Tim LaHaye's Fantasy World
Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Series Sells 50 Million Copies
Lists of Best-Selling Books
Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Series Sells 50 Million Copies
It's a series of suspense books where everybody already knows the outcome and it's sold more than 50 million copies.
"Left Behind" a series of Christian potboiler novels about the Rapture, the Antichrist, and the Second Coming [of YAHSHUA IMMANUEL YAHWEH of Nazareth the Mashiyach, a.k.a. Jesus Christ] has become a runaway hit since the first volume was published in 1995.
While far less well known, the books routinely rival the offerings of John Grisham and Tom Clancy at the top of the best seller charts, and a new comic-book serialization of the original "Left Behind" book is selling as well as such hits as the X-Men.
The ninth installment in the series of novels, Desecration, released at the end of October, topped multiple best seller lists and may claim bragging rights as the top hardcover of last year, with just three months on the shelves. The race is going to be between "Desecration" and Grisham for the top fiction hardcover title of 2001.
The series, whose only setback has been a movie that did poorly at the box office, have been part of the ongoing success story of Christian-oriented popular culture. Christian music had its best sales year in 2001, for example, increasing 12% while overall music sales declined slightly. Tyndale House, the publisher of the "Left Behind" series, reported a marked increase in orders for the series in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, with paperback sales for the first book doubling in the second half of September.
The events of "Left Behind" are based on the writings of LeHaye, a well-known evangelical Christian minister who describes himself as a "prophecy scholar." The books are based on LeHaye's detailed outlines of how the Rapture and the Tribulation will unfold, but are actually written by Jerry Jenkins, a professional writer who has written books with Hank Aaron, Nolan Ryan, and Billy Graham, among others. [Ed. note: LaHaye, a rabid Pre-Tribber, has NO idea what Thee Infallible, Holy Word of YAHWEH Elohim says concerning eschatology! He would be unable to pass an introductory quiz in Eschatology 101 at DOV University. NO self-proclaimed "prophecy scholar" in America has even basic understanding of eschatology! Few if any could pass the introductory quiz in Eschatology 101! The lack of understanding about easchatology among Bible teachers and 501c3 CEOs (pastors) is one of many proofs we are living in the apostasy of the end times (2 Thes. 2.1-3; 2 Tim. 4.3,4)!]
Both men are unapologetic about the Christian message of their series and say their underlying goal is to bring people to Christianity. "We love the idea of influencing the hearts and minds of millions of people," LaHaye said. "It shows that people are interested in Christianity. The amazing thing about this success is that [the books] are unashamedly Christian. And we deliberately want to be that way."
The two creators hoped the books would eventually sell a couple hundred thousand copies, but had no expectations of topping the best seller lists. "I've been writing for 40 years, with 12 million books in print, but I've never seen anything like this," said LaHaye.
Marjorie Daley, a manager at Christian Publications Book Store in New York City, says the books are successful because they provide an easy way to learn about Biblical prophecy. "You're living in the age the end of time. They're curious to know what's going to happen," she said. "They want to understand." [Ed. note: There is NO "easy way" to understand eschatology. It takes decades of exhaustive study relying on the HOLY SPIRIT to teach you (I Yochanan-John 2.20,27) to understand eschatology or any doctrine/subject in the Bible. LaHaye's series is NOT helping people understand eschatology -- it is deceiving them into believing myriad lies of the devil!]
Some evangelical leaders have objected to LaHaye's interpretation of the Book of Revelations [sick]. They argue the Bible says the Tribulation will occur before the Rapture (when all true Christians are suddenly transported off the Earth). [Ed. note: The Post-Tribbers are as misguided as LaHaye and the his ilk. The Post-Tribbers know less about eschatology than the Pre-Tribbers. The late tribulation prewrathers are as fouled up as the post-tribbers and the amillenialists and preterists are so far gone I doubt many of them are born from above. The few who may be saved are apostate and or extremely backslidden. The Mid-Tribbers come the closest, but they are still off base by a couple years. The Bible clearly teaches the Rapture will take place in the first or second year of the Tribulation immediately before the breaking of the sixth seal (Revelation 6.12). The proper term for the timing of the Rapture is -- Early Tribulation Pre-Wrath.]
Others say LaHaye's attempt to take the confusing events of Revelations literally is misguided. "Overall it's not a theology and understanding of the End Times that orthodox Christians hold to," says Rodney Clapp, the editorial director of Brazos Press, a Christian publisher, and author of Border Crossings: Christian Trespasses on Popular Culture and Public Affairs. [Ed. note: The term "Orthodox Christians" means the Roman Catholic Corporation. Even though the reformers of the 16th Century broke away from the RCC they kept many of its heresies with amillennialism being one of the them. The reformers knew virtually NOTHING about eschatology! The events in Revelation are NOT confusing and they MUST be taken LITERALLY!]
LaHaye and Jenkins defend their work as Biblically based. "If people want to say, 'Well you're exclusivist, only Christians go to heaven,' Jenkins says, "Well yes, that's what we believe."
That does not mean they are against those practicing other religions, they say. "We believe there are many Catholics that are true believers," he says. "We certainly aren't anti-Catholic; we certainly don't say all Catholics are going to hell or anything like that." [Ed. note: I doubt any Roman Catholic Corporate stockholders (Catholic) is truly born from above. The miniscule few who might be are apostate and backslidden. This is also true of the Pentimatics, Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Anglicans and stockholders of most Protestant corporations (denominations, associations & churches). Virtually every stockholders of the major cults in America -- Oneness Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Armstrongites, Unitarians, Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses -- are NOT saved!]
LaHaye has no qualms expressing his unease with the United Nations and moves toward increased globalization, like the introduction of the euro. he believes the Antichrist [beast] will form a one-world government and the United Nations could be the instrument used to do it. "They're trying to solve the world's problems without any leaning on God," he said of the international body. [Ed. note: The New World Odor Gang is using the UN to usher in its Old World Nightmare, but they are also using the religions of the world and myriad other organizations such as the NATO, EU, CFR, TC, Bilderbergers, Club of Rome, Royal Institute of International Affairs, Freemasonry, Knights of Malta, Committee of 300, Illuminati, IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization and the Federal Reserve Corp.]
Some critics have been concerned that "Left Behind" readers might come to expect the Rapture to happen relatively soon. They might fail to make long-term plans for themselves, or could become disenchanted with Christianity when the Rapture does not happen when they expect. It's a worry that LaHaye takes seriously, but he says he believes the books haven't inspired any extreme behavior. "So far we've not had any reports of people doing bizarre things," he said. [Ed. note: Some backslidden or ignorant believers might do little while waiting for the alleged soon return of YAHSHUA, but this is nothing new. Thousands got caught up in this syndrome when Hal Lindsey, the Father of the Modern Day False Prophecy Movement, wrote his infamous deception, "The Late Great Planet Earth." He indirectly prophesied the Second Advent would take place one generation from the establishment of Israel in 1948. He taught the Second Advent would happen in 1988 and the Rapture in 1981. He was WRONG! He has since made two other specific false prophesies and myriad general false prophesies concerning the Rapture.]
Instead, he thinks the possibility of an immanent Rapture draws people to the faith. "If you believe that Christ could come in your lifetime then your going to live more zealously and committed," he said. [Ed. note: LaHaye and all Pre-Tribbers are dead wrong about their bizarre doctrine of the imminent return of YAHSHUA. It does not encourage believers to live for YAHSHUA. It has the opposite effect. Most Pre-Tribbers grow weary of waiting for the Rapture and stop living for the Lord or they wander off into a cult.]
"We're well over 2,500 people who [have written to the authors and] said, I became a believer because of these actually became Christians because of this," said Jenkins. "And needless to say, for us that's more important than best sellers, or money, or anything else." http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/christianscifi020206.html
Jenkins is apostate and backslidden! He is a moneymongering hypocrite just as LaHaye is! Both of these false teachers are more interested in money and fame than leading people to YAHSHUA.
Avoid LaHaye's fairy tale and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture heresy!
"What is more unwise than to mistake uncertainty for certainty, falsehood for truth?" Cicero, Roman orator, statesman and philosopher (106-43 B.C.)
Lists of Best-Selling Books
Wall Street Journal Bestsellers
FICTION
1. ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' by J.K. Rowling (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Press) [Ed. note: The popularity of these insane books is a proof we are nearing the end. A fascination for demonism will continue to grow as we approach the start of the Great Tribulation.]
2. ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' by J.K. Rowling (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Press)
3. ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' by J.K. Rowling (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Press)
4. ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' by J.K. Rowling (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Press)
5. ''Not a Day Goes By'' by E. Lynn Harris (Doubleday)
6. ''Omerta'' by Mario Puzo (Random House)
7. ''Mr. Perfect'' by Linda Howard (Pocket Books)
8. ''The House on Hope Street'' by Danielle Steel (Delacorte Press)
9. ''Riptide'' by Catherine Coulter (Putnam)
10. ''Nora, Nora'' by Anne Rivers Siddons (HarperCollins)
11. '' Deadly Decisions'' by Kathy Reichs (Scribner)
12. ''The Brethren'' by John Grisham (Doubleday)
13. ''The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession'' by T. LaHaye, J. B. Jenkins (Tyndale) [Ed. note: The popularity of this book and all the books in this series is proof that we are living in the apostasy of the last days (2 Thes. 2.1-3; 2 Tim. 4.3,4).]
14. ''Hot Six'' by Janet Evanovich (St. Martin's Press)
15. ''McNally's Folly'' by Vincent Lardo (Putnam)
The Wall Street Journal's list reflects nationwide sales of hardcover books during the week ended last Saturday at more than 2,500 B. Dalton, Barnes & Noble, Bookland, Books-a-Million, Books & Co., Bookstar, Bookstop, Borders, Brentano's, Coles, Coopersmith, Crown, Doubleday, Scribners, Super Crown and Waldenbooks stores, as well as sales from online retailers barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.
USA TODAY BESTSELLERS
Key: F-Fiction; NF-Nonfiction; H-Hardcover;
P-Paperback
1. ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' by J. K. Rowling; Illustrated by Mary Grandpre (Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine) (F-H)
2. ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' by J.K. Rowling; Illustrated by Mary GrandPre (Scholastic) (F-P)
3. ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' by J.K. Rowling; Illustrated by Mary GrandPre (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic) (F-H)
4. ''Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life'' by Spencer Johnson (Putnam) (NF-H)
5. ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' by J.K. Rowling; Illustrated by Mary GrandPre (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic) (F-H)
6. ''Rich Dad, Poor Dad'' by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter (Warner Books) (NF-P)
7. ''The Perfect Storm'' by Sebastian Junger (Harper) (NF-P)
8. ''Tara Road'' by Maeve Binchy (Dell) (F-P)
9. ''The Poisonwood Bible'' by Barbara Kingsolver (HarperPerennial) (F-P)
10. ''Tears of the Moon'' by Nora Roberts (Jove) (F-P)
11. ''While I Was Gone'' by Sue Miller (Ballantine) (F-P)
12. ''Ashes to Ashes'' by Tami Hoag (Bantam) (F-P)
13. ''Hannibal'' by Thomas Harris (Dell) (F-P)
14. ''Tuesdays With Morrie'' by Mitch Albom (Doubleday) (NF-H)
15. ''It's Not about the Bike: My Journey Back to Life'' by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins (Putnam) (NF-H)
16. ''Granny Dan'' by Danielle Steel (Dell) (F-P)
17. ''The Saving Graces'' by Patricia Gaffney (HarperTorch) (F-P)
18. ''Body-for-Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength'' by Bill Phillips and Michael D'Orso (HarperCollins) (NF-H)
19. ''Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution'' by Robert C. Atkins (Avon) (NF-P)
20. ''Not a Day Goes By'' by E. Lynn Harris (Doubleday) (F-H)
21. ''A Game of Chance'' by Linda Howard (Silhouette) (F-P)
22. ''Dakota Home'' by Debbie Macomber (Mira) (F-P)
23. ''The House on Hope Street'' by Danielle Steel (Delacorte Press) (F-H)
24. ''The Quiet Game'' by Greg Iles (Signet) (F-P)
25. ''The White House Connection'' by Jack Higgins (Berkley) (F-H)
26. ''Omerta'' by Mario Puzo (Random House) (F-H)
27. ''Jupiter's Bones'' by Faye Kellerman (Avon) (F-P)
28. ''Irish Hearts'' by Nora Roberts (Silhouette Books) (F-P)
29. ''The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing'' by Melissa Bank (Penguin) (F-P)
30. ''Life On the Other Side'' by Sylvia Browne (Dutton) (NF-H)
31. ''The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom'' by Don Miguel Ruiz (Amber-Allen) (NF-P)
32. ''Mr. Perfect'' by Linda Howard (Pocket Books) (F-H)
33. ''The Other Side and Back: A Psychic's Guide to Our World and Beyond'' by Sylvia Browne with Lindsay Harrison (Signet) (NF-P)
34. ''The Testament'' by John Grisham (Island) (F-P)
35. ''Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days'' by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins (Tyndale House Publishers) (F-P) [Ed. note: A great many people who are sadly ignorant of the Scriptures are being deceived by the devil with these un- Scriptural based books.]
36. ''Relationship Rescue'' by Phillip C. McGraw (Little, Brown) (NF-H)
37. ''American Rhapsody'' by Joe Eszterhas (Knopf) (F-H)
38. ''Riptide'' by Catherine Coulter (Putnam) (F-H)
39. ''Rich Dad's Guide to Investing'' by Robert Kiyosaki with Sharon Lechter (Warner) (NF-P)
40. ''The Bluest Eye'' by Toni Morrison (Plume) (NF-P)
41. ''Hearts in Atlantis'' by Stephen King (Pocket) (F-P)
42. ''The Seat of the Soul'' by Gary Zukav (Fireside) (NF-P)
43. ''McNally's Dilemma'' by Lawrence Sanders (Berkley) (F-P)
44. ''Tom Clancy's Op-Center: Divide and Conquer'' Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik, written by Jeff Rovin (Berkley) (F-P)
45. ''Nora, Nora'' by (HarperCollins) (F-H)
46. ''Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III: More Stories of Life, Love and Learning'' by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger (HCI) (NF-P)
47. ''Lightning Strikes'' by V.C. Andrews (Pocket Books) (F-P)
48. ''Where the Heart Is'' by Billie Letts (Warner) (F-P)
49. ''The Guest List'' by Fern Michaels (Zebra) (F-P)
50. ''Deadly Decisions'' by Kathy Reichs (Scribner) (F-H)
Reporting stores include: Doubleday Book Shops, Hungry Mind Bookstore (St. Paul), Joseph-Beth Booksellers (Lexington, Cincinnati), Ingram Book Co. (reporting retail sales for independent bookstores including Hawley Cooke Bookselleres, Scribners Bookstores, Tattered Cover Book Store (Denver), Waldenbooks, Waterstone's (Boston), B. Dalton Bookseller, Barnes & Noble Inc, Books-A-Million and Bookland, Books & Co. (Dayton), Borders Books & Music, Brentano's, Crown Books, Davis Kidd Booksellers (Tennessee).
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY BESTSELLERS
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. ''Not a Day Goes By'' by E. Lynn Harris (Doubleday)
2. ''Omerta'' by Mario Puzo (Random House)
3. ''Riptide'' by Catherine Coulter (Putnam)
4. ''The House on Hope Street'' by Danielle Steel (Delacorte)
5. ''Nora, Nora'' By Anne Rivers Siddons (HarperCollins)
6. ''Mr. Perfect'' by Linda Howard (Pocket)
7. ''Hot Six'' by Janet Evanovich (St. Martin's)
8. ''The Brethren'' by John Grisham (Doubleday)
9. ''The Heartbreaker'' by Julie Garwood (Pocket)
10. ''Deadly Decisions'' by Kathy Reichs (Scribner)
11. ''Lethal Seduction'' by Jackie Collins (Simon & Schuster)
12. ''The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession'' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (Tyndale) [Ed. note: These books are making millions of dollars for LaHaye. Too bad he can't take it with him. Even if he could take all of his millions of dollars with him to Heaven, if he is headed there, he couldn't spend them. They are worthless in Heaven!]
13. ''Cradle and All'' by James Patterson (Little, Brown)
14. ''McNally's Folly'' by Lawrence Sanders (Putnam)
15. ''The River King'' by Alice Hoffman (Putnam) (Warner)
TRADE PAPERBACKS
1. ''Rich Dad Poor Dad'' by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter (Warner)
2. ''The Poisonwood Bible'' by Barbara Kingsolver (HarperPerennial)
3. ''While I Was Gone'' by Sue Miller (Ballantine)
4. ''The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing'' by Melissa Bank (Penguin)
5. ''The Four Agreements'' by Don Miguel Ruiz. (Amber-Allen)
6. ''The Seat of the Soul'' by Gary Zukav (Fireside)
7. ''Left Behind'' by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins (Tyndale House) [Ed. note: By writing these anti-Biblical books Tim is wiping any rewards he may have earned if he is even born from above. Sadly, there is no evidence that he is saved.]
8. ''Where the Heart Is'' by Billie Letts (Warner)
9. ''The Hungry Ocean'' by Linda Greenlaw (Hyperion)
10. ''Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III: More Stories of Life, Love and Learning'' by J. Canfield, M.V. Hansen & K Kirberger (HCI)
11. ''The Red Tent'' by Anita Diamant (St. Martin's)
12. ''The Hours'' by Michael Cunningham (Picador USA)
13. ''Rich Dad's Guide to Investing'' by Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter (Warner)
14. ''Take Time for Your Life'' by Cheryl Richardson (Broadway)
15. ''Robert Ludlim's the Hades Factor'' by Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds (St. Martin's/Griffin)
PROFILE
(CO:Barnes & Noble Inc; TS:BKS; IG:RTS;)
(CO:barnesandnoble.com Inc; TS:BNBN; IG:RTS;)
(CO:Amazon.com Inc; TS:AMZN; IG:RTS;)
(CO:Books A Million Inc; TS:BAMM; IG:RTS;) (AP, 8-04-2000, www) http://www.newsday.com/ap/entertainment/ap936.htm
"It is most difficult to free slaves from the chains they worship." DOV