If you’re trying to read the Left Behind books in order, there are 16 main adult novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Read them in publication order first, starting with Left Behind and ending with Kingdom Come. The chronological order is better for a reread because it moves the three prequels to the front.
There are also several major spin-off series, including Left Behind: The Kids, Left Behind: Apocalypse, and Left Behind: End of State. Those are worth knowing about, but they’re separate from the main adult reading order.
Jump to:
- Left Behind Books in Publication Order
- Left Behind Books in Chronological Order
- Related Left Behind Books and Spin-Off Series
- Left Behind Movies and Adaptations
- What Is the Left Behind Series?
- Who Wrote Left Behind?
Left Behind Books in Publication Order
The best way to read the Left Behind books for the first time is in publication order. The first 12 books make up the original series, the next 3 are prequels, and Kingdom Come serves as the final book in the adult novel line.
- 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)
- The Rising (2005)
- The Regime (2005)
- The Rapture (2006)
- Kingdom Come (2007)
Left Behind Books in Chronological Order
The chronological order starts with the three prequels, then moves into the original series. I wouldn’t read the books this way first. The prequels work better once you already know the world, the characters, and where the main story is heading.
- The Rising (2005)
- The Regime (2005)
- The Rapture (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)
Related Left Behind Books and Spin-Off Series
The main Left Behind order is the 16-book adult series above. After that, there are several spin-off series that expand the world from younger, military, and political points of view. I’d keep these separate from the main reading order.
Left Behind: The Kids Collection Books
Left Behind: The Kids follows the Young Trib Force and runs alongside the adult series. The original kids line includes 40 shorter books, but the easiest way to read it now is through the 12 collected volumes.
Left Behind: Apocalypse Books
Left Behind: Apocalypse is Mel Odom’s military spin-off series. It runs alongside the early events of Left Behind and Tribulation Force from a military point of view.
- Apocalypse Dawn (2003)
- Apocalypse Crucible (2004)
- Apocalypse Burning (2004)
- Apocalypse Unleashed (2008)
Left Behind: End of State Books
Left Behind: End of State is Neesa Hart’s political spin-off trilogy. It follows the American government side of the crisis after the Rapture.
- End of State (2004)
- Impeachable Offense (2004)
- Necessary Evils (2005)
There are also graphic novel adaptations, devotionals, study guides, and other companion books connected to Left Behind. I wouldn’t include those in the main novel order unless you’re collecting everything tied to the franchise.
Left Behind Movies and Adaptations
The Left Behind movies are split across a few different timelines. The Kirk Cameron films came first, then the series was rebooted with Nicolas Cage in 2014. A sequel to that reboot arrived in 2023 with Kevin Sorbo taking over the Rayford Steele role.
Original Left Behind Movies
The original film series stars Kirk Cameron as Buck Williams and Brad Johnson as Rayford Steele. The first movie was released on video in 2000 before its theatrical release in 2001.
- Left Behind: The Movie (2000/2001)
- Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002)
- Left Behind: World at War (2005)
Left Behind Reboot Movies
The reboot started with Nicolas Cage as Rayford Steele in 2014. Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist continued that movie timeline in 2023, but the major roles were recast.
- Left Behind (2014)
- Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist (2023)
Vanished: Left Behind: Next Generation
Vanished: Left Behind: Next Generation is a teen-focused spin-off movie tied more closely to the idea behind Left Behind: The Kids. It is separate from the main adult movie timeline.
What Is the Left Behind Series?
Left Behind is a Christian apocalyptic fiction series built around a specific end-times view of the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Antichrist, and the Second Coming. The first book begins when millions of people suddenly vanish, leaving the rest of the world to deal with the chaos that follows.
The story follows airline pilot Rayford Steele, journalist Buck Williams, and a group of new believers who come together during the years after the disappearances. The books mix Christian theology, political suspense, disaster fiction, and end-times action.
Readers who want the cleanest path should start with the adult series in publication order. The prequels, kids books, and spin-offs make more sense once you already understand the main story.
Who Wrote Left Behind?
Left Behind was written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. LaHaye developed the end-times framework behind the series, while Jenkins handled the novel-writing side of the project.
Tim LaHaye was an evangelical Christian minister, speaker, and author. He pastored what is now Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, helped found San Diego Christian College, and wrote more than 80 books.
Jerry B. Jenkins began his career as a sports writer, later worked with Moody Bible Institute, and has written more than 200 books across fiction, biography, young adult fiction, and Christian publishing. Left Behind remains his best-known work.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Books in Order index.