Left Behind
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 Reissue of Left Behind using original artwork |
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| Author | Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Left Behind (series) |
| Genre(s) | Christian fiction |
| Publisher | Tyndale House Publishers |
| Released | 31 December 1995 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback; also made into Graphic novel and audiobook) |
| Pages | 320 pp (hardcover) and 468 pp (paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-8423-2911-0 (HC), ISBN 0-8423-4270-2 (PB) |
| Preceded by | The Rapture |
| Followed by | Tribulation Force |
Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days is a best-selling novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins that started the Left Behind series dealing with Evangelical Christian eschatology view of the end times.
Taking as its premise a Rapture which takes from the Earth all believers in Jesus Christ, the story follows those who are not taken and experience the dramatic events as Antichrist nears.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Several months earlier, a miraculous, yet seemingly mysterious defeat of the Russian, Iraqi, and Syrian forces occurs after a massive assault on Israel fails. Though many believed it to be a malfunction, others believe it was God protecting his ancient people's homeland - and that biblical prophecies are beginning to reach their fulfillment.
At present the most devastating period mankind has ever experienced comes to pass: In an instance, millions upon millions world-wide have vanished, the dead and alive, the born and unborn, many seen right before their own eyes. Frantically, many begin their search for their friends and family. Among those left behind, is pilot Rayford Steele, with his daughter Chloe Steele, and pastor Bruce Barnes, who come to terms with what just occurred, the Rapture. Also Cameron "Buck" Williams, a young journalist, follows an unknown, but charming Romanian politician named Nicolae Carpathia, who quickly attracts millions, seemingly overnight. As world events and biblical prophecies start to collide, one thing is certain, the Tribulation is about to begin.
[edit] Characters in "Left Behind"
- Rayford Steele – main character, Pan-Continental Airlines pilot, leader of the Tribulation Force
- Chloe Steele Williams – daughter to Rayford, Buck Williams wife. Dies by Guillotine after her son, Kenny Williams, is born.
- Cameron "Buck" Williams – Senior writer of Global Weekly magazine and friend to Chaim Rosenzweig
- Bruce Barnes – assistant pastor of New Hope Village Church
- Irene Steele – raptured wife to Rayford
- Rayford (Raymie) Steele, Jr. – raptured son to Rayford
- Joshua Todd-Cothran – international financier, head of London Stock Exchange
- Jonathan Stonagal – international financier; wealthiest man in history
- Ken Ritz – charter pilot
- Chaim Rosenzweig– Botanist, discoverer of the Eden formula which makes the Israeli deserts bloom
- Steve Plank – Editor of Global Weekly and Buck's boss
- Hattie Durham – Former flight attendant, formerly Carpathia's mistress
- Nicolae Jetty Carpathia – Antichrist, former president of Romania, former secretary-general of the United Nations, Supreme Potentate of the Global Community
- Kenny Bruce Williams – Son of Chloe Steele Williams and Cameron 'Buck' Williams.
[edit] Major themes
Christian prophetic themes are explored in a fictional context around the theme of the "Rapture", an interpretation of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians. Among those Christians who believe there will be a Rapture, there are three main theories on the timing of this event: Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation. This book takes the Pre-Tribulation Rapture position. The story is built around such End times themes as the Second Coming, the Antichrist, the Tribulation, and the expected coming Millennium of Messiah.
[edit] Controversies and criticisms
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The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
Some evangelicals are seriously concerned about the message of the genre. Their objections are based on the paucity of scriptural evidence for the Pre-Tribulation Rapture which forms the basis for the story. The supposition is that the Christian Church will not be present for the "final witness" nor need to prepare themselves in the faith for that possibility. Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983) expressed this concern [1]. It forms a growing basis for discussion among evangelicals who hold to a Post Tribulation Rapture, amillennialism, or forms of preterism.
Other evangelicals object to the message of Left Behind because they say it is not a Christian message, though framed as a Christian series. Loren L. Johns, the Academic Dean of the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary writes: "At the end of the day, this series is ultimately a rejection of the good news of Jesus Christ. I say this because it rejects the way of the cross and Jesus’ call to obedient discipleship and a new way of life. It celebrates the human will to power, putting Evangelical Christians in the heroic role of God’s Green Berets. ... Love of enemies is treated as a misguided strategy associated not with the gospel, but with the Antichrist."[2]
And the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) reported of the books "Yet the ideas expressed in the Left Behind series are in many ways contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Though containing a fictional story line, the books promote a theology that is, in important respects, at odds with the biblical revelation." [3]
Lisa Ruby, writer of over 50 investigative articles about the Left Behind Series, and a book, God's Wrath on Left Behind, insists the novels are filled with soul-subverting messages: "My focus is not on the author's eschatological bent, but rather, the apostate thinking and behavior of the allegedly Christian characters. The Left Behind Series is conditioning people to believe that Christians may work at Satan's headquarters and even "pretend" to worship the Antichrist during the Tribulation without forfeiting their souls." [4]
Other Christians find the focus on the Rapture as a dramatic device in a "Christian" film gives too much credence to this debatable theory. Some Christians find the use of Biblical interpretations for commercial entertainment somewhat exploitive and disingenuous, in spite of the claims of some that the books and movie have helped bring new believers to Christianity.
[edit] Film adaptation
This book has been adapted into a feature film, Left Behind: The Movie, first released on video and DVD, and then to cinemas where it fared poorly [5]. In the movie Cameron "Buck" Williams was played by former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron who said he finds the series inspiring; he is a practicing evangelist (and co-host with Ray Comfort on the TV show The Way of the Master).
So far there have been two sequels released straight to video. The most recent one, Left Behind: World at War, premiered in thousands of churches before its video and DVD release. A fourth instalment has been announced by Cloud Ten Pictures.
The film itself was the subject of parody in The Simpsons May 2005 episode "Thank God It's Doomsday". Homer sees the film "Left Below" and becomes greatly concerned about his role in the imminent Rapture.
While the makers of Left Behind had the open intention of using science fiction as a vehicle for propagating their vision of Christianity in milieus not so open to more traditional forms of preaching, the veteran Science Fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein in his Job: A Comedy of Justice used the same medium in order to satirize the themes of the "rapture" and its aftermath. Among other things, in Heinlein's version the Norse god Odin holds his own "rapture," simultaneously with that of the Christian God, and takes his faithful neo-Pagan followers off to Valhalla.
[edit] Video game adaptation
This book has also been adapted into a computer video game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces. The game has been subject to much of the same criticism as the best selling books. Muslim groups have called on Walmart to ban the game from its stores [6]. American Atheists has denounced censorship of the game but says that parents should use "this as an opportunity to talk to young people about good judgement, acceptance of others, and the need for tolerance--not violence" [7]. The game premise of killing or converting non Christians is said to be the most unwelcome aspect of the game.
[edit] Release details
- 1995, USA, Tyndale House ISBN 0-8423-2911-0, Pub. date 31 December 1995, Hardback
- 1995, USA, Tyndale House ISBN 0-8423-1675-2, Pub. date ? December 1995, Audio Cassette
- 1999, USA, Tyndale House ISBN 0-8423-2912-9, Pub. date ? February 1999, Paperback
- 2000, USA, Chivers, Windsor, Paragon & Co ISBN 0-7862-2468-1, Pub. date ? September 2000, Large Print
- 2000, UK, Tyndale House ISBN 0-8423-4270-2, Pub. date 30 September 2000, Paperback
- 2001, USA, Sagebrush ISBN 0-613-13825-2, Pub. date ? October 2001, Graphic Novel
[edit] Trivia
According to Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye based the book's beginning on an experience he once had on an airplane. He saw the captain, wearing a wedding ring, flirting with the senior flight attendant, who was single, and wondered what would happen if the Rapture were to occur at that moment.[1]
[edit] References
The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation, by Rev. Barbara Rossing, ISBN 0-8133-9156-3, 2004, Westview Press
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Tyndale Press, website of the publisher
- 'Left Behind' and the specter of desertion showcased in Acts 27 with the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul
- Lengthy, ongoing critical review of the series from a Christian viewpoint
- A Lutheran response (PDF)
- Nicholas Kristof's critical op-ed in the New York Times, July 17, 2004
| Left Behind | ||||||
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| Original Book Series: Left Behind · Tribulation Force · Nicolae · Soul Harvest · Apollyon · Assassins The Indwelling · The Mark · Desecration · The Remnant · Armageddon · Glorious Appearing |
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| Prequels: The Rising · The Regime · The Rapture |
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| Sequel: Kingdom Come |
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| See also: Left Behind: Eternal Forces | ||||||
