At the risk of being ridiculed and insulted again, as a christian, I have another question.?

Question

Did any of you read the Left Behind series of books about the end days? I read every one of them and feel like I learned a lot, as all of it was biblically bases on Revelations. I had never even heard of The Rapture and knew very little about Antichrist. This series of books took the end of days prophesy literally, not figuratively. Did anyone read this series? What do you make of it? Do you believe in the Rapture? The number we will all be ordered to to take but will go to h**l if we take it? What did you think of this series of Books and the author's take on the "end times". And yes, I know it's fictional, but You can follow it along in revelations, so it bears giving it some serious thought.

Answer 1

No, and I have no intention of reading them.  Do you know that Revelations doesn't even have any concept close to the Rapture.  The Rapture was made up by a monk in the middle ages.  So, it's not exactly biblical.

Answer 2

The Rapture is not biblicaly based.  It is a recent idea from the seventh day adventists.

Answer 3

The rapture isn't in the bible. Although some sects try to twist things that ARE in the bible and try to make those things support the idea of a rapture.

Revelations was a dream of some guy about 100 years after the rest of the bible was written. Most scholars believe it was a veiled political story about the Romans. Whether it was or was not... if someone today had a dream and wanted to add it to the bible, would you have a problem with it?

Not trying to make fun of you at all, but I have read and watched many things on the subject.

However I plan to read the books some day out of curiosity.

Answer 4

I make of it that God is giving us fair warning. He is giving us every opportunity to believe and turn from our wickedness. Yes the rapture is real. Think not that the bible and everything in it is figurative. Most of the word of God is laid out plain and simple.

For example:

Psalms 37:4     Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

HOW CAN WE DELIGHT IN HIM?

Isaiah 58:13    If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

58:14    Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

See how plain and simple that was laid out. He that hath an ear let him hear. The rapture is real and very near dear heart. Get your house ready. They didn't believe Noah either, but that didn't stop God from manifesting what he had already fore warned.

Answer 5

well, i picked up one of the "Left Behind" books in a Waldens once and i read a few pages.  i've seldom read such poorly written tripe in all my life.  the sentence structure was just atrocious.  the big margins and huge typeface was like that of a book for preteens.  i can only imagine that folks who take such a poorly written book with any seriousness are very immature indeed.  of course, i haven't read the series.  i don't waste my money on trash.

i saw the Left Behind movie.  how hilarious!  i especially liked how the clothes of the chosen ones were neatly folded on the spot from which they ascended.  had to wonder if there are such things as clothe folding angels.

PS yikes! you paid a lot for the books?!  i see em at the flea market all the time for .25 each.  wow! you folks are easy marks.

Answer 6

I was going to read the books.  I researched them first.  I came across a website run by the authors of the books.  I became a member of their website and fan club to see what they were all about.  They would send me little bits of information about prophecies.  Then they would ask me to upgrade to a membership for $4.99 a month.  I then realized they weren't interested in the truth, rather profiting from God's books.

Since then, I haven't been interested.

Answer 7

i do consider it utterly hilarious that there are people actually waiting for this "rapture" to happen.

Answer 8

Yes I read the series and I liked it

I believe in the rapture or the catching away by God of those who have salvation in Jesus. God talked about it.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Matthew 24:36-51

Answer 9

the left behind series is nothing more than pure fantasies,rapture =nonsense.

Answer 10

It's full of sh*t made by propagandist creationists. It has nothing behind the Bible other than obscure lines from the Bible.

Answer 11

You need to read the book:

Rapture: The End Times Error That Leaves the Bible Behind by David Currie

Answer 12

Why should we be surprised that you believe a work of fiction when you already depend on the bible?

There is not one single mention of Jesus in the entire Roman record - that is right - not one!!! At the same time as he was supposed to have been around there were a number of Jews claiming to be the messiah - all of whom are well recorded!!

Outside of the bible he is not mentioned in anything until many years after his supposed death!!

The Roman Emperor Constantine produced the bible and he was a pagan not god!!!   He also organized Christianity into the Holly Roman Catholic Church!!  Not in Israel or any of the countries of supposed origin but entirely Italian!!

What a wonder full disinformation and deception campaign he waged against his Christian enemies - so good in fact that Christians are still following the deception to this day!!!

Answer 13

I would love to read it.

Answer 14

I havent read the books but I wouldnt take the mark of the beast. I do believe in the rapture. Because it is in the Bible. Ask God to open your mind so you can relate to the book of revelation. I still dont get all of it and probably never will. But, I do know those who are saved will see God and live forever.  

Answer 15

I'm Atheist.

I've read them.

You do realize that this myth didn't come about until the 19th century.

It is called Dispensationalism. Please, look it up if the term is new to you.

Answer 16

I'm currently teaching through Revelation and I think the Left Behind series ought to be left behind. John was writing to the 7 churches over in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and he was bringing them encouragement from all the garbage they were having to take as citizens of Rome. I do not believe the mark of the Beast has anything to do with the future, but the past, since the number fits Caesar Nero. As for the Antichrist, you would have to read Antichrist into Revelation since the word appears nowhere there. The Rapture is in Thessalonians but I believe the Bible teaches that the catching up is the end of the world, not some kind of interlude where people disappear and the evil world that continues on.  

Answer 17

and where are you going with this?

Answer 18

The Bible is GARBAGE.

I am god, the Virgin Mary wasn't a virgin either, I raped her. Out came baby Jesus.

Answer 19

Sounds worth reading.....

http://www.biblon.com/matthew.htm

1- The Genealogy of the King.

2- The Seven Sermons of Jesus: The Speeches or Edicts or Decrees of the King:

1- The Sermon of the Mount: Chapters 5,6,7:

It is the Constitution of Christianity... and it is followed by The 10 Miracles of Chapters 8 and 9 ... the Kingdom is not just beautiful "words", but also "works", already here, on earth!.

2- Jesus Chooses the 12 Ministers of His Cabinet: Chapter 10 - Every Christian is a Prophet, a Priest, and a King

3- The 7 Parables of the Kingdom of God: Chap. 13.- The Pearl of Great Price.

4- Jesus Chooses His First Minister: Chapter 16:13-19- Peter... The Pope.

5- To the Members of His Kingdom: Chapters 18-19:The Unpardonable Sin, Christian Perfection...

6- The Reprobation of Israel: Chaps.20-23... and of the bad members of His Kingdom... you and I?

7- The End of the World: Chapters 24-25... Antichrist, Second Coming of Jesus, Rapture, Last Judgment...

3- The Works of the King: Mainly The Holy Week: The Redemption, Salvation of a Christian.

- His love and miracles: See The Gospel of St. Mark.

4-The life itself of the King: See the Gospel of St. Luke

Answer 20

becareful of using fiction to understand the revelations of God. They dont always work out the way the people assume.

Answer 21

So you learned about "The Antichrist". If you read "The Lord of The Rings" you'd learn a lot about elves. Why should one of these two be given a place in our concept of objective reality? What is the basis for such a decision?

Answer 22

I read 5 of them, I think.

I found that one girl character who wore S****y clothes and drinking to be totally unrealistic. One day she just "woke up and didn't want to wear those clothes anymore"? Bad writing, in my opinion.

Aside from that, they were written pretty well. The fact that I find the notion of Rapture for followers of just one religion of thousands or millions completely ridiculous beside the point.

Answer 23

I have not. But I would imagine that the authors took great liberties with the crazy imagery that is Revelation. Especially since nowhere in Revelation does it say Christians will be swept up to heaven, leaving their clothes behind.

Answer 24

I haven't read any of them yet, but I want to.

Answer 25

It is a rather faithful presentation of pre-tribulatiion (the rapture or removal of all those God considers true Christians happens before the  7 year period of testing).  It is a very popular understanding of certain passages from the Bible.  There are Christians who take different points of view also from scripture.  It is one of the things Christians "agree to disagree on".  I enjoyed the series and think the best part is the attempts to make teaching the Bible and leading people to Jesus part of an attractive and interesting story.  Jesus told stories to convey truth so that cant be all bad.  

Answer 26

"None of those who cry out, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of God but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. When that day comes, many will plead with me, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesised in your name? Have we not exorcised demons by its power, Did we not do many miracles in your name as well?' Then I will declare solemnly, 'I never knew you. Out of my sight, you evildoers."

Matthew 7

Do you really think Jesus needs people rewriting the book of Revelations (God didn't do a good enough job the first time around??) or does he need people healing the sick, comforting the imprisoned, giving hope to the hopeless, feeding the hungry, etc etc etc?

'If you love those who love you, what merit is there in that...And if you greet your brothers only, what is so praiseworthy about that?' Matthew 5.

Who do the Left Behind books reach out to? If you believe and listen to those who believe as you do, what merit is there in that? The value of those books is not as much as you might think them to be.

Answer 27

Did you know that the word "Rapture" isn't even in the Bible? But you can learn a whole lot about Revelation by reading just the first 3 verses..."1 A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John, 2 who bore witness to the word God gave and to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the things he saw. 3 Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it; for the appointed time is near"

If you notice, the first verse says that Revelation is presented in "signs". So it is figurative, not literal. Also, verse 3 says that the one reading it will be happy. So if what you read in those series of books scares you, then it can't be true according to verse 3.

Hope this helps you. Have a nice day!

Answer 28

I would like to recommend to you the book:

"Revelation---Its Grand Climax at Hand!"

(available only in print... maybe CD?, but not on-line)

It is a verse-by-verse explanation of the entire book of Revelation.

This is NOT in any way fictional.

You can read on-line, some of the same information (though not word-for-word the same) in the articles:

"Do You Recognize the Sign of Jesus' Presence?"  http://watchtower.org/e/20051001/article...

"Who Is the Antichrist?" :

- Why Identify the Antichrist?

- The Antichrist Exposed    

http://watchtower.org/e/20061201/article...

"The Mark of the Beast---What Does It Mean?" :

- 666--Not Just a Puzzle

- Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark  

http://watchtower.org/e/20040401/article...

"What *Really* Is God’s Kingdom?"

- It Is Superior in Every Way!  

http://watchtower.org/e/20060715/article...

"Death--The Only Remedy!"

- What Is Meant by “Resurrection”?

- Who Will Be Resurrected?

- Resurrection to Life in Heaven--For Whom?

- Who Will Be Resurrected to Life on Earth?  

http://watchtower.org/e/20060315/article...

"The End of False Religion Is Near!"

http://watchtower.org/e/kn37/article_01....

"Do You Know the Truth About Armageddon?"

- A Catastrophic End?

- A Happy Beginning! '

http://watchtower.org/e/20051201/article...

We offer free personal Bible studies to anyone interested.

Our main Bible study aid is available on-line only in audio format (but also in print) :

"What Does the Bible Really Teach?"

(audio > listen or download, ch x ch / app x app)    

http://jw.org/index.xjp?option=QrYQZRQVN...

http://watchtower.org/e/publications/ind...

Those who read them can see that our publications quote &/or refer to Scripture *many times* throughout! I encourage you to read those verses in your *own* Bible...  

"Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is right." --1 Th 5:21

What Does the Messiah's Coming Mean to You? :

http://watchtower.org/e/20060215/article...

Answer 29

As a strong and learned Christian, I want to warn you about putting too much emphasis on that series. I have done much study in Biblical end times prophecy, and I can tell you that LaHaye got a lot of stuff wrong. I know he purports to be an expert on the subject, but I just don't know where he gets his ideas. Yes, I read up to about book 8 or 9, and I just couldn't go any further. To get a better and more accurate understanding of the end, I suggest the following reading list to accompany your study of Revelation and Daniel:

1. The End Time Prophesies of the Bible - David Haggith

2. The Last Days According to Jesus - R.C. Sproul

3. The Kingdom Within - John Sanford

Answer 30

Hey, don't worry about ridicule or anything like that.......Messiah was ridiculed, cursed, kicked, beaten, and He said we would suffer too.  Don't let it bother you, just keep looking up!

I did not read any of the books, because there is no biblical backing that there will be a "secret rapture" anywhere in the scriptures.  2nd Thess. 2 states that Messiah will not come back until the man of sin, the son of perdition stands in Jerusalem saying he is God.  Also, Luke 21, Matt. 24, and Mark 13, Messiah says there will be the tribulation and then ALL will see Him.  No secret rapture.  These books and authors will take a verse here and a verse there to back up what they are saying.  Rev. 20:4 says you take the mark, you are history.  Revelation is not the only book with end times teaching.  Read the Prophets.  Zechariah describes thermonuclear war in Chapter 5, and "it shall consume the timber and the stones" and only a nuclear war can consume stones.  There is more on end times in the Prophets than in Revelation.  You take it all and digest, and pray then study to put it all in place, as to when it happens.  The Prophets add the details.

Answer 31

There are many scholars who think the book of Revelation should not have been included in the Bible. Other 'apocalyptic' writings were excluded.

During my Christian life I have never yet heard of a single person who was saved because of reading Revelation. On the contrary, it stirs up more anti-Christian feelings and controversy than any other book of the Bible. People have become preoccupied with 'end-time' matters, to the detriment of the Christian gospel, which is all about salvation.

C.S.Lewis, a scholar and a Christian, who wrote The Chronicles of Narnia (the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series) used the Bible upon which to base his characters and events, but his message was one of redemption.

Don't concern yourself with the number of the beast or when and how the rapture will occur. Revelation is symbolic, not literal. There is great danger in thinking it is literal - for example, some people think that the number 144,000 is literal and say it proves only 144,000 people will go to heaven.