Jerry Jenkins, best known as the co-author of the Left Behind series, says the signs of the times are drawing believers closer to the reality of Christ’s return. In a recent Charisma Media interview, Jenkins reflected on prophecy, the legacy of his best-selling series and how Christians should respond to fear in light of global unrest.
“It’s really bizarre to see how much closer we seem to be getting until Jesus comes,” Jenkins said. “Every day we get closer. That’s just a fact. God has an entirely different economy of time than we do. To him a thousand years is as a day and a day is as a thousand years. And so for us we’re told to watch and wait for the imminent return. We’re supposed to be warning people to not be left behind. And we’re supposed to watch and wait as if it could be today.”
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The Left Behind series recently marked its 30th anniversary. More than 60 million copies have been sold, and Jenkins noted it still reaches readers decades later. “It’s hard to believe this month marks 30 years since the first Left Behind title came out and it’s still selling to this day around 10,000 units a month. It just blows my mind.”
With current events often sparking speculation about prophecy, Jenkins said the key is remembering Scripture’s call to readiness. “We’ve had wars and rumors of wars and nation rising against nation for centuries. What’s different about it now? The thing I have to remind myself is that God has an entirely different economy of time than we do. That word imminent has been there for 2,000 years plus. So what does that mean to be imminent? To us that seems like a long time. To God that seems like the present. A day is as a thousand years and vice versa.”
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Speculation about the Antichrist is common, but Jenkins cautioned against assuming it is any current political leader. “Whoever is in the White House, whichever party is in, the other side writes and says, ‘Is this the Antichrist?’ And it really doesn’t make any difference whether it’s a Republican or Democrat. You hear from the other side and they go, ‘This has got to be the Antichrist.’”
He added that prophecy is clear the Antichrist will initially be seen as perfect and even worshiped, something no modern politician could claim. “I guess it’s possible it could be somebody in who’s a master of technology, maybe entertainment. We don’t know. We do believe that it’s someone with Roman blood. I don’t see anybody on the scene right now who’s revered that way.”
When asked about fear surrounding the end times, Jenkins spoke candidly. “I used to be a little more flippant in my answer about that and say, you know, we win in the end. Now, I happen to be a pre-tribber. I like to joke that I think pre-tribbers get to go first. But I also have very learned scholarly friends who are on the other end of the eschatology spectrum and say their mid-trib or their post-trib. The fact is we all agree Jesus said He was coming again and so we know He’s coming again. When that is, that’s not a sword I’m willing to fall on.”
Jenkins acknowledged the reality of suffering and persecution that many believers face in the world today. “When I see stories like I’m seeing out of the Middle East where people are being tortured for their faith and some murdered for their faith, that is a fearful thing. It’s not something I’d want to go through. But we can rest in the truth that in the end it will all turn out all right. Jesus will come back at some point and rescue us from this earth.”
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For Jenkins, the final word is not fear but trust. “Don’t be afraid. I mean, you may be afraid, but trust. Trust in the truth and the love of God.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
