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How many books are in the "Left Behind" series?
six
seven
twelve
sixteen
The "Left Behind" series is more than a dozen books strong. It's undeniably the most successful series in Christian fiction in the 21st Century.
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The authors of the series are Tim ______ and Jerry B. ________.
LaHaye/Osteen
LaHaye/Jenkins
Tim LaHaye was a Christian minister and speaker; Jenkins is a professional writer who brought his ideas to life. LaHaye died in 2016 at the age of 90.
Lincecum/Lewis
Lewis/Clark
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In "Left Behind," after what event are the characters left behind?
the Happening
the Expressing
the Rapture
The Rapture is a theoretical future event in which truly faithful Christians are taken directly to heaven. Whether this idea is supported by scriptural evidence is debated among Christian scholars.
the Winnowing
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What, other than family and friends, do the Christians who are raptured leave behind?
a single white feather
their clothes, eyeglasses, etc
The stewardess on Rayford's flight is upset because people have disappeared from the plane mid-flight, leaving clothes behind in their seats. And jewelry, and even dental fillings.
ghostly outlines of themselves
nothing
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What did Rayford Steele, one of the series' major characters, do for a living?
he was a drive-time radio host
painted houses
piloted airplanes
Rayford Steele is an airline pilot at the controls of a New York - London flight when the Rapture occurs. This plays off a classic what-if: What if an airplane is being piloted by two Christians when the Rapture occurs, leaving no one at the controls? Fortunately, Rayford is a nonbeliever at this point.
taught at a high school
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In the first book, what is causing marital tension between the Steeles?
money problems
Irene's conversion to born-again Christianity
Irene and their son, Raymie, have become devout Christians. Rayford and their older daughter have not. This causes a certain amount of tension in the family.
Irene's attraction to Pastor Barnes
the age difference between Rayford and Irene
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What is the name of Rayford Steele's daughter?
Amy
Chloe
Chloe is an independent thinker who got into a prestigious college. But in the world of "Left Behind," skepticism and studiousness won't get you very far, as Chloe will soon find out.
Joelle
Susan
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Outside what city do the Steeles live?
Chicago
The flight Rayford Steele is piloting in the first book, during which the Rapture occurs, is a New York to London flight. Don't be fooled, though; he's based in Chicago.
Los Angeles
New Orleans
New York
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What is the "Tribulation"?
another name for the Rapture
a 7-year period of suffering for those left behind
In general, the word "tribulation" means trying times or events. In Christian theology, the Tribulation refers specifically to a period of great crisis just before the return of Christ.
an underground news website
a book passed around among believers
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Which of these were included in the Rapture, surprising some readers?
convicted criminals
dogs
cats
unborn babies
Pregnant women suddenly find their wombs empty, meaning the unborn babies have evidently been taken to heaven. In Christian theology, it's a matter of debate whether unborn babies are in a "state of grace;" LaHaye's books seem to vote "yes."
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What is journalist Cameron Williams' nickname?
Buck
Cameron Williams is a reporter for Global Weekly, and his nickname is "Buck." Happily, it wasn't "Scoop" -- even in 1995, nobody thought that was a cool nickname for reporters anymore.
Cat
Cameo
Scoop
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Which of these major figures is raptured in the first book?
the U.S. President
former president Jimmy Carter
the Pope
The books explain that the Pope appeared to have embraced some tenets of Protestantism. This was likely to appease evangelical readers who see Catholics as "not really Christian," and would have otherwise seen the rapturing of the Pope as an appeasement to Catholics and secular-media critics (which it likely was).
the Queen of England
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If Bruce Barnes was a Christian pastor, why wasn't he raptured?
he accidentally received the Mark of the Beast
God left him behind to shepherd the lost
he didn't really believe what he preached
Barnes never truly believed what he preached, resulting in him being around to counsel Rayford and other brand-new believers. A video explaining the Rapture -- left by a truly faithful Christian minister -- helped Barnes to understand what happened and to commit fully to God.
this is never fully explained
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What university did Chloe Steele attend?
University of Illinois - Urbana
University of Texas - Austin
Stanford University
It's a good bit harder to get into Stanford than modern fiction would have you believe. It seems to be a go-to West Coast school for writers creating relatively-smart, straight-arrow characters like Chloe Steele.
Reed College
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Which character is the Antichrist?
Nicolae Carpathia
Nicolae Carpathia is a Romanian politician who becomes the Secretary-General of the United Nations and then the de facto leader of the entire world. The books might have been using his Romanian name to evoke dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu, or Carpathian legend Vlad the Impaler, or both.
Ming Toy
Jonathan Stonagal
Joshua Todd-Cothran
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What was notable about Nicolae Carpathia's mother's pregnancy?
it lasted only seven days
she was inseminated with a genetically-engineered child
Though most of their fictional conflict is driven by scripture, the "Left Behind" books sneak in a little modern technophobia by having Carpathia be the product of genetic engineering. Could this be a point of agreement between Christian conservatives and GMO-fearing liberals? Peace in our time!
she was impregnated by a demonic figure
she gave birth by Caesarian
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What is "Global Community"?
an underground Christian organization
a news network
the anti-Christian one-world government
"Global" is a world with a bad rap in "Left Behind." Though on its surface it just means "worldwide," it's both the name of Buck WIlliams' secular/godless media outlet and of Nicolae Carpathia's godless one-world government.
a relief organization during the Tribulation
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What is the name of the group that Rayford Steele and his friends form?
the New Disciples
the Leftovers
the Promise Keepers
the Tribulation Force
The Tribulation Force grows throughout the series, gathering members who have converted to Christianity. One criticism of the books, made by Christians themselves, is that The Book of Revelation does not allude to any such Christian resistance during the End Times -- it's portrayed simply as a time of suffering for those who would not accept the message of salvation.
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How does Pastor Bruce Barnes die?
he swallows a cyanide pill rather than give up secrets
he's killed in a hospital bombing
Pastor Barnes gets sick on an overseas mission, then is killed when the hospital in which he's staying is bombed. However, the film, "Tribulation Force: World at War," shows Barnes dying from a virus, not in a bombing.
he's killed in the battle for Jerusalem
he doesn't; he makes it to Christ's return
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In which nation is the headquarters of the new one-world government located?
America
Iraq
Both Israel and Iraq are important to the "Left Behind" series. Iraq is home to a city called "New Babylon," which in turn is home to Carpathia's "Global Community."
Romania
Switzerland
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What do we learn about Buck in "Tribulation Force"?
he's afraid of heights
he is dyslexic
he is a vegetarian
he is a virgin
A romantic relationship develops between Buck and Chloe Steele, and he tells her that he's still a virgin at 30. This is somewhat surprising given that Buck wasn't a Christian before the events of the first book, making it unlikely that religious beliefs got in the way of sex.
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Which character carries the Antichrist's child?
Annie Christopher
Hattie Durham
Poor Hattie doesn't have much luck with men. Early in the book, she's crushing on the married Rayford Steele. Then she gets pregnant by Carpathia, who kills their unborn child by poisoning her. Harsh!
Hannah Palemoon
Chloe Steele
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Which of these characters is a nurse?
Annie Christopher
Hattie Durham
Hannah Palemoon
Hannah Palemoon was David Hassid's love interest. She met him while treating him for sunstroke, which he suffered while searching for another Tribulation Force member in the desert.
Chang Wong
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Which character can call down lightning?
Chang Wong
Chloe Steele
Leon Fortunato
Leon Fortunato is the secret power behind Carpathia's rise. Satan later gives him the power to call down lightning, and Fortunato uses it to kill Tribulation Force member Annie Christopher.
Tsion ben-Judah
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For what is the term "loyalty enforcement facilitator" a euphemism?
the Mark of the Beast
a guillotine
The Antichrist and his followers often use a kind of Orwellian doublespeak, such as "loyalty enforcement facilitator," for guillotine. This might have been LaHaye's way of poking fun at educated liberal elites, a common target of Christian conservatives.
torture
alcohol
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What was controversial among Christians about Chang Wong's character?
he was both gay and Christian
he was Christian, but not raptured
he murdered someone as a Tribulation Force member
he received both the Mark of God and the Mark of the Beast
According to Revelation, no one who receives the Mark of the Beast can be saved. But Chang seems to be an exception, because he was drugged and given the Mark against his will. Afterward, believers can still see the Mark of God on him, suggesting that he is still in a state of grace.
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What is Children of the Tribulation?
a children's army
a daycare/school
Late in the series, Buck and Chloe open the school to teach children born after the Rapture about Christ. This happens during the Millennial Kingdom, a 1,000-year period in which Christ reigns on earth.
a rock group
a competing novel series to "Left Behind"
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What are Naturals?
gifted, athletic fighters
naturally good people who don't need to be saved
people who lived to see the return of Christ in their real (not resurrected) bodies
The opposite of the Naturals are the Glorifieds -- believers who have been resurrected and given "glorified" bodies that cannot age. In the final book of the series, Rayford Steele is a "natural" while his daughter and son-in-law are in glorified bodies.
people who eat really healthy food, believing their body is a temple
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Who do members of The Other Light serve?
the angel Gabriel
Lucifer
Even after Christ has returned to earth, some people just can't get with the program. They follow Lucifer, who leads their army in the final battle.
Nicolae Carpathia
Baal
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How many movies have been made from the "Left Behind" books?
one
two
three
four
The first book has been made into a film twice: in 1999 and again in 2014. LaHaye expressed disappointment with the first film version, saying the film studio promised to spend $40 million but instead only put $17 million in, resulting in an unimpressive final product.
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What role did real-life evangelical, Kirk Cameron, play in the first film version?
Buck Williams
Kirk Cameron, the onetime star of "Growing Pains," largely left Hollywood to pursue his Christian faith. He co-hosts the show, "Way of the Master," on TBN.
Bruce Barnes
Rayford Steele
the Antichrist
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Who took on the role of Rayford Steele in the 2014 "Left Behind"?
Nicolas Cage
If Cage is an evangelical Christian, he's keeping it pretty close to the vest. It seems more likely that he took the Steele role as part of an anything-for-a-paycheck ethic that saw him take lead roles in dismal "Ghost Rider" and "Wicker Man" remakes around the same time.
Kirk Cameron
David Hasselhoff
Chad Michael Murray
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How many "Left Behind" books take place before the Rapture?
one
two
three
LaHaye and Jenkins wrote three prequels, stories about the events leading up to the Rapture. These books were published late in the series, just before "Glorious Appearing," the book about Christ's return.
none of them do
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Which of these is NOT the subtitle of a "Left Behind" book?
Soul Harvest
Assassins
Provenance
"Soul Harvest," "Assassins" and "The Remnant" are just a few of the compelling subtitles in the series. However, "Provenance" wasn't (though it was an episode title on "Supernatural.")
The Remnant
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On which book of the Bible does the "Left Behind" series draw most heavily?
Genesis
Jeremiah
Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the last in the Bible, said to be the result of a vision given to St. John of Patmos. How much of the tale is supposed to be taken as prophecy is debated by theologians.
Zechariah
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