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[book Review] Left Behind Series

This is the theological, religious review of this series of books. I started a topic (click here) to discuss the literary aspects of these books.

I do like this series. I like it as fantasy, not as theology. I am perfectly aware that there are a lot of Christians who have tremendous faith in the concept of the Rapture. They are actually placing their hopes on it, that they will be taken from the earth before the great tribulations spoken about in Revelation, Daniel, Isaiah, and other biblical books. However, I don't believe it will be anything like what Dr. LaHaye envisions it, nor that all those who have proclaimed a belief in Jesus Christ will be suddenly lifted out of the world. But that is a discussion for another place (we currently have a topic going on this subject)

I will admit, to think about the beginning of the series is a bit eerie. If Dr. LaHaye's understanding is correct, then the beginning of the first book, Left Behind would be about the way things would happen. That is, various people just disappear from the earth. In some cases, drivers of cars disappear, as their cars proceed to ram into things. Airplane pilots are gone, as are some of their passengers. Babies and little children are gone. Babies in the womb disappear. It is a worldwide tragedy, as trains jump their tracks, airplanes crash, cars wreck, just chaos. A very eerie situation, and very true, I think, to the theology, as the authors see it.

But to leave this, basic, theology behind, I will start then with what I see as a subsequent step in the theology of the books.

Of course, evangelical, fundamentalist Christians are the vast bulk of those raptured. Various ministers have created video tapes for people who are "left behind" in their congregations, so that they can learn about what happened. This is actually extremely true-to-life, as there are ministers and lay people out there who have created books, letters, and videos for their families and friends, to be found after the Rapture. These videos, in the books, lead quite a few people to Christ. Of course, since the Rapture has already occured, people who now accept Christ must face the tribulations of the Last Days. This leads into the rest of the series.

To keep this post short, I will point out, what to me is one of the largest problems in the series.

The authors have to tiptoe around the very concept of prophecy. It is magnificent that there is so much Biblical prophecy concerning the Last Days. However, apparently, the very thought of actual, God-called Prophets in the Last Days is not very good. There are ministers (born-again after the Rapture), scholars, and extremely faithful people. But of actual prophets, there are only two - the two specifically spoken about in Revelation.

These two prophets are very interesting. While they never specifically state this, the authors make it clear that these two are translated beings, Moses and Elijah, come back from their bodily assumptions into heaven to act as witnesses against the Antichrist (Nicolae Carpathia). They do all that Revelation says they do, but nothing more. And, all of their words are essentially repetitions of previously existent biblical phrases. I don't recall anything that they say that could be construed either as original phrasing or as new information. In other words, the Bible is complete, perfect, and there is absolutely no need, whatsoever, of God giving another word to mankind. Even the times when Jesus speaks (either in person or through the Spirit), the words are always recitations of biblical phrases.

Well, enough for one post. I will try to write more about the specifics of the theology and philosophy that I see in these books later.

Edited: Nighthawk on 21st Jul, 2004 - 1:09pm

Series Left Review book

I read the first book of this series and never read the others. My main problem with this the fact that I don't believe God would put anyone in danger by removing pilots and such, allowing people to die in crashes. I know that those "Left Behind" are supposed to be the ones not deserving of the Rapture, but they are also those that have the task of rebuilding the earth and ridding it of the anti-christ. Perhaps I am wrong in my interpretation of this, if so I will gladly listen to anyone who can point out the truth. I may still read the rest of the series of books, I haven't decided yet.

[book Review] Left Behind Series Beliefs Religious General

While these books certainly are reflections of Tim LaHaye's theology, I strongly advise against ANYONE taking that theology seriously, as portrayed in the books.

The whole idea of the books came from Tim LaHaye, while riding in an airplane, wondering what would happen if the Rapture happened right then. From that, he developed the whole storyline.

Actually, I don't have any problem at all with that aspect of it. IF the Rapture was to be as so many evangelicals believe, then the idea of drivers in cars, pilots in airplanes, etc disappearing is not a problem.

Series Left Review book

While I have not read the book I believe from what you have described that the movie did a wonderful job at following the storyline. I found the first in the series to be insightful and I can almost imagine the world around me in this type of situation. As far as the rapture simply taking people and causing harm to those that are left such as passengers on airplanes or other drivers on the road I see absolutely no problem with this either. (In my humble opinion.)

Series Left Review book

Something that needs to be understood about Jenkins and LaHaye, they are writing from a purely Evangelical position. From that position, fundamentalist christians believe that a great majority of other sects of people who call themselves christians, including LDS and a good many Catholics, are not going to be taken in the Rapture, that they are not true christians.

That being said, that is why mostly evangelicals/fundamentalists get raptured and the rest get left behind. But also remember that evangelicals do not believe in modern day prophets, new revelations from god, or new theology. So having prophets, even in the last days goes against common belief despite the fact that the bible says in the last days old men will dream dreams and young men will see visions, and your sons and daughters will prophesy.

I am surprised that they don't touch on prophecy because Revelations does mention it. But I think they refrain because the majority of fundamentalists don't believe in prophets that would give new revelation from god even though the scripture is open to interpretation.

What really struck me wrong about the series is that they focus more on the horror of the revelation than on the way to avoid it. For a series that is supposed to be focused on bring people to christ, it appears to be done more through fear than through love. People should be "saved" because of fear alone, but then, thats another discussion.

Like Nighthawk, I have read the entire series and loved it, as a fantasy series. As a series devoted to bringing others to the faith, I don't like it. But as a fantasy series, it ranks among the better series around. It does link you with the characters and make you care about them.