The Mark

In Tim F LaHaye's The Mark, it's the dawn of the Great Tribulation, "the bloodiest season in the history of the world". After lying in state for three days, Nicolae Carpathia has risen from the dead. As the world responds in awe, statues of the potentate and "god" are erected in every major city, and a new religion, "Carpathianism", is in full swing. Followers of the Antichrist are branded with a loyalty mark on their right hands or their foreheads, and "vaccinated" with a biochip embedded with personal information. Those who refuse the mark take a one-way trip to the guillotine. The second coming of Christ is only three and one-half years away. But can the Tribulation Force hang on?

"The God who calls you to the ultimate sacrifice will also give you the power to endure it. No one can receive the mark of the beast by accident. It is a once-for-all decision that will forever condemn you to eternity without God," writes Tsion Ben-Judah in his daily newsletter with its cyber-audience of more than a billion. Heavenly power may be the only hope for the Tribulation Force, as it struggles to survive amid new terrors, the death of more loved ones, and some unexpected twists in their plans.

The Mark: The Beast Rules the World is the eighth instalment in the blockbuster Left Behind series. Rich in dialogue, this action-packed thriller delivers the same consistent mix of apocalyptic mayhem and quirky humour readers have come to expect from the pen of Jerry Jenkins and the prophetic interpretations of Tim Lahaye. --Cindy Crosby

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The Choice - Rated
This is book eight of the Left behind series. And though the writing is simple and there is very little character development. I still was able to read it on one afternoon. It does help that the book is short. Though it has 380 pages, the typeset and margins make it equivalent to a 100-page book.

In this book we have Carpathia no longer being Mr. Nice guy. He orders that everyone will worship him. And to prove their loyalty they have a choice. They may take the mark of the beast; or have their heads cut off. We do read about the process of choice in Greece. And I have to say the violence is very graphic.

Of course with the mark being applied, those Tribulation Saints that are still out in the Global Community have to flee. And we have the Tribulation Force helping them escape where they can. Of course they cannot help everyone. Though they do what they can.

The end of this book has Carpathia heading to Jerusalem. Where he will desecrate the holy temple and proclaim himself God. Thereby breaking his pact with Israel.

Even though I only rated this book two stars. If you plan to continue the series to its conclusion, as I do, you will need to read it. It introduces new characters and sets up some of the next events. For example I think they will write about the exodus of Gods Chosen from Israel.

Demented fascist ravings - Rated
Love of war, embrace of armageddon, are not signs of morality but of an immoral love of death. The bad guys don't always wear death's heads on their uniforms, a cross or a crescent can do. Some of the fascist General Franco's Catholic troops went into war calling 'Love death'. Some of their followers today do the same.

Tim LeHaye's, The Mark - Rated
This is one of his best works yet.
Set when the world's order has come into complete chaos, with brink of 'The End' coming, this book portrays an extremely life like situation. Not only is there the second coming of Christ, but also the Anti-christ, who sets up a one world government and decieves the nations. Now our chaotic world has a 'leader', though of the wrong kind.
This book involves us all and looks at our individual decision of choosing our Saviour's eternal life or Satan's everlasting torment when we die. The amazing thing about "The Mark" is that principle of it is true, we will all simply cease to exist one day in the very fashion which LeHaye has written.
This Biblical based book deserves much credit, it can help save lives - literally!

An improvement over the last 2 or 3 'Left Behind' books! - Rated
Jenkins and LaHaye have taken the criticisms to of the last few books in this series to heart. This one is well-written, action-packed, exciting and emotionally moving. I couldn't put it down!

More of the same and poorly written! - Rated
There is no more to this ad nauseum installment than in any of its p-r-o-l-o-n-g-e-d predecessors. These books will be tedious to all but die-hard fundamentalists in search of a witnessing tool. A far more scintillating read is Glen Kleier's THE LAST DAY (Hodder), which carries more weight in one single chapter than all these LEFT BEHIND lightweights combined!