End Times Fiction A Biblical Consideration Of The Left Behind Theology [Paperback]

Gary DeMar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 6, 2001

Tim LaHaye contends that his bestselling Left Behind series (with Jerry Jenkins) is "the first fictional portrayal of prophetic events that are true to the literal interpretation of Bible prophecy." Gary DeMar takes issue with this bold claim, contending that the theological premise the series is based upon is only one interpretation of the book of Revelation.

DeMar examines the series in four distinct sections: The Left Behind Sensation; Putting Tim LaHaye's Literalism to the Test; the Theology Behind Left Behind; and What Does it Mean and What Does it Matter? Readers will learn to develop a simple method of Bible interpretation and to assess the impact of Left Behind on the future of the church and our society.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With the phenomenal success of the Left Behind apocalyptic fiction series, it's inevitable that critiques will follow. DeMar, the author of 16 books, including two on biblical prophecy, challenges the theological premise that underlies the popular novels about end times and the return of Christ. While admitting that Left Behind coauthor Tim LaHaye's sincerity about the evangelistic impact of the novels is unquestionable, DeMar asserts that not only is Left Behind a work of fiction, but the "theological premise upon which it is based is also a work of fiction." As he constructs his case, DeMar strives to make the information accessible to a lay audience by incorporating scenes from the Left Behind series, snippets from popular movies such as You've Got Mail and dialogue lifted from his own radio show scripts. Unfortunately, a thick jungle of prophetic references and Scripture notations soon tangles the average reader into knots. The last section, entitled "What difference does it make?," finds DeMar unconvincing. Readers interested in biblical prophecy might be absorbed by DeMar's case against LaHaye's theology, and critics of the popular series may appreciate DeMar for offering a different perspective on the New Testament book of Revelation. However, fans of the Left Behind series who have wondered about the novels' theology and are looking for a clear, persuasive read will likely put this down after the first few pages. (Oct.)Forecast: Desecration, the ninth novel in the Left Behind series, has a pub date of October 30; this critique is shrewdly timed to release on the very same day. Expect the renewed hype for the Left Behind series to help spur sales of this rather lackluster rebuttal.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785266429
• ISBN-13: 978-0785266426
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,318,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary is a graduate of Western Michigan University (1973) and earned his M.Div. at Reformed Theological Seminary in 1979. In 2007, he earned his Ph.D. in Christian Intellectual History from Whitefield Theological Seminary. Author of countless essays, news articles, and more than 30 book titles, and president of American Vision, Gary also hosts The Gary DeMar Show, and History Unwrapped--both pod and vodcasted. You can locate them on AmericanVision.org and on Youtube. Gary has lived in the Atlanta area since 1979 with his wife, Carol. They have two married sons and are enjoying being grandparents to their grandson. Gary and Carol are members of Midway Presbyterian Church (PCA).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally someone rightly divides the Word of truth..., November 15, 2001

By 

Just Bill (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: End Times Fiction A Biblical Consideration Of The Left Behind Theology (Paperback)

I must admit, I get caught up in Left Behind mania from time to time. I've read half of the books. I've listened to a few on CD in the car. I've met co-author Jerry Jenkins on his book tours. I even think it's great when local morning newscasters talk about reading the latest book in the series.

However, all emotionalism and hype aside, something always made me uneasy about the books and their theology. I just couldn't seem to find the verses to support their multi-layered, fanciful theology.

End Times Fiction tells me why: the verses don't exist.

I just finished reading Gary DeMar's book and now I'm beginning to wonder what Tim LaHaye is up to (besides building a massive marketing empire based around his books -- much like Bruce Wilkinson has done with his ridiculous Prayer of Jabez book). If the Bible is as clear as DeMar indicates that it is, why is LaHay continuing to support, defend and propagate a theology as flawed as any a member of a cult would put forth.

End Times Fiction slowly, carefully and clearly tackles each of the theological points found in LaHaye's enormously popular Left Behind books (and in his recently published -- or re-issued -- books on prophecy), comparing LaHaye's statements with verses he uses to support them. They don't match. What LaHaye is telling the world just can't be found in Scripture.

If you've read the Left Behind books (as I have), or know someone who has, or if you've been scratching your head trying to figure out how all of the the weeks, years, events and predictions fit with Scripture, you need to read this book and pass it along.

Scripture isn't as esoteric as LaHaye makes it out to be. Nor is it as convoluted and spooky.

Gary DeMar's book makes things very clear and plain.

But be forewarned: After reading this book, you won't look at the Left Behind books -- or their author Tim LaHaye -- the same way ever again.

Yet, you may just come away with an even stronger, more biblically sound and solid, faith. And that's a very good thing, indeed.

38 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for "Left Behind" fans and non-fans alike, April 13, 2002

By 

Tom Hinkle (Tulsa, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: End Times Fiction A Biblical Consideration Of The Left Behind Theology (Paperback)

There is little doubt that the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins is a phenomenon unparalleled in the history of Christian publishing (with the possible exception of "The Prayer of Jabez"). The problem is, even though the series is presented as fiction, it is a thinly-veiled work of misguided theology. Of course, the theology presented by these books is the very popular modern theology of dispensation premillenialism, complete with the requisite doctrine of the pre-trib rapture. In "End Times Fiction", Gary DeMar takes each pet doctrine of this eschatalogical viewpoint and examines them one-by-one in light of the clear teaching of the Bible. When compared with what the Bible actually teaches, the theology that undergirds the "Left Behind" series is found seriously flawed.

So many today make the assumption that there will be a "rapture" before a seven-year tribulation period, that Russia will attack Israel, that there will be a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and that there will be one person called the Antichrist that will lead a one-world government. They believe that the seven churches in the first chapters of Revelation correspond to different periods in the church age rather than actual churches that were in existence at the time the book of Revelation was written. It would be rather eye-opening to these people to see that these interpretations have very little support in the actual text of the Bible. DeMar does a masterful job showing that most of what Revelation and what is known as the "Olivet Discourse" of Jesus has already taken place with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Unlike some texts dealing with this view of eschatology ("The Last Days According to Jesus" by R.C. Sproul comes to mind), this book is very easy to follow and to understand. It is a "must read" in today's climate of pop-religion.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthwhile read., July 1, 2004

By 

Ian H. Clary (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: End Times Fiction A Biblical Consideration Of The Left Behind Theology (Paperback)

I first heard of Gary DeMar on The Bible Answer Man radio show a couple of years ago. At the time I held to the five points of Calvinism, but attended a dispensational church. To say the least, I was confused as to what to believe concerning the end times. By default, I held to a rapturist viewpoint, with premillennialism and the seven year tribulation to boot. But hearing DeMar blew my mind. I was driving home from church on a Sunday evening and had to keep driving to listen to the whole show - I was floored by his denials of all of the major tenets of what I was taught. And the fact that ole Hank endorsed him gave him credibility in my eyes (not that I agree with everything Hank says - ie his views on election etc).
The Bible Answer Man is rerun later in the week, so when it played again I was with my fiancee and we both listened to it. By this point DeMar had me questioning, but I left it at that. Oddly enough, I went to our local Christian bookstore a month or so later and saw End Times Fiction (which was surprising, cause it's not a good store!). I bought that, as well as Hoekema's The Bible and the Future and Riddlebarger's A Case for Amillennialism.
I read DeMar first and was struck by it. He's very readable and easy to understand and he made a great critique of much of what I believed.
The strenght of the book was his ability to tear down the dispensational arguments of Left Behind. It became easy to see that Biblically there is no secret rapture or any of the other unique distinctives that dispensationalism holds to.
The weakness, for me, was that DeMar didn't do the greatest job at constructing a new theology for me to consider. I was left without dispensationalism, but didn't really have anything to build in its stead. What he did provide was hard for me to believe - I have since rejected many of his preteristic and postmillennial views.
So, I rejoiced at DeMar having exposed the truth about Left Behind's theology, but was scared because I didn't really know what to believe. Trying to read Hoekema's book was horrible (although it is an EXCELLENT treatment of the subject) because I had no foundation to understand what he was talking about. I would recommend Riddlebarger as an intro to eschatology.
I also would recommend DeMar but with the caveat that you should read it alongside other books to help find a place to rest eschatologically (pardon the pun).