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". A significant example in this volume is the ridiculous and unexplained 18 month gap. According to the theology espoused by the authors, the Tribulation is only supposed to last for 7 years. Almost immediately, 18 months (out of only 84) are eliminated. Why? Does nothing worth reporting happen during these 18 months? 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. Furthermore, the "relationship" between Chloe and Buck is silly. What's with this "eating cookies at each other over the phone" business? And while the idea of a college-age female virgin is plausible (although becoming rarer) the idea of an unsaved, hard-living, jet-setting, 30something ace reporter virgin is ridiculous. A noble idea, to be sure -- but a totally unrealistic one in this day and age. 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. The "false prophet" character is already being set up (the Cardinal Archbishop of Cincinnati). It needs to be noted here that the authors did not do their homework -- even in their anti-Catholicism. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is not a Cardinal See -- and, to my knowledge, never has been! The notion that virtually the entire Roman Curia fails to make the "Rapture" is insulting and offensive. Like Dante, I am perfectly willing to admit that there have been and are still high-ranking churchmen who may well not "make the cut" so to speak -- but the authors are painting with too broad a brush here. ....
Rating: 
Summary: this series is NOT anti-catholic!
Review: so many people seem to be unaware that the word "babylon" was a common euphemism for "rome" used amongst the apostles? (1 peter 5:13) & that the "babylon" john spoke of in revelation was a euphemism for that same city? (revelation 17 - 19) rev. 17:18 -- the woman symbolizes a city
rev. 17:5 -- the name of the city is not babylon
rev. 17:5 -- the city has daughters
rev. 18:17 -- the city has great wealth
rev. 17:9 -- the city sits on seven hills
rev. 17:15 -- the city is a global headquarters
rev. 18:2 -- the word "vatican" means "home of the fortunetellers"
rev. 17:4 -- the city's leaders wear purple & red (bishops & cardinals)
rev. 17:6 -- the city killed millions of christians (see: Fox's Book of Martyrs)
rev. 18:5 -- God will remember the city's crimes
rev. 18:4 -- God has warned his people to leave the city i'm sure you will agree that if the authors were going to be true to the prophecies revealed in Scripture, then they had to portray the destruction of rome somehow? yet, though rome is clearly doomed to destruction at some future date, this in no way means that individual believers will be destroyed -- not if they heed the warning given by God for that very purpose. remember, the prophecies were given way before the roman catholic church even existed -- & that's exactly what makes them so chilling! they are so accurate, it's frightening. God didn't do this to hurt catholics -- He did it to warn you to run for your very lives! to heed, or not to heed, that is the question.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the read
Review: This is the second installment on the "Left Behind" series. Personally, I don't think this one is a good as the first. Also, the way the characters just happen to be getting the key assignments and just happen to know the right people can seem like a bit of a stretch. I found the first book to be more believable than this one. Judging from the title, I thought I would see more things about the force. We see the creation of this force, but I really didn't get the feeling that they did anything. The pastor, Bruce, asks Rayford, Chloe, and Buck to join saying that there needed to be a small group who helped each other. It never is really explained why this group should be the members. Why create a name like "Tribulation Force," if it is just a group of people helping one another. The name hints that they should have some higher purpose. Given the jobs of Buck and Rayford, this could happen. Unfortunately, the book never really explains this. The book seems to focus more on what the individual members are getting into. Some of them had information which may have helped the others, but none of them seem to grasp this, so never shared the information. If the members of the group are so close, then why don't they speak up? For a group meant to support each other, they do not seem to meet each other very often. Would I recommend the book? Yes. After reading the first, I still want to read the rest. The pace of the book keeps me excited and turning the pages until I am through.
Rating:
Summary: Page turner... lives up to the first.
Review: Talk about a book that I couldn't put down. I found myself, especially after the amazing ending of "Left Behind", unable to part with "Tribulation Force", wanting more than anything to know what was going to happen with all of the numerous conflicts that were being presented. The cookie bit was absolutely priceless; though so insignificant to the outcome of the story itself, I believe it to be one of the parts (of both "Left Behind" and "Tribulation Force" combined) that I will personally remember over all. Great ending that leaves the reader wanting to open up the third as soon as the second is back on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Be Left Behind
Review: What a wonderful book. It brings the message of Christ to the masses. It is not pushy and brings it to them in a fictional way. But the message is there just the same. It also brings the book of Revelations into our times. An interesting read if you are a believer, an interesting read if you are searching for something more. I loved this book.
Rating:
Summary: Trib Force Unite!
Review: The Story started in Left Behind continues. They start to band together, as they learn about the tribulation coming. Definately another winning book about Revelation and how it could apply to today's time.
Rating:
Summary: Left behind culturally!
Review: This books, while I am sure not intentional, seriously undermines christianity. Due to such books, where prophecy is taken literally, christianity is now mocked by thousands. Sadly enough, prophecy books based on accuracy and based on the Scriptures don't sell as well. It is now obvious that the vast majority of christians in America are more concerned with fiction than reality. Where can I even start with pointing out the out-of-control interpretations in this series? To point our just a few: - LaHaye's presentation of Antichrist as one individual or one person is simply NOT biblical. There are many antichrists, and they were already around when the New Testament was written: 1 John 2:18; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7 - LaHaye's literal presentation of large locusts with human heads flying in the skies is also out of control. Very often, prophets in the Bible use the comparison of soldiers with locusts: Nahum 3:17; Judges 7:12; Judges 6:5 - why are the locusts literal, and why is the beast symbolic? Maybe a literal beast with literal 7 heads would have been too much for the reader to handle? LaHaye is everything but consistent when interpreting prophecy. If Revelation 20 talks about a literal thousand years, then why isn't everything else literal as well, like the lake of fire, the serpent, the chain? Of course, if that is the case, it would be quite an adventure to throw Satan, which is not a physical being, or death and Hades, which are not material things, into a physical lake of fire. The author is so inconsistent with his understanding of Revelation, that he is caught in his own maze of interpretations in order to justify his beliefs about the "end of the world". Unfortunately many readers would much rather believe what LaHaye tells them, instead of reading the Bible for themselves and find out the truth. It may come as a surprise to many christian readers that the first century christians, including the apostles, believed that the Second Coming of Christ would take place during their lifetimes, and in fact it happened, just as Christ said. LaHaye maybe is not aware of the following passages: - Malachi 4:5 and Matthew 17:11. It is obvious that Malachi is not talking about the birth of Christ, because the birth of Jesus did not "burn like a furnace", and it was not a "dreadful" day. Jesus said that Elijah who was to come was John the Baptist. There was only ONE Elijah, and not more. John was that Elijah that was to come right before the Day of the Lord comes. - Matthew 24 is about "the end of the age", no about the end of the world, like LaHaye takes it to mean. It is clear that Jesus indeed talks about the destruction of Jerusalem at which time, He will return with power and great glory to destroy the jewish system that proved to have no power against sin, and was a threat to christians - If Mathew 24 indeed talks about "the end of the world", why would Jesus tell people to run to the mountains? That makes no sense whatsoever. - Also Jesus repeatedly told his apostles that "the end of the age" which is the jewish age, will take place during their lifetimes: Matthew 23:36; Matthew 24:34; Matthew 16:28; Mark 13:23; Luke 21:32; Matthew 10:23 - Why is LaHaye ignoring all the New Testament references which clearly point to an imminent return of Christ? Could it be because if the Second Coming was a matter of the past, he would no longer be able to sell his books? Indeed, read Romans 16:20; Hebrews 8:13; Rev 1:1; Rev 3:11; Rev 22:6,7,12,20; 1 John 2:18; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 John 2:18 - Jesus does not return on a physical cloud in the skies. God used such imagery in the past in prophecy, like in Isaiah 19:1 Is it indeed clear, from the Bible, not from the Left Behind series, that our Lord returned when He said, soon, during that generation, when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the romans, and the jewish system, which was a threat to christianity was wiped out. How can LaHaye, Jenkins, or the reader, when presented with such overwhelming biblical proof, can still promote this book series as fact when in fact it has no basis in the Bible? I will let the reader answer that question.
Rating:
Summary: Laughably bad
Review: A clone of its predecessor, Left Behind, this book features the same 2-dimensional characters, plodding action, clunky dialogue, lame plot twists, and true bigotry towards anyone who isn't a born-again-middle-class-middle-American fundamentalist. Oh, yes, and the margins are so wide the publishers (and authors) must be raking in the money in a most un-Christian way. If you're interested in the story of Revelations, read Revelations. This series has absolutely nothing to add to the Bible besides cartoonish characters and messages containing the kind of subtle hatred of others that masquerades as Christian love and pity for the unenlightened. LaHaye and Jenkins should be ashamed, but they are probably too busy counting their money.
Rating: 
Summary: Hooked, but there is better...much better
Review: Okay, I'm hooked on this series. I've read 6 of the 9 so far and I have to admit it gets pretty unrealistic at times. I guess I'm just a sucker for a soap opra. I'm hooked on the story of the characters. On the other hand, while I'll keep reading Left Behind, I have to agree with all those that say that The Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur is really a better and much more realistic end times series. Besides since The Christ Clone Trilogy is a completed series, you don't have to worry so much that the rapture will come before you finish reading.;-)
Rating:
Summary: On to #2
Review: Having finished "Left Behind", I had to rush (...) to get the next in the series. "Tribulation Force" was pretty good, but I felt that the character of Nicholae Carpathia wasn't as scary as I had hoped for as I finished the first book. If Stephen King had written this, I probably wouldn't have been able to sleep, but this wasn't the case. Rayford and Buck, our main characters, are now employed by Carpathia, and have managed to hide the fact that they are part of the Tribulation Force, formed to fight Carpathia. If he is the real anti-christ, can't he figure this out? God knows everything about everyone, wouldn't the anti-christ be able to figure out that these two are out to get him? Oh well, it is just fiction and I have to admit I am anxious to get on to the third in the series. I liked the romance in this book, but felt it could have been more suspenseful.
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