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Friends United Meeting |
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November 1999
The Left Behind Series
By Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
Tyndale House Publishers, 351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream IL 60188.
Reviewed by Jenny Scurry
Dry Fork, Virginia
Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days, (1995) paper 320
pages, $13.99
Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind, (1996) paper
450 pages, $13.99
Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist, (1997) hardcover 450 pages, $16.95
Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides, (1998) paper 424 pages, $13.99
Apollyon: The Destroyer is Unleashed, (1999) paper 399 pages, $15.99
It is extremely difficult for the average reader in the twenty-first century to visualize the apocalyptic images found in the Revelation of John. However, the advancements of modern science and technology have given rise to many scenarios of end-time events. Tim LaHaye, known for his book Spirit-Controlled Temperament, and Jerry Jenkins, writer-at-large for Moody Bible Institute, have taken the classical dispensational approach to Revelation and cast it in a Sci-Fi setting. They have pulled together the “what if’s” and “could be’s” and connected them into a fictionalized account reflecting their own eschatological position concerning the parousia.
Worldwide chaos ensues as millions of people disappear, leaving behind loved ones who slowly and reluctantly realize what has occurred. The reader is quickly drawn into the lives of the main characters who have been left behind. The reader follows these characters with rapt attention in order to see how they will fit into the scheme of things. Skeptics and lukewarm churchgoers such as pilot Rayford Steele, his daughter Chloe, journalist Cameron Williams, and yes, even Pastor Bruce Barnes draw together to study and prepare themselves and others for the dark and troubled time to come. This core group of new believers calls itself the Tribulation Force, and their goal is to witness for Christ and battle the Antichrist.
Nicolae Carpathia rises to power as a distraught world turns to him as the ultimate leader who will bring peace and cohesiveness. His self-effacing charm and charismatic personality draw the world to do his bidding and he establishes a world government, monetary system and religion. As his pilot and journalistic backbone, Rayford and Cameron, work against him behind the scenes, for they realize he is the Antichrist. Much of the Earth and its inhabitants are destroyed through plague, earthquakes, etc., as God’s judgments are unleashed.
Members of the Tribulation Force face persecution and death as they become fugitives from Carpathia. They turn to Tsion Ben-Judah, a prominent Jewish scholar, for leadership. His studies have convinced him that Jesus is the Messiah and Carpathia is the Antichrist. He is drawn into their group and begins teaching on the Internet concerning end time prophecies.
The two witnesses at the Wailing Wall prophesy of impending events, spewing forth fire to destroy those among the gathered multitude who dare to approach them with malice. Only a few of the Tribulation Force dare to draw near and successfully commune with them. Meanwhile, 144,000 witnesses spread throughout the world. As more people are won to Christ, the world begins to take sides. Those who would follow Christ through the leadership of Ben-Judah draw apart from those who would blindly support Carpathia.
This series of books has appealed to a wide audience, as evidenced by the fact that all have been at or near the top of the best-seller list since publication. The action is fast-paced and gripping as the reader is literally pulled through the events with the characters. The books contain enough biblical references to encourage readers to delve into the Old and New Testaments for personal study of the prophecies and the way to salvation.
It must be noted, however, that, as intriguing as the story lines are, they do reflect only one possible approach to the prophetic and apocalyptic literature found in the scriptures. A second caution must be offered: the series, because of its appearance in the midst of the millennial madness occurring, almost encourages readers to set aside Jesus’ command to “occupy till I come.” Key elements of the gospel message (i.e., social concerns and spiritual formation) seem to be put on the back burner while everyone “gets ready for the end.”
Copyright (c) 1999 Friends United Meeting
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