*culture is not optional

Left Behind paves the way

by Robert Moll

Whether or not you like to read Christian fiction, you probably know about the Left Behind Series. The books, with number 11 due in April, are more than the latest in thriller fiction. They are a phenomenon. Over 55 million books have been sold; a kids' series is being made; two movies have been released. A television series and spin-off books are planned. Audio books, a prophecy club, and an array of merchandise capitalize on the bestseller success of the novels. National media outlets have featured the books, from Time magazine to prime time TV, to National Public Radio.

Jerry B. Jenkins and co-author Tim LaHaye have ousted John Grisham from the top of the New York Times bestseller list. However, the Left Behind phenomenon is not the only example of Christian cultural efforts. HarperCollins has acquired Zondervan, publisher of the New International Version and many other Christian titles, and secular music labels own almost every major Christian one. The success of such Christian cultural endeavors has attracted some of the biggest names in entertainment. And Left Behind has signaled the coming of age of the once small-time Christian publishing industry.

The Left Behind story begins, in one sense, with John Nelson Darby, a nineteenth century British theologian who developed dispensational theology. C.I. Scofield popularized Darby's dispensationalism in America with the publication of his reference Bible in 1909. This King James Version included extensive notes explaining the dispensations of the Bible, the covenants by which God defined his relationship to his people. Americans, whose European ancestors believed they were establishing the capital of Christ's millennial kingdom, were ripe for this new interpretation. Since then, premillennial dispensationalism has become standard fare for a large section of evangelical Christianity.

In the 1990s, Tim LaHaye, an author, speaker, and Bible prophecy scholar, conceived the idea of a fictional account of the end times. LaHaye, who holds two doctorate degrees, outlines the books according to his interpretation of the book of Revelation. Then Jenkins, author of over 100 books and former vice president for publishing for Moody Bible Institute, puts the meat on LaHaye's outline by writing the story.

Though much has changed since Darby first explained the pretribulational rapture of the church, LaHaye keeps to Darby's basic premise of the end times: God will usher in his millennial kingdom with seven years of harsh judgments beginning with the rapture of all true believers.

And that is how the series starts. Rayford Steele, an airline pilot, is flying across the Atlantic contemplating an affair with one of his flight attendants when she informs him that many passengers have suddenly vanished. Down below, cars crash, planes crash, and utter chaos ensues as Christians disappear. Graves empty, babies, born and unborn, disappear.

As the world grapples with the frightening situation, Nicolae Carpathia, the president of Romania, visits New York. Following a dramatic speech to the UN, he is asked to become Secretary General of the United Nations. His political ability is astounding; he is overly humble, yet he is brilliant, good looking, fluent in a dozen languages, inspiring, and everyone's best friend. Backed by international financiers, Carpathia promises peace, security, and prosperity in a united global community. Soon, Carpathia moves the UN to Babylon, calls it the Global Community, divides the world into ten regions under his authority, and seizes the world's military weapons. He announces a single currency, a single religion, and massive population control measures, using abortion.

Many in this new world order love Carpathia's every move. Nevertheless, a minority, shocked by the disappearances, look for answers. Many find answers when they encounter Christian literature, and quickly the Good News spreads. Thousands are saved, the "tribulation saints" and they ready themselves to fight the antichrist.

Despite the series' bizarre setting, the books are strangely believable. This isn't fantasy; and these events can make the reader have second thoughts about their seeming implausibility while talk of war, UN resolutions, and weapons of mass destruction hang in the air. Given a few acts of God, this could actually happen.

The books' odd believability combined with apocalyptic fervor make the novels quite interesting, if not quality literature. Americans tend to gobble up end times theories. The Late Great Planet Earth was the best selling book of the 70s. Though Left Behind is fiction, it plays on the desire to understand our perplexing world. It demonstrates how LaHaye's interpretation of Christ's promised return could come true using the same institutions and technology that have made modern life so confusing. Terrorist attacks could be the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons could ensure destruction in the same manner as predicted in the book of Revelation. Left Behind simplifies things, offering two options: join the antichrist and his one world government and religion, or fight him alongside God himself. Guess who wins.

While the antichrist manipulates the world into joining his new government and religion, the Christians are able to identify each other by a cross, sealed on the forehead, a sign nonbelievers can't even see. Using high-tech equipment, they deceive the antichrist, foil his agents, and preach the truth.

Left Behind presents a situation where it is all or nothing, black and white: either you're for us or against us. It can be no other way when history is about to end in the battle between good and evil. But, for readers, consciously or not, this equation could imply that in today's battle of good and evil Christians must set out to conquer the unsaved foes. However, culture wars aside, Left Behind has given a makeover to the Christian publishing industry. Publishers like Zondervan and Tyndale have shed the mom and pop image; they are no longer on the fringe.

Jenkins admitted in a Christianity Today article that because of the series' success he has been "less apologetic" about his own faith. In addition, Jenkins now heads the Christian Writers Guild, and he is using his portion of the books' profits to help young Christian writers make their way in the publishing industry. He has also started a film company with his son to help Christian filmmakers get into Hollywood. On top of that, over 3,000 people have written to Jenkins and LaHaye to report they became Christians because of the novels. Message boards on the Left Behind site are filled with testimonies of people who returned to their faith after reading the series.

Skeptics cannot deny Left Behind?s popularity. It has brought Christian publishing to the bestseller list, which brings exposure to Christian values, ideas, and beliefs. The success will also give opportunities for future talent and will help to secure the future of Christian publishing.