Piloting his 747, Rayford Steele is musing about his wife Irene's irritating religiosity and contemplating the charms of his "drop-dead gorgeous" flight attendant, Hattie. First Irene was into Amway, then Tupperware, and now it's the Rapture of the Saints--the scary last story in the Bible in which Christians are swept to heaven and unbelievers are left behind to endure the Antichrist's Tribulation. Steele believes he'll put the plane on autopilot and go visit Hattie. But Hattie's in a panic: some of the passengers have disappeared! The Rapture has happened, abruptly driverless cars are crashing all over, and the slick, sinister Romanian Nicolae Carpathia plans to use the UN to establish one world government and religion. Resembling "a young Robert Redford" and silver-tongued in nine languages, Carpathia is named People's "Sexiest Man Alive." (This reviewer, a former People writer, finds this plot twist plausible.) Meanwhile, Steele teams up with Buck Williams, a buck-the-system newshound, to form the Tribulation Force, an underground of left-behind penitents battling the Antichrist.

Ex-presidential candidate Pat Robertson briefly outsold Michael Crichton with his apocalypse novel The End of the Age (now available on audiocassette), and the similar The Third Millennium sells well, but the Left Behind series is the absolute champion in the race to make the Book of Revelation into racy thriller reading. --Tim Appelo


From Library Journal
On a flight from Chicago to London, several passengers aboard Capt. Rayford Steele's plane suddenly and mysteriously disappear. When Steele radios to London to report the situation, he discovers that the incident on his plane is not an isolated phenomenon but a worldwide occurrence. As Steele begins his search for answers, he learns that the Christ has come to take the faithful with Him in preparation for the coming apocalyptic battle between good and evil and that those who have been left behind must face seven dark and chaotic years in which they must decide to join the forces of Christ or the forces of Anti-Christ. Jenkins, writer-in-residence at Moody Press, and LaHaye (A Nation Without a Conscience, Tyndale, 1994) have written a gripping thriller that captures the anxiety and fear that interpretations of Revelation often inspire. For most libraries.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Rayford Steele concentrates on landing his plane despite mass hysteria over the disappearance of millions of people. Glasses, hearing aids and empty clothes are all that remain of 50 of his passengers. Reader Sondericker depicts Steele in commanding tones, befitting a pilot. He also portrays Steele's uncertainty regarding his family's welfare. Sondericker, using his voice like an instrument, sounds hysterical as an elderly passenger, then questioning as a reporter hot on the story. Next he switches to a thick Jewish accent, portraying a man discussing the mysterious Carpathian from the Middle East, a central figure in the denouement. Edge-of-your-seat entertainment. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Book Description
This fictional account of life after the Rapture delivers an urgent call to today's readers to prepare their own heart and minister to others.320 pages Spanish available


Download Description
Fiction: This New York Times best seller continues to grow in readership. It is a fictional account of life after the Rapture which delivers an urgent call to today's readers.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Beautifully written and biblically accurate, Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days is the book that began it all...or at least the book that heralds the beginning of the end! This bestselling series will appeal not only to Christian readers but to anyone who loves a great story -- they don￯﾿ﾽt call the Bible "the greatest story ever told" for nothing. Beginning with the rapture of the church as related in the Book of Revelations, Jenkins and LaHaye brilliantly imagine the tribulations we will experience and endure, and perfectly describe for us the events prophesied to occur prior to Christ's return to earth. The Left Behind novels are the fastest-selling works of Christian fiction ever published.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear.

Vehicles, suddenly unmanned, careen out of control. People are terror stricken as loved ones vanish before their eyes.

In the midst of global chaos, airline captain Rayford Steele must search for his family, for answers, for truth. As devastating as the disappearances have been, the darkest days may lie ahead.

SYNOPSIS

During a routine flight, airline pilot Rayford Steele is thinking about seducing a young flight attendant when suddenly over 100 of his passengers vanish! Now Rayford and the others left behind are faced with mass chaos and baffling personal loss. Among the remaining passengers is star reporter Buck Williams, who just got the assignment of a lifetime￯﾿ﾽfind out what happened and why!

In this fascinating apocalyptic thriller, best-selling Christian inspirational authors LaHaye and Jenkins pool their considerable talents. Left Behind begins the gripping story that is now the best-selling inspirational series of all time. Actor Richard Ferrone provides the powerful, hard-edged narration for this thrilling unabridged audiobook.


About the Author
Noted scriptural authority Tim LaHaye provides outlines for the vivid Biblical prophecies in the Left Behind series. Best-selling authorJerry B. Jenkins creates the dramatic stories for each fast-paced apocalyptic thriller.


About the Narrator

Narrator Richard Ferrone left a successful law career to become a professional actor. He worked with the Tony Award-winning Trinity Repertory for eight years, and was a member of Tony Randall￯﾿ﾽs National Actor￯﾿ﾽs Theatre. He has appeared on and Off-Broadway, and in several popular TV series. His audiobook performances consistently receive high praise. The Dallas Morning News proclaims, ￯﾿ﾽRichard Ferrone is one of the all-time great mystery readers. His gravelly, no-nonsense delivery is voice noir.￯﾿ﾽ

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Pilot Rayford Steele is flying his 747 to London and contemplating whether or not to commit adultery when a flight attendant gives him some frightening news. Some of their passengers have disappeared into thin air, leaving only their clothing as a sign that they ever existed. After the flight crew does a head count, they realize more than 100 people are missing. One passenger still on the plane is reporter Buck Williams, whose recent experiences and witnessing of some strange events in Israel have led him to rethink his own lack of religious faith. As word comes that the entire world is suffering from disappearances, as well as horrifying natural disasters, Steele and Williams soon realize they, and the rest of the world, are experiencing the "Rapture of the Saints." This biblical story foretells that true believers will be taken into heaven, while sinners and nonbelievers must remain on earth as punishment for their lack of faith. The two men join to form the Tribulation Force, a group of those left behind who are dedicated to fighting the antichrist. While the book is riddled with cardboard characterizations and creaky dialog, those flaws are less apparent in the audio version. Jack Sondericker's smooth narration and calm inflection make the novel's often over-the-top message seem much more believable. Recommended for fans of this popular series.--Melissa Hudak, Centegra Health Syst., McHenry, IL Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

On a flight from Chicago to London, several passengers aboard Capt. Rayford Steele's plane suddenly and mysteriously disappear. When Steele radios to London to report the situation, he discovers that the incident on his plane is not an isolated phenomenon but a worldwide occurrence. As Steele begins his search for answers, he learns that the Christ has come to take the faithful with Him in preparation for the coming apocalyptic battle between good and evil and that those who have been left behind must face seven dark and chaotic years in which they must decide to join the forces of Christ or the forces of Anti-Christ. Jenkins, writer-in-residence at Moody Press, and LaHaye (A Nation Without a Conscience, Tyndale, 1994) have written a gripping thriller that captures the anxiety and fear that interpretations of Revelation often inspire. For most libraries.

AudioFile

Rayford Steele concentrates on landing his plane despite mass hysteria over the disappearance of millions of people. Glasses, hearing aids and empty clothes are all that remain of 50 of his passengers. Reader Sondericker depicts Steele in commanding tones, befitting a pilot. He also portrays Steele's uncertainty regarding his family's welfare. Sondericker, using his voice like an instrument, sounds hysterical as an elderly passenger, then questioning as a reporter hot on the story. Next he switches to a thick Jewish accent, portraying a man discussing the mysterious Carpathian from the Middle East, a central figure in the denouement. Edge-of-your-seat entertainment. G.D.W. ￯﾿ﾽ AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"Jerry Jenkins is at the top of his storytelling form, and Tim LaHaye helps him hit the target dead center. This is a book that will change your live... I promise!" — Mike Trout

"Even those wh are ot connosseurs of fiction will be gripped by this novel." — Erwin W. Lutzer

"Incredible! More intriguing than Clancy and Grisham." — Dave Tippit