The Left Behind Fantasy: The Theology Behind the Left Behind Tales

Description: 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. Endorsements: 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 Gods 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 readers 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 About the Contributor(s): William Powell Tuck has served as pastor in Virginia Kentucky North Carolina and Louisiana and was Professor of Preaching at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written more than two hundred articles for professional or scholarly journals and is the author or editor of sixteen books including The Compelling Faces of Jesus Knowing God: Religious Knowledge in the Theology of John Baillie and The Meaning of the Ten Commandments Today.