Twenty years ago, two authors, one publisher, twelve action thriller novels, and forty teen spinoff books came to a grand finale with the fictionalized return of Jesus Christ to Earth. One of those top authors, marriage and prophecy teacher Tim LaHaye, has since passed to his eternal rest. The other author who’s written hundreds of novels, Jerry Jenkins, is still working! And today, Jenkins joins our studio to explore the Left Behind legacy.

Episode sponsors

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2. Enclave Publishing: The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes
   
3. The Katrosi Revolution series by Jamie Foley
   
4. Lorehaven Open World at Realm Makers
   

Mission update

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• Lorehaven reviews
  
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Introducing guest Jerry Jenkins

Jerry Jenkins has authored more than 195 books with sales of over 70 million copies, including the best-selling Left Behind series. He is also former vice president for publishing and former chairman of the board of trustees for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

Jerry’s writing has appeared in Time, Reader’s Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals. Twenty-one of his books have reached The New York Times best-seller list (seven debuting number one).

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• JerryJenkins.com
  

1. Pre-LB: from sports stars to an end-times thriller

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• Young Jerry started wanting to play baseball and covering sports events.
  
• He eventually moved to specific ministry writing and editorial work.
  
• He went big writing books with of athletes and famous Christians.
  
• For decades he was plugging away before the Left Behind series pitch.
  
• He wrote in many genres: fiction, nonfiction, biography, “journeyman.”
  
• In fact, Left Behind was the 125th book Jenkins ever wrote.
  
• Jenkins shares more about the origin in his book Writing For The Soul.
  
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  • Stephen has read it and recommends it, and not just for writers.
    
  
  
  

2. Mid-LB: from end-time thrillers to rapturous sales

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• The Left Behind series went from a trilogy to four books to … how many?
  
• Stephen caught up to the series in September 1997 with Nicolae.
  
• So he was looking for Soul Harvest in summer 1998—what a year!
  
• Then wasn’t it Apollyon (1999) that first hit the NYT bestseller list?
  
• From there, Jenkins and LaHaye were releasing two books each year.
  
• We had a Left Behind full-cast audio drama, VHS movies, and everything.
  
• The initial series ended with book 12, Glorious Appearing (2004).
  
• But then came prequels! With a surprising amount of Merlin callbacks?
  

Just-for-fun questions:

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• If you were writing the series today, what elements would you change?
  
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  • Examples: social media > message board; politics are way worse
    
  • Tsion Ben-Judah would certainly have an underground podcast
    
  • The Mark of the Beast could easily be run by a big-tech company
    
  • There would be more sexual revolution in the Global Community
    
  
  
  
• Do you have a favorite of the 12+ books, heroes, or even plagues?
  
• What was the strangest and/or most fun negative or positive feedback?
  

3. Post-LB: from a record run to a blockbuster legacy

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• Christian fiction had a big moment, at least for end-times thrillers.
  
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  • Now many novels labeled “Christian sci-fi” are more of the same.
    
  
  
  
• Left Behind was followed by many other secular dystopian novels.
  
• We even saw some secular, Christless retellings of the rapture concept.
  
• Jenkins went on to buy the Writers Guild to train Christian creators.
  
• He wrote many other books, including biblical fiction with The Chosen.
  
• Our own L.G. McCary recently found Riven (2009) and absolutely loved it.
  
• Jenkins could have retired long ago, yet didn’t. Why not? Will he ever?
  
• What is he looking forward to doing most after the end times/Heaven?
  

Com station

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• How do you prepare for the return of Jesus at any moment?
  

One hero of the Guild heard episode 219 with Todd Busteed:

Really enjoyed this episode! The audio drama was how I first encountered the Left Behind series as a wee lass. I was obsessed with it! And then I picked up the books…. But I have always considered the audio production to be superior. Listening to all these behind-the-scenes details was amazing! Thanks for both the nostalgia and the new insights.

Next on Fantastical Truth

Cain Cross once dreamed of helping make dream-worlds. Now their world is being attacked by another pandemic. This one strikes as you sleep, sending victims into dark tunnels of despair to fight for their waking lives. We seek a cure for The Nightmare Virus, the new YA sci-fi thriller from Nadine Brandes.