Rating: 
Summary: Fun read -- but more than a little corny
Review: As a Christian who is not quite comfortable with the "born again" label, I have to admit I enjoyed this novel and plowed through it in one long sitting. Although I don't believe the events described in the book of Revelations are meant to be taken literally (I.E. - I don't believe in the Rapture and hope it never happens), it is definately a fun and spooky thing to daydream about...The thing to remember is that the authors certainly have an agenda and I have heard and read that the newer installments of this series expose these beliefs (anti-Catholic stuff, etc.) a little more indiscreetly. I think the true idea of Christianity is about Jesus, not church-going and the amount of prayers you say. This book seems to focus entirely too much on "works" and "deeds". Fun read, but my advice is to "know when to say when" haha.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Revelation
Review: Left Behind is the first in a series or Christian fiction on the topic of "The End Times". Being a student of the End Times, as I was reading, I compared the events in the book with the book of Revelation in the Bible. I was amazed how well things lined up and were accurate. I have read all 8 books currently in print, and they are all incredible. They paint a very accurate picture of what things will be like when all of the born-again believers are raptured out of here. All of the books are easy and quick to read. Every believer should be excited about the return of our King after reading these books. Exciting and excellent reading!!
Rating:
Summary: Left in the Middle
Review: I picked up a copy of "Left Behind" after making a deal with a very close friend. I agreed to read "Left Behind" and he agreed to read "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. Unfortunately, I would have to say that he had the better of the two.One of my greatest fears as a Pastor is that people will read this book (as well as the whole series) and take it as firm Christian belief and doctrine. Sure, it is an interesting story -- but it must remain that -- a story! All in all, I felt "Left in the Middle" after reading it. Would I recommend it to a friend who has questions concerning the "last days"? Probably not. Would I recommend it to a friend that wanted to read a soap opera? Sure. If you are looking for an interesting story, then pick it up and give it a try. If you are looking for more meat and substance, then there are plently of other wonderful books out there.
Rating:
Summary: Tought provoking, page turner
Review: I couldn't put this book down. I instantly became engrossed in this story and the characters were all very real. I would definiately recommend this to all my friends. I understand the controversy surrounding this subject matter. I am very active in a Christian church (although I've never read the Bible) and I know that the views of my church are not represented in this book. Out of pure curiousity, I read it anyway. It just makes me want to know the truth more. I don't know if this story is real, but it's provoked a earning to understand the truth that wasn't there before. As soon as I finished the book, I began reading Revelations to understand first hand what the Word really says. Without this book, I would have had no desire. This is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book for its story, not spiritual content
Review: I first got to hear of the Left Behind series after I saw a music video from the movie of the same name. The idea of millions of people suddenly disappearing from the face of the earth seemed like a great story. The fact that it was 'Judgement Day' made it seem even more interesting since there has been no such book that I know of. Initially, the story seems somewhat believable. A reporter (Buck Williams) is in Israel when Russia attacks with all their air force. Suddenly, loud explosions are heard and instead of Israel being hit, the Russian planes are mysteriously flying straight into the ground. This is supposedly to fulfil a prophesy in the bible, that whoever tries to attack Israel will die trying (forgive me for paraphrasing, but I don't wish to pick the book up and flip to the relevant pages). Captain Rayford Steele is piloting a 747 when an air stewardess tells him that many of his plane's passengers seem to have vanished into thin air. What happens next is how these people try figuring out why and what happened. As you can tell, they figure out it has to do with the 'rapture of the church', whatever rapture means, since this is absolutely the first time in my Christian life (or otherwise) I have heard of this word. Simply put, they figure out that God has taken his true believers away, leaving the rest behind. This seems convincing enough. However, what follows in later pages show how a 'left behind' Christian realises his mistake, and becomes the teacher to many others who are lost and confused. With the help of a video tape left behind by the church's pastor (now that is tethering on the edge of convincing and craziness), he reads Revelations and tries to explain what they mean. This is the point where it starts to annoy me. All my life, various preachers have always said that when reading the Bible, one should not take a literal meaning to everything. To me, it seems as if the authors are taking a very simplified view of Revelations and turning it into fact. Considering that vast numbers who are reading this book, they could be misled into thinking that the authors' opinion of Revelations is in fact, correct. Also, like some reviewers said, some parts of the book seem unbelievable. I can believe that the 'two witnesses' are protected from whoever tries to kill them. But I cannot believe that a father would encourage the romance between his college-bound daughter and a world-famous journalist ten years older than she is. I can believe that at that time, the world has three currencies, but I cannot believe that after millions have disappeared, people actually care if there is the UN, or even the President. If I was one of those left behind, I definitely would not still be flying around the world interviewing people, or caring if there is a new President in Romania. Hence I just want to say that you should not take this book with its spiritualism. Instead, read this book as it is, a fiction or thriller title. Then this book might still be, somehow, enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: This books makes you stop and think
Review: I have read the first three books of the Left Behind Series. I have enjoyed this book the best. It makes you stop and review your spritual self (at least it has for me). I remember reading this book and I would find myself looking around and wondering who would be left behind if Christ came back right then. I have not ever studied or read Revelations that much. My knowledge of it has grown somewhat. I would read Left Behind and then I would read some of Revelations in my Bible. Lahaye and Jenkins did a good job in writing this book and keeping it in-line with scripture. I thouroughly enjoyed this book. Infact I have read it twice!!
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". 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. 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. (And the notion that the Pope is raptured because he has become a theological Lutheran demonstrates not only an ignorance of Catholic teaching -- but also gross misunderstanding of Lutheran teaching as well.) ....
Rating:
Summary: So so
Review: I've read all but two of the books in this series but I'm not sure why I keep reading. They are so so at best. If you have a lot of time on your hands or you drive a lot and can get the tapes at the library, great. They are no where near as good as the Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur.
Rating:
Summary: Quick Read but Lacks detail
Review: I buzzed through this book in just a few days. It is a very quick reading book but really lacks in character building. Much of the book is dialect between a few main characters. I found it difficult to indentify with any of the characters and to put myself in their shoes, which in my opinion is the key to good writing. The plot is strong and keeps you reading even though the writing talents just aren't there. The exciting conclusion and cliff hanger did entice me enough to read Left Behind #2, but after reading that I decided that I don't enjoy these books enough to continue through the series. A decent read but it's the same old, same old in the next book of the series. I lost interest.
Rating:
Summary: Leave it Behind!
Review: Like many of the reviews on here I was enchanted with the first book.
"Finally! someone has mapped out exactly how the end of the world will take place."
I read the first book in 2 days. "Tribulation Force" came next, and then "Nicolae", and so on. I caught up to "Soul Harvest" in another week and awiated the next book; the movie as well. Then I started to notice how the authors took certain liberties on explaining the events mentioned in Revelation. After "Assasins" I placed the book on the shelf (permanently) and opened THE book called the Bible. From then on I spent/spend my time and efforts studying the Word of God, NOT the words of LaHaye and Jenkins. I have learned so much more - as well as the *truth* about Christ's second coming; which indeed *already* happened.
Someone else already posted relevant verses (above). Read them -and you will realize that you do not need to spend your time (or money!) on worrying about how God will destroy everything in the future. Once that blindfold is removed we are all free to worship Him, and praise Him for what he has given us. Note: Junior novelizations and board games lessen the credibility of this series. What's next? Action figures?
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