Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days

After Carpathia calls Stonagal, who calls Todd-Cothran, Buck returns home and is now safe from any legal repercussions from his misadventure in London. However, Buck is suspicious of Carpathia’s decision to allow these two conspirators to help him rise to power, and Carpathia states that he will deal with Stonagal and Todd-Cothran eventually. Carpathia also tells Buck of a plan to negotiate protection for Israel with the UN, using Rosenzweig’s formula.

Bruce calls a meeting of his core church group. He tells the others about details that he has learned, including a series of judgments foretold in Revelation. Specifically, he explains details of the “Seven-Sealed Scroll” (310), which includes mentions of war, famine, and plague. As a point of hope, he also tells the group about two Jewish prophets who are foretold to convert more than 100,000 Jews before being murdered and resurrected. Several members of the group connect this prophecy to two preachers who are currently near the Wailing Wall; the preachers were just featured on the news.

Hattie plans to meet Buck in New York, hoping for an introduction to Carpathia. Rayford attempts to arrange a meeting with Hattie in New York as well.

Steve accepts a job as Carpathia’s press secretary, recommending Buck as his replacement at the paper. Buck learns that the body of fellow journalist Eric Miller has been found in the Hudson River.

The two prophets at the Wailing Wall, who are calling themselves Eli and Moishe, are attacked. While their assailants are armed with an Uzi and a bayonet, both prophets die of apparent heart attacks before their attackers can reach them.

Rayford and Chloe discuss their upcoming meeting with Hattie, but they do not expect her to show up. Chloe articulates how hurt Hattie might be feeling and tells her father that she doesn’t think it is the right time for him to try to “pitch” his faith to her.

At Hattie’s request, Buck takes her to meet Carpathia. Carpathia gives her a business card, and Buck traces the number to the Secretary General’s office. This is a position that Carpathia does not yet have. Steve tells Buck to hold the news until the announcement the next day. In the meantime, Buck speaks with Miller’s wife, who doesn’t think that her husband’s death was accidental.

Buck debates whether to witness more assertively to Chloe and Hattie. He calls Bruce, who tells him to watch the news for confirmation that they are right. He sees a crowd of Jewish Israelis being converted to Christianity, which matches the prophecy.

Buck speaks with Steve and their boss, Bailey, who has heard rumors of Carpathia’s plans. Steve reluctantly tells the others that the UN secretary general is about to announce that he is stepping down, having brokered a deal to bring the Israeli fertilizer to Botswana. He will insist on Carpathia as his replacement. Carpathia’s conditions of taking the job will be this insistence from the standing secretary general, Ngumo, a majority vote, and disarmament by member nations with 90% of weapons destroyed and 10% donated to the UN. Carpathia also wants to set up a 7-year peace treaty for Israel, to move the UN to Babylon, and to establish a single world religion from which Jews will be exempt.

Buck finds himself becoming suspicious of Carpathia, though he wants to believe in him. He finds that Eric Miller had been writing a series about New Babylon. He resolves to judge Carpathia’s character based on what he does to the financial power player and schemer, Stonagal.

Chloe and Rayford meet Hattie. Buck arrives as well and requests to interview Rayford over dinner later. Chloe and Buck take a walk and are immediately attracted to each other. Rayford apologizes to Hattie for leading her on and tells her what he believes about the Rapture. She tells him she’ll think about it.