Fourth, we learn already on p. 70 of the first volume that the Antichrist is a peacemaker, so there are 50,000,000 readers out there who have now been forewarned that peacemakers must not be trusted. Now there are lots of peacemakers, including some intercontinental ballistic missiles, but on p. 271 we learn that the Antichrist is a pacifist peacemaker! So take warning out there, readers, never trust a pacifist! At one point Bruce Barnes claims that he cannot be the Antichrist because he does not promise peace (2:72). As I said, this is dangerous stuff! Of course, the Antichrist turns out not to be a very good pacifist. Already in vol. 1 he kills two of his colleagues with a revolver in cold blood, and then he convinces the people in the room that it was a murder-suicide. In vol. 3 he kills millions of people in Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco in a series of air strikes (2:443). Nowhere does the series suggest that he wasn’t a very good pacifist after all. The subtle message is that pacifists are not consistent and cannot be trusted. At one point someone questions whether Carpathia can possibly be the Antichrist, since he “seeks world peace, disarmament, global unity!” The response: “My point exactly!” (5:29)! There is no real hope for a “consummation” of creation as Paul describes in Romans 8; rather, in typical premillennial dispensationalist fashion, the authors expect any efforts to bring people together as hopeless, misguided, and evil. Meanwhile the intrigue continues. The members of the Tribulation Force are enjoying their new role as God’s Green Berets. They lie, they deceive, and they kill—and for the most part, they enjoy it. When Rayford Steele buys a house in New Babylon, he takes great delight in taking out a thirty-year mortgage, knowing that there are only 5½ years left in the history of the world. In contrast to Jesus’ command that his followers be straightforward and honest in their relationships with others (Matt. 5:36), the Tribulation Force makes constant use of false identities and use the services of more than one excellent born-again forger of official documents.

http://www.ambs.edu/LJohns/Leftbehind.htm

Fifth, this series is quite critical of any ecumenical dialogue (2:27-28). Ecumenism and tolerance are explicitly rejected by Christians in this series (5:189). The Antichrist is portrayed as the kind of person who accepts diversity, values tolerance, and brings people together (5:29; 5:104). Even organ donation is associated with the “worldwide Enigma faith,” which is by definition evil (6:187).
http://www.ambs.edu/LJohns/Leftbehind.htm

Although Christians in this series occasionally lament the “necessity” of killing, they successfully deal with such pangs of conscience with the recognition that, “Hey, this is war.” That makes all killing, cheating, and lying (which Christians do regularly in this series) permissible (4:359; 5:331, 348; 6:30, 46, 64; 7:90, 166; 9:185, 223). The Antichrist is the only character in this series who advocates gun control (6:263). While the Antichrist may be a pacifist, a born-again Christian can openly wish for the privilege of being “God’s hit man” (5:100)! Indeed, Rayford, the leader of the born-again Tribulation Force, longs to “quit playing and get to war” (5:20)!
http://www.ambs.edu/LJohns/Leftbehind.htm

The Christians who are the key players in this Tribulation Force for God are mostly men. Women have a role, but it is clearly subordinate to that of the men. Furthermore, these men often act like overgrown schoolboys with bad attitudes. They love making fun of their defeated foes. They are smart-alecky instead of exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit. They love their toys, whether the latest, most powerful computers, or their Humvees, or their Range Rovers, or their high-tech satellite phones, or whatever. The Tribulation Force must have the latest, most nifty gadgets and toys, regardless of the cost. This is Christian consumerism at its best … or worst! Furthermore, the Christians in this series develop an ingenious plan to develop a global black market network so that when it no longer becomes possible to buy and sell, since the mark of the beast is required, Christians will still be able to buy and sell on the black market, and thus maintain their devotion to the American consumerist lifestyle (5:335). This sounds like the immature testosterone poisoning of the planet—all in the name of Christ.

http://www.ambs.edu/LJohns/Leftbehind.htm

The whole story is pretty stupid. Basically all the christians in the world suddenly get teleported (like on Star Trek) to some spaceshipcity in outer space.Then some kind of super villain called "Nicolai" with the power to hypnotize people with his voice basically takes over the world by going on tv and the United Nations and giving a speech.The only way to avoid getting hypnotized is by accepting Jesus into your heart.So a group of people do this and also somehow manage to travel around the world (although its never explained how the get the money or time to do this)foiling the plots of this supervillain,all while a bunch of other crap that doesn't make any sense happens. At one point this "Tribulation Force" busts into an abortion clinic and "rescues" a woman.Also this supervillain "Nicolai" hates the Jews and decides to wipe them out because they believe in God.A bunch more crap that doesn't make sense happens and at one point Israel gets nuked but the Jews accept Jesus right before that happens and somehow are danceing around in the nuclear fire.And all the muslims get killed by this supervillain too but nobody "saves" them It's really awful and only goes down hill from there.Eventually "Jesus" lands in a spaceship city on top of Jeruselem,smashing it, and killing all the non believers in the world.And everything is happily ever afterIt's probably the stupidest crap I have ever read in my life.

The Left Behind book series actually showed me how stupid the "End of the World" crap is, and now I don't believe in it. It's all based upon misinterpretations of bible scripture,some of it is just made up,and it's a scam used by con men to make money

That is why the Left Behind Books will be in my lifetime left behind and forgotten. Thanks for sharing the information on the books

The more I remember about it the more ridiculous I think it isBasically, anyone can write a bunch of stupid crap and then say its a "Christian Book Series" and sell millions of copies

What I found the most offensive about the book series was that Jesus is portrayed as a psychotic maniac that slaughters millions of people upon his return and is no different than the Anti-Christ supervillain "Nicolai" except more powerful.

OMG

I thought I was watching a scene from Star Trek the next generation and The Borg had begun assimilating the earth. They even sound like them.

I'm hoping this will be an MMorpg. I'm going to recruit people to ruin it.

We are the Borg! The Assimilation force is strong!

I am not even a Christian nor do I wish to be, but I find it offensive also that they make Jesus as such a person. I truly think his efforts are misunderstood.

My understanding is that the Gospel of Thomas is the nearest to exact Q source which are the original saying of this person know as Jesus, who several researchers believe is more likely the Teacher of Righteousness who founded the Essene cult circa 200BCE, as there is no historical data that he lived 4BCE-33BCE (of thereabouts)

I agree. The historical Jesus never killed or advocated killing anyone.

Yes exactly another point to consider. If he even existed is another thing, yet neverthless if he did, I think he must have acquired somekind of knowledge from a teacher or perhaps experience in his missing years to have tried to show his people a different idealogy of coexisting in peace.

I mean afterall whatever he was teaching to get such huge followings truly disturbed the Jewish and the Romans.

I think what is taught in the common bible about his efforts are exactly the opposite of what he was trying to do.

so yes if the gospels of thomas are indicating what I stated then they are true indeed.

Of course this is all a matter of opinion for I don't know the truth about Jesus at all for I surely wasn't there at the time. Much can be written, yet exaggerated, or even misconstrued to the point where in today's society the story is irrelevant.

In any case good wishes for Jesus's efforts is a good omen for me personally

His teachings appear to mimic the Mystery religions in terms of judgment and life after , etc.

Yes,He said he came as a fullfillment of these beliefsAlmost all cultures wished for a savior,messiah,hero,etc.

Of course, he was human.He had to learn from somewhere. He was a Jewish Rabbi

However, judgment and life after are minimalized in Jewish thought, there is no Hell, for instance, etc.

Well yes I believe also he was a human. I don't think I stated otherwise, but what is uncertain by many people around the world is where did he learn his idealgy and from whom.

Some claim that he was in India learning hinduism or buddhism even. Since it is a peaceful philosophy and has existed before many of the common religions practiced today this could be a possiblity that he took this knowledge to show a different idealogy to his people when he came back.

He was born a jew but was he a jew in heart? He did question often the old testament which bothered the jews that followed it. Afterall their followings where dwindling and they needed to somehow invoke the people to follow the old testament again. The reason why the new testament was written, yet the antithesis of what Jesus was actually teaching.

You see I don't follow the bible and its teachings. I don't think the writers of the book actually wrote what Jesus was truly trying to show his people. They primarily sacrificed him to rejuvenate the old testament.

Of course I am aware that most christians disagree with this idealogy and I am usually told to go read the bible again. lol

This is a matter of opinion of course. Take what you like from it.

I of course like this story better, but nevertheless like I mentioned above, I wasn't there so we don't exactly know. Anything is possible concerning the events of Jesus for over 2000 years ago and only again if he truly existed. Some even doubt this.

The early church tried to de-emphasis Paul, for example, the writings of Justin Martyr, as Paul de-emphasizes the historical Jesus and his teachings are very much in line with Gnostic teachings. Maricon , Paul's greatest pupil was banned for stating that with Jesus the entire OT was no longer relevant.