The Truth Behind Left Behind : A Biblical View of the End Times

Rating:
Summary: Why Not Believe the Truth?
Review: I have just finished reading "The Truth Behind Left Behind" by Hitchcock and Ice. As a layman who considers himself to be a well read and versed student on the subject of Bible prophecy, I would consider this book to be an highly accurate and well documented explaination of the end times as they are written in the Bible. Many people who study prophecy have many different interpretations of what, when and how the Bible says that the world will end and Gods Kingdom will be ushered in. To many of those people I would say, "stop trying to read between the lines!" The Bible is the inerrant Word of God and what it says as you read it is exactly what it means. People try to put too much conjecture into Gods Word that simply isn't there. The books of the Old Testament and their prophecies of the end times identically match those in the New Testament so I truly do not understand where most of these detractors of the "Left Behind" series come up with their arguments that say the books are untrue and not well founded. These people are supposed to be Biblical scholars, well they either aren't reading the same Bible I do or they need to work on their comprehension skills. "The Truth Behind Left Behind" is right on the money in explaining the Biblical accuracy and validity of the "Left Behind" series of books concerning end times events. So as I stated in my title, "Why Not Believe the Truth?" this book is a must read for all of those who have been distracted by the detractors. I would recommend that everyone who is seriously interested in the truth about end times events should read "The Truth Behind Left Behind"!

Rating:
Summary: book review
Review: I have just finished reading "The Truth Behind Left Behind" by Hitchcock and Ice. As a layman who considers himself to be a well read and versed student on the subject of Bible prophecy, I would consider this book to be an highly accurate and well documented explaination of the end times as they are written in the Bible. Many people who study prophecy have many different interpretations of what, when and how the Bible says that the world will end and Gods Kingdom will be ushered in. To many of those people I would say, "stop trying to read between the lines!" The Bible is the inerrant Word of God and what it says as you read it is exactly what it means. People try to put too much conjecture into Gods Word that simply isn't there. The books of the Old Testament and their prophecies of the end times identically match those in the New Testament so I truly do not understand where most of these detractors of the "Left Behind" series come up with their arguments that say the books are untrue and not well founded. These people are supposed to be Biblical scholars, well they either aren't reading the same Bible I do or they need to work on their comprehension skills. "The Truth Behind Left Behind" is right on the money in explaining the Biblical accuracy and validity of the "Left Behind" series of books concerning end times events. So as I stated in my title, "Why Not Believe the Truth?" this book is a must read for all of those who have been distracted by the detractors. I would recommend that everyone who is seriously interested in the truth about end times events should read "The Truth Behind Left Behind"!

Rating:
Summary: book review
Review: I was quite amazed at the "epistle" negative reviews of this book. One in particular talked about the 'literal' weapons and such. It only took reading three sentences of this review to know that the writer has an extreamly limited knowledge of the Bible itself, and biblical prophecy, yet went on to write what amounted to a 300 word essay. Those who are not of the spirit, can NOT understand the things of the spirit.

Rating:
Summary: The Fiction Behind Left Behind
Review: Let me cite just one example from The Truth Behind Left Behind that makes it a very weak defense of the Left Behind theology. There are many more, but there are space limitations. In Tim LaHaye's Introduction to TBLB, we read: "Jerry [Jenkins] and I have unashamedly taken the position that all prophecy should be interpreted literally whenever possible. We have been guided throughout by the golden rule of interpretation: When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. Take every word at its primary, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context clearly indicate otherwise" (7). So shouldn't the reader interpret the weapons of Ezekiel 38-39--bows, arrows, shields, war clubs, spears, horses, and chariots--literally? Not according to our authors. Here's their interpretation from their chapter "The Coming Russian/Islamic Invasion": "Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Ezekiel spoke in language that the people of his day could understand. If he had spoken of MIG-29s, laser-fired missiles, tanks, and assault rifles, this text would have been nonsensical to everyone until the twentieth century" (47). Of course, this is question begging in the extreme. Why would the people in Ezekiel's day need to understand a prophecy if it wasn't meant for them? Why confuse them and us? How do Hitchcock, Ice, and LaHaye KNOW that this is what the Holy Spirit meant? Once the trio makes these ancient weapons of no consequence, they are free to create their own prophetic scenario that can't be tested because it all takes place after Christians are no longer here! Convenient. Consider their words: "The focus clearly is NOT the specific weapons that will be used by these invaders" (47). What happened to "literal interpretation"? The weapons may not be the passage's "focus," but they can't be dismissed as inconsequential to the narrative. The weapons are part of the story from beginning to end, and if taken literally would negate the future scenario outlined by the authors. They claim that Ezek. 38-39 has to be a DISTANT future battle because it takes place in the "latter years" (38:8) and the "last days" (38:16). Most biblical scholars, even some dispensationalists, would say that these two time expressions most often mean nothing more than "in the future" or "in the days to come." The same Hebrew phrase is translated as "the days to come" in Num. 24:14, which probably refers to David's victory over Moab. The prophecy of Deut. 31:29, where the same expression is used, came to pass in the period of the Judges (cf. 2:20-21). Here's how one Bible expositor explains it: "this expression does not refer to 'the latter days' (KJV, RSV) in the eschatological sense. . . , but rather to that portion of the future that falls within the scope of the speaker's perspective (cf. Gen. 49:1)." Then one has to wonder why the authors avoid interacting with Edwin M. Yamauchi's Foes of the Northern Frontier which refutes their historical, geographical, and lexographic arguments line by line, and it was written in 1982! Yamauchi is a noted expert on this subject. The Russian invasion premise is only one of the book's many problems. If readers are interested in this topic, I suggest that they pick up a copy of End Times Fiction: A Biblical Consideration of the Left Behind Theology written by me. Since Hitchcock and Ice refer to it several times, it would be helpful to read what they do not deal with.

Rating:
Summary: Dissapointed..
Review: This book has very good explanations for the questions raised by many of the readers of the Left Behind series. It is a good companion to "Are We Living In The End Times?" by LaHaye and Jenkins. I encourage readers to read this book side by side with a Bible, in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
There are several views of interpretation of the End Times, and I happen to agree with the view presented in Left Behind.
For all serious seekers and skeptics out there, there are many good books on Bible Prophecy and Eschathology, but the best answers will always come from the Bible.
To anyone interested in this subject, I suggest taking a good course on it at your local Bible college, or attend a class or teaching of prophecy at your local church.
The LB series is fictional, but the events are very real nevertheless. They will happen. Weather they will happen as portrayed or not, they will happen regardless.
This is a very good book indeed, although I did expect a little more of it than what was delivered (thus the 4 stars), but it's still good enough for answering basic questions.