Rating  - Better than people give it credit for
A lot of the reviews I have read of these books tend to put it down by comparing it to other end of the world books. And while I will admit that these are not as smart or engaging as some of the the better books that cover the same topic like Fire of Heaven or We All Fall Down, I still really enjoyed them. A friend introduced me to the first book and I cut through all 12 books over the past two months. In a way, it's not really fair to compare them to some of the other books because they are trying to do different things. Left Behind seems to me to try to simply tell a great story about the end of the world. It's light, but what's wrong with that? I really felt like I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next when I finished a book and the very next day would order the next one. I call that a success. A book like We All Fall Down is obviously much more intense and thoughtful, the characters seem much more like real people, and it gives you more to think about, but why does that make Left Behind bad? Can't The Ten Commandments and The Passion both be good movies?
Rating  - The ultimate loyalty test
"The Mark" picks up where "The Indwelling" left off...now Global Leader Carpathia institutes a mark of loyalty to be forced upon mankind, with the alternative being death via guillotine. While this installment is basically uneventful (except for the Trib Force escaping from or hoodwinking the Global Community police force in several places), to me, it was the most spiritually impacting of the eight I have read, especially when it comes down to the fateful choice of refusing the mark, or accepting it. Leon Fortunato's introduction of the loyalty mark was quite chilling. I thought the passage when Miklos' wife (and a group of other believing women) refused the mark and received the punishment was quite heroic.
One glaring spiritual omission, however, is found in Revelation 14:9-10 where an angel in a loud voice says "if anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the wrath of God"....no such angel was found in "The Mark" warning people. (Perhaps I'm too picky?)... Still a great book in a great series.
Rating  - a book of fiction that too many people take as truth!
It absolutely amazes me that so many people believe what is written in these books, especially this one! If you want to know about the truth about the end of times, read the Bible, it has it all there, with bits and pieces of the information scattered throughout the Bible. When this book showed the man getting the Mark of the Beast EVEN though he was a Christian and that he would still be saved, that was the biggest eye-opener of all that this book was full of lies. The Bible says that ANYONE who receives the mark will not get to heaven. You are either for God through Jesus OR you are for Satan, there is no compromising. You cannot deny your belief in Jesus and expect to get to heaven. These are dangerous books for Christians to read because they are full of hidden agendas. I cannot recommend even as a book of fiction!
Rating  - What's the deal with Frank Muller?
This review is aimed towards the unabridged audio book. I give the book itself a 5 as I do all the Left Behind books so far. What a truly amazing series of books!! The Audio books up until this one have been read by Richard Ferrone, who is by far the best book reader I have ever, ever listened to. He get's so much into the personality of the characters and brings them to life, you don't ever space off and lose your place in the story. He completely draws you into it, and keeps your 100% interest. For some strange reason for this audio book they went with Frank Muller, who in my opinion is terrible!!! This guy reads like he is in a race to finish the book as fast as he possibly can. I swear, from beginning to end he never takes a single breath, and all of his words rush together so quickly it's hard to follow! And the voices he uses for the characters.... well I'll just say, he completely ruined this story for me. It would be great if they went back and had Richard Ferrone reread this book for the unabridged audio book. And for those who have never listened to an unabridged Audio in the left behind series by Richard Ferrone... even if you've already read the book, check out an audio book by him. It really brings the book to life. Don't waste your time with the abridged versions though, they cut out sooooo much. Frank Muller, take a breath or take a break will ya???
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