Glorious Appearing: The End of Days (Left Behind Series Volume 12) The Final Book in the Apocalyptic Christian Fiction Thriller and Suspense Series About the End Times

I've read many of the reviews here of both very negative and positive critiques of the reviewers and can honestly say I'm very surprised on how visceral both sides have reviewed this book. I believe many of the reviewers may have lost sight of 'interpretation of factual prophecy' as it is interpreted by authors providing a 'possible' fictionalized future of events that are to come, and began to espouse how incorrect the authors or spot on.Hopefully you'll find my review helpful as far as how the 'novel' is laid out and written as opposed to ones own personal beliefs and interpretations as I suppose we can all agree that the argument of the end times has divided both believers and non believers and the church itself.As a whole, I found the first third of the book very slow at times and random plot threads that seemed irrelevant to both the climax and how the previous novels set forth the action. In it's totality, I honestly believe that a lot of superfluous dialogue and descriptions were overdone and actually detracted from the pace of the book. It may have flowed much better if a good 75-100 pages of 'fluff' with no substance could have been eliminated, but then again, I understand that the authors may felt the need to put out a 400 page novel to match the length of previous installments.My other criticism of both 'Glorious Appearing' and many of the previous novels is what I personally believe as a very overly simplistic writing style that some may find either unrealistic or insulting. Not the content mind you, but interaction and conversations between characters seem to be 'dumbed' down to a sixth grade reading level at times. This may be intentional on the author's behalf as to not alienate a wide demographic of readers by using fancy words. I can understand with a subject matter like this that everyone has an opinion and you are always walking a fine line as to not to overtly offend or ostracize your readers. I believe that both LaHaye and Jenkins truly do care about the salvation of the human race and must make the content easy for anyone to understand no matter their faith. However, this can lend to a child like mentality in dialogue that some more mature people may find difficult to swallow. I kept thinking to myself that no one really actually talks like this. Even Christians that I know do not have this 1950's Leave It To Beaver like sanitized speech. In other words, while I find the story utterly fascinating and compelling, I'm often stymied with the too many 'Gosh darn & golly gee' speeches that just seem to silly.It's these two points which lead me to giving it only three stars. If the dialogue was more realistic and secular it would come across as more intelligent and most likely gain another star from me.As far as content and context to the end times itself and what is prophesized in the bible, I can't find much fault. Though I don't claim to be a theologian or bible scholar by any means, the authors interpretation paints a dim picture for non believers and really gives hope to those believers who have questions. Are the authors actually correct? I suppose only God and Christ know for sure, for it was Jesus who said "Only I know the hour and the day".Speculation of the end times has dated back to almost 2000 years, but the faithful do believe it will happen. This is a taste, a 'what if' novel that we as readers can apply today looking at events and present day technology. Christ tells us to live our lives in a state of being 'ready' for we never know when that day will actually come, and despite the arguing many reviewers have espoused here on fact versus fiction, I think they are missing the point.The overall theme is no matter how you personally think events may unfold, we must make a choice....accept or deny His fulfillment and paying our debt through His grace, love, and mercy.Myself, as a Christian, was scared to read the final chapters. Some have argued that the Jesus presented here is a hateful, mean, unloving person. I didn't get that all....For me it was moving. I am scared because this novel made me look into the mirror at times and my spirit and soul ached not to ever be separated from Christ, whether in the end times or today. I wept for my friends and my family, and even myself. Any novel that can make me look at my own spirit and raise just as many questions about my own eternal destiny therefore transcends just pure entertainment value and has me wanting to make sure I reconnect with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I think His love is shown in abundance here as he give the people of this earth chance after chance after chance, and yet they still deny, mock, argue, and trivialize over petty things. The point of the novel was to illustrate these follies and let the reader realize that we are over-complicating our decisions and analysis of these events. This is still a novel after all. In the end, it really is broken down to a very simple choice: we are either accept Him today in faith, or we deny Him.....but we must make a decision, like it or not, as the end times may be here before we know it.

LOVE this series! Book arrived in short time and in decent condition. So glad I was able to find it to continue where I left off. Riveting imagery, plenty of scripture, and good tie-backs to characters who died earlier in the series.

This is what every believer has been waiting for, the Glorious Appearing of Jesus, the King, the Saviour. The authors do a pretty good job of imagining the leading up of the appearance, as well as the events that transpire by using the Scriptures. I am glad that they only had Jesus speak words out of the Bible, and did not make up anything for Him to speak. They weave several chapters and books of prophecy together to come up with a plausible transpiring of the events, such as the sign of the Son of Man, the army of saints following Jesus, and the salvation of the remnant, as well as everyone's personal interview with their Saviour. Of course this will probably not be the way it'll actually happen, since God's ways are not our ways, but it is a plausible speculation and fun to read.Of course the Antichrist and False Prophet are schlocky characters and buffoonish, and there had to be enough hijinks and gross-outs to keep the adolescent audience in hoots and hollers. But the appearance of Lucifer was bone-chilling as he brags about what he aspires to.And since the focus is mostly on Jesus (where it should be), the reader who is interested in the characters is left wondering why Chang is more interested in Naomi than in reuniting with his parents (who got saved and martyred/beheaded), and other little details like that. But who cares? There will be sequel after sequel, or at least one showing the Great White Throne judgement where the Antichrist's cabinet members (Viv Ivins, etc.) will be judged. Also, there is likely to be a prequel, to show more about Rayford's first wife Irene and the saints who were raptured. So, yes, it is commercial and money-making. But also, there is a lot of scripture quoted. I only wish that they had little book/chapter references in the margin for those who want to look it up. It is more than the book of Revelations, for example, there are parts from Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc. But then, I'm sure the authors have a study series or will have, for those who are so inclined.

I bought this book used and got it for a very good price. This book looks new, I would not have known better if I did not pay for a used book.

First let me start by saying that I'm glad that the Left Behind books were written and I have thoroughly enjoyed them throughout the past few years. Jenkins had done a fabulous job creating these wonderful characters in which to tell the story through and throughout the series I've fallen in love with Buck and Chloe and everyone. But this is where the book falls short where it previously excelled. The death of Buck and the resulting resurrection at the end does not do the character justice. I fully expected to be in tears when Irene and Rayford meet again. Instead I was completely unimpressed and oddly unmoved. The character development took second place to long pages of scripture, which while interesting, didn't really do a lot for the story. The earlier books in the series, such as Nicolae, were much more interesting to me than the latter, which is odd, because the action takes place in the end! To me the most exciting and interesting parts were in the stables where the antichrist and Lucifer separate and when Jesus speaks to each member personally during prayer. This book is so close to being completely awesome that its extra disappointing to me that it falls short. I miss the characters and reading this book did not bring me much closer to reuniting with them.

My views on eschatology are similar to LaHaye’s but it was disappointing that his depiction of Jesus was just straight up quoting the Bible in chunks. I love reading the Bible but it made Jesus seem like a robot who just quoted himself from 2000 years ago. I get that it’s difficult to capture the amazing return of Messiah, but at least make him more dynamic.

感動です。待ちに待ったLeft Behaindシリーズのクライマックス。真実を知り敬虔にでも大胆に自分の信仰を生き抜いた主人公達は本当の人生の勝利者だと思った。真実とは何か、そして何のために生き続けるのかと言う事を考えさせられる作品でした。特にクリスマスシーズンを迎える今の時期に真実また自分の生き方を省みさせられる作品でした。

As a non-religious person I knew very little about the Christian beliefs concerning the 'Rapture' and 'Christ's Second Coming'. I also felt a series based in religion would hold very little interest for me. How wrong I was!!! The books are fast paced, exciting and real page turners. The characters are believable and you find yourself immersed in their stories, wanting them to survive. I also learnt a huge amount and found myself considering what the Bible foretells, wondering if there actually is some truth to it. The 'Left Behind' series commanded my interest, fascinated me and changed my perspective on religion. I would recommend this series to believers and to those who may be sceptical (like I was) but who are willing to approach this with an open mind and a preparedness to be taught something as well as enjoying a fascinating read. Excellent series and extremely talented authors who know what they're talking about.

This series of books is really excellent. Really entertaining, especially after book 4. I tend to know the book of Revelation in the Bible fairly well, but the books make it very straightforward to understand the order of things to come. I found myself going back to my bible quite a few times, when the book touched on something I had not fully noticed before. I have probably read this whole series about 7 times since it came out. Which tells you how much I like it. However, I do always have a tough time with the last book in the series. There is a lot of scripture in it and to be honest, I find myself speed reading those bits because they break up the flow of the story. Worth reading, but you kind of need to make yourself get through the last book. I do love how Satan is make to look foolish and arrogant throughout the story. That part of the story is great.

gives us all hope for when Jesus comes back and sorts this world out and a better age coming

Glad I read right to the end of the series, and I enjoyed this; however, in this final book, the lack of really good descriptive writing matters more than in the other, more suspenseful novels in the series. Worth reading, though, if only to complete the marathon!