Rating: 
Summary: The First Installation in an Excellent Series for Christians
Review: I have loved the entire Left Behind series. Written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, these books deliver a powerful spiritual message without denominational slurs and an in-your-face attack. These books, like the later ones, have a powerful storyline, a strong message, and memorable characters. I highly recommend them - and other books in this series - for anybody interested in Christianity or the end times.The main characters - Rayford, Chloe, and Buck - start and continue their saga in the times after the Rapture. These books are high suspense, making the time it takes to turn a page seem like forever. What will Nicolae do next? What does God's great plan have in store for the Tribulation Force? How many people will come to witness the power of Christ? Many secrets await, and new faces will appear. As I stated before, I highly recommend these novels - especially in this special set - and other novels in the series. I certainly would read the books in order, and I would have a bible handy to catch many of the allusions. However, for the most part it is a fun read with a powerful message. I have one final piece of advice - buy the fifth book when you purchase this pack. You won't want to wait for the next edition to arrive!
Rating: 
Summary: OK books, Teen level writing
Review: I just started reading the series and I'm on book 5 in one week. Big print and huge margins make these books look like they were writen by a high school student trying to stretch an essay into a term paper. Most of the reviews I've read have mainly complained about the acuracy of the translation of the book of revelations into a fictional account, it is fictional though so I really don't have a problem with this aspect at all. It is written by christian scholars as a part of a push to gain converts to christianity (or that's my take on it) so I was expecting some preachiness. I am having problems with a lack of character development, too linear plot lines, and far too unrealistic situations for the characters. Huge examples of these are : These guys travel the world and only one of them speaks any other language than english? They have access to major equipment supposedly from the GC itself during the worst crisis in human history when even the GC is having a hard time getting stuff and their auditors haven't noticed that planes and a million dollars in equipment has gone missing? and the only character development that I've seen so far has been when someone converts to christianity, Lastly the authors only use one plot line with a couple of small branches, this makes for boring reading. Also, I think that the authors have a very shallow understanding of other religions in general, and Islamic faith in specific. To think that Muslims would ever allow the Temple of the Rock in Juruselem to be moved is just insanity. If that could happen, there would be much less contention in the middle east. Now, to the plus side in the series: It is an easy read, In general it moves along well as long as you don't try to read to deeply into any of the problems listed above, it has some very good parts as far as action and emotional content maybe 2 or 3 per book. All in all, I wish they had a better writer that would justify making a 12 part series by adding more plot lines and doing more research on the non-biblical aspects of writing an adventure story. I'm giving them 3 starts but it's probably closer to 2 and a half.
Rating: 
Summary: Dogma for Born-Again Christians Only
Review: When I read the initial reviews & write-ups, I purchsed these 1st 4 books because the plot seemed intriguing. And they certainly could have been a good set if it weren't for the horrendously bad writing and over-the-top proselytizing.
1st: The dialog is so badly written that you can't tell which character is speaking without continously searching for the "Chloe said" or "Buck said". Each character speaks exactly like every other character and none of them resemble realistic spoken language.
2nd: The situations are distractingly unrealistic--WWIII is underway, yet car salesman continue to sell cars and store clerks continue to sell cell phones like normal, just so these True Christian characters can purchase them rather than take what doesn't belong to them, even in the midst of world chaos and devastation. Then there's the idea that the college student and the world-traveling, internationally acclaimed journalist are both virgins.....
3rd: The authors' opinions tainting every page. Catholics are evil. All people who haven't said "the prayer" proclaiming themselves born-again Christians are either evil tools of the devil or so vapid and shallow and selfish that they will also rot in Hell. Women, even college student women, are so dumb they don't even know how to use the internet or e-mail. Etc., etc., etc.
In all, this was a terrible disappointment. The premise for these books could have made fabulous, intriguing, exciting reading, but the books are ruined by the authors' opinions and their poooooooooor writing. Don't bother.
Rating:
Summary: Bad writing that I can't stop reading
Review: I have somehow become hooked on these books. The reason I picked them up is because they are set in my hometown, Mt. Prospect, IL. Who'd have thunk it!
There is so much that drives me crazy about these books, for example, all the women seem incredibly whiny (I know they try to make Chloe seem strong and brave, but frequently I'd like to smack her) or soft and submissive; the anti-Catholic bias so typical of evangelical writers (of course, the pope would be the evil assistant of the Antichrist), and the beat you over the head preachy-ness of the message (Jesus Christ is my personal saviour...okay! I get it!) But in spite of how annoying the characters are (esp. the women) and how my Catholic sensibilities are offended, I keep reading these darn books to find out what happens next! I'll give LaHaye and Jenkins their due, they know how to keep you turning the pages. While I don't believe in "The Rapture" as they present it, it's an interesting view of the End Times that has caught my interest.
For those looking for a more erudite presentation of this topic and with a Catholic twist (and doesn't beat you over the head with Catholic dogma), I would recommend "Father Elijah" by Michael O'Brien. It is a more contempletive approach to End Days/Revelation literature. I'd also truly consider it literature. The Left Behind series is more what I'd consider entertainment (Jane Austen vs. Harlequin romance). The Left Behind books are interesting, they will get you thinking, but they'll never pass for great literature.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Writing, Poor Scholarship, Compelling Story &Characters
Review: This whole series is plagued by poor Biblical scholarship and poor writing. I wince every time I read one of these books. But somehow, the characters and story seem to be quite compelling. I must say that the best part of these books is the fact that the Gospel message is presented afresh within each. Everytime I read about the saving grace of Jesus Christ my heart turns afire with Joy! Bottom line: Worthwhile to read as safe entertaining pulp novels for Christians.
Rating:
Summary: A new believer
Review: I have grown up in a christian household and rejected god and christ all along. After becoming interested in the book as an intereting story that i might be able to get a scare out of, a devout believer and good friend of mine gave me the first book, Left Behind, for my birthday.
As i read, i became a believer and i believe the books, even though they are a work fiction, are masterfully written for the very purpose in which i became involved in. I have read quite a few of these reviews, and these books are written not aimed at children, but at ppl who need everything spelled out for them in order to embrace christ.
I am not saying that these books should be considered a replacement for the bible or even taken at face value. But simply they are a tool (one of many) for non-believers to start a journey. A place where annonomously they can learn the basic fundamentals what christianity is about and decide for themselves if this is what they want in their lives.
And of course, once non-belivers have read these books, their own path and study will lead them in a direction that either mirrors the teachings and ideas of LaHaye and Jenkins or some other variation of this faith or not at all. Either way, these books are a tool that will lead ppl to discover their own unique relationship with god, not necisarily a tool for the authors to recruit members to thier own faction, as some have claimed.
Rating:
Summary: Dogma for Born-Again Christians Only
Review: When I read the initial reviews & write-ups, I purchsed these 1st 4 books because the plot seemed intriguing. And they certainly could have been a good set if it weren't for the horrendously bad writing and over-the-top proselytizing.
1st: The dialog is so badly written that you can't tell which character is speaking without continously searching for the "Chloe said" or "Buck said". Each character speaks exactly like every other character and none of them resemble realistic spoken language.
2nd: The situations are distractingly unrealistic--WWIII is underway, yet car salesman continue to sell cars and store clerks continue to sell cell phones like normal, just so these True Christian characters can purchase them rather than take what doesn't belong to them, even in the midst of world chaos and devastation. Then there's the idea that the college student and the world-traveling, internationally acclaimed journalist are both virgins.....
3rd: The authors' opinions tainting every page. Catholics are evil. All people who haven't said "the prayer" proclaiming themselves born-again Christians are either evil tools of the devil or so vapid and shallow and selfish that they will also rot in Hell. Women, even college student women, are so dumb they don't even know how to use the internet or e-mail. Etc., etc., etc.
In all, this was a terrible disappointment. The premise for these books could have made fabulous, intriguing, exciting reading, but the books are ruined by the authors' opinions and their poooooooooor writing. Don't bother.
Rating: 
Summary: A PAGE TURNER
Review: This fictional story takes place in the end times, beginning with the rapture of Christ's church. This is not the first time an End-time fiction has surfaced (The Omen, The Seventh Sign with Demi Moore, End of Days with Arnold Schwartzennager). This is, however, the first End-time fiction I have encountered that has the most biblical accuracy thus far. By the way, Mr. Alan Smith should try looking in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 (particularly verses 16 through 18) to receive more clarity of the rapture.
Rating:
Summary: Best reading material there is
Review: The books my these Authors are terrific. I have majority of the books that is how interesting they are.
Also the fact that they are writing about events that will take place in the time that Jesus comes to claim his people.
I will sell mine when I finish reading so others can enjoy them as well as I do.
Rating: 
Summary: The worst variety of non-biblical tripe-- Get yours today!
Review: Listen folks, what you're reading here is unintellectual garbage of the highest degree. I am completely amazed that something so biblically unfounded can be passed off as Christian. I read reviews all the time stating that the Left Behind books have brought people back to Christianity and they couldn't be happier. Good for you. My only question is this: Where is all this rapture baloney in the bible? LaHaye and Jenkins will have us believe they found it in the book of Revelation. It's not there. I've looked. In fact, any review I've read of these books by scholarly Catholics, Protesants, or Evangelicals, states that these books are intellectual shabby, and theologically unsound. The Rapture? The End Times? You want a good book about the end times? Try the bible. This dispensationalist blather will only make you paranoid. And trust me, LaHaye and Jenkins don't need the money. Use the internet. Research the truth.
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