Left Behind Series?

[katesmom]

I was at the library today & almost picked up the book Left Behind. I didnt end up checking it out for some reason? I was hesitant.


Are these books OK to read?

What are your thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Dream]

There was a thread about this a couple weeks ago. I think the general consensus was that it doesn't follow the beliefs of the Catholic Church, but it was a good read. You should be fine reading it, just remember that it's a work of fiction.

 

[benedictine]

Listen to DreamTheater. They are very much fiction, not theologically sound.

 

[krstlros]

It's an interesting read. I read the first three books and after a while it got really rediculous how the authors protrayed the Catholic church.

If you want to get some sort of inkling of how the Rapturists view the end times, it's an interesting read, as I said. Just make sure you're well grounded in your faith before you read it and know what the Church believes about the end times.

 

[Veritas]

Unless you're doing research, why waste your time reading books that present unbiblical and anti-Catholic theology? There are some good Catholic novels that you can also read along the same genre that don't offend.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I read them. They were fun. I understand Catholic's take an Amillenial stance torwards the end times, the LB series takes the pre-mill view. I havent grounded my stance yet on the different views but dont let it stop you from reading it.

 

[krstlros]

Unless you're doing research, why waste your time reading books that present unbiblical and anti-Catholic theology? There are some good Catholic novels that you can also read along the same genre that don't offend.

It gives a view on what others think the second coming is going to be like.

 

[thereselittleflower]

I was at the library today & almost picked up the book Left Behind. I didnt end up checking it out for some reason? I was hesitant.


Are these books OK to read?

What are your thoughts?
Thanks

The prompting of the Holy Spirit to leave it alone. You were being sensitive to the Holy Spirit . . .

There is a lot wrong with these books . . though an entertaining read, they foster the dispenationalist beliefs that there is a secret third coming of Christ . the "rapture", a 7 year tribulation, followed by a 1000 year reign of Christ on earth with Israel established as a nation once more forever, with the Temple rebuilt and the Old Testament sacrifices reinstituted . .

Pre-millenialism was a belief that there would be a 1000 year reign of Chirst . .it was called chilaism . . it was believed by some ECF's, but was not a dominate belief . . . It lost a lot of ground because of Origen's brilliant apologetics in the 3rd century, and by the 4th century and 5th century, it was pretty much out the door with amillenialism, that there is no literal 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth - that the 1000 year period spoken of in Revelation 20 is symbolic and sybolizes the Church now.

Amillenialsim has been the dominate eschatological belief system with millenialism denounced strongly . .

Dispenationalism is failry new on the scene, being conceived in the 1800's by Darby and based on pre-millenialism in part . ..

One of its very notable errors is that Israel and the Church are separate . . that the Church is a parenthesis in God's salvific plan rather than the culmination of it . . .the the Church is the body of Christ, but not the bride . .that Israel is the bride . . it all gets very confusing with scriptures being taken out of context, etc . . .

These books promote doctrines and beliefs that are antagonistic to the Catholic faith as handed down by the apostles . . .



Peace in Him!

 

[thereselittleflower]

I read them. They were fun. I understand Catholic's take an Amillenial stance torwards the end times, the LB series takes the pre-mill view. I havent grounded my stance yet on the different views but dont let it stop you from reading it.

I problaby wouldn't leave it at just a pre-millenial view, as one can be pre-millenialist without being dispenationalist . . .

It represents a strong dispenationalist view of the end times and God's relationship with the Church . . . which, according to Catholic beliefs, is unsound. . . .

Peace in Him!

 

[thereselittleflower]

I did some research a few weeks ago in a library, and it was very interesting to find ou that pre-millenialsim, though denounced by the Church, has popped up now and again throughout Church history , .. but always has been associated with heretical beliefs . . .

Peace in Him!

 

[Epiphanygirl]

ohh, I just got my St. Anthony Messenger Magazine. It has a article talking about this. I need to go read it!

 

[ps139]

I was at the library today & almost picked up the book Left Behind. I didnt end up checking it out for some reason? I was hesitant.

I really think God made you put it down!! Its not worth it!

 

[Miss Shelby]

I was at the library today & almost picked up the book Left Behind. I didnt end up checking it out for some reason? I was hesitant.


Are these books OK to read?

What are your thoughts?
Thanks

I haven't read through the other responses here yet. I read Left Behind and a few of the sequels after it. I thought the first book was kinda good in an entertaining sort of way. But it just got to be ridiculous after a while, with the dozen books that kept coming out.

No harm in reading it, just remember it is pure fiction and though the authors of the books think it's theologically sound, it isn't. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

If you want a good book relating to the same topic, "Father Elijiah' is pretty good. I have only gotten half way through it, but it's better written than the Left Behind books. I think it is written by a guy named O'Brian or something.

Michelle

 

[ZooMom]

'Father Elijah' is awesome. I loved it. Michael O'Brien is the author. I'm getting his Children of the Last Days trilogy.

 

[countrymousenc]

Hope you don't mind me popping in...

The "Left Behind" books represent an ancient heresy called "chiliasm." I can't recall which Council condemned it, but it is condemned. Chiliasm is belief that Christ will reign here on Earth for a literal 1,000 year period before the Resurrection and final judgment. To this, dispensationalists have added a "secret rapture" just before a literal 7-year period of tribulation (during which people receive the "mark of the beast") which precedes this supposed 1,000 year earthly reign. They also teach that there are two ongoing, legitimate covenant communitites - Christians and Jews - and that the Jewish temple will be rebuilt for the "millenium" and animal sacrifices reinstated, so that God's people all return to the Old Covenant elements of the Law during the "millenium."

Thought you might like to know; I realize several of you probably already did.

I agree with Therese Little Flower's posts about this; if you're not well-grounded in doctrine, stay away from those books. I wouldn't, personally, even let my money support the writers.

 

[Magisterium]

Peace be to you.

I'd Suggest Paul Thigpen's "The Rapture Trap". I decided to read it last year to see what all the hype about "left behind" was for. I was pleasantly surprised and enlightened about not only the problems with the rapture doctrine, but even some basic understandings of Jesus' first coming which I was unaware of. It was a well written and actually enjoyable read.

After I read it, I decided to read LaHaye's "theological defense" of the rapture and I was sorely disppointed. After that, I never had any inclination to read the left behind series. It's interesting how understanding makes some things less entertaining...

God love you.

 

[Miss Shelby]

After I read it, I decided to read LaHaye's "theological defense" of the rapture and I was sorely disppointed. After that, I never had any inclination to read the left behind series. It's interesting how understanding makes some things less entertaining...

That's true. When I read Left Behind I didn't know anything about the rapture. I had never even heard of it. Maybe that's why I found some nominal entertainment from it.

There was this mind control thing that happened at the end of the first book... oh well ... nevermind.

Michelle