The Left Behind Fantasy: The Theology Behind the Left Behind Tales
The popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins has sold more than 62 million copies since the first volume appeared in 1995. Jerry Falwell pronounced it the most important series of books in the history of modern Christianity. Many readers have assumed it gives the true facts about the way the world will end and what will happen to all the people in it. But according to real biblical scholarship, this series is seriously flawed. Based on a misreading of many scriptures, including Daniel and the Book of Revelation, it has fed a kind of hysteria in the Christian populace that has led many people to reorder their existence in expectation of an impending doom and the sudden, unexpected return of Jesus. In this book, William Powell Tuck carefully and authoritatively refutes the premises and faulty theology of the Left Behind books, critiquing them in the light of genuine biblical scholarship and common sense.
"William Tuck, who is always a fair-minded and trustworthy
Christian scholar, has outdone himself in this exceptional critique
of the Left Behind books. If he says they are 'wild,' 'forced,'
'invalid,' 'abusive,' and 'troublesome'--all his words--then we had
better listen and recommend his book to every Left Behind
enthusiast we know."
--John Killinger
author of The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Harry Potter and The
Other Preacher in Lynchburg: My Life Across Town from Jerry
Falwell
"With patience and insight, Bill Tuck explains how the theology of
the Left Behind series is neither a responsible reading of the
Scriptures, nor faithful to the call of Christ to participate in
the redemption of God's creation. Based on a wide variety of
historical and theological interpretations of apocalyptic texts,
his reading uncovers the encouragement and hope these texts offer
for the challenges and rewards of contemporary discipleship."
--Stephen B. Boyd
Wake Forest University
"This badly needed book will be a welcome addition to the reader's
library and provide solid scholarship by which to examine the
claims and interpretations in Left Behind. The psychological
imagery created by the series may never be undone. But this book
can be a helpful beginning to mending minds and recovering a solid
and sensible biblical theology that is true to the text and
historical facts. Those fascinated by The Left Behind series now
have an opportunity to expand their vision and deepen their
understandings of apocalyptic."
--Paul D. Simmons
University of Louisville
"William Tuck, who is always a fair-minded and trustworthy
Christian scholar, has outdone himself in this exceptional critique
of the Left Behind books. If he says they are 'wild,' 'forced,'
'invalid,' 'abusive,' and 'troublesome'--all his words--then we had
better listen and recommend his book to every Left Behind
enthusiast we know."
--John Killinger
author of The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Harry Potter and The
Other Preacher in Lynchburg: My Life Across Town from Jerry
Falwell
"With patience and insight, Bill Tuck explains how the theology of
the Left Behind series is neither a responsible reading of the
Scriptures, nor faithful to the call of Christ to participate in
the redemption of God's creation. Based on a wide variety of
historical and theological interpretations of apocalyptic texts,
his reading uncovers the encouragement and hope these texts offer
for the challenges and rewards of contemporary discipleship."
--Stephen B. Boyd
Wake Forest University
"This badly needed book will be a welcome addition to the reader's
library and provide solid scholarship by which to examine the
claims and interpretations in Left Behind. The psychological
imagery created by the series may never be undone. But this book
can be a helpful beginning to mending minds and recovering a solid
and sensible biblical theology that is true to the text and
historical facts. Those fascinated by The Left Behind series now
have an opportunity to expand their vision and deepen their
understandings of apocalyptic."
--Paul D. Simmons
University of Louisville
Product Details
- Title : The Left Behind Fantasy: The Theology Behind the Left Behind Tales
- Author: Tuck, William Powell
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Publication Date: 2010
- ISBN: 9781498272254