The Seven Last Years

by Carol Balizet

Book by Balizet, Carol

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Kate_Nagy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book articulates a hard-core fundamentalist worldview complete with views on race, gender, sexuality, and religion that will not be to everyone's taste in this, our more enlightened age. It's dated (the Internet was not yet a thing in the late 70s, when this was written, for one thing). The n-word is dropped at one point, albeit by a bad guy in the context of otherwise bad behavior. The writing can be clunky on occasion.

And yet, I could not put the thing down, largely because I couldn't wait to see what Balizet would do with/to her characters next. I was not disappointed. One becomes a blood sacrifice to Satan; one is tortured to death (off-page) by a six-fingered man; a cat becomes (briefly) possessed by a demon; someone is magically transported by God from Tampa to Jerusalem and no one thinks it's particularly weird (in fairness, by that point in the proceedings, it was arguably one of the less weird things going on). Meanwhile, Balizet backs all of her plot points up with chapter and verse, as well as real-world occurrences ranging from the creation of the European Union to the development of electronic health records to the mysterious death of the bees -- all of which are happening now and all of which are presented as harbingers of the end of the world. Sleep tight.

[Susan Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a very long time ago. Although it is dated, no pun intended, and many things have changed i.e. the Soviet Union no longer exists, etc, it still has a great deal of relevance. We see terrible things all around us and indeed, evil is advancing. It seems we are steadily advancing toward war. Our leaders around the world speak of a One World government. Hatred of anyone who is different or expresses a different view is blatant. The Lord is coming. Are you ready?

[Dwayne True · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read when first came out. Great insight into world tody

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing because the truth is, I find a lot of books in this genre poorly written and predictable. It held my attention and at times got quite exciting. The problem was, it didn't stay that way. Just when I'd be really getting into it, I'd come across a passage that fell flat. The dialogue would become dull, the characters would behave in a way that was either a cliche or just nonsensical, and it would seem like I was reading "just another end times novel."

It was odd how the book went from good to poor to very good to boring to exciting to disappointing. It felt like two different people were writing, the author seemed to have such ups and downs in creative energy, or imagination, or something. I can't the explain the inconsistency, but it's there and it was annoying.

I found the characters similar, too similar, to those in other novels of this type that I've read. Of course, the general story-line was also similar because it's based on the book of Revelation, but there's all kinds of room to expand on it and still stay within the Biblical parameters. Some of what the author chose to do with the plot was interesting but there were a couple of places where I think she went off track and got things absolutely wrong. There was a scene where a man knew he was going to die within minutes and it was implied that it was too late for him now, too late to believe in God, too late to repent and confess. I think Scripture says just the opposite: while there is life, there is hope. If you use your last breath to turn to God, He will hear you and receive you.

I did some research on the author and found her to be quite a controversial character. A strong advocate of home birthing, she recommended no professional medical interference at all, regardless of the circumstances. She also took a strong stand against public education and banking. Her philosophies caused her quite a number of problems, but I won't get into that here. There's lots of information about her on the internet if you want to know more.

Overall it was an easy read and it was at times fairly interesting. Eventually there will be a last seven years and who knows, they could possibly be a little like the events recounted here, but the bottom line is that I just didn't enjoy it that much.

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This late 70s Rapture fantasy follows a group of people in Florida in the lead up to and seven years following a late-1980s asteroid strike that's accompanied by Christians vanishing around the world. While it features a lot of the questionable attitudes one would expect from this genre, it's still much better than many of the works that followed it.

First for the bad news. As one would expect from a work written for evangelical audiences, it features a lot of dated/bigoted attitudes towards homosexuals and other groups. In this book's fantasy version of the 80s, homosexuality has become completely socially acceptable (a far cry from the actual 1980s when homophobia ran rampant, thanks in part to the AIDS crisis). Gay people themselves are depicted as sexual predators motivated by poor father figures and traumatic sexual experiences as children. Similarly, the novel plays into evangelical prejudices against Catholics and other religious groups, with the Antichrist turning out to be the Pope, with his inner circle made up of a Satanist witch and a corrupt prime minister of Israel. Furthermore, the post-Rapture evangelicals are depicted as annoying know-it-alls who understandably alienate everyone around them.

However, the novel has a considerably more optimistic view of salvation than many works of its type. Even people who take the Mark of the Beast are shown to go to Heaven if they accept Christ, while even non-believers are shown to be judged on their own merits rather than their beliefs. Furthermore, the plot is well-written and keeps you reading.

[Michelle Six · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this is a VERY dated book, Written by a VERY hardcore premillennial dispensationalist whose work convincing women to eschew medical of any kind during delivery and replace it with prayer lead to tremendous suffering and a number of deaths. I mention this for perspective. This author is very outside the christian mainstream and very committed to her beliefs.

This book is an excellent snapshot of what this subsection of christians believed. It's well written and as interesting to read today as it was when I first read it in 1982.

Be warned it can at times feel very toxic, judgemental, and hateful. Society has shifted considerably, mostly in ways the author would find appalling, since the seventies.

[Dr. Gary H. Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going through my library, re-reading my books with a view to downsizing. Just finished this book and it’s going to be retained, which is why I gave it four stars.

I found the story interesting but being a Christian book somewhat unbelievable; nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read, and it will remain in my library.

I found it very interesting that at the end of the book, in an appendix, the author documents the biblical passages that inspired the storytelling. The author used 94 quotes from the Bible.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.
I remembered first reading this book about 40 years ago, and being thoroughly enamored of it. I still am, but found it a little more simplistic than I recall thinking initially. It did make me decide to go over the book of Revelations in the Bible again.

[KRISTIE N. BARRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2026. It is amazing how the condition of our planet now fits perfectly with the fictional characters and Biblical truths in this novel. I would recommend this to anyone who has studied end times and enjoys reading.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far the best end times novel I have read; far superior writing technique and characterisation than the appalling Left Behind series.

Sadly, it does include the false doctrine of a secret rapture. When I read it back in the eighties, I didn't know any different; but have done my own research in recent years and can come to no other conclusion than a pre-tribulation, secret rapture is wrong and can only be inferred at best - there is not one verse that specifically speaks of it.

Also, the book is set in the late eighties, early nineties; but that is easily ignored.

[Reed Bankston]

could not put this down very good book

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Read during High School)

[Nick Woodall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good little novel.