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61st out of 114 books
—
69 voters
Soon: The Beginning of the End (The Underground Zealot #1)
2004 Christy Fiction award winner! Paul Stepola, an agent working for the National Peacekeeping Organization (NPO), has been assigned to enforce compliance with the world government's prohibition on religion. Paul relishes his job and is good at it. He is determined to expose underground religion--flush it out, expose it, and kill it--until his life is turned upside down a...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
May 13th 2004
by Tyndale House Publishers
(first published August 24th 2003)
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This is a modern retelling of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 1~21) that’s set in a post~Apocalyptic United States that has been reduced to seven regions which mirror the last seven churches in the book of Revelation. And much like the Christians in the early church, Christians in post~World War III America have to live and worship underground or face prosecution.
I wanted to like this book because I’m such a big fan of the Left Behind series but I couldn’t suspend my belief lo...more
I wanted to like this book because I’m such a big fan of the Left Behind series but I couldn’t suspend my belief lo...more
What is it about the End of the World, or God’s coming to give passing on Judgment Day? What happens when the world creates another great war, one that goes against epic proportions, much greater than the catastrophes of all wars in the past put together? What if another world war comes and changes mankind as we know it, wiping out famous landmarks across the Earth, as well as eradicating all of South East Asia and other parts of Asia and the Northern Pacific? How about erasing all forms of reli...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Terrific writing style. Great storyline. It ended rather abruptly, which I maybe should have expected since it's part of a series. By the end it felt more like a set up for the rest of the series rather than something that could stand alone. And I don't think the story really gave much depth to Paul's marriage. It was mostly used in a shallow, representational way to convey other things. The only well explored relationship in the whole book to me was Paul friendship with Straight - I would have...more
I greatly enjoyed Jenkin's writing in "Riven" and the "Left Behind" series, which is why I bought this novel. I definitely enjoyed it and am glad I read it. The story was interesting and exciting, and it proposed a thought-provoking idea of what the future could hold. It is almost like a Christian version of Huxley's "Brave New World" in that respect.
However, it's simply not as strong as Jenkin's other novels. It's not as gripping nor as powerful, and the characters aren't quite as engaging. The...more
However, it's simply not as strong as Jenkin's other novels. It's not as gripping nor as powerful, and the characters aren't quite as engaging. The...more
You have to be careful trying to glean knowledge from a book like this but I am surprised by what you can learn as far as application of Scripture and a perspective of the rapture. This book is a nice modern day retelling of the story of Paul from the New Testament. It was interesting to see how Jenkins weaves in the Revelations churches as well. I enjoyed the book but thought the ending just kind of wrapped up too quickly, as if he realized he only had 10 pages to wrap it up and rushed it a lit...more
"Less than half a century into our future, the world has become a very different place to live. Convinced that religious fundamentalism is the root cause of humanity's problems, religion has been outlawed after a shattering WWIII and Christians have been forced to move underground."
This book/series was okay. I didn't really care for it mostly because I have a different view of how the apocalypse will be. Then again, who knows.
This book/series was okay. I didn't really care for it mostly because I have a different view of how the apocalypse will be. Then again, who knows.
Feb 02, 2013
Jeff
added it
Very inconsistent with the first book of the "Left Behind" series, which overall promotes a spirit of fear, worry, panic, carelessness for the stewardship God entrusted to humanity, indifference to the problems of this world, etc.. An interesting read on its own though, but I truly don't believe this will pan out as the book believes, but instead God's own agenda will happen....so instead of worrying, why not pray that God's will be done on earth as in heaven?
But the question is, what if? What...more
But the question is, what if? What...more
Jul 02, 2010
Lyrea
added it
(I purchased this as an audio book so my review of it is a little skewed.) The story line lacked some much needed technological guidance. There were many times that Paul was in a situation that was unbelievable because current technology would not have allowed it let alone futuristic technology.... I was engaged in the story though because the narrator of my audio copy was VERY good.
This seemed more like a beginning work from a beginning writer who also happens to be the religious sort. The framework was there for a good story, but it lacked polish and the ending was a big fat letdown of no ending. Don't waste your time.
hmmmm - this one took a WHILE to get into. The characters were well-developed - but took the scenic route to get there. Plot and overall story was good. Was worth the read. My only negative remark is that the ending was rushed. After closing the cover, I thought of at least 3 questions that were left unanswered. I don't mind a twist in the end, but cliff hangers? I couldn't give it more than 3 stars, unfortunately.....
I finished this in no time. Looking forward to the next one "Silenced" I beleive it is.
The characters could have a little more depth to them, but the plot moves quickly and kept me reading.
The characters could have a little more depth to them, but the plot moves quickly and kept me reading.
Such a good novel. I was really struck with the idea of how things in the end will be a mirror of the way they were for the early church. And I literally got goosebumps at the ending...can't say what happens because of course that would give everything away, but wowwww was it ever awesome!! :P
Soon, in many ways, feels like a prologue. Though the book is light on action, I got the feeling that the story will really heat up in the next two novels. Frankly, Jerry Jenkins isn't my favorite writer, but he does better than usual here. I don't agree with the whole Rapture thing, but, as with the Left Behind and Babylon Rising series, it's simply an interpretation of Scriptures that us humans can never fully understand. In short, fans of Jerry Jenkins, Tim LaHaye, or Frank Peretti will proba...more
Jul 27, 2011
Emily
added it
The beginning almost put me off due to its graphic nature, but once I got into it the story was really interesting. It's neat to see the parallels between the story of Paul Stepola and that of the apostle Paul in the Bible.
Written by one of the co-authors of the “Left Behind” series, this adventurous audiobook is a Christian science fiction title that takes place in a post-WWIII world.
Defiantly looking forward to the sequel...While the reviews stated that the book was preachy I didn't find it to be at all. Also it was a free nook book! Score!
I loved this book the underground zealot trilogy makes the left behind series look like something smeared around the inside of a toilet bowl
Jenkins's writing has improved since the first Left Behind novel, but his characters remain flat and their motivations unconvincing.
May be spoilers, but not if you have common sense.
I didn't like how quickly the main character went from rage and enormous hatred of Christians to 'oh, okay, maybe they aren't so bad.' I understand the story line of it, but there wasn't enough detail of the incident in between to when he got saved - I think it needed more depth.
It started off kind of slow and boring - I tried three times before I could get past the first few chapters. I'd say 1/3 to 1/2 way in is when it picked up, and then I co...more
I didn't like how quickly the main character went from rage and enormous hatred of Christians to 'oh, okay, maybe they aren't so bad.' I understand the story line of it, but there wasn't enough detail of the incident in between to when he got saved - I think it needed more depth.
It started off kind of slow and boring - I tried three times before I could get past the first few chapters. I'd say 1/3 to 1/2 way in is when it picked up, and then I co...more
As gripping as the Left Behind Series. Very well written. I couldn't put it down once I started it.
Well written, fast paced, thought provoking series. Could you call it Christian cloak and dagger?
Different. It's a page turner, though not what I anticipated.
This is a different take on end times than we see in the Left Behind books. It is causes you to think about what the persecution would be like if Christianity became illegal now. I am enjoying the story and the characters, but at times it feels rushed. I feel somewhat lost in some of the actions scenes and would love more description to clarify what action is taking place. It is neat how the story is tied to the life of Paul the apostle, being reminded of that helped me to believe that the main...more
Very good story, I had a hard time putting it down.
Very interesting fictional view of what the world would be like if all religion were illegal. The government views the underground Christians as terrorists. God surprises everyone in the end.
May 09, 2012
Ryan Zimmerman Carstairs
marked it as too-not-interested
More Rapture-Porn?
Nooooo!
Nooooo!
Thought provoking....
a good read.
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Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye, Jenkins has written over 150 books, including romance novels, mysteries, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction. His works usually feature evangelical Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Annivers...more
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Feb 19, 2010 11:30am