STORY:
Apocalyptic Books Are Big Sellers

According to an Associated Press story appearing in the Washington Post, stores specializing in Christian products have seen a big increase in sales of books about endtime prophecies and the Y2K computer bug as believers become more focused on what might happen when the calendar turns to Jan. 1, 2000.

The report says some of the books examine current world events in a biblical context and conclude the time is ripe for the return of Jesus Christ. Others offer dire, Bible-based predictions of what may occur if computers fail worldwide because of the highly publicized year 2000 glitch. Some of the books are novels; others are classified as nonfiction. All are selling like crazy.

A vice president for Lifeway Christian Resources, a Nashville, Tenn., company with 81 Baptist bookstores in 20 states is quoted as saying it's a trend,"no doubt about it, it's going to build."

Nancy Guthrie, a spokeswoman for the Christian Booksellers Association, said three of the top seven books on the group's nonfiction best seller list deal directly with Y2K. Also driving up sales are the Christian novels known as the "Left Behind" series. The books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, along with a related children's series and audio books, have sold 3.2 million copies since 1995. The fifth book in the series, "Apollyon," debuted recently.

The books, written like action novels with plenty of references to Bible verses, describe what will happen in the years following an event known as "The Rapture," when many Christians believe the faithful will be taken to heaven in an instant before chaos envelops the world. Some claim the Y2K bug may be a precursor of those tumultuous times.

Source: Associated Press / Washington Post

DATE: 4/06/99

For more E2000 stories, click here:
news | events | Y2K | today's news

Marketplace
Books
Collectibles
Celebration Supplies
General Merchandise
Travel Packages