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CURRENTLY IN MOVIES
Movies about the end times

Peter J. Woelk

Apocalypse: Caught In the Eye of the Storm
Starring Richard Nester and Leigh Lewis. Produced by Peter and Paul Lalonde and Jack Van Impe Ministries, 1997.

Revelation: The Book Has Been Opened
Starring Jeff Fahey, Carol Alt and Nick Mancuso. Produced by Peter and Paul Lalonde, Jack Van Impe Ministries and John Hagee Ministries. Cloud Ten Pictures, 1998.

Tribulation
Starring Gary Busey, Howie Mandel, Margot Kidder, Nick Mancuso and Sherry Miller. Produced by Peter and Paul Lalonde, Jack Van Impe Ministries, John Hagee Ministries and T.D. Jakes Ministries. Cloud Ten Pictures, 1999.


Peter and Paul Lalonde have made three movies that will revolutionalize the way Christian movies are made. The Lalondes have written Hollywood-style scripts from a Christian angle. These movies are intense, the plots are intriguing, the characters are developed, the dialogue is realistic. The movies don’t follow the events set out in the biblical book of Revelation. Instead, they deal with the events that might occur in the end times, such as the rule of the Antichrist, the rapture, one-world government and the misleading of the masses by Satan. These movies ask: Whom are we serving, Christ or Satan? Even though the movies overlap somewhat, each can stand by itself.

Apocalypse concerns reporters Bronson Pearl (Richard Nester) and Helen Hannah (Leigh Lewis), who report on events that draw the entire world into a war. The stage is set for World War III in the heart of Palestine, and it appears as if the world will be annihilated in a nuclear holocaust. When the Battle of Armageddon seems imminent, all the Christians around the world suddenly disappear, leaving behind neatly folded piles of clothes, pairs of shoes and a lot of unanswered questions. As people try to figure out what has happened, European Union president Franco Macalousso establishes the new world order, claiming to be the Messiah.

While some Bible scholars might dispute the Lalondes’ interpretation of the end times, it makes for an interesting story. This movie’s quality, however, leaves something to be desired, and the performances of some of the actors are not that good.

Revelation takes place a few months after the rapture has occurred. The world is living in peace under One Nation Earth (O.N.E.), headed by Macalousso (Nick Mancuso). A group of new Christians (tagged the “haters”), led by Helen Hannah (Leigh Lewis), try to prove to the people that Macalousso is really the Antichrist. Macalousso’s hopes to win his critics over rest on a worldwide event called the “Day of Wonders”. The action switches into high gear when the “haters” learn the truth behind this computer-enhanced event.

There are some solid performances by Nick Mancuso, Jeff Fahey, Carol Alt and Tony Nappo. However, Revelation is not for young children, as some scenes are frightening.

Tribulation focuses on Tom Canboro (Gary Busey), a police detective. As Canboro conducts an investigation, he has a car accident which leaves him in a coma. He awakens sometime later to find that many people have vanished (the Christians have been raptured) and that Macalousso, claiming to be the Messiah, is in power over the whole earth. As a police detective, Canboro is very skeptical. He quickly learns that anyone who does not have the mark of the beast, including himself, is hunted down by the forces of the Antichrist.

There is some fine acting by Busey, Margot Kidder, Howie Mandel and Leigh Lewis. This movie also has some frightening scenes, particularly one scene with a satanic ritual. Some scholars might object to some of the liberties the Lalondes have taken with biblical prophecy concerning the end times.

Peter J. Woelk is an editorial assistant for MB Herald.

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Last modified May 3, 2000.

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