Customer Reviews

The Mark: The Beast Rules The World (Lahaye, Tim F. Left Behind Series.) (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(112)
4 star:		(57)
3 star:		(45)
2 star:		(28)
1 star:		(52)

 

 

I've enjoyed these books and yet I have one REAL BIG problem with them so far. Everyone knows that when you read fiction you have to be prepared to suspend disbelief and tell yourself: "Okay, it's just a book. Everything doesn't have to make sense."

That's fine to a point.

But the LEFT BEHIND series is about events described in the Bible, and it seems to me should be held to a little bit higher standard. I don't expect perfection: the Bible is perfect, everything else is just a book. But I do expect a Christian novel to be thought out well enough by the author(s) that it's not shot full of holes by anyone with a high school education.

I have struggled with this since I read the first book in the series, but have not wanted to criticize the books when there was nothing better on the subject out there to recommend. Well, now I've found something, THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY by James BeauSeigneur. BeauSeigneur has done so much to insure credibility and accuracy in all the broad range of areas he covers in his series, that you'll find yourself believing it could all be true. And the way the story depicts the fulfillment of end-times prophecy will have you convinced that the author's got that nailed too.

I suppose I should say that some Christians get upset because the characters sometimes use a four letter word here and there. But, guess what, folks, non-Christians do that from time to time! (Confidentially, I've heard that even Christians have been know to utter a four-letter word.) Still the profanity is very limited. If you get disgusted with a PG-rated movie, you may not want to read these books. But even this is all just part of the accuracy. Does anyone who's read LEFT BEHIND really believe that Leon Fortunado NEVER cusses???

I could go on, but suffice it to say that if you want to read an end-times series that doesn't strain your ability to believe what you're reading, THE CHRIST CLONE is for you.

Okay--I had to give it two stars..because although it's written on a 5th grade level (and thats being generous), with 2 dimensional characters, unbelievably naiive plot line, totally ludicrous scenarios and 375 average pages of "filler"--guess what? we're still reading it...so I figure the marketing alone ought to be worth at least a star-- even if we read it for no other reason that to reassure ourselves that if they can do it...maybe we CAN give up our day jobs :-)

I've read all three, The Left Behind series, The Christ Clone Trilogy, and We All Fall Down. The winner: The Christ Clone triology. We All Fall Down (Cauldwell) I actually found offensive. Can the guy write a page without using four letter words?? He does EXACTLY what Left Behind does---only on the other end of the scale. Very disappointing, and started with such a very promising premise. The Christ Clone Trilogy however, is really quite an enjoyable read. An Antichrist that you can see folks following--one that you even LIKE at points--scary thought right? :-)

As for Tim and Jerry---you HAVE to know gentlemen...you can't tell me that you're proud of this work---you ARE capable of putting together nouns and verbs coherently--you should at least address your readers --you know the ones--the ones who are making you more wealthy by the minute--at least respect them enough to put out what you obviously went to college to learn..

Left Behind certainly isn't a bad book. In its own way, the series is kind of exciting and it's pretty fun reading an interpretation of the Endtime. The writing isn't really good, but it's bassically unobtrusive. You never stop and get shocked at how badly it's written, although you also don't stop and marvel at how beautiful a particular sentence is constructed. Nothing in it to offend, although nothing in it to really provoke thought or reflection.

All in all, it's pretty much an interesting light snack. My feeling though, is, why bother with that when there's so much more out there. Christ Clone Trilogy by Beausinger is a fresh take on the idea that's every bit as well written as Dune or any other science fiction series. Caldwell's We All Fall Down is another great novel, the best of the three in my opinion. It's certainly not a middle of the road novel. The language can be harsh, although it seemed entierly appropriate to the characters situation- when being strapped down and tortured, I would guess harsh language would escape the tongue-, the plot is sometimes brutal, although it should be considering that it's hell on earth, and the characters don't always make the right decisions, even when they're Christians. But I found all of that to be to its credit. Even when I disagreed with what was happening or being said, I was always engaged in the novel. I was never just watching the words pass as in Left Behind, but was always fully engaged with the characters and the plot. These are characters who are faced with horrible circumstances and have to make decisions. Sometimes they are wrong, sometimes not, and often it's hard to judge. But in reading that, you're forced to think, to reflect. No one really seemed to make any inner choices in Left Behind, so there wasn't much engagement. Certainly it didn't spur me into thinking or questioning my own relationship with God the way Caldwell's novel did.

Left Behind isn't bad. But Christ Clone Trilogy and We All Fall Down are brilliant. Why settle for not bad when brilliant is out there?

My disappointment with "The Mark" began as I was standing in the checkout line to buy this much awaited, much anticipated book. Leafing through it I noticed that while it was the same size and PRICE, the print was bigger and the lines were almost double spaced. Hmmmmm. Kinda stretching this one, eh boys? Then there was the actual story line. I'd previously described these books to a friend as "the worst written books I've ever loved." No one has ever debated whether or not they're great literature, because they aren't. But they've been engrossing and exciting, and they give you lots to think about. And, up until book 8, I felt they were right-on regarding scripture. Unfortunately, for the purpose of being able to keep up their covert operations within the palace of the beast, they've created a character that has both the mark of Christ AND the mark of the beast. That is a very dangerous and utterly anti-scriptural idea to plant in people's heads. I can't by into it even for the sake of fiction, and I don't like it. Add that to the fact that instead of writing a thoughtful and engaging book about taking "The Mark," what that will be like and what it will mean, they've obviously just thrown together a "filler" in the hopes of continuing the money train to book 9. Personally, I feel the anointing is gone and they've lost me as a reader. Besides, I've become bored with the characters. They're all beginning to annoy me. Oh well. I did enjoy books 1-7, flaws and all.

Anyone who has enjoyed the Left Behind series owes it to themselves to read The Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur. The entire CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY is very well written. I simply couldn't put them down. I suggest you read this series with a highlighter nearby so you can mark things and research them for yourself. This is made easier by BeauSeigneur's use of footnotes.

The Christ Clone Trilogy will surprise you with nearly every page. I highly recommend this trilogy to anyone who wants to understand biblical prophecy and the book of Revelation. BUY THESE BOOKS, READ THEM, GIVE THEM TO YOUR PASTOR TO READ, AND BUY COPIES FOR YOUR FAMILY!

I kept reading Left Behind hoping it would get better. It didn't. I also read (actually started reading) We All Fall Down, but there the foul language was SO EXCESSIVE I couldn't keep going. Finally I read the books of The Christ Clone Trilogy (why do I feel like Goldilocks here?) and it was "just right!" Actually it was GREAT! So if you're tired of Buck and Rayford playing James Bond, and all the females in the LB world cooing, have a look at The Christ Clone Trilogy.

Now that you've read THE MARK and you're waiting for book 9, allow me to suggest another great series on the endtimes, THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY by James BeauSeigneur.

BeauSeigneur's take on the Rapture, the Ezekiel 38-39 war (both in book 1), the Trumpet Judgments (book 2), and on soooo much else is not only the most original (while staying within the bounds of scripture), it's also the most believable depiction I've ever seen. The 6th Trumpet Judgment (in book 2) and the 5th Bowl Judgment (in book 3) will scare you like you've never been scared before!

And the evidence BeauSeigneur gives for the Gospel (in book 3) is undeniable proof to anyone willing to listen that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. Get these books for your unsaved friends!

I loved Left Behind and the next few books, but the last few have really started to stretch credulity. I can't see how these people have so many jets, helicopters, high-tech gadgets (so high tech that they have them, but the ruler of the world doesn't?)readily available to them. I have read all eight books in less than two months. I'm sure I will finish the series (12 books, I believe) as they come out, just to see how LaHaye and Jenkins interpret end-time prophecies.

I do recommend that anyone who reads these practice discernment. While this may very well be how things play out, there are many valid opinions/interpretations within Christianity. These books may be fun (at least the first few were) and they may be interesting escapism, and HOPEFULLY they will give readers pause to examine their own relationships with Christ. However, they are NOT theology, and they are NOT the Bible. There is a real danger in reading these sort of books INSTEAD of the Bible. Read the Bible, learn to interpret scripture for yourself. Do not allow works of popular fiction to take the place of Bible study. These books are easy reads -enjoy them, but take the real challenge first.

I finished the series in a matter of two months. I just couldn't stop reading this incredible series. But I have got to say that if I hadn't read the Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur I would have missed out on the best end of times books I have ever read. This series seriously had me thinking the bad guys were good and the good guys bad until the third book in this series "Acts of God". I suddenly figured out how the antichrist's deception could really happen. So much more realistic then the left behind series. I sure hope book 10 picks up the pace!

I have been an avid reader of this series since its inception and I feel that each book in the series is getting progressivly worse. There were so many character and plot developments that were ignored or missed in this story that I feel like I colud have completely missed it and yet be up to date with the series. I feel as if the authors are milking this series for all its worth, and to continue producing a text every six months they are sacrificing all of the elements of the story.

So many characters and story lines were just ignored by the authors. Let's get into the head of the new Carpathia - heck you are dealing with the Antichrist here!! What about Fortunato, Carpathia's loyal aide? And what is this new "Co-operative" all about? How about christian organizations in other regions of the world?

I am a christian so i don't want to sound cold or heartless, but i felt that the book spent too much time trying to evangelize and not enough time on the good stuff involved in the story. If I wanted a text on evangelization or apoligetics I would have spent my time with different texts. I know that there are many non-believers that are purchasing the book, but i felt that there were too many altar calls in the book.

All in all I would prefer that the authors worked on putting out one excelent book every year than trying to meet the production schedule they presently have. It's embarassing to see a book with 3 inch margins and 14 pt text placed on the market just to make a buck. I look forward to a better effort in the future.