# "Left Behind" - What's that all about? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 23, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693 "2003-12-23T19:13:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/21 "2003-12-24T01:39:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kanicbird \* > \*\*The pope in the story gets rapture(d), so this is obviously false. \*\* The pope is raptured because he is a reformist and leans toward the protestant way of worship. Did you read the books? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/22 "2003-12-24T01:42:59Z")
OK, so the True Believers get instantaneously Rapured of the globe. Next we have a bunch of people who become True Believers after the Rapture and are fighting with the Forces of Evil. My question: what will eventually happen to them? Once they inevitably win the battle, do they get to go to a better place too? If they die during the battle, are they saved? Maybe the answers should be in a spoiler box. 😉 Haj ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/23 "2003-12-24T01:51:44Z")
[I asked a Q about it at the Pizza Parlour](http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forums/showthread.php?t=16815), a site run by people who appear to be Left Behinders. At least, I think they are. Anyways, got a bit of interesting info on the series. Esp, from some Christians who disagreed with the ideas in the series. If the Mods don’t want to leave the link in, that’s fine. Just go to Pizza Parlour and search for my name. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/24 "2003-12-24T02:14:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*OK, so the True Believers get instantaneously Rapured of the globe. Next we have a bunch of people who become True Believers after the Rapture and are fighting with the Forces of Evil. > > My question: what will eventually happen to them? Once they inevitably win the battle, do they get to go to a better place too? If they die during the battle, are they saved? > > Maybe the answers should be in a spoiler box. 😉 > > Haj \*\* Spoilers below. Annoyed now since I typed all this in and lost it while trying to post. In the series, when the people who are born again but after the rapture get killed, they are dressed in white ropes in heaven and await the day when Jesus will rain vengence on their tormentors. That’s very lacking in details but this part I didn’t pay all that much attention. Basically, if you are reborn in the 7 years between the rapture and the return of Christ and do not willingly accept the mark of the beast, you will go to heaven. If you accept the mark of the beast willingly, you are doomed to burn in Hell. The majority of the series revolves around the group of believers trying to bring people to Christ while also working to defeat the anti-Christ. Later when the mark of the beast starts getting put on people, it switches to them purely fighting the new world order, trying to survive and waiting for Jesus to return. What gets bothersome is that people don’t realize what’s going on and convert more often. At one point, a plague of demons comes out and bites people who have not accepted Christ. The bite makes them suffer badly for 21 days. Now, I ask you, whatever you current beliefs, if a swarm of demons came after you, biting you and making you suffer, wouldn’t you start rethinking your religious beliefs? There is a massive Earthquake which wipes out most everything, the sun and stars shine at 1/3 of their normal brightness for a time, the seas turn to blood, on and on yet the majority of people act like these are perfectly normal, easily explained events. This isn’t the ghost in the castle photo thing in GD right now, it’s swarms of demons. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/25 "2003-12-24T02:38:34Z")
I think someone should point out that the Rapture is not in the Bible. The Endtimes scenario played out in _Left Behind_ owes more to the nineteenth century theories of John Darby than it does to Revelation. Also, the “Antichrist” has nothing to do with the Beast of Revelation (who was the Roman Emperor, Domitian). The word “antichrist” appears only in the Epistles of John and it is used as a descriptor for apostates and/or enemies of Christianity. It is not a title for a futuristic super villain. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/26 "2003-12-24T02:47:11Z")
I thought it was the Emperor Nero, **Diogenes**? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/27 "2003-12-24T03:16:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*I think someone should point out that the Rapture is not in the Bible. The Endtimes scenario played out in _Left Behind_ owes more to the nineteenth century theories of John Darby than it does to Revelation. > > Also, the “Antichrist” has nothing to do with the Beast of Revelation (who was the Roman Emperor, Domitian). The word “antichrist” appears only in the Epistles of John and it is used as a descriptor for apostates and/or enemies of Christianity. It is not a title for a futuristic super villain. \*\* Good points. I kind of got near the first point by mentioning that the rapture is based on something Paul [said](http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/secretrapture.htm) in I Cornthians: \*\* > [@](#): > > Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. \*\* I remember seeing on the history channel that 666 actually referred to [Nero](http://users.iafrica.com/l/ll/lloyd/7-EndTimeIssues/666.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/28 "2003-12-24T03:53:53Z")
**Guin** and **Long Road** : Yes, 666 refers to Nero but that’s because it was widely believed at the time that Domitian _was_ Nero, either in disguise or reincarnated. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/29 "2003-12-24T03:56:32Z")
As one of the most (evangelical) churchified people on this board, let me assure you that this woman is in her own world. I don’t personally know _anyone_ with these beliefs about banks, etc. Oh, and this whole “Left Behind” series is an exercise in pumping the Christians for money, IMO. The writing is bad, and the theology is questionable to say the least. They’ve taken one of the most argued items in all of the church and just assumed their version of it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/30 "2003-12-24T04:12:50Z")
You should read the reviews for the series on [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) People saying it saved them, that it’s better than the _Harry Potter_ series, that it’s “so-well writen!” (spelling intentional!) Eeek! ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/31 "2003-12-24T05:34:57Z")
> [@](#): > > a plague of demons comes out and bites people who have not accepted Christ And this is different from my high school experience how? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/32 "2003-12-24T07:23:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*You flipped too fast then since there are at least two female characters who are central to the story. \*\* Central, but still, barely one dimensional (at least most of the men are two dimensional characters.); they’re incredibly poorly written. Remember the way you when you read about technology? That’s how I felt when I read the female characters. I had to wonder if they authors had actually ever met a woman. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/33 "2003-12-24T07:38:49Z")
666 taken to extremes. A coworker was given the gift of a shotgun cleaning kit on the occasion of his leaving for another job. When he looked it over he noticed that a tag on it gave the part number as xxxxx666 and refused to accept it. Made quite a scene about it too. ---
**Author:** ![professorbiscuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@professorbiscuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/professorbiscuit)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/34 "2003-12-24T12:10:38Z")
> [@](#): > > The pope is raptured because he is a reformist and leans toward the protestant way of worship. Did you read the books? So the pope gets raptured for not being a catholic? Marvellous! Does the bear get raptured because he doesn’t shit in the woods? ---
**Author:** ![Tampa\_Tom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@Tampa\_Tom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tampa_Tom)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/35 "2003-12-24T14:16:25Z")
I was also looking on the web last night and discovered to my amazement that some folks believe the numbers 666 are part of EVERY UPC. Yeah, kinda concerned about that, since the UPC’s I can see at my desk include: Box of Kleenex Tissues - 360025390 Container of Campbell’s Soup at Hand Creamy Tomato - 5100014981 Box of Dixon Ticonderoga #2 Pencils - 7206713922 Random House Thesaurus - 7806727101 Box of 100 Office Depot Manila File Folders - 5385410838 I’m discovering just how whacked out some of these theories really are, and I’m getting even more scared… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/36 "2003-12-24T14:23:17Z")
AAARRRGGGHHHH!!! You posted UPCs! And I read them! Now the demons got me! Joseph! Joseph! Help me! _methinks there’s something in my coffee…_ ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/37 "2003-12-24T14:38:07Z")
I _tried_ to read the first book, {i]Left Behind\*, and I just couldn’t get through it. It’s not good science fiction. It’s not good fantasy. Unless you’re a Believer it’s just not very interesting (IMHO-YMMV) They don’t get technology right. They don’t get _women_ right. There’s an almost pornographic dwelling on the Moment of Being Born Again. It just didn’t work for me. That said - I am curious. In this series, WHAT is the “mark of the beast”? Anyhow, the last decent “Christian Sci-Fi” story I read was {i]Arena\* by Karen Hancock. The Christian symbolism is there, but she doesn’t beat you over the head with it (well, at least not until about 3/4 of the way through) I mean, the Narnia series is clearly Christian influenced, but you don’t have to be Christian to enjoy it. I think think the Left Behind series could have been written MUCH better than it was, and if it had been, it could have been an interesting read even if you don’t believe in the mytholody behind it. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/38 "2003-12-24T14:43:23Z")
Coding! :smack: Doh! ---
**Author:** ![patchbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@patchbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/patchbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/39 "2003-12-24T15:06:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Long Road \* > \*\*This isn’t the ghost in the castle photo thing in GD right now, it’s swarms of demons. \*\* I’d capture a demon, show it to James Randi, and pocket the $1 million. 😃 –Patch ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693/40 "2003-12-24T15:11:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > \*\* > That said - I am curious. In this series, WHAT is the “mark of the beast”? \*\* It’s this microchip/tattoo thing that’s either implanted in the forehead or one of the hands. I’m no longer reading the books - they’ve gotten progressively worse, and that’s hard to do seeing where they started out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-behind-whats-that-all-about/220693.md?page=3)