Left Behind is the best-selling Christian fiction series of all time — more than 65 million copies sold. Written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, the 16-book saga dramatizes the Rapture and the end-times events of Revelation through one family left behind. But with prequels published years after the originals, readers constantly ask the same question: what order should I read the Left Behind books? This guide gives you every book in both publication and chronological order — plus the movies and the best box sets.
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Left Behind Series at a Glance
Left Behind Books in Publication Order (The Recommended Way)
This is the order the books were written and released — and the way fans overwhelmingly recommend reading them. You meet the main characters exactly as the first generation of readers did:
- Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days (1995) — the Rapture strikes mid-flight; pilot Rayford Steele's world changes forever.
- Tribulation Force (1996) — the group of new believers forms to face the darkest years of history.
- Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist (1997) — Nicolae Carpathia reveals his true identity to the world.
- Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides (1998).
- Apollyon: The Destroyer Is Released (1999).
- Assassins: Assignment Jerusalem, Target Antichrist (1999).
- The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession (2000).
- The Mark: The Beast Rules the World (2000).
- Desecration: Antichrist Takes the Throne (2001) — the series' highest debut on the New York Times list.
- The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon (2002).
- Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages (2003).
- Glorious Appearing: The End of Days (2004) — the triumphant conclusion to the main arc.
- Kingdom Come: The Final Victory (2007) — the sequel following the millennial kingdom.
Plus the three prequel novels (published after the main series): The Rising (2005), The Regime (2005), and The Rapture (2006) — telling the origin story of Nicolae Carpathia and the events before Book 1.
Left Behind Books in Chronological Order (Story Timeline)
If you'd rather follow the story's internal timeline, start with the prequels:
- The Rising: Antichrist Is Born (2005)
- The Regime: Evil Advances (2005)
- The Rapture: In the Twinkling of an Eye (2006)
- Left Behind (1995)
- Tribulation Force (1996)
- Nicolae (1997)
- Soul Harvest (1998)
- Apollyon (1999)
- Assassins (1999)
- The Indwelling (2000)
- The Mark (2000)
- Desecration (2001)
- The Remnant (2002)
- Armageddon (2003)
- Glorious Appearing (2004)
- Kingdom Come (2007)
Our recommendation: read in publication order. The prequels spoil major twists of the main series, and the characters' faith journeys land hardest when you meet them at the moment everything vanishes.
Where to Start: Best Left Behind Box Sets & Editions
You don't need to buy 16 books one by one. These are the smartest ways to own the series:
Left Behind Series — Complete 16-Book Set
The full saga in one purchase — the best value for anyone serious about reading the entire story from the Rapture to Glorious Appearing.
Check Price on Amazon →Left Behind Collection: Books 1–10
The first ten novels together — perfect if you want to test the waters with the core arc before committing to the whole series.
Check Price on Amazon →Left Behind — Book 1 (New Audiobook Edition)
The novel that started it all — 10+ hours of edge-of-your-seat narration. A brand-new audiobook edition released September 2025, great for commutes.
Listen on Amazon →Left Behind: The Kids — Books 1–6 Boxed Set
The companion series written for teens — following younger characters left behind after the Rapture. A proven way to get reluctant young readers into the Word.
Check Price on Amazon →Browse all Left Behind books on Amazon — individual paperbacks, Kindle editions, and audio.
The Left Behind Movies in Order
The series inspired five films. Watch them in this order:
- Left Behind: The Movie (2000) — Kirk Cameron as Buck Williams.
- Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002).
- Left Behind: World at War (2005).
- Left Behind (2014) — the big-budget remake starring Nicolas Cage, following the Rapture from aboard a transatlantic flight.
- Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist (2023) — Kevin Sorbo continues the 2014 storyline.
Left Behind (2014) — Nicolas Cage — DVD
"After millions of people around the globe mysteriously disappear, veteran pilot Ray Steele must fight to protect the passengers that remain on his flight." The most well-known adaptation — a great family movie-night pick for fans of the books.
Check Price on Amazon →Left Behind FAQ
How many Left Behind books are there?
The main series has 16 books — 13 core novels published from 1995 to 2007 plus three prequels (The Rising, The Regime, and The Rapture). There are also companion series like Left Behind: The Kids (40 books) and the military spin-off End State series.
What order should I read the Left Behind books?
Read in publication order, starting with Left Behind (1995). The prequels were written later and spoil major twists of the main storyline, so most fans recommend saving them until after Glorious Appearing.
Is Left Behind based on the Bible?
The series is a fictional dramatization of a premillennial dispensationalist reading of Bible prophecy — the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the Second Coming from the books of Revelation, Daniel, and 1 Thessalonians. Believers from other traditions interpret these passages differently, so readers are encouraged to enjoy the novels while studying the Scriptures for themselves.
Did Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins write the books together?
Yes — the series was a collaboration. Tim LaHaye, a pastor and prophecy teacher, developed the theological framework and story outlines, while Jerry B. Jenkins, a seasoned novelist, wrote the prose. Both are credited on every book.
Is the Left Behind series suitable for kids?
The main novels are written for adults and contain intense end-times scenes. For readers aged roughly 10 and up, the Left Behind: The Kids companion series retells the same events from a younger perspective and is the better starting point.
Final Thoughts: Is Left Behind Worth Reading Today?
Nearly three decades after the first printing, Left Behind remains the benchmark for Christian fiction — a thriller that made millions of readers open their Bibles to Revelation with fresh urgency. With end-times interest surging again (Jonathan Cahn's The Dragon's Prophecy recently topped Amazon's global chart), there has never been a better season to read — or reread — the series that started it all. Start with Book 1 tonight; if you're hooked, the 16-book set pays for itself.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Passion for Lord earns from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
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