Rating: 
Summary: A+
Review: these books are wonderful! for any christian, or non-believer, these books pierce the heart. keep going guys and GOD bless!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Should Christian fiction be held to a higher standard?
Review: I've enjoyed these books and yet I have one REAL BIG problem with them so far. Everyone knows that when you read fiction you have to be prepared to suspend disbelief and tell yourself: "Okay, it's just a book. Everything doesn't have to make sense."That's fine to a point. But the LEFT BEHIND series is about events described in the Bible, and it seems to me should be held to a little bit higher standard. I don't expect perfection: the Bible is perfect, everything else is just a book. But I do expect a Christian novel to be thought out well enough by the author(s) that it's not shot full of holes by anyone with a high school education. I have struggled with this since I read the first book in the series, but have not wanted to criticize the books when there was nothing better on the subject out there to recommend. Well, now I've found something, THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY by James BeauSeigneur. BeauSeigneur has done so much to insure credibility and accuracy in all the broad range of areas he covers in his series, that you'll find yourself believing it could all be true. And the way the story depicts the fulfillment of end-times prophecy will have you convinced that the author's got that nailed too. I suppose I should say that some Christians get upset because the characters sometimes use a four letter word here and there. But, guess what, folks, non-Christians do that from time to time! (Confidentially, I've heard that even Christians have been know to utter a four-letter word.) Still the profanity is very limited. If you get disgusted with a PG-rated movie, you may not want to read these books. But even this is all just part of the accuracy. Does anyone who's read LEFT BEHIND really believe that Leon Fortunado NEVER cusses??? I could go on, but suffice it to say that if you want to read an end-times series that doesn't strain your ability to believe what you're reading, THE CHRIST CLONE is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: I AM FINISHED; AUTHORS BLEW GREAT OPPORTUNITY!
Review: I am not reading another book in this series. I hope I can convince many of you to quit reading as well. You should stop reading this series because the writing is terrible and the religion is blasphemy (or at least, insulting). The authors were blessed with a great idea and concept and they began it beautifully with the first Left Behind book. But they have squandered God's gift by turning the series into a money-making merchandizing bonanza that takes away the focus from God and turns it on themselves. They should be ashamed from squandering God's gift. First, this book is called the Mark, but it's not really about that. Maybe 10% of the book concerns people being forced to take the Mark of the Beast. And then there is the blasphemous twist at the ending that proves to me that the Jenkins enjoys rewriting the Bible. In Stephen King's recent book "On Writing," he says that in order for writing to be believable, the characters have to do believable things. They can do stupid and dumb things that a normal human would never do, but they have to be believable. The characters in the Mark do stupid and dumb things that a stupid and dumb person wouldn't even do. The premise that Ben-Judah is the only person who can interpret prophesy because he is a scholar and is studying the original biblical texts is insane. There are millions of books on the market that explain what might happen after the rapture. Those books will be available and the millions of those left behind will be able to use their own brain and will not rely only on a Hebrew scholar. Rayford and Albie go under cover with Albie acting as Rayford's superior officer. Jenkins spends pages commenting on how this is a conflict because Rayford is really Albie's superior in the Trib. Force. Jenkins comments that Rayford will see that Hassid gives him a fake id that puts him at a higher rank than Albie as soon as possible. This isn't a believable scenario. Why would Rayford care if he is under Albie. They are under cover! Also, Buck seems to cry whenever possible. And he says he needs to go where the action is so he can cover it for his cyber magazine which is just a lame plot excuse to get him on a plane to provide filler for a plotless meandering series. Other complaints: 95,000 word length. Readers taken advantage of by books coming out every six months. Not even Grisham writes that fast. All of the above are mostly complains I have had for awhile, yet I continued to read. But the blasphemy and arrogance in this book is the reason why I will quit reading the series. I realize, and the authors don't, that there are many different views on what takes place during the rapture. Jenkins has decided to focus on every event in the 7-years, and then describes each event in from his narrow point of view. Instead of covering each event, they should have focused on character development within a few events and a realistic plot. Now, I'm only a layman, but my dad studied prophesy extensively while I was growing up, so I have some idea of what may happen. Anyway, I don't know if Christians after the rapture will have their own mark that only they can see. But I'll give them that. I've also heard that people who have heard about and rejected Christ before the rapture won't have a second chance after the rapture. I do agree with Lehaye and Jenkins that all people get a second chance. The two blasphemous sections of the Mark have to do with free will and the Mark of the Beast. First, Ben Judah discusses free will in his commentaries. He says that if you accept Christ after rapture, you will not have the ability to forsake Christ and take the mark of the beast. Jenkins makes it quite apparent that this is Judah's opinion, and not biblical. I believe that just as it is up to us to choose Christ, he doesn't force himself upon us, we also can choose to deny him. I can forsee many people choosing to take the mark of the beast because of peer pressure and the fear of dying. Ben-Judah also says that if your name is in the Book of Life of the Lamb, it can never be removed. Some Christians may believe this, but I don't, and neither do millions of others. There are circumstances that cause people to turn from Christ. Just because you profess your belief, it doesn't give you free reign to sin at will. Killing and having sex with tons of people will get your name out of the book of life, I guarantee it. But those two points are debatable, thisone is not. In The Mark, a character takes the Mark of the Beast. This is Revalations 101. If you take the Mark, you are doomed to an eternity in hell. But not in the world of Lehaye and Jenkins. In their version of events, if you take the Mark of the Beast, you can still be a Christian, and therefore remain working with Carpathia so the Trib Force will have an inside member. Yes folks, that's right. Jenkins and Lehaye have betrayed Christ and millions of readers around the world by altering prophecy just to advance a worthless and unbelievable plot point. Maybe someday after this terrible series has concluded, a real author will come along and do it right. Until then, you would be better off reading the bible and imagining your own story in your head, because you will do a much better job and you probably won't blaspheme the Bible. PLEASE DON'T READ ANY MORE OF THESE BOOKS! I BEG YOU.
Rating:
Summary: This is the last of this series I will read
Review: I was so disappointed with this book that I will not continue with the series. It was some of the dumbest, most boring interaction between charecters that I started skipping over the dialoge. In my opinion, they are dragging the series out as long and far as possible. This story could have been beautifully told in 4 books - Max! I'm over it - no more for me and shame on the authors.
Rating: 
Summary: Less and less impressed
Review: I have read all of the Left Behind series. The first few, I soaked up and couldn't get enough of. However, as time goes on, each book is becoming progressively weaker - with story and action. The last two books especially have barely been able to keep my attention. And I'm certainly not "waiting with baited breath" for the next one to arrive. The writing is not that great, and the story lines are to the point where I don't care all that much anymore what happens to the characters. This series was a wonderful idea, with noble aspirations. But I think the time has come for the authors to finish the job, and finish it well.
Rating:
Summary: Ummm, hello? Where has the originality gone?
Review: I'll admit, I never saw myself becoming one of the critics of the Left Behind series, but with "The Mark", I found myself reading the same type of text and plot patterns we've seen thoughout the entire series. (If this section is too related to what happens in the book, please just delete this part of my review.) Beef a) Every single time a minor-plot believer dies, another believer who's more qualified somehow happens to be spotted out by a Trib Force member, and eventually becomes part of the group. We've had, what, 9 pilots? 4 doctors? 2 pastor/teachers? 3 computer techies? I mean, come on, it's just getting old seeing this whole pattern reoccuring over and over again. Beef b) The writing, is, yes, at a 5th grade level, and another thing that keeps on bothering me is the needless use of conststant questioning going through the peoples' minds. "Can I trust him? Is he against me? Am I imagining things? Could this all be an illusion created by the state of my sub-conscious mind brought about by the sudden loss of my last love lost? Come on, we all have suspicions, but we don't have to read about every single one of them every time they come about. Or, do we? Should we? Beef c) The ending of this new book (I won't let on to what happens) was not the usual plot-hanging ending where the reader is left wanting to know more of what happens, but instead is confusing leaving the writer primarliy concerned with how the writers could get away with what they had have happen to one of their characters. Instead of being excited about the next book, you'd rather go up to Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye and ask them what in the world their explanation for this can possibly be? It' a little over the top, and in my mind, not neccessary for an end-of-the book plot advancement. Anyway, the book gets 3 stars in the hope that the next 4 books will be better, and because all the previous have been very inspiring and uplifting. Please check out my other reviews for Chistian products. CD's, books, movies, and others.
Rating:
Summary: A great Christian Read
Review: After having read all 8 of the left behind series books over the last 3 weeks I can only say with a short word, WOW! I have read some people reviews criticizing the books for being to bland and written for a young audience. Most of what is written in these books comes from a book that is often referred to as bland and not very exciting, this book is affectionately known as the Bible. Do I have problems with these books I would have to say yes, consider if you would the cost of jet aircraft and jet fuel for said aircraft would be astronomical. Planes somehow being able to fly great distances (Israel to Illinois is over 5000 nm) without refueling stops add to the disillusion of the story. But this is why this work is referred to as fiction and not non-fiction, if it were based on more factual data the story would have more realism yes but it would be no less entertaining. There are portions of the books that do seem to drag along but for the most part books keep a good pacing and a wanting from the reader. I read from other readers that there is no cussing and other sins committed by these new believers, for this I can only state that sometimes people can radically change with God in their lives and perhaps that is something that these writers are attempting to convey with their writings. One thing that does bother me is the fact that the writers have now decided that 1 book a year will be all the put out for the series, is there a guarantee that there will only be another 4 books in this series? After all the first 42 months of the tribulation consumed 7 books and anyone who has read revelations will tell you that the next 42 months of what will be known as the Great Tribulation will be twice as intense as could every be imagined in the first 42 months. So is it possible that without an increase in the size and material explored in these next books that the series could become 15 or more books? If that is the case the rapture may occur before this series is every completed. I personally think some people are taking these books to replace the bible, instead of what these books are intended to be. And for those who still consider these books so poorly written let me point to you two of the most poorly penned books I have ever had the misfortune of reading. The author of these two books is Dr. Robert Davis, they are titled; The Plutonium Murders and the Doomsday Kiss. You may follow this link to The Plutonium Murders: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890248002/qid=982641815/sr=1-2/ref=sc_b_2/107-4919486-4567762 You may follow this link to The Doomsday Kiss: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890248029/qid=982641674/sr=1-1/ref=sc_b_1/107-4919486-4567762 Do I think the likes of Stephen King, Tom Clancy, John Grisham or others I will not list here have something to be frightened of by these authors the answer I am ashamed to say would be no. The vast majority of people in the world will never know these books as great writing or entertainment. I give the books a 5 star rating although in actuality I would say for character and plot development it would receive a 1 Star, for writing quality a 2 Star, for a reasonable plot and research a 2 Star (this being generous) but for overall being something I would recommend to others for the pure entertainment of everything I give the books my full recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: The Mark of God or of the Anti Christ
Review: The first three and a half years of the tribulation are over and the Tribulation Force now faces the great tribulation, or the second three and a half years. Carpathia is no longer Mr. Nice Guy and does't even pretend to be. He promises to get rid of those who don't follow him. All the world is forced into a decision -- the mark of God by accepting Christ as Savior or the mark of the Anti Christ in order to survive. Those who don't comply with the mark of the beast will be beheaded and several brave Christian women imprisoned for their faith are among the first. Meanwhile, more believers are forced into hiding with those at the safe house in Chicago. They don't remain idle, and several of them are sent out on assignments that could cost them their lives. I think Jenkins and Lahaye are remaining true to the Bible and this may begin to alienate readers. After all, it does cause readers to make a choice also -- is this the truth, or is this just a work of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The Mark
Review: The Mark: The Beast Rules the World is just another excellent book by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. As the other seven books The Mark takes place afer the rapture and this specific book deals with the time period when Satan himself will force every person on Earth to take his mark or die. Thus everyone is faced with a difficult decision because if they choose to take the mark their fate is sealed and they will end up in hell when the seven years are over, but if they don't and they surrive they will see the glorious reappearing of Christ. I loved this book and enjoyed all the other ones in this series. They make the book Revelations come to life and make sense.
Rating:
Summary: Accomplishes what it sets out to do, but not much more
Review: Left Behind seems to have a fairly particular goal in mind- reaching as many people as possible with the message of Revelation- and in that it succeeds. There are costs to this goal, I believe, though. None of the characters are very interesting, because they have been reduced to types. The theology is at a sunday school level because this won't alienate any one who perhaps would not want to put too much intellectual thought into God. Everything that happens stays at a strictly G-rated level, which can be a bit of a problem, as it stops LaHaye from truly depicting the horror of what the endtimes would really be like, in order not to make the book too rough for younger readers. I don't think it's fair to chastise the authors too much, becuase they succeed in what they are trying to do. However, for those of you who are looking for a novel about the endtime that has a bit more meat to it, I would suggest We All Fall Down, by Brian Caldwell. It trades universal accecability for depth and reality and will stick with for months after finishing it. Probably the best novel of its type available. Still, this is not a smash at Left Behind. Left Behind is a diffirent sort of novel, and should be judged for its goals. It's not really my cup of tea, but obviously it is for a lot of people.
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