Rating: 
Summary: Disturbing - but not because of what's in the book
Review: I wrote a poor review of Left Behind, the 1st book, because it had lousy characters, poor descriptions of events, and highly dubious interpretations of the Bible. The same critiques apply to this book - and this book has an Anti-Christ who resembles Dracula, to boot! But after I posted my first review, I got a series of e-mails from a right-wing crackpot who attacked my faith, my honesty, and my personal morals because I dared to criticize this great work of God. Unfortunately, after viewing the Left Behind website and message boards, I don't think he's unusual for fans of these books. This series is targeted to fundamentalists whose theology and politics are far to the Right of mainstream Evangelical Christians - there is lot more of Bob Jones than Billy Graham in this series. Fans seem to be looking for some kind of validation and reinforcement for their belief system. This stuff reads like bad self-published sludge. Unless you think of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as great men of God, I wouldn't recommend this book. Tragically, I think these books will ultimately drive many away from faith.
Rating: 
Summary: Just when I thought it couldn't get better
Review: I have never read the 3rd book in a series completely through...I am usually board with the plot by the 3 or 4th chapter in the 3rd book if I get that far. This book kept me up all night, I had to know how it ended.
Rating:
Summary: Completely Enthralled
Review: I was completely enthralled by the lastest book in this series I have read. The escape from Israel and Egypt kept me reading well into the night. The Characters from this book and the two previous have become so realistic and I cant wait to see what happens next.
Rating: 
Summary: Characters still trapped in one dimensional hell
Review: The disheartening thing about "Nicolae" is that with all the attention these books have been getting, you'd think more time and care would be given to character development. This book, more than the first two really begins to paint a picture of what's morally right and wrong through chacters who speak like no one I've ever met. The woman are portrayed basically as weak willed puppets like Hattie, or an agressive angry lesbian like Vera. Chloe and Amanda spend most of the book worrying about their respective husbands who trudge forward like the Christian Indiana Jones. I will continue to read the books because I think it's an interesting way to explain the Rapture which I've always been interested in. I just keep thinking I wish the books were being written by people who could create realistic dialogue, & multifasceted people, not one dimensional stereotypes.
Rating:
Summary: Descent into darkness...
Review: With this book, the 3rd in the series, the action picks up, the pace is non-stop, and the mood darkens markedly.The "wrath of the Lamb" is unleashed at the end of this book, and the description is well-done and makes one wonder how this whole thing will really play out. The whole series follows a "Pre-Trib" point of view; this book begins two years into the Tribulation. The word pictures that Jerry Jenkins paints remain vivid in the reader's mind. The characters and the events which are SO memorable really "flesh out" the events described in Revelation. The potential problem is that people could think that this is exactly how things will happen. While it is a widely-held point of view, and a well-respected one, the series is still fiction. However, I know that I'll have a picture in my mind of the "wrath of the lamb" which is more vivid than if I had read it only when studying Revelation. I have done some study of Revelation - it is a book which is so complex and so rich that I feel I haven't even scratched the surface. And I know that as a result of reading this series, I will definitely go back and re-read Revelation and study it further. I would encourage anyone who is enjoying the Left Behind series to check out the authors' non-fiction book about end times Revelation theology. It's called "Are We Living in the End Times?" These books all leave you hanging at the end - a good reason for reading them one right after another! Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and Christian music.
Rating: 
Summary: The Pace Picks Up
Review: Finally, after two books, we are sufficiently familiar with the characters to move on to the action. The third book, NICOLAE, is full of action and movement, and some very exciting situations. It was a pleasure to read after suffering through the second book, TRIBULATION FORCE. The book follows Rayford Steele and Buck Williams as they work for Nicolae Carpathia, whom they realize to be the Antichrist. The story affords some major conflicts, and some serious tension, while maintaining the facts and message of Revelations. These books are diverting, quick and easy reads. For some not-so-light summer reading (the subject is too heavy for these to be light reading), check this series out.
Rating:
Summary: Nicolae...a page turner
Review: I found 'The Rise of Antichrist / Nicolae' thrilling and hard to put down. Actions flooded my emotions: dangers robbed me of breath; people perished amid my streaming tears; humor massaged away tensions; the love of God and the people in the story warmed my heart. I could taste, touch, hear, see, and feel this story. My heart thrilled as fictional scenes unfolded in a framework of true prophecies fortold centuries ago. I am inspired by this book to deeply study prophetic scriptures to see what humankind's future holds. 'The Rise of Antichrist / Nicolae' is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Content vs. Theory vs. Writing
Review: I am going to put the same review on each of the "Left Behind" series books because my reaction to each of them is basically the same. (For actual content, read Amazon's description above. For my bent on the series, read on.) There are basically three main theories concerning Christ's return, based off scripture, and though I won't get into them here, this one is off the pre-tribulation theory. (Which is actually the same one I believe in.) The problem is, I know why I believe in this particular theory, whereas other Christian may simply read this book and say, "Oh, so that's what's going to happen!" Well, before you do that, check your Bible and other sources, and don't just base it off these books. OK, time to step off my soapbox... As far as writing talent, I have been VERY disappointed with all the books in this series. At first, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thinking the writing was so simplistic so younger kids could read them too, until I discovered they have a young kids version out for this series, at which point I was just saddened. So don't expect a well-written novel, as I feel each book's writing has become more and more simple with each release. And by this, I don't mean the story doesn't flow, because it does. It's just written in such simply words that even a grade-schooler could read it without any problems. As far as content, you'll find stuff in here you like, I don't doubt that, but if you're like me, you'll be skimming many areas because you don't care about every single step that every single person takes to get from point A to point B. It's a tedious read at parts, but if you like the study of the end times, as do I, or like reading Christian novels, as do I, then these books will suffice. But don't base your belief system off them until you know more than just what's presented here, and certainly DON'T read them if literary content is your main goal as you won't find well-WRITTEN novels here. If it weren't for that fact alone, I'd be devouring these books as they came out, but as it is, I've read them after friends buy them and are done with them since I am interested in the story, but not the work it takes for me to constantly forgive the writing. FYI, this book was actually my favorite of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: The straw that broke the camel's back
Review: I just can't take it anymore. The "Left Behind" series has cranked out three miserable novels, and that's three miserable novels too many. Let's start with what I liked about the books. First off, the premise of the series (the world's coming to an end. What do you do?) is fairly interesting. The fulfillment of the various prophecies is fun to watch, and you want to see how each comes to being in the modern world. However, for all of its positive points, the series is far too flawed for me to recommend. The interesting premise is hindered by shoddy writing, poor pacing, bland dialogue, one dimensional characters, and all too frequent recaps of the past events in the series. Furthermore, the writer display a prejudice towards Catholicism, Judaism, and the U.N. Being Catholic, I'm particularly insulted by the anti-Catholic statements spread through the series. The evil, power-mad pope in the series is possibly the most offensive, but the fact that Jenkins and LaHaye display their total ignorance about our "strict orthodoxy" is also vexing. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly describes salvation as coming from God alone, but this never stops the writers from making assaults on our faith. I'm also disturbed by the way the writers show the militia movement as heroic freedom fighters when such people are often, fascist, racist, and violent.
Rating:
Summary: falls a little short
Review: The authors clearly have ulterior motives in this series, and noble as they may be, the story lapses into ridiculous plot devices. For example, in the first book, an Israeli scientist discovers a formula that allows vegetation to flourish in the desert, and this immediately transforms Israel into the richest nation on Earth, not because they license the formula but because they utilize it to turn every spare acre of their country into rich farmland. The fact is, Israeal's total area is less than the state of Illinois, and suddenly having the ability to grow corn in the desert on such a small scale would not transform a minor nation into the richest on Earth. The series also has very specific predjudices in terms of religion. It doesn't specify a denomination, but clearly favors the protestent faith, and there are numerous references that Catholics and Jews would likely find offensive. What's more, the "militia" movements of the United States, generally associated with racism and fascism, are portrayed as heroic, and their paranoia about the United Nations is given a very clear voice. The story itself is compelling, as it takes the most exciting aspects of Christian mythology and applies them to modern times. Also, anyone who is from the northwest suburbs of Chicago will likely be amused by the frequent references to actual localities. The writers are obviously from this area.
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