| Christianity Portal |
 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 |
| Publication date | 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 which starts the Left Behind series. This book and the others in the series give narrative form to a specific eschatological reading of the Christian Bible, particularly the Book of Revelation. See dispensationalism and premillennialism.
Contents |
Plot summary
Suddenly—without warning—the most alarming event in mankind's history comes to pass: millions upon millions world-wide have vanished, the dead and alive, born and unborn—many right before people's eyes. Frantic "survivors" of the disappearances begin their search for their friends and families as well as answers to what's happened. Among them are pilot Rayford Steele, his daughter Chloe Steele, and pastor Bruce Barnes, who begin to discover that what has really happened is that the Rapture had occurred. Meanwhile, a young journalist, Cameron "Buck" Williams follows an unknown, but charming Romanian politician named Nicolae Carpathia, who quickly attracts millions of followers, seemingly overnight.
Characters in Left Behind
- Rayford Steele – main character, Pan-Continental Airlines pilot, leader of the Tribulation Force after Bruce's death. Father to Chloe, grandfather to Kenny Bruce Williams (comes in in book 5).
- Chloe Steele Williams – daughter to Rayford, Buck Williams wife.
- Cameron "Buck" Williams – Senior writer of Global Weekly magazine and friend to Chaim Rosenzweig
- Bruce Barnes – assistant pastor of New Hope Village Church - is one of the few people left behind at New Hope. He takes Rayford and Chloe under his wing and teaches them about everything that had already happened; although Chloe is initially resistant, she eventually opens up and Bruce begins leading the Tribulation Force.
- Irene Steele – raptured wife of Rayford
- Rayford (Raymie) Steele, Jr. – raptured son of 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
- Nicolae Jetty Carpathia – Antichrist, former president of Romania
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.
Reception
This novel has received different reactions; however, the American Evangelical Christian community in general has approved the idea of representing in a worldly language the end times theology. Jerry Falwell said: "In terms of its impact on Christianity, it's probably greater than that of any other book in modern times, outside the Bible."[1] There have been several good reviews from various media. The New York Times praised it, stating "...combines Tom Clancy like suspense with touches of romance, high tech flash and Biblical references". The Chicago Tribune called it "...an exciting, stay-up-late-into-the-night, page turner story". Publishers Weekly recognized Left Behind as "...the most successful Christian Fiction series ever".
Controversies and criticisms
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.[2]. 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."[3] 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."[4] 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."[5] 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. Blogger and journalist Fred Clark has repeatedly attacked the book as being "Bad Writing and Bad Theology"[1] in a long running series of weekly posts[2]. He feels that after the Rapture the people of the world, including the heroes of the story, assimilate the disappearance of all the world's children with a monstrous rapidity that displays the ways that the authors have allowed their checklist of prophecies to be fulfilled to outweigh the consequences these events would have on the psyches of real people[3]. He also criticized the book for being written in "slapdash" manner in just 28 days, which in Clark's opinion betrays the Christian notion of the importance of treating one's craft being a vocation for God[4].
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.[6] 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 first was named "Left Behind II: Tribulation Force". The most recent one, Left Behind: World at War, premiered in thousands of churches before its video and DVD release. A fourth installment 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.
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
See also
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
External links
- Official website
- A response from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (PDF)
- Statement of Catholic Conference of Illinois
- Dr. Stephen Travis, Has real hope been 'Left Behind'? Methodist Evangelicals Together, Jan., 2005
- Nicholas Kristof's critical op-ed in the New York Times, July 17, 2004
- Teresa Malcolm, Fearful faith in end times novels National Catholic Reporter, June 15, 2001
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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 |
| Prequels | The Rising · The Regime · The Rapture |
| Sequel | Kingdom Come |
| Films | Left Behind: The Movie · Left Behind II: Tribulation Force · Left Behind: World at War · Left Behind IV |
| See also | Left Behind: The Kids · Left Behind (TV series) · Left Behind: Eternal Forces |
