Left Behind books
"Left Behind" is a series of Christian novels co-authored by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, first published in 1995. The series, which includes a total of sixteen adult novels and a children’s series, explores themes of dispensational premillennialism—a theological perspective on the end times based on specific Biblical interpretations. The narrative begins after a Rapture event, where believers are taken to Heaven, leaving behind those who must endure tribulations, including the rise of the Antichrist, until Christ's eventual return. The books gained significant popularity, selling over fifty million copies and spawning various adaptations, including films and video games.
While the series resonated strongly with a Christian audience, its doctrines faced criticism from some within the broader Christian community, particularly regarding its portrayals of violence and perceived anti-Catholic sentiments. Despite mixed reviews, particularly for its film adaptations, the "Left Behind" series marked a significant moment in Christian literature, highlighting the potential for mainstream success for works with conservative Christian themes and sparking discussions about their cultural significance and religious implications.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Left Behind books
Identification Best-selling Christian fiction series
Authors Tim LaHaye (1926–2016) and Jerry B. Jenkins (1949– )
These novels depict characters surviving from the Rapture until the second coming of Jesus Christ. The blend of conservative Christian content and action-adventure plots made these books widely popular, though controversial.
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins began a literary industry when they published Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth’s Last Days in 1995. Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind followed in 1996, then Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist in 1997, Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides in 1998, and Apollyon: The Destroyer Is Unleashed and Assassins: Assignment—Jerusalem, Target—Antichrist, both in 1999.
Published by Tyndale House, the series grew to include sixteen adult novels published through 2007 (including three prequels) and sold more than fifty million copies; seven novels reached number one on the New York Times best-seller list. In addition, a series for children sold ten million copies. Related items included audiobooks, graphic novels, study guides, and even clothes and collectibles. This success was a first for books with content that is staunchly Christian and conservative.
Specifically, the novels espouse dispensational premillennialism, an interpretation of the Bible—namely 1 Thessalonians 4 and the book of Revelation—developed by John Nelson Darby in the 1800s. After the Rapture, in which good Christians are taken into Heaven, those remaining on Earth, those “left behind,” suffer ordeal after ordeal and the coming of the Antichrist until Jesus Christ returns to Earth and time ends. LaHaye and Jenkins take the biblical prophecies literally, including menaces such as stinging insects with human faces. The novels follow several characters with whom the reader is encouraged to identify.
Jenkins, who did the writing based on LaHaye’s notes, has written over 150 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has worked for the Moody Bible Institute, at which LaHaye also worked. LaHaye encouraged televangelist Jerry Falwell to found the Moral Majority and sat on its board of directors; he also founded various Christian conservative activist and lobbying groups himself.
Although the Left Behind series appealed mostly to Christians, many Christians did not agree with all the doctrines in the books. Some have criticized the books as being anti-Catholic. Others have criticized the depictions of violence, guns, and car chases, and the implied message that solving the world’s problems is unnecessary—or, as in the case of the Antichrist promising world peace, actually bad.
The book series was so successful that it led to an array of spin-offs, including a number of film adaptations: Left Behind: The Movie was released in 2000, and was followed by Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002) and Left Behind: World at War (2005). All three films starred Kirk Cameron in the lead role as Buck Williams, and all received negative critical reviews; the first film was released in theaters and the second two were released direct to video. A reboot starring Nicholas Cage was released in 2014 but also performed poorly. A series of video games based on the book series was also released starting in 2006.
Impact
Perhaps fueled by the approach of the millennium, the popularity of the novels brought attention to Christian publishers, whose books often sold very well but did not generally get covered by best-seller lists. The series also gave a concrete depiction of Darbyist end times events, as believed by a significant and vocal American minority. While many critics simply dismissed the books, others examined them as religious statements, for their cultural significance and as signs of popular tastes in literature.
Bibliography
Forbes, Bruce David, and Jeanne Halgren Kilde, eds. Rapture, Revelation, and the End Times: Exploring the Left Behind Series. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.
Goodstein, Laurie. "Fast-Selling Thrillers Depict Prophetic View of Final Days". The New York Times, 4 Oct. 1998, www.nytimes.com/1998/10/04/us/fast-selling-thrillers-depict-prophetic-view-of-final-days.html. Accessed 24 May 2019.
Shuck, Glenn W. Marks of the Beast: The Left Behind Novels and the Struggle for Evangelical Identity. New York: New York University Press, 2004.
Wilkinson, Alissa. "The 'Left Behind' Series Was Just the Latest Way America Prepared for the Rapture." The Washington Post, 13 July 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2016/07/13/the-left-behind-series-was-just-the-latest-way-america-prepared-for-the-rapture/. Accessed 24 May 2019.