Left Behind Series

[tigeressm]

I was just at ABC.com and beliefnet.com and was bothered
about what people were saying about the Left Behind series
by Tim LeHaye and J. Jenkins.

I have listened to all of the books about six times and
really enjoyed them. I am captivated everytime I listen.
It makes me think about my life and where I stand
with God .

I have heard and seen so many people put these books
down, and this is what I have to say to them: (Am I wrong?)

I won't judge anyone, but remind you that you will be judged
by God the same way that you judge others up to ten-fold.
These books show the possibilities of the End Times. I believe
that the things in the series are in the Bible.

To make the Bible easier to understand and more interesting,
the authors had to create characters that help tell the
story that is written in the Bible.

God wants us to praise Him and spred His Word and the
authors are doing that in their own way. God gives us all gifts
and the authors gifts are for writing and spreding His word.

This series is for everyone, non-christians and believers
alike. But, I believe it was designed for people who may
never read the Bible or others that do, but don't understand it.
The books make it easier to understand what may happen, as
referred to in Revelations.

 

[Blynn]

Hi tigeressm,


I have not heard anything negative about the series. Maybe I should visit the above mentioned websites.

I myself love the series and the series for young adults. I have noticed a long waiting list at our library when a new book comes out.

I agree this is for non-christians too.

God Bless,
Roberta

 

[Da Berkshire Massive]

Are you talking about the dramatic audio series?

I have been listening to this and it is absolutely brilliant and totally captivating.
There are some scenes where I think the acting and sound effects could have been a little more realistic given the high drama they are supposed to represent, but on the whole it is an awesome series!
I have been listening to it on UCB Europe since it started on December 31st and jumped ahead this week about 12 episodes all at once by listening to back episodes over the last 3 months on Premier's radio on demand site. (Couldn't wait to find out what happened next!) Premier does it weekly and started much earlier than UCB, though UCB with 5 episodes a week is catching up fast, so I will now have a 2 week break and join UCB where Premier has left off.

You can listen to the first two books of Left Behind Dramatic Audio free (Left Behind and Tribulation Force) by clicking this link- the following dramatic audio editions are to come over the the next few months.

http://www.oneplace.com/special/left_behind/

You can get the FREE version of Real Player by clicking this link- the completely free no trial version is on the right of the webpage.
(-they make it a bit hard to find on the main site, they want you to get the pay version!)

http://www.real.com/realone/trial.html?dc=217216215&src=020214r1choice_c1

(The sound quality on real player isn't that great but it is sufficient to enjoy it!).

Thanks to Premier I am now up to episode 46 (part 10 of Soul Harvest) UCB are currently up to episode 35.

 

[tigeressm]

Hello Da Berkshire Massive;

I just found out about the Dramatic Audio...and it is great. But I was talking about the book series...I have the whole series on audio tapes. I have listened to the Dramatic Audio and it is different characters and what I heard of it, some changes in the storyline. If you like the D Audio...try the books (available almost any bookstore or retail store). I gaurantee you will love it as much as the D Audio.

tigeressm

 

[Blessed-one]

hey, i personally haven't heard anything bad about the LB but have seen ppl on net saying about it.

the LB books are great! they've brought many non-belivers to Christ and belivers to reconsider their spiritual lives (in other words, a spiritual awakening - i myself for example)

i believe that the work of the LB is a direct intervention from God, it has brought so many people to Him, as well as Christians who're growing just a bit "casual" on their spiritual lives.

 

[Willis Deal]

I'm not sure what page you were looking at but I did a brief search and caught this one:

http://beliefnet.com/story/82/story_8222_1.html

This quote from the article has to be a classic:

"Before his death in March, the Rev. A.L. Barry, former president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, said Revelation's view "of what will occur when Christ returns is not chiefly characterized by mass confusion, chaos and hysteria."

Say what??? Has this guy even read revelation?

Anyway... It is all about what you believe. If you don't believe in the rapture then you won't like the book. If you do believe in it then maybe you'll like the books. My main problem with the books (I've read them all by the way) is the ease with which the Christian characters lie. That troubles me.

 

[Willis Deal]

One last point I'd like to make. There is a lot of discussion on this forum about the tribulation and the rapture, and both sides have some knowledgable people defending their views. I have my views, arrived at after much study and prayer. But whether I'm right or wrong, or whether the theology of the LB series is great or terrible, it won't be long until we find out for sure.

 

[Didymus]

I eagerly await each new LB volumne and so do several others at my local library. However I do think the writing quality is only fair--too much repition for an action series--but hey if they are bringing people to the Lord i ll shut up

 

[swish8]

i too think that the left behind series is great. what a tool for bringing the lost to the LORD. i was not saved when i began reading the 1st book. i had never given the rapture much thought nor had i spent any time reading the bible. the book completely held my attention and the HOLY SPIRIT began to slowly draw me toward the knowledge of CHRIST'S love. though my pride and stubborness weighed me down, i eventually found what i had been NEEDING and been looking for. PTL!!! Thank You JESUS!!

ALL of the credit does not go to the series. BUT, that is what opened my heart enough for the Holy Spirit to come in and begin HIS work.

how can anyone say that is not a good thing?? forget the details, post-trib, pre-trib, mid-trib........etc. bringing the lost to the saving knowledge of JESUS is ALL that matters.

peace <><

 

[Didymus]

AMEN!!! I am always amazed at what God uses to bring people to Him.

 

[LilyLamb]

I believe that the things in the series are in the Bible.

Much of it is ... but a lot is left to the imagination of the authors ... overall the series is great ... but I had to stop reading it when they gave the impression that believers could have both the mark of the beast and the mark of God - there simply isn't any scripture to back that one up.

 

[Snor Snor]

I've read that Chang (THe one with two marks) had the mark forced on him. If it was forced, it wouldn't be very right if God would condemn him for it. When the first bowl judgement was poured out, he wasn't affected by it, proving he didn't take the mark wilfully!

But yes, the Holy Spirit also convicted me during reading the books. Amazing how God used LaHaye and Jenkins to make such a thing to bring thousands to Christ! Praise God for that!

God bless ya guys!

 

[Didymus]

I agree about the Mark. IIf you are held down kicking and screaming the Lord will understand. Or if you are drugged and not aware of what is being done to yooou or that it is wrong. God is JUST.

 

[LilyLamb]

I've heard the "forced on him" excuse, but that is a moot point because the beast will force everyone to take the mark .... it is to be expected .... it will be required, forced, enforced and seen to that everyone receive the mark ... those who don't are killed ... you will have a choice.

"And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand ..." Rev 13:16

"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God ..." Rev 14:9,10

"And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark ..." Rev. 20:4

You can say that he did not "worship" the beast but that doesn't erase the fact that he has the mark ... his problem was that he hid his faith to begin with and put himself into this situation ... if you deny Christ he will deny you ... he denied Christ by not letting his parents know he was a believer and allowing himself to be put in a position where he worked for the beast ...

I have some major issues with believers working for the beast in the first place (now if they were working for him before they got saved that would be one thing, but to knowingly walk into the enemy's camp and work for him .... not)

 

[swish8]

we cannot forget that the lb series is a work of fiction. this allows the authors some latitude. and also, don't forget that all of this is taking place during the great tribulation (thank GOD that you don't have to be here to find out what rules apply). these tribulation saints are having to do anything possible to #1 stay alive and #2 disrupt anything they can to disrupt the plans af the ac.

these books are a GREAT tool because they are something that unbelievers can and will pick up and read. and for the rest of us, it is good bible based fiction....to enjoy. so enjoy.

peace <><

 

[supermagdalena]

I personally love the series! It was the first Christian fiction I picked up after I became a Christian (a little over a year ago). It has such great messages, and it's so incredibly Bible-based, it's amazing! Anyone who has anything bad to say about the series must not have read them

 

[Didymus]

now,now writing is not an exact science and different styles appeal to different people. I am no longer very big on fiction. I blush to think of the trash i used to read even after I became a Christian and knew better. Ipersonally don t care for Janette Oakey s books but if you do fine. I like chocolate you like vanilla theres no problem for that with me.

 

[LilyLamb]

Of course it's a work of fiction ... heaven forbid anyone should believe that what is written in this series could really happen the way the authors have imagined.

Hopefully those who "are" left behind won't pick up one of these books and believe them to be accurate ... but one can never tell what someone in the midst of tribulation might cling to in desperation ... heaven forbid they think it okay for them to have two marks just so they can "survive" ... the tribulation isn't about who can survive ... it's about "overcoming" even if it means death.

God has always provided a way of escape and He has always given us a choice ... choose you this day whom you will serve ... put the lamb's blood on the doorpost and survive the angel of death ... get on board the ark and live through the flood ... either way a choice has to be made, you can't have both.

I pray that no one will be misled by this "fictional" interpretation of end time events ... hopefully they will have access to a Bible and the truth.

 

[AngelAmidala]

I think that's something that we just have to keep remembering...the books are fiction.

While there is the Biblical base to them, there still is the element of fiction.

I read the stories because I like them, and they're easy to get through in a few days...which is great for me, someone who loves to read but doesn't always get all the time in the world to read.

 

[JohnR7]

>>To make the Bible easier to understand and more interesting,
the authors had to create characters that help tell the
story that is written in the Bible.

We have recently had a teaching on this. We all have a imagination. The devil can work though the imagination but also, God can work through our imagination. So how do we know it is of God and not the devil, that is what we have discernment for.

The Bible has "spiritual eyes" when we read the story of Jesus as a baby and the wise men, we see that in our imagination. It's through the Holy Spirit that we know what we see really does line up with truth and reality.