Irene Steele is s a fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The character is featured heavily in three Left Behind prequels The Rising, The Regime, and The Rapture.
Before the Rapture, Irene is married to the series' chief protagonist, Rayford Steele and have two children together, Chloe Steele and Raymie Steele. After becoming a born-again Christian, Irene becomes desperate for her family to have the same salvation she has. She eventually gets through to her son, Raymie, who becomes a Christian and helps her cope with Rayford and Chloe's indecisiveness towards God. She even counsels Rayford's parents, who are struggling with Alzheimer's, leading them both to salvation before their deaths. Through the councelling of her friend Jackie, Irene tries to turn the rest of her family towards Christ, but to no avail.
Rayford becomes more and more distant over the years, and Irene suspects he is having an affair. Chloe leaves home to go to college, having never let go of her "show me" attitude. Just as Irene is at the height of her desperation, the Rapture of the church occurs and Irene, Raymie, and countless other believers are taken up into the House of God, where the Bema Seat Judgment takes place. At first, Irene is nervous when her works are tested by the fire because of her short time as a Christian, but her efforts are praised by Jesus for turning Raymie and the elderly Steeles to Him.
After the marriage supper of the Lamb, Irene and the rest of the raptured saints wait and enjoy life in heaven. On earth, the cosmic battle of the ages takes place as the Tribulation ravages the planet. Irene returns with the heavenly hosts at the Glorious Appearing of Christ, reuniting with her husband, her daughter, and her young grandson, Kenny Bruce Williams. She is also thrilled to meet Cameron "Buck" Williams, Chloe's husband.
In Kingdom Come, she and her husband lead a missionary trip to Egypt, where they lead many to salvation during the Millennial Kingdom. She is present at the final battle at the end of the Millennium where Christ overthrows evil once and for all and welcomes all believers into the Kingdom of Heaven.
"Can you imagine, Rafe, Jesus coming back to get us before we die?"
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