Williams later learns that Scotland Yard has deemed him a suspect in Tompkins' death. Tompkins is abruptly murdered at the meeting, and Williams barely escapes. Tompkins reveals evidence that Dirk was murdered, and that he has uncovered a conspiracy involving Joshua Todd-Cochran, the head of the London Stock Exchange, and American banker Jonathan Stonegal. He manages to secure a meeting in London with Scotland Yard detective Alan Tompkins. Williams soon learns that Dirk has been found dead of a 'suicide' and that an associate has also died. Chloe, after some debating, ultimately accepts the truth and becomes a Christian with her father.

He then explains that the Tribulation, a period of chaos and suffering, will soon begin. Barnes reveals he was left behind for not truly believing in God and Christ. Steele meets with Bruce Barnes, the pastor of the church he and Irene attended.

He later learns that the politician is Romanian President Nicolae Carpathia, who gives a rousing speech at the United Nations. However, he soon receives a call from his British contact Dirk, who informs him of a rising European politician. Williams arrives in New York City where he meets with his father. He later reunites with his distraught daughter Chloe. He soon realizes that the Rapture, the taking of all Christians, has occurred. He returns home and discovers that his wife Irene and son Raymie have vanished. Steele lands the plane in Chicago, which has descended into anarchy and chaos. Upon being notified by flight attendant Hattie Durham, Steele contacts another pilot, only to learn that millions of people around the world have also disappeared in the same way. Suddenly, several passengers instantly vanish, leaving behind their clothes and other personal items. The story begins with Cameron 'Buck' Williams, a renowned journalist having recently survived an attempted invasion of Israel, on board a plane piloted by Rayford Steele en route to London.

The events take place the day of the Rapture and the two weeks following. It was released on Sunday, December 31, 1995. This book and others in the series give narrative form to a specific eschatological reading of the Christian Bible, particularly the Book of Revelation inspired by dispensationalism and premillennialism. Jenkins that starts the Left Behind series.

Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days is a best-selling novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B.

Tim lahaye books in order