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Series: Left Behind

Title: Left Behind (Book 1)
Author: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
ISBN: 0-8423-2912-9
Format: Oversized Paperback 468 Pages
Overall Concept 8
Execution 8

This is the first book I’ve read that has a lot of religious concepts/issues that wasn’t a horror novel, although this book does have horrible aspects to it, in terms of murder and mass hysteria.

The overall premise of this book, and the other 11 books in this series, is that the Rapture, as outlined in the Bible, is occurring at this time in history and what exactly would that mean to people in North America today.

The Rapture is essentially the idea that just before the End of Days as outlined in the Gospels and the Book of Revelations, half of all the people on the planet would be taken directly to the kingdom of God and that the other half would have to choose their side, between God and the Antichrist, and live through the end of the world.

The authors have done a good job with the realistic depiction of what would happen if half of all people, doctors/caregivers, drivers, pilots, etc., were to mysteriously vanish and what total chaos would ensue for those left behind. They have also done a good job of choosing protagonists that are non-believing or non-practicing Christians and how they learn the truth of the situation and the Word of God.

The fact that Tim LaHaye is one of the foremost experts on Biblical prophecy and the Book of Revelation, is quite evident as the story he paints and his choice of interpretation is very believable.
Had you have told me, as little as 2 years ago, that I would not only read this book but look forward to the next, I would have ridiculed you. Now here I am recommending this book to Christians, as an entertaining way to understand what the Rapture could mean, and to non-Christians, as a entertaining read.