if the prophecies in the Bible suddenly started being fulfilled! I think it's a great story. Personally, I think the characters are well-developed and interesting. There is another reason that non-religious people might want to consider reading this book-something no one else has mentioned in other reviews. Religious fundamentalism seems to be on the rise worldwide over the past 20 years. It is happening in nearly every country, and nearly every religion-Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. As with ANY major trend, it makes sense to know and follow what's going on. I'm an American woman living in Morocco. I have become more interested in, and knowledgeable about, religion since living here, especially since some of the Muslims I know make lots of comments about the Christian religion-one recent example being that George Bush may be the "antichrist!" One interesting thing I read in THIS book is that the antichrist is supposed to come from a EUROPEAN country. Anyway, I plan to share this book with some of my Muslim friends who read English, as well as with other friends-but mainly, just because I really enjoyed the book. Additionally, for anyone who already knows that they enjoy the Religious Thriller Genre, I HIGHLY recommend another book called, "A Skeleton in God's Closet," by Paul Maher.
Rating:  Summary: Worse than awful. Review: A book for only the fanatical, non-thinking, mystic. Sadly, Tim LaHaye's writing is almost as bad as his theology so it isn't even an entertaining read. It's scary that there are people out there who relate this hype to biblical truth. Don't buy it, don't buy it, don't buy it. In fact, don't even check it out of the library.
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