Rating: Summary: Heresy, plain and simple Review: As Daniel Rivera mentioned, taking the mark of the beast is a signal that you're rejecting Christ. There is no having your cake and eating it, too. You either accept Christ or reject Him. There is no middle ground. Taking the mark is a conscious choice: Otherwise, why wouldn't Satan just drug those who refused and give them all the mark?Until this obvious departure from Scripture, I was disturbed by other, more subtle deviations - like the lying and deception of the characters as they jet back and forth from the U.S. to Babylon. It isn't the lying and deception that bothers me so much as the absence of any conviction about it. I can't reconcile that with the knowledge that we have a God in whom there is no darkness at all, a God so holy that He couldn't bear to look upon His son at the moment of his death. Another thing that bugged me is that all the Black characters get killed off (and by all, I mean the entire TWO black characters), and when Chloe finally finds an enclave of people of color, they are all drug dealers, pimps, and prostitutes! (or I guess former drug dealers, former pimps, and former prostitutes) What's up with that? I'm not saying there has to be a trib force made up of one person from each racial/ethnic group, but what we have here is very disturbing picture (and no, I don't believe the authors are trying to say that all the people of color got caught up in the Rapture). Anyway, to make a long story short, I would not recommend this book or this series to anyone. The authors are managing to mix in their own ideology with Scripture, and that's a dangerous combination.
Rating: Summary: Guillotines, signs and marks Review: I've had this book since it came out but had to take some time away from the series to see if my jaded perspective was justified. I finally got around to reading another installment of the Left Behind series and was enjoying the first seventy five pages or so. As I continued to read the things that I didn't like before resurfaced to my mind. The margins allow for only about eight words per line and you feel like you are back in grade school. The exciting parts drag on way too long and the characters are unreal, they are transparent and the result is a very predictable outcome to their situations. There is way too much dialogue which makes for an even more simplistic writing style. Of course it is streched out but if you are like me and many more out there you will continue to be hooked. That said I did like the book and continue to like the series in spite of it's flaws. The cast of characters and familiarity with them makes the book enjoyable. The apocalyptic message is intriguing and the parallels to world events surely make for an interesting novel for our times. Even though it is an easy read I had to put it down because it just wasn't that riveting. Having started the series I feel compelled to finish the series and for the most part even enjoyed this book. If you have to know what is happening to Chloe, Buck Rayford, Tsion Ben -Judah, Chang and the others, including the bad guys Carpathia and Fortunato than by all means get this book. Getting your products scanned at the supermaket will probably never be the same once you read this book. Recommended for Christians mostly but non-believers will probably just love to take some jabs at this book if they read it.
Rating: Summary: too many characters Review: I've mostly been listening to the series on audiotape, so I was disappointed to discover that a new narrator has been chosen starting with this book. I preferred Richard Ferrone over this new guy. I was amazed that once again the authors only managed to cover a short span of time in this book, only about two or three weeks. At this rate the series will drag on into 20 books. Towards the end of this book, the number of active characters started to become too large to keep track of. So many people in so many different places, doing so many different things. It's a bit much. However, I will say that the action and pace of the book is better than the last one and that things seemed to move along better.
Rating: Summary: It's time to choose sides... Review: Nicolae Carpathia is back. Unfortunately, Satan is inhabiting him directly. Which means that things can only go downhill from here. Wanting to cement his power as quickly as possible, Nicolae Carpathia (Satan) orders that every human being accept a mark (an implanted biochip along with a tatooed sign) that will soon be used to conduct standard trade and commerce. Those without the mark will be unable to buy or sell anywhere. Worse yet, anyone who refuses the mark will be put to death by a contraption called a "loyalty enforcement facilitator," otherwise known as a guillotine. As the Global Community prepares to start applying the mark, Carpathia also begins to plan a trip to the holy temple in Jerusalem and declare himself God. Being the ultimate egotistical maniac, Carpathia/Satan believes that he will be most welcomed by all. It is his belief that the few Judah-ites that show up will be those that are ready to pledge themselves to him. Naturally, the Tribulation Force sees just the opposite. As the New Babylon members of the Tribulation Force prepare to flee before being made to choose between the mark and death, the stateside members prepare to head oversees to throw as much of a monkey wrench into Carpathia's plans as possible. The 8th book of the popular "Left Behind" series, "The Mark" is not as suspenseful or grabbing as most of the previous books have been. This is more of a transition book, going from the Tribulation to the Great Tribulation. Much of the old has to be cleared out to make room for the new, so time is needed to introduce new characters and set the stage for what's next to come. That being said, the description of the beginning of the mark application in a prison in Greece is very graphic and disturbing. This section is not easy to read and, if you are a Christian, will make you very happy that you will already be up in heaven when the time comes for this to take place.
Rating: Summary: When is anything ever going to happen? Review: The series was based on an intriguing topic, but the author took so disgustingly long to say anything the only thing left in the series was suspense, and the only suspense was: WHEN IS ANYTHING EVER GOING TO HAPPEN??
Rating: Summary: The Mark Review: It appears that the authors are trying to stretch out the series in order to maximize book sales. I really enjoyed the first few books in the series, but the last few have started to aggravate my interest and are bordering on insulting. I think that they should get on with the story. I do plan to read the next one but if it drags on I will not pursue it any further. I have spoken with a few other people with a similiar opinion.
Rating: Summary: A CHRISTIAN TAKES THE MARK OF THE BEAST??!!! Review: For the sake of plot and storyline -which is hardly significant to be sure- the authors of this book have Chang, a born-again computer wiz take the mark of Antichrist- 666 (oops, he was given a sedative by his dad), allowing him the necessary cover to stay at the palace in New Babylon and snoop into the Beast's global operations. Any claims of biblical accuracy have gone out the window as the ultimate sin is committed by a supposed God-fearing Xian. Christians throughout the milennia have preferred painful martyrdom over ANY compromise to evil, even for the seeming good of friends or family: What concord can there be between Christ and Belial? (2 Cor. 16:14,15). The greatest tragedy is that millions of readers are being told by these authors that any level of deceit and compromise is okay so long as its for Christ, including taking the unholy mark of His enemy! I had always followed the series with trepidation, but this, I feel, has been the last straw. Blasphemous apostasy aside, the book blundered in its delivery, failing to explain the significance of the number 216, a number repeated throughout the series (it seems another book must be purchased in order to find out!), and the characters are becoming more and more one-dimensional. I might follow the series further out of objective curiosity, yet I intend not to finance further error with a purchase. Discretion and prayerful meditation is highly recommended before reading these books. For a truly inspiring testimony of Christian triumph over evil, read Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History and Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
Rating: Summary: Awesome series Review: I have loved every book. You may also find "Seed of the Dogwood Tree" a great compliment.
Rating: Summary: Scary Review: "Mark" 8th book in the LEFT BEHIND series continues the narrative of what happens in the world during the ENDTIMES. The antichrist has come to life and is claiming godship and expecting worship. The heroism of believers as they refuse the mark of the antichrist and face beheading will send shivers down your spine. Can't wait to pick up book 9 in this authentically written series. Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge
Rating: Summary: Enough, already! Review: Can these guys milk it, or what? This series is longer than the tribulation, and far more trying! God, give me the strength to endure more of these books! What have I done to deserve this penance? The bad characters and the bad writing are just laughable. It's all so shallow and predictable. Want some deep spiritual fiction? Read Dostoevsky. Grisham looks like Shakespeare compared to these guys. Save your money and quit enriching people like this who prey on the American Christian's prediliction for endtimes paranoia.
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