Readers who have not followed the first 7 portions of the "Left Behind" series will not get much out of the abridged audio recording of episode 8. The devil incarnate has appeared in the form of a Romanian politician whose is named something like Nicholai Kardashian. Mr. Nick has a penchant for elaborate titles, and is known to his followers as His Excellency Global Community Supreme Potentate. Having been proclaimed as the new Messiah, he is in the process of taking over the world. He has gained a worldwide following through subterfuge, and is about to consolidate his power through use of the guillotine. Yes, Old Nick’s nefarious plans involve use of that instrument of the 18th century French Revolution to bring the unbelievers into line. For those misguided individuals who refuse to have a microchip embedded in their skin and a mark of loyalty placed on their forehead or hand, it's "off with their heads". For sophisticated readers who are tired of how otherwise nice people lose their heads over issues of religion, it may be a welcome change to see the metaphor become real.

In the audio tape, there’s lots of Sturm and Drang, with spooky music to get the listener in the mood for an Armageddon. And then there’s the brave words of the leader of the anti-Kardashian opposition, ex-airline pilot Rayford Steele. (Steele was "left behind" when his more-devout wife was whisked "up" to heaven during the Rapture, and soon thereafter converted to fundamentalism). The episode ends with Nicholai preparing to enter Jerusalem, and Steele and his fellow Tribulationists marshaling a vast army to stop them. Apparently "turn the other cheek" is not a policy when serious issues are at stake.

This episode, like the other one I’ve listened to (Episode 1) raises plenty of theological difficulties. First, one is forced to wonder why an all-powerful deity needs a group of puny humans in order to defeat his chief rival for human fealty. Why not simply dispatch Nicholai with a thunderbolt or a coronary, and get back to judging the quick and the (not-so-quick) dead? Second, is the fact that the entire series is based on a misrepresentation of the Book of Revelations – that bizarre addendum that even Martin Luther thought had no business being placed in the Christian bible. In that benighted work, non-believers at the time of the Rapture missed their last chance at being “saved”. However, in the “Left Behind” series, the individuals left behind have plenty of extra chances at heaven and represent the only earthly forces fighting against evil. Third is a serious epistemological issue. Why should believers NOT believe that Nicolai is the Messiah? After all, he is widely- reputed to perform miracles; he rose from the dead after three days; he has millions of followers around the world; and he claims divinity and demands worship. To an ideology that privileges “faith” and derides “evidence”, how is one to know where to place one’s faith and trust? At least in the old days, such decisions were made before birth; one’s religion was almost always inherited from one’s parents, and theirs from their parents, and so on. In the face of competing superstitions, little wonder that millions are going with the choice that lets their cephalic appendage remain attached.

The saddest part of this "book" isn't the time wasted on it, but rather, the large number of people who have swallowed the silly propaganda -- making author Tim LaHaye a multi-millionaire many times over. Some of the reviewers at Amazon speak of how much this book series has taught them about the Bible. For a little self- reflection, I would recommend to such people Ecclesiastes 1:15 (Douay-Rheims translation): "The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite." ( )