Left Behind

Lost Ranger · 12-15-2006, 02:49 PM

Ill give fair warning this series has a pretty heavy religious theme too it which I know will turn alot of people off before they even read it. I normally am not interested in this style of series but a buddy of mine had one of the audio books and I listened to it one day while bored.

The series (13 books, final one released in march '07) is about the 7 year period on earth AFTER jesus as come and taken away the faithful. The world gets plunged into chaos when billions of people just suddenly vanish. Since everyone left on earth was left for a reason most dont believe in god or do but never bothered caring ect.

(semi spoiler-ish, but not really inc)

The main focus is on a group of people who form together as a resistence to the rising-to-power Anti-Christ. They now have to survive (or at least believe before they die) the next 7 years on earth until jesus returns one final time to give his final judgement. Obviously during this 7 year period the anti christ comes to full power and wars break out, mass executions for all those who dont swear to him ect. Also god will cast (that the right word? heh too many RPGs) judgements on the planet... little things like 200 million demonic horsemen on a seek and destroy mission

.

I recommend this series to anyone. One of the things I really liked about it is that its not really that preachy at all. I wouldnt of read the series if it had been. I promise its not some church promotional series that will try to get you to believe in jesus or anything. In fact its pretty damn brutal in alot of parts. So even if you dont believe in god or whatever this series is still worth picking up. Take the time to read it I promise you wont regret it.

Left Behind (series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(btw, the series starts with the book Left Behind, there are some prequel books now but I havnt read them and you wont need to either to get into the story. I guess the prequel books are about the anti christ growing up)

Chamsie · 12-15-2006, 03:44 PM

I'll second this. An awesome series even if you are not religious, such as myself. If you don't have a basic understanding of Revelations in the bible, just go in reading this knowing that according to the Bible these events really will take place.

I will say, while not preachy for the most part, I stopped around book 9 because a lot of stuff started to happen in the book that isn't found in the bible. It felt like they were just dragging the story out to milk it for another 3 books. Maybe thats just me though.

I managed to find all the books, in hardback, for 35 bucks on ebay after shipping about a year ago. Definitely worth it for that price.

Nebuchadnezzar · 12-16-2006, 12:10 AM

Well, it was suppose to be a trilogy, so they've been milking for awhile.

Lost Ranger · 12-16-2006, 12:21 AM

Im not sure how it would be possible to put all of this into 3 books. Ill admit that perhaps around book 11 it started to feel just a bit "milked" (even then no where near as bad as WoT) but up to that point the story wasnt forced and they didnt have to stall at all. They gave each judgement and event plenty of detail so they didnt have to force anything. Im glad they didnt try to force it all into 3 books heh, they would of had to leave out a ton of cool shit.

Wildstone · 12-16-2006, 01:51 AM

The first three books were excellent, but its pretty obvious they were just milking it after that...

Hell, they finished up the whole series and NOW they are doing a "Pre-Series" set of books. And the authors have stated they want to do a sequel series. I mean, come on. I understand its popular and all, but its time to move on to a new idea.

Lost Ranger · 12-17-2006, 11:52 AM

They havnt completed the series yet.

Kingdom Come, is the 13th and final book to the main series and it comes out in march '07.

This is the only book that confuses me. If you have read the 12th book Glorious Appearing then you know that I mean. I am not sure what could be left to say as GA seemed to wrap everything up perfectly. Im gonna say its a "milk" but I might be surprised by a good book /shrug. Only a few months till we know.

GrobbeeTrull · 12-17-2006, 04:44 PM

I really enjoyed the first 7 or 8 or so. I sort of lost interest after that, but I dig the Post-Apocalyptic fiction, in any genre.

venomus · 12-18-2006, 09:10 AM

Granted, I only read the first of the series, but I thought it was a poorly written generic "thriller". The prose was so simplistic it made Dan Brown into a downright literary master. Plus, the visions of the Rapture, etc weren't nearly hellish enough. When I think Armageddon and Revelations, I think those horrific renaissance paintings (naked, diseased people fornicating with goats and shit), not a group of all-American heroes forming "Tribulation Force". Plus, the authors blatantly use the series as a ministry opportunity. Savvy evangelism, yes, but I'd rather read a book that stands on its own, rather than the extension of slick proselytizing franchise.

If you want a vision of apocalypse, read The Stand.

Faltigoth · 12-18-2006, 09:49 AM

Well, one of the authors is a fundamental Christian minister and the other one owns the Christian Writer's Guild, so yeah, you have to expect a bit of evangelism there.

I always thought this series was a pretty damn good vision of what the Book of Revelation happening in the present day would look like; I haven't read all of it yet but I am sure I will get around to it.

Lost Ranger · 12-18-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venomus

Granted, I only read the first of the series, but I thought it was a poorly written generic "thriller". The prose was so simplistic it made Dan Brown into a downright literary master. Plus, the visions of the Rapture, etc weren't nearly hellish enough. When I think Armageddon and Revelations, I think those horrific renaissance paintings (naked, diseased people fornicating with goats and shit), not a group of all-American heroes forming "Tribulation Force". Plus, the authors blatantly use the series as a ministry opportunity. Savvy evangelism, yes, but I'd rather read a book that stands on its own, rather than the extension of slick proselytizing franchise.

If you want a vision of apocalypse, read The Stand.

It gets better as it continues on I think... though if you didnt like the first one at all I doubt you would really love the rest. I agree with faltigoth on this one. The series is a good vision on what would happen if revelations really happened. While "naked, diseased people fornicating with goats and shit" might make for more interesting reading material hehe... Its not really accurate when describing revelations. Remember books like The Stand (which btw I think is fantastic) all just show their own version on the "last days" but dont really follow revelations close at all, which is silly because thats basicly where they got the story anyway.

The rapture isnt suppose to be that hellish is the thing(though Lucifer does show up about half way through the series to finish what he started as do his closest demon.. er generals?). Alot of books like The Stand just really go overboard on the whole nightmarish-demonic atmosphere. The basic idea is that jesus says "tick tock bitches" and gives the people "left behind" 7 years to accept him, or follow Nicolae. Its a series about redemption more then post-apocalyptic horror.

At least thats my take on it.

Kiroy · 12-21-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebuchadnezzar

Well, it was suppose to be a trilogy, so they've been milking for awhile.

This is why I stopped reading after book 4 or 5. Pretty clear they started milking the hell out of the series...

12-15-2006, 02:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lost Ranger Still Lost Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,667	Left Behind Ill give fair warning this series has a pretty heavy religious theme too it which I know will turn alot of people off before they even read it. I normally am not interested in this style of series but a buddy of mine had one of the audio books and I listened to it one day while bored. The series (13 books, final one released in march '07) is about the 7 year period on earth AFTER jesus as come and taken away the faithful. The world gets plunged into chaos when billions of people just suddenly vanish. Since everyone left on earth was left for a reason most dont believe in god or do but never bothered caring ect. (semi spoiler-ish, but not really inc) The main focus is on a group of people who form together as a resistence to the rising-to-power Anti-Christ. They now have to survive (or at least believe before they die) the next 7 years on earth until jesus returns one final time to give his final judgement. Obviously during this 7 year period the anti christ comes to full power and wars break out, mass executions for all those who dont swear to him ect. Also god will cast (that the right word? heh too many RPGs) judgements on the planet... little things like 200 million demonic horsemen on a seek and destroy mission . I recommend this series to anyone. One of the things I really liked about it is that its not really that preachy at all. I wouldnt of read the series if it had been. I promise its not some church promotional series that will try to get you to believe in jesus or anything. In fact its pretty damn brutal in alot of parts. So even if you dont believe in god or whatever this series is still worth picking up. Take the time to read it I promise you wont regret it. Left Behind (series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (btw, the series starts with the book Left Behind, there are some prequel books now but I havnt read them and you wont need to either to get into the story. I guess the prequel books are about the anti christ growing up) Last edited by Lost Ranger : 12-15-2006 at 02:52 PM.

12-16-2006, 12:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nebuchadnezzar Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,462 +0 Internets	Well, it was suppose to be a trilogy, so they've been milking for awhile. __________________ I eat grass like an ox and shat like a fox.

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12-15-2006, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chamsie Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 80 +1 Internets	I'll second this. An awesome series even if you are not religious, such as myself. If you don't have a basic understanding of Revelations in the bible, just go in reading this knowing that according to the Bible these events really will take place. I will say, while not preachy for the most part, I stopped around book 9 because a lot of stuff started to happen in the book that isn't found in the bible. It felt like they were just dragging the story out to milk it for another 3 books. Maybe thats just me though. I managed to find all the books, in hardback, for 35 bucks on ebay after shipping about a year ago. Definitely worth it for that price.

12-16-2006, 12:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lost Ranger Still Lost Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,667	Im not sure how it would be possible to put all of this into 3 books. Ill admit that perhaps around book 11 it started to feel just a bit "milked" (even then no where near as bad as WoT) but up to that point the story wasnt forced and they didnt have to stall at all. They gave each judgement and event plenty of detail so they didnt have to force anything. Im glad they didnt try to force it all into 3 books heh, they would of had to leave out a ton of cool shit.

12-16-2006, 01:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wildstone Meh Join Date: May 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 506 +0 Internets	The first three books were excellent, but its pretty obvious they were just milking it after that... Hell, they finished up the whole series and NOW they are doing a "Pre-Series" set of books. And the authors have stated they want to do a sequel series. I mean, come on. I understand its popular and all, but its time to move on to a new idea.

12-17-2006, 11:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lost Ranger Still Lost Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,667	They havnt completed the series yet. Kingdom Come, is the 13th and final book to the main series and it comes out in march '07. This is the only book that confuses me. If you have read the 12th book Glorious Appearing then you know that I mean. I am not sure what could be left to say as GA seemed to wrap everything up perfectly. Im gonna say its a "milk" but I might be surprised by a good book /shrug. Only a few months till we know.

12-17-2006, 04:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
GrobbeeTrull Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 1,685 +0 Internets	I really enjoyed the first 7 or 8 or so. I sort of lost interest after that, but I dig the Post-Apocalyptic fiction, in any genre.

12-18-2006, 09:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
venomus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 15 +0 Internets	Granted, I only read the first of the series, but I thought it was a poorly written generic "thriller". The prose was so simplistic it made Dan Brown into a downright literary master. Plus, the visions of the Rapture, etc weren't nearly hellish enough. When I think Armageddon and Revelations, I think those horrific renaissance paintings (naked, diseased people fornicating with goats and shit), not a group of all-American heroes forming "Tribulation Force". Plus, the authors blatantly use the series as a ministry opportunity. Savvy evangelism, yes, but I'd rather read a book that stands on its own, rather than the extension of slick proselytizing franchise. If you want a vision of apocalypse, read The Stand.

12-18-2006, 09:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
Faltigoth Army Football forever!! Who needs wins, anyway?!? Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 781 +0 Internets	Well, one of the authors is a fundamental Christian minister and the other one owns the Christian Writer's Guild, so yeah, you have to expect a bit of evangelism there. I always thought this series was a pretty damn good vision of what the Book of Revelation happening in the present day would look like; I haven't read all of it yet but I am sure I will get around to it.