Five Myths About the “Rapture” and the “Left Behind” Industry

On the (short) history, (bad) theology, and (continuing) appeal of premillennial dispensationalism.

By Carl E. Olson

This year has marked a sort of second coming of “the Rapture”. On June 29, HBO launched a new series, "The Leftovers", based on the 2011 novel of the same title, written by Tom Perrotta, which follows the struggles of various characters living in the aftermath of the sudden disappearance of millions of people. “And then it happened,” states the novel's prologue, “The biblical prophecy came true, or at least partly true. People disappeared, millions of them at the same time, all over the world.” The twist is that Perrotta apparently uses the Rapture as a plot device, but does not adhere to the dispensationalist belief system which features the Rapture.

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