Customer Reviews

Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages (Left Behind #11)

5 star:		(103)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(43)
1 star:		(43)

 

 

I am a HUGE fan of Left Behind! I've been reading since December 1995 and even have first printings of all 11 Left Behind books in near mint condition -- my prized possessions! I've read the series all the way through 6 times and will do it again just before Glorious Appearing is released in March 2004. Anyway, I've been seing all the recommendations for In His Image by James BeauSeigneur and then I saw him on the Harvest Show on TV. Just to check it out, I bought the book and it really is a GREAT book. It's not at all like Left Behind even though it's about the end times. Instead you see things more from the perspective of non Christians who don't know what's hapening because things aren't as obvious as they are in Left Behind. Anyway, it looks like a really good series and all three books will be out before Glorious Appearing comes out in March, so it give me some exciting reading while I wait.

Also recommended: In His Image: Book 1 of The Christ Clone Trilogy

Okay, I'll admit I'm hooked on the Left Behind Series. I've now read all eleven books, and I'll definitely read the last one when it's released. There's enough good content to peak my interest and keep me going through the boring parts. It's like being hooked on a soap opera. I'm too caught up in the story and the characters to stop caring now.

However, while I'll continue to read the Left Behind series, I have to agree with those who say that "The Christ Clone Trilogy" by James BeauSeigneur and "Conquest of Paradise" by Britt Gillette are better books and much more realistic end times scenarios. As an added bonus, since "The Christ Clone Trilogy" and "Conquest of Paradise" are both complete stories, you don't have to worry about the rapture coming before you finish reading them!

It seems it just might be that long before the last book comes out - when? About nine years after the first one!

Christian authors have different ideas on how Biblical prophecy will occur. Whether it's Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' LEFT BEHIND series or James BeauSeigneur's CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY, the areas of agreement are much greater than where they disagree. Yes the focus is different - LEFT BEHIND looks at the end times through the eyes of believers and the CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY looks through the eyes of unbelievers - but where it's important, they're in agreement. The most exciting thing is that through these books (and other end times books) Christians are drawing close to Christ and nonChristians are hearing the Gospel and many are accepting Christ!

The LEFT BEHIND SERIES is one of the best series of Christian books I've ever read, and certainly, it's one of the best end times fiction series, although IN HIS IMAGE and THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY by James BeauSeigneur are also good. So far, the series has zoomed since book one, when the rapture occurred and those "left behind" were forced to grapple with the implications of missing friends and family members. I love this series, and I can't wait for the conclusion. Left Behind fans should also read CONQUEST OF PARADISE. It does in one book what Left Behind has taken many to do, and the book presents ideas for the possible rise to power of the antichrist that I've never heard before. If you even like the LEFT BEHIND SERIES just a little bit, then you'll love CONQUEST OF PARADISE! I'm looking forward to reading ARMAGEDDON. It should be one of the most exciting books in the series.

The authors have 'dragged' out the last couple of books and it's very discouraging. They should stick to their earlier trend. However, in spite of this, I am anticipating this new book and will have it in my hands the day it hits the stand. Also, for anybody iterested, The Christ Clone Trilogy series is fantastic and readers of the Left Behind series will love these three books. I had to order them special after I tripped over a old review . They were written over 10 years ago. However, I noticed in BN a few weeks ago, they have been re-released in hard back. I can't recommend them enough. Everybody I have lent them to loved them. Talk about the edge of your seat!!!!!!!

Here it comes again: what I've previously referred to as the evangelical euphoria, wherein countless and ostensibly "crazed" evangelicals storm the bookstores for their copies of a recently-released Left Behind novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. In this case it's book number 11, Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages.

We all know the routine: the novel releases amongst much media fanfare, people everywhere buy the hardback and audiobooks, the book hits the Amazon.com, USA Today and New York Times fiction bestseller lists for a few months, and eventually the hoopla disintegrates only to be revived by the release of the next volume.

Reviews of Armageddon will cover this approximate range:

- Yes-yes-it's-the-best-ever-can't-wait-for-the-next-volume! ...

- Just-okay-but-the authors are-really-really-pushing-it-with-this-twelve-book-thing ...

- I-used-to-really-like-these-books-but-after-book-number-X-I-started-setting-fire-to-my-autographed-copies ...

- This-is-horrible-theology,-just-horrible,-and-me-a-Christian-myself-and-all,-just-horrible ...

- Not to mention the good-natured grumblings from the occasional irritable Atheist who can't believe a "religious fiction" series is stomping everything else in the fiction market.

Armageddon resembles The Remnant more than any other series novel: unlike previous Left Behind installments, since Desecration plot has become more important than characters. Jenkins' aloof, severely journalistic obituary-like writing style hasn't changed. Some inappropriate humor is inserted in the most ridiculous places. And I fear I'm not the only one who can't get over a demon named "Cankerworm." Please, there should be a CBA-spearheaded petition to allow demon-naming rights to Frank Peretti alone. Clearly there are better ways to tribute the late C.S. Lewis ("The Screwtape Letters") than naming a demon "Cankerworm."

Armageddon starts up right about where we left off, one year from the end of the 7-year Tribulation period. The prophesied fifth Vial Judgment has struck, and the Global Community capital city of New Babylon is plagued in solid darkness. Only believers can see, which makes for a convenient escape for amazing Chinese techno-kid Chang Wong who has been surviving in there as the info-gathering "mole" for Christians for way too long.

Meanwhile the AntiChrist, who also keeps track of prophecy, is ready to amass armies for the final attack against Jews, Christ-followers, Muslims, and generally anybody else who doesn't exactly see eye-to-eye with him on issues.

Readers will be weeping more of this novel than others, for author Jenkins, having kept everyone's favorite characters alive for years, is now obligated to "find [many of] them dead" all in one book. He writes about these awful circumstances with the emotional impact of a FedEx mailing form, yet for those who have followed many of these characters since their inception in late 1995, the impact will be devastating.

What is also devastating is the "cliffhanger" -- which seems so notoriously contrived that after finishing the novel I set it down with a smirk rather than a gasp. But, Armageddon will do for now. Glorious Appearing should be good. But like the return of Christ ... well, I'm afraid the end of this series is truly only the beginning of what will follow.

This book was well worth a read, i was so excited in getting it the day it came out that i ended up finishing it in a few hours. If you are already an avid fan of this great series you will not be disappointed with the 11th installment, it has everything you are expecting and then some. Enjoy it.

Book 11 in the Left Behind series.

When I began reading this book, I was a little hazy on what had happened in the previous books. I still remembered the major events, but some minor events of importance I was lost on. I didn't remember a couple of the characters (ones that had been recently introduced). After 50 pages I remembered what I needed to and the context filled me in on the rest and the story started to really get going.

I've noticed complaints about the actions of some characters. The only one who I think acted out of character was Chloe. Her actions at the beginning of the book were both stupid, and I think a little out of character. It served the plot, though, so we can gloss over it. There were some surprises in character action near the end, but these were explained well enough that I don't feel as if they were misplaced.

The usual complaints about the series apply to this book. The quality of writing is not that great, I still have problems with naming one of the primary characters "Buck", and much of the books seem to be heavy handed. However, when I'm reading the book I forget all about that and I can't put it down. There is something incredibly compelling about the Left Behind series. Maybe it is seeing God take such a prominent role in a popular novel. Maybe it is just how quickly and easily the series reads, but there is something about it that makes me want to keep reading and gets me involved in the story. Maybe it is God working through these books, if such a thing is possible.

The story begins late in the Tribulation. A plague of darkness and pain is on the city of New Babylon, the capitol of the Anti-Christ, Nicolae Carpathia. There are questions of whether or not the Safe House is still safe and Chloe Steele-Williams gets captured by the GC (Global Community) troops. Believers must get out of New Babylon as God's further judgment is coming. As the book progresses, the story jumps several months and the final judgments from Revelation are unleashed. More than one major character is killed in this book, so there is some shakeup going on in the cast of characters. Which ones and in what way I will leave for the reader to find out.

I am not blind to the flaws and faults of this series, but as I read the books, the flaws and faults simply do not matter. I won't pretend that these should win awards for the craft of writing, though. I think that one reason why the Left Behind books are so compelling (this one included) is that we get to see one possible interpretation of how the Book of Revelation may play out. I am a Christian, so I do believe that Revelation is true, but I don't claim to have any interpretation of it myself nor do I believe that this is necessarily the correct interpretation. It does help in imagining the End Times, though. The next book is to be the last book, and I am curious as to how Jenkins will write the second coming of Christ (LaHaye is the theologian, Jenkins the author).

I'm not sure if the authors have tired now and wish they hadn't planned on a series of twelve books or not. The last two books seem as if the authors have taken a small premise and stretched it so very thin almost to the point of breaking. The pattern of chopping scenes is becoming very tiring and cliched. When taken for so long, you feel as if you deserve a better reward at the end than you are getting. The climax is so abrupt and has become more disappointing with each book. Major character defections are going to make the next book probably more interesting than the last few, but then it almost has to be. I've enjoyed the series overall, but have been greatly disappointed by each of the last three.

They've lost it. Tim & Jerry had a GREAT gripping, and wonderful soap opera all the way up books 9, Remnant pretty much signaled to me they don't know what to do with the series. It was a poorly written book, with no real purpose other than to sell the series. Armageddon is *worse*, they don't know what to do with the stories. I *loved* the interactions in the earlier books, the land they set up in the earlier books was rich, and fun (as fun as the rapture can be), and really kept me reading. Now, as expected, humans cannot really imagine the end of times as we know it, and this book proves it. Virtually all the book is devoted to preaching, no story. Why couldn't they have done it like the earlier books?? Everything was integrated with a story, it actually made me pick up a bible, and read Ephesians -- this book is just... blah. We should start a petition to redo it, and Remnant for that matter. I'm really sad the series has gone to the wayside. I'll remain a solid fan of the previous books though.