Moving Forward with Left Behind by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins - Book Report/Review Example

? Moving Forward with Left Behind (First & Last) Moving Forward with Left Behind Regardless of what culture one comes from, the term “The End Times” often resonates feelings of fear, anticipation, and excitement. Borrowing from the most famous and read book of all time – the Bible – authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins based the Left Behind novel series on future events described in the New Testament, and for more than a decade, it has caused a national phenomena. In a day and age when global crises are rife and uncertainty about the future is rampant, the apocalyptic series has thrived, and the impact on the culture has been profound. Imagine being at a baseball game, on a plane, or at home, and all of the sudden, some of those around you vanish into thin air. This may seem to be a novel idea to some, but it is actually a 2,000-year-old concept straight out of the Bible, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command… and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,” (The NIV Study Bible, 1 Thes. 4.16-17). This event is known as the Rapture, as the believers in Christ are taken from the earth, as non-believers are left behind. The first novel printed in the 16-book series brings this prediction to life, as the protagonist, Buck Williams, asks the lady sitting next to him on a plane, “’Trouble ma’am?’/ ‘It’s my Harold,’ she said… / ‘Does he need something?’/ ‘He’s gone!’/ ‘I’m sorry?’/ ‘He’s disappeared!’ (LaHaye & Jenkins, 1995, pp. 21-22). Countless explanations are given for the global disappearance of Bible-believing Christians ? from alien abductions to scientific anomalies. From this time on, those who were forewarned about the Rapture by Christians form a new group of believers who lead the rebellion against the new world order led by the emerging world power – the Global Community – with Nicolai Carpathia, the upcoming antichrist, as its leader. From the prequel, which begins with the antichrist’s birth, through the Rapture, the seven-year tribulation period, Christ’s glorious appearing, and the final battle against Satan after Christ’s millennial kingdom reigns on earth, this series does an excellent job of bringing the Scriptures to life from passages in the Bible that otherwise are difficult for many to understand. It relates to the reader the numerous events from the book of Revelation with realistic and down-to-earth characters experiencing trials across the globe. The books explore the doubts, struggles, and sinful nature of man, and effectively delineate the good and evil powers at work on the earth. These books are entertaining and informative page-turners that captivate the interest of Christians and non-believers alike. The Left Behind series is considered a breakthrough in the genre of Christian fiction, and has elicited unprecedented success ? due to a novel concept explored by its two authors. Even though Christian suspense existed before the series, LaHaye and Jenkins pioneered their works into a new realm, as authors such as Frank Peretti delved into the supernatural in other Christian fiction works, but they always dealt with contemporary issues – not ones based on future events described in the Bible. With their biblical expertise, the Left Behind authors managed to bring the prophetic Scriptures of Revelation to life with fictional characters in their suspense novels. Having founded a dozen Christian schools, a Christian college, and the Creation Research institute, along with earning two doctorates, having 25 years of pastoral experience, and authoring more than 60 non-fiction books, Tim LaHaye had much theological experience and know-how to kick off the hit series. Jenkins, with five honorary doctorates, has authored more than 175 books, owns the Christian Writers Guild and Jenkins Entertainment, and is the chairman of Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute. With their combined experience in theology, Christian literature, and contemporary issues, LaHaye and Jenkins were able to pull off the greatest feat in modern Christian literature with the Left Behind series. Since 1995, the Christian novels have proven to be a cultural phenomenon. Within the Christian Church, a new interest, anticipation, and fascination with the End Times has sprouted and grown like never before. Instead of viewing the biblical prophesies about future events as merely enigmatic and subject to interpretation, the Left Behind series has laid out Scripture in an easy-to-understand and intriguing manner, inciting Christians and non-Christians alike to take up a new interest in End Times events and interpret the Bible in a more literal sense. Just how popular have these works become? More than 80 million copies have been produced and the novels have reached five best-seller lists, including the New York Times’. Movies, soundtracks, a kids’ series, comic book-formatted novels, apparel, collectibles, and other merchandising have contributed to make the series one of the most popular Christian literary series of all time (Johns, 2002), with many active Left Behind series fan clubs still around today – more than four years since the last novel was produced. Besides the Left Behind series’ obvious contribution to pop culture in the form of literary and cinematic entertainment, a much deeper following has resulted from the works. Because the books are based on biblical teachings, they have challenged the readership ? 16 percent of which are non-Christians – to reject the sinful lifestyles and ideals Americans have grown so accustomed to ? and instead live lives according to the moral code laid out in Scriptures. With each of the main characters formerly rejecting Christian beliefs and morality early in the novels, the books have proven to be a powerful witness for Christians and non-Christians alike to shun the relativist and indulgent lifestyles promoted by Hollywood and seek the rewards and blessings found by following and pleasing God through holy and morally upright living. By seeing the transformation of the characters’ lives once they gave up their selfish and worldly lifestyles, readers are challenged to abandon the values espoused by society and adopt a higher code and calling. At a time marked with economic collapse, the toppling of regimes, the proliferation of nuclear threats, and unprecedented natural disasters, many are keeping a lookout for signs of the End Times, and much of this diligence is due to America’s recent fixation with the Left Behind series. References Barker, K. (Ed.). (1995). The NIV study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. Johns, L.L. (2002). The left behind series: Description and critique. Loren L. Johns. Retrieved from http:/www.ambs.edu/LJohns/Leftbehind/.htm. LaHaye, T. & Jenkins, J.B. (1995). Left behind: A novel of the earth’s last days, Carol Stream: Tyndale Publishing House. Read More