The Story Behind “Left Behind”

The popular book series “Left Behind” by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins has sold over seventy million copies, spawned video games, mechandise, and movies.  It is based on a theological system that dates to the 1800s and is one way some Christians view the end of the world.  Yet it is not the only way to understand or interpret the Bible regarding the Second Coming of Christ, Book of Revelation, and other issues of eschatology (study of final things).

The History of the Movement

This series of books follows the dispensational theological framework born in England and Ireland in the 1820s.    Dispensationalism began with the Plymouth Brethern movement and the father of this movement is John Nelson Darby (1800-1882).    This movement divides history into specific periods.   These movements include seven dispensations and the last is a 1000 year millennium.     In this system we are in the current church age (sixth one) and the seventh has yet to come.  The movement came to North America in the 1800s and was published in a monthly magazine.  Soon a Bible study meeting was organized that taught these views.   Popular American ministers became influenced by this movement and began to teach the theology.  Dwight Moody was a popular preacher who accepted these views.  The theology evolved and expanded to include even more new teaching.   Dispensationalists proposed the “pre-tribulation” Rapture and the view became very popular.  It would later find a ”post-tribuation” and “mid-tribulation” rapture supporters.  One of those who adopted this view was C.I. Scofield (1843-1921).  Scofield would put together the Scofield Study Bible which contained notes teaching this view.  The Scofield Bible published in 1909 really helped spread this teaching.  His study notes and study Bible would become very popular and are still used today.   The Moody Bible Institute would be one of the institutions that would adopt this view and teach it to generations of preachers.  Other schools would follow suit.  Dallss Theologidcal Seminary which began in 1924 is the flagship of Dispensationalism in this country today.  There are many “camps” within this system and much variety.  What is true for one dispensationalist is not necessary true for all!  Yet there are consistent teachings or ideas that are taught within the system.

In 1970 Hal Lindsey wrote “The Late, Great Planet Earth” which further popularized this view.   He felt the end was near and probably in the 1980s.  Many Christian churches adopted this view through music, video, and other influences.  Movies like the 1972 “A Thief in the Night” focused on the rapture view.  In 1995 “Left Behind” was released and many sequels followed. 

In upcoming blogs I will discuss the rapture, 666, Anti-Christ, tribulation, and other concepts found in the book “Left Behind.”  I will discuss the various interpretations that many have had regarding such issues.  Not every Christian agrees with the “Left Behind” perspective.  In fact before Darby in the 1800s many of the views now popular would have sounded very strange to Christians. 

This is not to say Christians pre-1800 did not believe in the end times or have concepts regarding that.  Yet the particular system popular by LeHaye is a rather new theological system. 

Next discussion- the Rapture.

Blessings,
Derik