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Encyclopedia > Left Behind
For other uses, see Left Behind (disambiguation).
Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days is super awesome
Left Behind cover
Reissue of Left Behind using original artwork
Author Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
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 dispensational premillennialism. Left Behind may refer to: Left Behind, a novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... Image File history File links Left_Behind. ... A panel from Tim LaHaye’s multi-million selling ‘’Left Behind’’ series, depicting the fate LaHaye anticipates for those who do not follow Jesus Christ. ... Book one in the Left Behind series Jerry B. Jenkins (born September 23, 1949 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is an American novelist and biographer. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Left Behind is a series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatology viewpoint of the end of the world. ... Christian literature is writing that deals Christian themes and incorporates the Christian worldview. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... Tyndale House is a publisher founded in 1962 by Kenneth Taylor, in order to publish his paraphrase of the Epistles, which he had composed while commuting to work at Moody Press in Chicago. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Hardcover books A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) is a book bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth, heavy paper, or sometimes leather). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Trade paperback of Will Eisners A Contract with God (1978), often mistakenly cited as the first graphic novel. ... An audio book is a recording of the contents of a book read aloud. ... ISBN redirects here. ... The Rapture: In the Twinkling of an Eye / Countdown to the Earths Last Days as the 3rd prequel novel in the Left behind series. ... The Tribulation Force is a Christian-based group formed by those left behind after the Rapture as portrayed in the fiction series Left Behind, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. ... A panel from Tim LaHaye’s multi-million selling ‘’Left Behind’’ series, depicting the fate LaHaye anticipates for those who do not follow Jesus Christ. ... Book one in the Left Behind series Jerry B. Jenkins (born September 23, 1949 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is an American novelist and biographer. ... Left Behind is a series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatology viewpoint of the end of the world. ... For the eschatological beliefs of various religions, see End Times. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A current... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      This article is about Premillennialism in Christian...

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. Rayford Steele, as portayed by actor Brad Johnson Spoiler warning: Rayford Steele is a fictional character from the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... Spoiler warning: Actress Janaya Stephens portrays Chloe Steele in the movie version of Left Behind. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A pastor is an... A fictional character of the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Bruce Barnes is pastor of the New Hope Village Church in Chicago. ... For other meanings, see Rapture (disambiguation). ... Cameron Buck Williams, as played by Kirk Cameron in the film version of Left Behind A fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Cameron Buck Williams found his life turned upside down by the sudden disappearance of millions of people from... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... Nicolae Jetty Carpathia is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in the Left Behind book series written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ...


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 – ruptured 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

Rayford Steele, as portayed by actor Brad Johnson Spoiler warning: Rayford Steele is a fictional character from the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... The Tribulation Force is a Christian-based group formed by those left behind after the Rapture as portrayed in the fiction series Left Behind, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... Spoiler warning: Actress Janaya Stephens portrays Chloe Steele in the movie version of Left Behind. ... Cameron Buck Williams, as played by Kirk Cameron in the film version of Left Behind A fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Cameron Buck Williams found his life turned upside down by the sudden disappearance of millions of people from... A fictional character of the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Bruce Barnes is pastor of the New Hope Village Church in Chicago. ... The Tribulation Force is a Christian-based group formed by those left behind after the Rapture as portrayed in the fiction series Left Behind, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... Joshua Todd-Cothran is a fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... A fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Jonathan Stonagal is a powerful and highly influential American financier with links to Viv Ivins Luciferian organization. ... Ken Ritz, a fictional character of the Left Behind series, is a private pilot. ... Chaim Rosenzweig (KI-am Rozen-zvieg) is a fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels. ... Botany is the scientific study of plant life. ... Steve Plank is a character in Play. ... Hattie Durham is a fictional character in the Left Behind series, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... Nicolae Carpathia, as played by actor Gordon Currie. ... For the Friedrich Nietzsche book, see The Antichrist. ...

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. For other meanings, see Rapture (disambiguation). ... The First Epistle to the Thessalonians, also known as the First Letter to the Thessalonians, is a book from the New Testament of the Christian Bible. ... // In the three Abrahamic Religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), the End Times are depicted as a time of tribulation that precede the predicted coming of a Messiah figure. ... For other uses, see Second Coming (disambiguation). ... For the Friedrich Nietzsche book, see The Antichrist. ... The Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the entities that bring false peace, War, famine, pestilence, and death. ... A millennium (pl. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ...


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] This article is about Jerry Falwell, Sr. ...


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". The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... Publishers Weekly is a weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. ...


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. Cornelia Johanna Arnolda ten Boom, generally known as Corrie ten Boom, (April 15, 1892 – April 15, 1983) was a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II. Ten Boom co-wrote her autobiography, The Hiding Place, which was later made into a movie... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      In Christian eschatology, the Post Tribulation... Amillennialism (from the Latin prefix a meaning no, mille meaning thousand, and annum meaning year) is a view in Christian eschatology named for its denial of a future, thousand-year, physical reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, as espoused in the premillennial and some postmillennial views of the Book... Preterism is a variant of Christian eschatology which holds that some or all of the biblical prophecies concerning the Last Days (or End Times) refer to events which actually happened in the first century after Christs birth. ...


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] Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) is an accredited Christian seminary in Elkhart, Indiana affiliated with Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. Besides serving Mennonites from North America and other continents, AMBS is approved by the United Methodist Church for training of its ministers. ...


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] LCMS redirects here. ... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ...


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. Cameron Buck Williams, as played by Kirk Cameron in the film version of Left Behind A fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Cameron Buck Williams found his life turned upside down by the sudden disappearance of millions of people from... For other uses, see Growing Pains (disambiguation). ... Kirk Thomas Cameron (born October 12, 1970) is an American actor, director, and Christian fundamentalist who is perhaps most notable for his role as Mike Seaver on the sitcom Growing Pains. ... Ray Comfort (born December 5, 1949) is a New Zealand-born minister and evangelist. ... The Way of the Master logo. ...


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. Simpsons redirects here. ... Thank God Its Doomsday is the nineteenth episode of The Simpsons sixteenth season. ...


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

Tyndale House is a publisher founded in 1962 by Kenneth Taylor, in order to publish his paraphrase of the Epistles, which he had composed while commuting to work at Moody Press in Chicago. ...

References

  1. ^ Time magazine. Accessed 2007-9-8
  2. ^ Corrie Ten Boom and the Rapture
  3. ^ The Left Behind Series: Description and Critique
  4. ^ LeftBehind.pdf: A Lutheran response to the Left Behind series
  5. ^ Exposing False Doctrines in the Left Behind Series
  6. ^ Imdb.com: Left Behind (2004) - Box Office/Business
  • 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

v • d • e
Left Behind
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
 v • d • e Major Characters in Left Behind Series
Original Tribulation Force Members:
Rayford Steele | Cameron "Buck" Williams | Chloe Steele | Bruce Barnes
Other Tribulation Force Members:
Tsion Ben-Judah | Chaim Rosenzweig | Albie | Mac McCullum | Abdullah Smith | David Hassid | Chang Wong | Ming Toy | Ree Woo | Ken Ritz | Lionel Whalum | George Sebastian | Priscilla Sebastian | Amanda White | T. M. Delanty | Lukas Miklos | Floyd Charles | Hattie Durham | Steve Plank | Razor | Otto Weser | Naomi Tiberias | Eleazar Tiberias | Gustaf Zuckermandel, Jr. | Hannah Palemoon | Leah Rose | Annie Christopher | Marcel Papadopoulos | Georgiana Stavros | Bernadette Rice
The Global Community:
Nicolae Carpathia | Leon Fortunato | Viv Ivins | Suhail Akbar | Walter Moon | Peter Mathews | Marilena Carpathia | Reiche Planchette | Aurelio Sequoia Figueroa | Jim Hickman | Ramon Santiago | Clancy Tiber | Guy Blod
The Millennium Force:
Raymie Steele | Ekaterina Risto | Kenny Bruce Williams | Bahira Abaneh | Zaki Abaneh
The Other Light:
Cendrillon Jospin | Ignace Jospin | Lothair Jospin | Qasim Marid
Others:
Joshua Todd-Cothran | Jonathan Stonagal | Bo Hanson | Samuel Hanson | Anika Janssen | Gerald Fitzhugh | Alan Tompkins

  Results from FactBites:
 
Fundamentally unsound - Salon (889 words)
Left Behind, the bestselling series of paranoid, pro-Israel end-time thrillers, may sound kooky, but America's right-wing leaders really believe this stuff.
In the religion, as in the series, the rapture is kicked off by a military attack on the country, which survives almost unscathed (though the first Left Behind, written before the current intifada, had Russian aggressors rather than Arabs).
The Left Behind books chronicle those seven years -- known to Christians as the Tribulation -- as a ragtag group of new believers form the "Tribulation Force" to thwart the murderous plans of Nicolae Carpathia, the U.N.-leader-cum-prince-of-darkness (often just called "the evil one," Osama bin Laden-style).
Left Behind (578 words)
Left Behind–a 1995 best-selling fiction novel with an overtly religious message tells the story of Rayford Steele, a 747 pilot who's "left behind" when millions of Christians, including his own wife and son, were suddenly "raptured" from the earth by Jesus Christ.
Now he and the billions of people left behind with him face a seven-year period prophesied in the Bible as a time of great "tribulation" under the reign of an evil antichrist.
While its story line is admittedly fictitious, Left Behind throws a spotlight on one of the most dominant teachings of the Bible–the second coming of Jesus Christ.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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