The Rising (Left Behind)
Encyclopedia
The Rising: Before They Were Left Behind is the thirteenth novel in the Left Behind series
and the first prequel
. It was written by Tim LaHaye
and Jerry B. Jenkins
in 2005. The paperback edition has the title and subtitle as The Rising: Antichrist Is Born / Before They Were Left Behind.
itself. It focuses 27 years before the main Left Behind series starts.
Marilena Carpathia has only one dream: to be a mother. So when a mysterious clairvoyant promises the fulfillment of this dream, Marilena does not hesitate. Through genetic engineering
and the power of the Prince of Darkness
himself, Marilena is about to become a chosen vessel, one who will unknowingly give birth to the greatest evil the world has ever known.
Halfway around the world, God
's plans are subtly being carried out too. Young Ray Steele
is determined to avoid one day taking over the family business. Instead, Ray sets his heart on becoming a pilot.
Soon Carpathia and Steele's lives will intersect. And good and evil will clash in an explosion that will shake the world.
's childhood and college days, and how he nearly married another woman. Also featured is the birth of Nicolae Carpathia, who would later rise up in Nicolae
as the Antichrist
. Meanwhile, also is a conflict between father and son as Rayford decides to become an airline pilot against his father's wishes. Marilena is a simple Romanian woman who is overcome by the need to have a baby. Her husband, Sorin, does not love his wife anymore and is revealed to be a homosexual
. Thus, Marilena reads an ad for a group to find something "Beyond themselves", and meets Viviana Ivansova, later known as Viv Ivins
.
Vivian is a Russian who talks with the spirit world. She is a Luciferian
, and says that loyalty to her lord can bring Marilena the baby she wants so badly. However, this baby comes through genetic engineering with the best traits of two sperm
mixed into a hybrid sperm, which is fused with the egg. At first, it is unknown who Nicolae's two biological fathers are. Later, they are found out to be Sorin and his lover, and Nicolae orders them executed and the truth covered up. After giving birth and realizing the amazing talent her son possesses, while showing no concern for her, Marilena discovers Viv's plans for the prodigy child.
Jonathan Stonagal
is the financier of Nicolae's education. However, Marilena disagrees with these plans so much that she is finally assassinated; however, Nicolae is the one who plans her death through poisoning. Once Nicolae has become a powerful businessman, he is taken by a demon to the desert, where he is forced to remain without food or water for forty days. In a contrast to Jesus' temptation, Nicolae falls to all three temptations. After this, Nicolae is returned to Romania
.
Meanwhile, Rayford Steele deals with his father, who is determined to have Ray take over the family business. Ray has his own dreams of becoming a pilot, and joins ROTC to attend college, where he meets and almost marries Kitty. However, Ray has second thoughts about the latter, and breaks up with her. Furthermore, he later dates his friend Irene, and they get married after a while. Chloe Steele
is born during this time as well. After befriending a woman named Jackie, Irene slowly begins to feel something is missing in her life. Jackie, a Christian, lays out God's plan of salvation, and Irene accepts Christ.
Left Behind (series)
Left Behind is a series of 16 best-selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatological viewpoint of the end of the world. The primary conflict of the series is the members of the Tribulation...
and the first prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
. It was written by Tim LaHaye
Tim LaHaye
Timothy F. LaHaye is an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker. He is best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.-Early life:LaHaye was born in Detroit,...
and Jerry B. Jenkins
Jerry B. Jenkins
Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye, Jenkins has written over 150 books, including romance novels, mysteries, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction...
in 2005. The paperback edition has the title and subtitle as The Rising: Antichrist Is Born / Before They Were Left Behind.
Plot introduction
The Rising is Prequel 1 of 3 in the books leading up to the events mentioned in Left BehindLeft Behind
Left Behind is a series of 16 best-selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatological viewpoint of the end of the world. The primary conflict of the series is the members of the Tribulation...
itself. It focuses 27 years before the main Left Behind series starts.
Marilena Carpathia has only one dream: to be a mother. So when a mysterious clairvoyant promises the fulfillment of this dream, Marilena does not hesitate. Through genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
and the power of the Prince of Darkness
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
himself, Marilena is about to become a chosen vessel, one who will unknowingly give birth to the greatest evil the world has ever known.
Halfway around the world, God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
's plans are subtly being carried out too. Young Ray Steele
Rayford Steele
Rayford Steele is a fictional character and the de facto protagonist in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. He is the leader of the group known as the Tribulation Force, and is the most elaborated character in the series....
is determined to avoid one day taking over the family business. Instead, Ray sets his heart on becoming a pilot.
Soon Carpathia and Steele's lives will intersect. And good and evil will clash in an explosion that will shake the world.
Plot summary
The Rising deals with Rayford SteeleRayford Steele
Rayford Steele is a fictional character and the de facto protagonist in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. He is the leader of the group known as the Tribulation Force, and is the most elaborated character in the series....
's childhood and college days, and how he nearly married another woman. Also featured is the birth of Nicolae Carpathia, who would later rise up in Nicolae
Nicolae
Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist is the third book in the Left Behind series. It was written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins in 1997.It takes place 18 months into the Tribulation, and at the start of the book 2 years since the rapture-Plot:...
as the Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
. Meanwhile, also is a conflict between father and son as Rayford decides to become an airline pilot against his father's wishes. Marilena is a simple Romanian woman who is overcome by the need to have a baby. Her husband, Sorin, does not love his wife anymore and is revealed to be a homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Thus, Marilena reads an ad for a group to find something "Beyond themselves", and meets Viviana Ivansova, later known as Viv Ivins
Viv Ivins
In the Left Behind series of novels, Viv Ivins is the woman who brought Marilena Carpathia to Lucifer, and is the surrogate "aunt" to Nicolae Carpathia. She is also able to channel "spirits" , and receives information and writes out messages from Lucifer himself...
.
Vivian is a Russian who talks with the spirit world. She is a Luciferian
Luciferianism
Luciferianism is a belief system that venerates the essential characteristics that are affixed to Lucifer, originally a name referring to the planet Venus when it rises ahead of the Sun....
, and says that loyalty to her lord can bring Marilena the baby she wants so badly. However, this baby comes through genetic engineering with the best traits of two sperm
Sperm
The term sperm is derived from the Greek word sperma and refers to the male reproductive cells. In the types of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy and oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell...
mixed into a hybrid sperm, which is fused with the egg. At first, it is unknown who Nicolae's two biological fathers are. Later, they are found out to be Sorin and his lover, and Nicolae orders them executed and the truth covered up. After giving birth and realizing the amazing talent her son possesses, while showing no concern for her, Marilena discovers Viv's plans for the prodigy child.
Jonathan Stonagal
Jonathan Stonagal
A fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Jonathan Stonagal is a powerful and highly influential American financier with links to Viv Ivins' Luciferian organization...
is the financier of Nicolae's education. However, Marilena disagrees with these plans so much that she is finally assassinated; however, Nicolae is the one who plans her death through poisoning. Once Nicolae has become a powerful businessman, he is taken by a demon to the desert, where he is forced to remain without food or water for forty days. In a contrast to Jesus' temptation, Nicolae falls to all three temptations. After this, Nicolae is returned to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
Meanwhile, Rayford Steele deals with his father, who is determined to have Ray take over the family business. Ray has his own dreams of becoming a pilot, and joins ROTC to attend college, where he meets and almost marries Kitty. However, Ray has second thoughts about the latter, and breaks up with her. Furthermore, he later dates his friend Irene, and they get married after a while. Chloe Steele
Chloe Steele
Chloe Steele, a fictional character from the Left Behind series of novels, was a Junior at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California until the disappearance of millions of people worldwide.-Fictional Biography:...
is born during this time as well. After befriending a woman named Jackie, Irene slowly begins to feel something is missing in her life. Jackie, a Christian, lays out God's plan of salvation, and Irene accepts Christ.
Characters
- Rayford SteeleRayford SteeleRayford Steele is a fictional character and the de facto protagonist in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. He is the leader of the group known as the Tribulation Force, and is the most elaborated character in the series....
- Nicolae "Nicky", "Nick" Carpathia
- Dr. Sorin Carpathia
- Baduna Marius
- Dr. Marilena Carpathia
- Viviana IvinisovaViv IvinsIn the Left Behind series of novels, Viv Ivins is the woman who brought Marilena Carpathia to Lucifer, and is the surrogate "aunt" to Nicolae Carpathia. She is also able to channel "spirits" , and receives information and writes out messages from Lucifer himself...
- Reiche Planchette
- Jonathan StonagalJonathan StonagalA fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Jonathan Stonagal is a powerful and highly influential American financier with links to Viv Ivins' Luciferian organization...
- Irene SteeleIrene SteeleIrene Steele is s a fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The character is featured heavily in three Left Behind prequels The Rising, The Regime, and The Rapture.-Biography:...
- Hattie DurhamHattie DurhamHattie Durham is a fictional character in the Left Behind series, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.Hattie was a senior flight attendant, young and beautiful, working for Pan-Continental Airlines. She seemed to be attracted to Pan-Con pilot Rayford Steele, perhaps wanting an affair with him...
- Raymie SteeleRaymie SteeleRayford "Raymie" Steele is a fictional character in the Left Behind series sequel, Kingdom Come.Raymie is the second child and only son of Rayford and Irene Steele. He was raptured, along with his mother, when Jesus returned before the Tribulation. Throughout the Left Behind Series, he frequently...
- Chloe SteeleChloe SteeleChloe Steele, a fictional character from the Left Behind series of novels, was a Junior at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California until the disappearance of millions of people worldwide.-Fictional Biography:...
- Robert "Bobby" Stark
- Mr. and Mrs. Stark
- Mr. and Mrs. Steele
- Jackie
- Katherine "Kitty" Wyile
- Fuzzy Belman
- Commander Olson, An officer at ROTC
- Christopher "Chris" Smith
- Earl Halladay
- Janet Allen
Release details
- 2005, USA, Tyndale House (ISBN 0-8423-6056-5), Pub date 31 March 2005, hardback (First edition)
- 2006, USA, Tyndale House (ISBN 0-8423-6193-6), Pub date ? September 2005, paperback