Rapture, Revelation, and the End Times: Exploring the Left Behind Series

✍ Scribed by Bruce David Forbes, Jeanne Halgren Kilde

• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 224
• Edition: First Edition
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

An indispensable exploration of the runaway bestselling series! From Left Behind to Glorious Appearing, the books in the Left Behind series have sold over 60,000,000 copies worldwide and their popularity continues to grow. What makes the books about the apocalypse so popular? What is it about the end times that fascinates millions around the globe? And what does the Bible really say about the end of the world? In Rapture, Revelation, and the End Times, six experts gather to answer these provocative questions and more, guiding readers through the different Christian millennialist views and how they developed. They explore the historical, biblical, social and political issues raised by the Left Behind series' religious perspective, present broad questions that curious readers might ask, and encourage us to reflect on the issues the series raises. An entertaining and informative book for fans as well as skeptics, this is a top-notch resource you won't want to be without!Rapture, Revelation, and the End Times answers some of the most often-asked questions about this fascinating series of books: * How popular are the Left Behind books . . . and why? * What does the Bible say about the end times? * How did Left Behind's particular vision of the end times develop? * When do Christians think the end times will happen? * How are other religions treated in the Left Behind series? * What social and political messages appear in the Left Behind books? This MUST-HAVE book also includes a READER'S GUIDE with: * Reader's Group Discussion Questions* Full Glossary of Religious Terms * Suggestions For Further Reading from a Variety of PerspectivesThis book has not been approved, licensed, or sponsored by any of the writers, publishers, or distributors of the books in the Left Behind series nor by any person or entity involved in the creation, production, or distribution of any media based on the series.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 4
Acknowledgments......Page 5
Introduction......Page 6
1 How Popular Are the Left Behind Books … and Why? A Discussion of Popular Culture......Page 10
2 How Did Left Behind’s Particular Vision of the End Times Develop? A Historical Look at Millenarian Thought......Page 38
3 What Does the Bible Say About the End Times? A Biblical Studies Discussion of Interpretive Methods......Page 76
4 When Do Christians Think the End Times Will Happen? A Comparative Theologies Discussion of the Second Coming......Page 104
5 How Are Jews and Israel Portrayed in the Left Behind Series? A Historical Discussion of Jewish–Christian Relations......Page 136
6 What Social and Political Messages Appear in the Left Behind Books? A Literary Discussion of Millenarian Fiction......Page 172
Study Guide: Discussion Questions for Small-Group Consideration or Personal Reflection......Page 202
A......Page 206
E......Page 207
H......Page 208
O......Page 209
P......Page 210
Z......Page 211
Suggestions for Further Reading from a Variety of Perspectives: An Annotated Bibliography......Page 212
List of Contributors......Page 218
C......Page 220
J......Page 221
M......Page 222
T......Page 223
Z......Page 224