These were the last words of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, authors of the popular Left Behind series, during their most recent Larry King interview.[1] The statement concisely summarizes a fundamental problem behind the current fascination with the series.

Larry King ended the interview with this question: "Do you know what Billy Graham thinks of the Left Behind series?"

Jenkins responded: "I'd be interested to hear that myself… I do know that his secretary reads them. When I worked with him, I got to know her. And she wrote and said she was reading the first one on an airplane and, of course, the rapture occurs. She said she was hoping that her pilot wasn't a believer and would disappear. And she said, 'Well, what do I care, I'd be gone, too.'"

The Left Behind series chronicles the seven-year tribulation period sandwiched between the Lord's secret coming for His church (the Rapture) and His final public coming to wrap things up. In short, it has to do with a period of time in God's future plan that the contemporary church will not experience because of her disappearance into the heavens at the Rapture.

If LaHaye's view of the end is correct (and that is a big "if"), and the church of God will be spared from experiencing this seven-year period of tribulation and judgment to come, why is there so much interest among evangelicals concerning this period of time? If evangelicals really will be removed from the events described in the Left Behind series, why do they care so much about the series, seeing that the events it describes have absolutely no impact on our lives -- neither now nor in the future?  Graham's secretary's comments should suffice for all believing Christians: "What do I care, I'll be gone!"

Then why do we care so much about this series? Why is the series so popular? Why is Left Behind a multi-million dollar franchise with spin-offs, merchandising, and a soon-to-come movie? Why does this series presently hold the heart of evangelicals more than any other book series? Why do we gleefully anticipate each episode chronicling in full color the demise of the world as we know it?

Arguably, the problem lies in a sadistic streak in evangelicals who love to satisfy their carnal curiosity in sensationalistic speculations concerning events that have no ultimate connection to their life or conduct. It is safe to speculate about such horrific realities if one is certain they will be exempt from participating in them. Like a roller-coaster ride that offers safe thrills, the Left Behind series takes us from one terrifying perch to another without fear of personally suffering any negative consequences. It is "safe" reading about a frightening future -- a future that the series' most avid and committed readers feel certain they will not have to face, believing they will have been raptured away before things get really ugly.

The popularity of the Left Behind series draws attention to a strange inner emptiness within evangelicals. We obviously have a craving for such sordid spectacles -- the sales figures are proof of this. The books are satisfying some hunger within the evangelical soul. But is it a healthy hunger -- a righteous hunger?

In short, is a book truly valuable to the Christian community at large if it leaves us saying, "What do I care, I'll be gone"?

Clearly, there are other problems with the series besides the apathy it generates. For example, the series falls short in communicating the message of Revelation -- that the Lamb of God reigns even in the midst of evil, rebellion, and chaos. He is the One who opens the seals and carries out God's eternal purpose. The throne of God is central to the book of Revelation, evidencing the Lamb's rule in the midst of evil. Only those who follow the Lamb, and overcome -- not through carnal power, but through faithful obedience -- are delivered from God's righteous judgments. Does anyone really get a sense of God's sovereign rule from the Left Behind series? Is it understood that the Lamb reigns even in the midst of the terror? The word "antichrist" is not found even once in the entire book of Revelation and yet, according to LaHaye, he might as well be the main character of the book!

Moreover, LaHaye's view is as inconsistent as it is sensational. Though he claims to hold to a "literal" hermeneutic in his treatment of Revelation, he picks and chooses what he determines to be literal. In the book of Revelation, a ferocious beast arises out of the sea, a dragon with seven heads and ten horns appears, a woman rides the back of the dragon, and a lamb slain in heaven oversees the entire scene. It is interesting that none of these things "literally" happen in LaHaye's books. Instead, these figures merely represent actual people. In short, he treats Revelation literally only when it suits his purposes.

But, again, these points are secondary. The biggest problem lies in the gleeful apathy that lies behind the morbid fascination generated by the series. Evangelicals feel as if they are actually accomplishing a spiritual task when reading Left Behind, when in reality, they are merely indulging their carnal curiosity.

In the end, the Left Behind series gets one thing right: Jesus is coming back! But even here it distorts the message. If the authors were absolutely honest, they would admit that Jesus comes back twice in their books (once in secret for his church, later in public to wrap things up). Thus, Jesus' second coming is not really His second coming but His third coming. Nevertheless, the fact that there is a goal to history is enough to make someone seriously consider whether they are living in light of this goal or not. Unfortunately, the rest of LaHaye's work is fundamentalist silliness.

Some defend the value of this series by emphasizing that it is a good evangelistic tool. Sadly, this is proof that the Beast truly has possessed us -- for we care more for pragmatism (what works) than truth. If the series is not true, then any conversions to Christ are not because of the series, but in spite of the series. Our concern for truth should take precedence over our concern for what works. But when sensationalism reigns supreme and Indiana Jones-like cliffhangers become the norm, then truth takes a back seat in the joy-ride of the apocalyptic thrill-machine.

The truth be told, the greatest value of the series lies in the sales figures it generates. If this series remains as popular as it currently is over the course of the next few books, you can rest assured that this financial juggernaut will continue in another form. Having sold over 15 million units so far, this series alone is worth its weight in gold to Tyndale House. I am no prophet, but you can mark my words, once the twelve books are complete, Tyndale will offer a contract to Jenkins (and LaHaye, if he is still alive), to continue the series into the Millennium. And thus we'll have even more speculative sensationalism concerning the Millennial Kingdom from a dispensational perspective. (Of course, a thousand years of peace may not be nearly as exciting as seven years of tribulation, but perhaps the books can quickly progress to the exciting end when the devil is released!)

The bottom line is that Left Behind is really nothing more than Stephen King for Christians. It has all the chills, thrills, and cliffhanger endings without the cussing and sex (violence is ok) of its secular counterparts. It also has about the same amount of substance as a King novel; it is high in entertainment value and low in nutrients. It is "safe" reading guaranteed to excite those who no longer are excited by the glories of Christ and the challenges of life in the real world.

In a day when few read such classics as Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Lewis's Mere Christianity, or Pascal's Pensees, it is a shame that we are wasting our time with apocalyptic soap operas. At least the books above contain applications for our Christian life in the present. I am certain that no one, after reading these books, will end up exclaiming, "What do I care, I'd be gone anyway!" The fact that someone can say this after reading the Left Behind books reveals how little they truly nourish the soul's love for God and for others.

[1] Aired on June 19, 2000. Transcript available at http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0006/19/lkl.00.html