Desecration: Antichrist Takes the Throne (Left Behind No. 9) 
asked by librarian on November 2, 2006 11:18 PM
Amidst the glitzy fanfare of a new world regime, control is unraveling for self-proclaimed god and Global Community potentate Nicolae Carpathia in Desecration, the ninth installment in the Left Behind series. It's 25 days into the Great Tribulation, and the newly resurrected Carpathia evinces an increasing fondness for gruesome killing. He's thrown into turmoil when the first two "bowls of wrath" from the biblical book Revelation are poured out on the world. Water turns into blood, and those who are branded with the mark of loyalty become covered with loathsome sores. When Carpathia commits the ultimate act of desecration against the Judeo-Christian community, chaos ensues. Meanwhile, the Tribulation Force soldiers on, receiving visitations from heavenly messengers that prod the team to greater acts of courage. Jenkins's characters seem almost comic book-like in their actions; the author relies on pages of slangy, slapstick dialogue rather than character development or descriptive settings to flesh out his tales. It's the angst of wondering what disaster will occur next and the fascination with end times that keep loyal fans turning the pages. And there's no shortage of angst here. Chang Wong flirts with suicide. Hattie Durham risks her life in a confrontation with Carpathia. Tsion Ben-Judah inadvertently gives away a secret location. Chloe Williams uncovers a remnant of believers. There are touches of the standard Left Behind humor, and even some romance in the last days. As always, readers are left hanging at the edge of disaster, which should keep appetites whetted for the promised next installment. --Cindy Crosby
Reviews
0%
0%
Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, and others in the Pre-Trib circle, such as Ed Hindson, Tommy Ice, Chuck Missler, etc., continue to put forth the same deceptions that Hal Lindsey popularized decades ago. The notion of a pre-tribulation rapture is foreign to scripture, it is foreign to the teachings of the early Church, and it is grooming the Church for destruction through ignorance and lack of preparation for what is really coming. These men are novices and not prophecy "experts" or "scholars" by any stretch of the imagination; they are those who tickle the ears of gullible Christians. Why continue to be deceived? Tim Cohen, in his excellent book, "The AntiChrist and a Cup of Tea," provides biblically sound and testable evidence to show that the coming AntiChrist is known NOW. Not only that, the same author (Tim Cohen) has now put out the strongest presentation on the whole issue of the rapture EVER offered to the saints of God in Christ: "The REAL Rapture". If you really want to know the truth about the timing of the coming rapture, then you need to hear Tim Cohen's "The REAL Rapture" (based on a volume in his forthcoming "Messiah, History, and the Tribulation Period" series (see Prophecy House's web site, prophecyhouse dot com, for details on these items).
reviewed by gilbert on November 18, 2006 6:23 PM
0%
0%
This book is so flawed in every which way, it is hard to know where to begin. First of all, we are living in the end times, and when Jesus comes, that's all she wrote, folks. There's no seven years, no Christians being zapped up, etc. This is our Second Chance on Earth. No tribulation. This book takes figurative visions and tries to apply it literally, and does it poorly. Reading this book made me think that if this was true, then what's the point of trying to be a Christian. Why not just live your life the way you want to, and then when people zap out of thin air, change your life. It's ridiculous and sends the wrong message. Plus, the writing is for second graders with no redeeming characteristics to it. But I really don't think the author's care at this point (seeing how many millions they've made printing lies). My recommendation is to read the bible instead of this series; then you'll get truth and the bible is probably shorter (and much better writing). Man, not even Kirk Cameron could save this train wreck.
reviewed by cannoli on November 21, 2006 2:59 PM
0%
0%
First, I listened to the unabridged audio edition. Its clearly missing a few scenes referenced in this novel. However, what I don't miss is the endless scenes of people falling to their knees, weeping, invoking God and tearing their clothes. The count choc-u-lah voice of Anti-Christ was ludicrous and painful to hear. The endless discussions of hacking, and reading lengthy sermons from Judah, and listening to Chloe whine and Buck cry. I honestly can read no more. I thought I could finish out this series, but the Desecration was the worst book I've read in the series to date. Carpathia cavorting on the back of the pig was the final straw.
What made this series great- the trials of an everyday Joe caught up in events beyond his control has devolved into a Christian themed Ludlum novel with Buck and Rayford traveling the globe to rescue small-time Christians who get killed anyway, while ignoring their own families. Christians in these books bait and mock unbelievers and the bad guys act like keystone cops. If Satan were as stupid as he's portrayed in this novel Eve would never have taken a bite from the apple.
Frankly, I finished this book, hoping Carpathia would whack Rayford and the rest of the tribulation force. They are so annoying and sanctimonious. 2 stars.
What made this series great- the trials of an everyday Joe caught up in events beyond his control has devolved into a Christian themed Ludlum novel with Buck and Rayford traveling the globe to rescue small-time Christians who get killed anyway, while ignoring their own families. Christians in these books bait and mock unbelievers and the bad guys act like keystone cops. If Satan were as stupid as he's portrayed in this novel Eve would never have taken a bite from the apple.
Frankly, I finished this book, hoping Carpathia would whack Rayford and the rest of the tribulation force. They are so annoying and sanctimonious. 2 stars.
reviewed by teacher on November 29, 2006 1:54 PM
0%
0%
... the fact that Jenkins and LaHaye knew that basing a book solely on the desecration of the temple would be absolutely horrible, so they crammed this book with as much plot, uspense, turmoil and excitement as they could. Seriously, I was impressed. Or maybe the previous books were so blah that this one seemed really good. Whatever. All I know is I liked it.
And yes, I know the writing sucks, that the characters are really caracatures and that the plot moves at pace of a Special Olympics event, but really.. I could care less. For every three post-modern, agenda-ridden books that come out and literally make me want to cry, thanks to the headache that comes packaged with them, I like to have one book that is simple, straight-forward and treats me like I've never read before. It's nice for a change. So long as the plot moves.
Thumbs way up for 'Desecration'. It's one of the better books in the series.
And yes, I know the writing sucks, that the characters are really caracatures and that the plot moves at pace of a Special Olympics event, but really.. I could care less. For every three post-modern, agenda-ridden books that come out and literally make me want to cry, thanks to the headache that comes packaged with them, I like to have one book that is simple, straight-forward and treats me like I've never read before. It's nice for a change. So long as the plot moves.
Thumbs way up for 'Desecration'. It's one of the better books in the series.
reviewed by shagdag on November 29, 2006 6:34 PM
0%
0%
I read Volume 8, "The Mark", way back in 2001. So, when I began reading Volume 9, I did so with some trepidation. I knew the preceding books had been interesting, but I really couldn't remember much detail about them. I was pleased, however, to see that Volume 9 didn't rehash what had gone before as some of the earlier books had done. Instead, it simply listed the principal characters who were still alive and stated their situations and locations. With this as a reference, I soon began to recall the preceding events and before long was again caught up in the action. At the same time, I once again marveled at the imagination of the authors.
So, even after a gap of almost five years, I found "Desecration" to be just as interesting and intriguing as the preceding volumes. Like those volumes it is rapidly paced and the authors somehow manage to juggle two or three story lines without losing the readers attention. Best of all, like any good serial the book leaves the reader with a cliff-hanger ending. (Now, on to Volume 10)
So, even after a gap of almost five years, I found "Desecration" to be just as interesting and intriguing as the preceding volumes. Like those volumes it is rapidly paced and the authors somehow manage to juggle two or three story lines without losing the readers attention. Best of all, like any good serial the book leaves the reader with a cliff-hanger ending. (Now, on to Volume 10)
reviewed by siriusfanboy on November 29, 2006 6:54 PM