And finally Sixty million copies later, ‘Left Behind’ series creator to make the trip to Bangor

Last things are the first things for the Rev. Tim LaHaye. The minister whose “Left Behind” novels deal with the end of the world will conduct a daylong seminar in Bangor next Saturday.

It will focus on that “Left Behind” version of end times – and how LaHaye believes the Christian Bible explains it.

The 12th book in the series, “Glorious Appearing,” was released late last month. It sold out of its initial print run of 1.9 million copies before its release.

While the series was LaHaye’s brainchild, the books have been written by Jerry B. Jenkins and debuted in 1995. Some 60 million copies have been sold.

“What LaHaye does is take the Book of Revelation and some of the prophetic books of the Bible and weaves a story of today,” said the Rev. Jerry Mick, pastor of Bangor Baptist Church, which will host the seminar.

“So many people have a tough time understanding the meaning of Revelation, but he makes it practical and helps them better understand the end times.

“These are not more books dissecting the end times theologically, but a story,” he said. “It’s a fiction series, but the truth of the Book of Revelation is there. I think that’s been a real draw for people.”

LaHaye, 77, said in a phone interview Wednesday that he got the idea for the series while on an airplane on his way to a conference on the Rapture, a concept from the 19th century that describes a time when Christ returns to Earth and believers are raised to meet him in the air.

“I saw the pilot flirting with one of the flight attendants,” LaHaye said. “I wondered what would happen if the Rapture occurred at that moment. He might verify that 100 people were missing from his plane, then learn that there are 25 other planes that had the same experience. One way he might understand the Rapture is to remember that his wife had mentioned it to him, but when he returned home, he found that she was gone and he was left behind.”

“Left Behind” became the title of the first book that grew into a series of 12. LaHaye said that a prequel and sequel to the series also are planned. LaHaye and author Greg Dinallo published in October the first volume in a new series called “Babylon Rising.”

LaHaye said that he, Ed Hindson, dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and Gary Frazier, founder of Discovery Ministries Inc. in Arlington, Texas, would share the pulpit at the seminar. Frazier, who has led more than 150 trips to the Holy Land, will explain the role of Israel in end times prophecies, and Hindson will explain the Book of Revelation in 45 minutes.

The three conduct about two “Left Behind” seminars a month around the country, but rarely in communities as small as Bangor. Last month, according to LaHaye, they led the seminar at an 8,000-seat church in Dallas.

Bangor Baptist, considered one of the largest Protestant churches in the area, seats 800. Mick said Thursday that 650 of the 800 available tickets have been sold. He urged people interested in attending to call the church for tickets as soon as possible.

“We want to allow people in the Bangor area to sit at the feet of masters, so people really interested in Bible prophecy could hear the best minds in country on this topic,” Mick said, explaining why the church sponsored the event. “Hopefully, people that come will get a better understanding of what will take place in future.”

The “Left Behind” conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, at Bangor Baptist Church, 1476 Broadway. The cost of the program is $30. For ticket information, call Bangor Baptist Church, 947-6576.