The New Brothers Grimm and Their Left Behind Fairy Tales

Book excerpt: The New Brother's Grimm examines the twelve volumes of the very popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, relating the story and the theological arguments of each book and then challenging those arguments. One of the centerpieces of their interpretation of the Bible is that the church of Christ will be raptured to be with Christ for seven years. During that time people who have been left behind will have an opportunity to accept Christ as savior, but they will have to pass through the tribulation'a time of unimaginable horror with Satan ruling the world. At its end, Christ will appear with his heavenly army and defeat the forces of Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon. After that Christ will establish an earthly kingdom lasting exactly 1000 years, during which Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit. Ultimately, the author suggests that the theological premises set forth in the series are at best dubious and at worst theological snake oil.