Left Behind
Left Behind is a series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatology.
LaHaye and Jenkins cite the influence of Russell S. Doughten, an Iowan film-maker who directed a series of four low-budget feature-length films in the 1970s and 1980s about the Rapture and Second Coming. The films' popularity among Christian fundamentalists have led to increased study and speculation as to the events described in the Book of Revelation.
The books deal with the rise of the Antichrist: a Romanian named Nicolae Carpathia, whose political rise leads him from membership in the Romanian Parliament to the Presidency of Romania, and on to the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. Under his rule, all the countries of the world merge into a single politicial entity under United Nations administration. Armies are disbanded, and an era of world peace established. All media are consolidated under the "Global Community Network" and religions are merged into one faith. Finally, Carpathia is proclaimed "Potentate of the Global Community," and becomes revered as a God.
Throughout the series, Carpathia and the world at large become increasely antagonistic toward any group that does not follow the newly established religion of "Carpathianism". The world also experiences many cataclysmic judgements sent by God.
Carpathia's efforts are resisted by a group of people who call themselves the "Tribulation Force", centered around a church in Chicago.
The 12 books in the series are: Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, Desecration, The Remnant, Armageddon and Glorious Appearing. There are also graphic novels, audio drama tapes, CDs, and a Left Behind series for children. A dramatic audio series based on the these 12 titles has also been produced for broadcast on Christian radio.
Two spin off book series have been started. The series involve different characters, but cover the same time frame as the original series. One is called End of State and the other is Apocalypse Dawn.
Response
The books have sold very well in the United States, many topping the New York Times list of bestsellers. In other areas, such as continental Europe--where dispensationalism is largely non-existent--the books have been far less successful.
In an article enquiring into the series' popularity, Salon magazine writer Michelle Goldberg described what she believed was one of the series' attractions [1] (http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2002/07/29/left_behind/):
- On one level, the attraction of the Left Behind books isn't that much different from that of, say, Tom Clancy or Stephen King. The plotting is brisk and the characterizations Manichean.
However, she considered the books to be an attack on Judaism and liberal secularism, and pointed out that the near-future "end times" the books are set in seem to reflect the actual worldview of millions of Americans, including many prominent conservative leaders.
External links
- Official website (http://www.leftbehind.com)
- Fundamentally unsound: "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." (http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2002/07/29/left_behind/)
Secondary literature
- Bruce David Forbes and Jeanne Halgren Kilde (eds.), Rapture, Revelation, and the End Times: Exploring the Left Behind Series. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004. ISBN 1403965250