CindyJean's Full Review: Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins - Left Behind: Ilu...
Introduction
For the longest time I have been hearing the buzz about the “Left Behind” series that was so widely popular in the Christian community. Its popularity had even spilled over into non-Christians who chose to view this book as they would a piece of science fiction.
I knew how I would be viewing it, as I am a Christian who believes in the Rapture that is to come before the Second Coming. I thought it would be fun to see this author’s interpretation of the Scripture and how the Rapture may appear in a ‘real life’ setting.
Disclaimer: This book represents only the authors’ opinions of how the Rapture could happen. Just because the authors think it could happen this way doesn’t mean you should take their word for it or assume that this is what all Christians do (or should) think.
I had been somewhat hesitant to read the books because I generally tend to shy away from trendy books, secular or faith-based. I don’t want to waste my time reading something trendy because often it’s not that great. I like to see a book ‘prove itself’ and its endurance before I take the time to read it, unless of course I am already a fan of the author. In that case I get my hands on a book as soon as I can.
I actually only chose this book because I had exhausted my church library’s supply of Frank Peretti novels and wanted some more intensive reading to balance out the Janette Oke books I love so much.
Nuts & Bolts
Authors
This book is co-authored by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.
Tim LaHaye is a very prolific writer in the Christian publishing world. His genre is non-fiction, and his ‘biography’ includes many self-help (i.e. marriage advice) books.
Jerry B. Jenkins is also quite prolific, but I am personally less familiar with his work (and name, for that matter). He seems to write mainly novels, though fiction only accounts for one half of his 150 books.
Publisher
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. of Wheaton, Illinois is the publishing firm blessed with the good fortune of publishing “Left Behind” and the rest of the books in this very commercially successful series.
Mr. Jenkins, one of the co-authors, credits their promotion and handling of the series for helping to make the entire ‘Left Behind’ series as popular as it is.
Miscellaneous
This book bears a copyright date of 1995, and (in paperback) comes in at 468 pages.
Characters
Rayford Steele
As the book introduces Rayford Steele first, I will also.
Rayford has a religious background, though he understands very little of faith. To him the church is about religion and rules, not relationship. He drifted from the church over time (all told in the book through memories), though his wife is a very devout believer in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.
Rayford is a very successful man, by the world’s standards. He is a commercial pilot and makes a very good living for his family.
Knowing enough about the Bible to recognize the Rapture when he sees it, he feels certain that he knows the answer to the question on everyone’s lips—Where did they all go?
Being ‘left behind’ causes Rayford to go on a search for faith, and when he finds it he wants to share it with everyone he cares about. He has a tendency to try to bash people over the head with it, and his results often aren’t what he would like them to be. But hey, look at it from his perspective. It’s the end of time and he wants to make sure those he comes into contact with know the truth.
Chloe Steele
Chloe is Rayford’s 20-year-old daughter, who was away at college when the Rapture happens. She doesn’t really believe it’s the Rapture, as she’s much like her father was—non-believing.
Chloe’s a tough sell on any issue in life that is of importance, so Rayford’s efforts with her are like fighting an uphill battle. She wants to believe that her mother and brother are in a better place, but she feels like her father is just convincing himself of what he wants to believe because it makes him feel better.
Hattie Durham
Hattie Durham is a flight attendant who works for the same airline as Rayford. She’s a pretty young woman, and before the disappearances Rayford had toyed with the idea of beginning an affair with her. She shared his feelings, though neither let the other know.
Hattie begins the book by being clingy and desperate. She calls Rayford after the disappearances, tying up his phone line even when she knows he’s waiting for a call from his daughter. She also throws herself at a few other men, though not necessarily in a sexual way.
Hattie’s desire to meet a famous politician comes true when a former passenger is able to set it up for her. From the first meeting she hits it off with the man who turns out to be the Antichrist.
With tension running high against Rayford, she cannot accept what he has to say about the church and the Rapture—though she believes that he believes it with all his heart. She would rather run in the circles of the elite than accept that she had been left behind.
Cameron “Buck” Williams
Buck is a young man with a sharp mind and little inclination to believe in God, at least until he starts witnessing some amazing things.
Buck’s the youngest senior writer on a major national newsmagazine, and he gets all the top stories. He was in Israel when the Russian army deployed all it’s military might against it in an effort to obtain a scientific formula that allows desert soil to become fertile—thus making Israel quite wealthy. He sees the entire Russian air force go down in flames, with NO defense mounted by the Israelis. At that point Buck recognizes that there IS a God, but he doesn’t take the extra step of forming a relationship with Him.
Even after his experience in Israel, Buck is unconvinced that the disappearances around the globe are due to the Rapture and is assigned the story of differing views on the disappearances.
During the course of his investigation into the differing theories, as well as an article he’s writing on the ‘up and coming’ politician from Romania, Nicolae Carpathia, he loses some friends and comes to be suspicious of this beloved ‘champion’ of peace.
Buck is, himself, fooled by Carpathia for quite some time. The question is, will he realize who Carpathia is before it’s too late?
Nicolae Carpathia
Nicolae is the politician everybody loves. He comes across to people as quiet, unassuming, and not at all politically ambitious. The way he acts, it’s as if he never wanted all the attention thrust upon him.
Nicolae is a champion of peace, favoring worldwide disarmament and a strengthening of the United Nations. His desires and actions go along with the Biblical account of the Antichrist, but is he the Antichrist or just a puppet thereof?
My Thoughts
In my original review of this book I stated that I didn’t view this book as having a main character. There are two main characters—Rayford and Buck—but to me the rest of the ‘cast’ was so realistic that I viewed them to be as central as these two men.
As a Christian, I found this book to be a bit of an educational lesson on the book of Revelation. I have read my Bible cover-to-cover, but the book of Revelations has always been a mystery to me. I think that the same can be said for the majority of Christians. The authors have taken a very confusing batch of symbolism and put it into a story that anyone could understand. That’s not to say that this is the exact way things will happen, but the authors have done a good job of developing their interpretations.
I must admit that I hadn’t really thought anything negative about the writing of the book until I read an ‘unfavorable’ review of this book and saw a point that I had agreed with that reviewer on—the dialog seems at times to be unrealistic. These characters in the book were largely unfamiliar with the Bible and matters of faith, but they are quoting spiritual truths as well as any pastor I’ve ever heard! Additionally, even the people I know who are the most faith-filled believers don’t speak in the manner these characters speak amongst themselves.
I didn’t find this book to promote ‘stereotypes.’ There were—amongst the taken—both workingwomen and homemakers; professionals and laymen; Caucasian, Black, and Asian; men and women.
There was a reviewer who pointed out the lack of reality in having all the children disappearing, as she personally knew kids who were (in my words, not hers) rotten to the core. The book doesn’t imply that all children under the age of 18 got taken, just those children who have not yet reached the ‘age of accountability,’ an undefined Biblical principal that varies from person to person.
Recommendation
Having read almost the entire series to date (I’m waiting to borrow a friend’s copy of “Desecration”) I do not feel that this is the strongest book in the series, but it is certainly a very good book.
I don’t think that this book’s one small ‘imperfection’ (my opinion that the dialog is—at times—unrealistic) detracts from the overall enjoyment of the storyline, which happens to be captivating.
I would recommend this book very highly for all Christians. Its beliefs may not line up with your own, but it will give you some food for thought and challenge you to know your heart and your beliefs.
I would also recommend this book for anyone who likes science fiction. More than likely ‘sci-fi’ fans will go away thinking that it’s a good piece of fiction, but there’s always the chance (speaking as a Christian) that some part of this book will speak to your soul.
I think that even those who are offended by religion and matters of faith would benefit from reading this book. If nothing else it will satisfy your curiosity as to why this book is getting so much attention, but hopefully it will do more.
Special Note
I would like to thank Jerry B. Jenkins for his critique of my book review. I e-mailed him the link and (much to my surprise) he actually read it. He pointed out some factual errors in my review, as well as some places that I needed to clarify.
In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear. Vehicles, suddenly unmanned, careen out of control. People are terror-stricken before ...More at Christianbook.com
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