September 6, 2002

The Remnant: Armageddon is near

Through A Glass Darkly, by John Myers, Internet Photojournalist

The "Left Behind" series of Christian fiction is still on a roll.

"The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon," continues the story about the Great Tribulation, 10th book in the series.

Currently ranked fourth on the New York Times bestsellers list, the stories by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye fictionalize the book of Revelation about the last seven years of the age.

"The Remnant" begins one month into the Great Tribulation, the last three and a half years foretold in Revelation, and ends about halfway through the period that will end in Armageddon.

A million Christians and Jews are gathered in the ancient city of Petra, a walled city in Jordan, at the start of the story, trying to hide there as they flee persecution from the Anti-Christ.

The Global Community, under the rule of the Anti-Christ, Nicolae Carpathia, bombs the city, which is completely engulfed in flames, but a miracle occurs and not a soul is lost or burned.

But in other parts of the world, martyrdom continues for the remnant of believers as Carpathia 's thirst for blood escalates.

There are lots of slick escapes, plenty of intrigue, several genuinely gory moments, and enough gruesome plagues straight out of Revelation to keep readers turning the pages.

Back in the U.S., the Chicago believers are forced to scatter and find new hide outs to hunker down until the end of time.

The Tribulation Force and other series characters fight on leaving ample loose ends to be picked up in the next episode.

About 18 months remain when the story ends, and with Armageddon drawing near there's not much territory for Jenkins and LaHaye to cover leading up to the last great battle on earth before the triumphant return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Oceans turn to blood, the sun scorches the earth, terrible plagues torment unbelievers as the book of Revelation's events come to life through the fictional characters of the series of books.

If it sounds gory, that's because it is as Jesus predicted.

In Matthew 24:21-22, Jesus says, "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be equaled again.

"If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."

Who knows how many more books the series will cover, but just when you think it can't get any worse, it does, as Jenkins and LaHaye follow the Bible faithfully, making the somewhat puzzling promises of Revelation come to a very gruesome life.

If you've read Revelation and failed to grasp the meaning, read the Left Behind series, as millions have, and understand.