Below is the complete list of Left Behind books in order of publication. This is the recommended reading sequence for the series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins.
Publication Order of Left Behind Books
- Left Behind (1995)
Left Behind was published in 1995 and is listed as book #1 in the Left Behind series. - Tribulation Force (1996)
Published in 1996, Tribulation Force is listed as book #2 in the Left Behind series. - Nicolae (1997)
Nicolae is a 1997 release and appears as book #3 in the Left Behind series. - Soul Harvest (1998)
In the Left Behind series, Soul Harvest is book #4 and was published in 1998. - Apollyon (1999)
Apollyon was first published in 1999; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #5. - Assassins (1999)
Assassins was published in 1999 and is listed as book #6 in the Left Behind series. - The Indwelling (2000)
Published in 2000, The Indwelling is listed as book #7 in the Left Behind series. - The Mark (2000)
The Mark is a 2000 release and appears as book #8 in the Left Behind series. - Desecration (2001)
In the Left Behind series, Desecration is book #9 and was published in 2001. - The Remnant (2002)
The Remnant was first published in 2002; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #10. - Armageddon (2003)
Armageddon was published in 2003 and is listed as book #11 in the Left Behind series. - Glorious Appearing (2004)
Published in 2004, Glorious Appearing is listed as book #12 in the Left Behind series. - Kingdom Come (2007)
Kingdom Come is a 2007 release and appears as book #13 in the Left Behind series.
Publication Order of Before They Were Left Behind Books
- The Rising (2005)
In the Left Behind series, The Rising is book #14 and was published in 2005. - The Regime (2005)
The Regime was first published in 2005; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #15. - The Rapture (2005)
The Rapture was published in 2005 and is listed as book #16 in the Left Behind series.
Publication Order of Left Behind: The Kids Books
- The Vanishings (1998)
Published in 1998, The Vanishings is listed as book #17 in the Left Behind series. - Second Chance (1998)
Second Chance is a 1998 release and appears as book #18 in the Left Behind series. - Through the Flames (1998)
In the Left Behind series, Through the Flames is book #19 and was published in 1998. - Facing the Future (1998)
Facing the Future was first published in 1998; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #20. - Nicolae High (1999)
Nicolae High was published in 1999 and is listed as book #21 in the Left Behind series. - The Underground (1999)
Published in 1999, The Underground is listed as book #22 in the Left Behind series. - Busted! (2000)
Busted! is a 2000 release and appears as book #23 in the Left Behind series. - Death Strike (2000)
In the Left Behind series, Death Strike is book #24 and was published in 2000. - The Search (2000)
The Search was first published in 2000; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #25. - On the Run (2000)
On the Run was published in 2000 and is listed as book #26 in the Left Behind series. - Into the Storm (2000)
Published in 2000, Into the Storm is listed as book #27 in the Left Behind series. - Earthquake! (2000)
Earthquake! is a 2000 release and appears as book #28 in the Left Behind series. - The Showdown (2001)
In the Left Behind series, The Showdown is book #29 and was published in 2001. - Judgment Day (2001)
Judgment Day was first published in 2001; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #30. - Battling the Commander (2001)
Battling the Commander was published in 2001 and is listed as book #31 in the Left Behind series. - Fire from Heaven (2001)
Published in 2001, Fire from Heaven is listed as book #32 in the Left Behind series. - Terror in the Stadium (2001)
Terror in the Stadium is a 2001 release and appears as book #33 in the Left Behind series. - Darkening Skies (2001)
In the Left Behind series, Darkening Skies is book #34 and was published in 2001. - Attack of Apollyon (2002)
Attack of Apollyon was first published in 2002; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #35. - A Dangerous Plan (2002)
A Dangerous Plan was published in 2002 and is listed as book #36 in the Left Behind series. - Secrets of New Babylon (2002)
Published in 2002, Secrets of New Babylon is listed as book #37 in the Left Behind series. - Escape from New Babylon (2002)
Escape from New Babylon is a 2002 release and appears as book #38 in the Left Behind series. - Horsemen of Terror (2002)
In the Left Behind series, Horsemen of Terror is book #39 and was published in 2002. - Uplink from the Underground (2002)
Uplink from the Underground was first published in 2002; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #40. - Death at the Gala (2003)
Death at the Gala was published in 2003 and is listed as book #41 in the Left Behind series. - The Beast Arises (2003)
Published in 2003, The Beast Arises is listed as book #42 in the Left Behind series. - Wildfire (2003)
Wildfire is a 2003 release and appears as book #43 in the Left Behind series. - The Mark of the Beast (2003)
In the Left Behind series, The Mark of the Beast is book #44 and was published in 2003. - Breakout! (2003)
Breakout! was first published in 2003; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #45. - Murder in the Holy Place (2003)
Murder in the Holy Place was published in 2003 and is listed as book #46 in the Left Behind series. - Escape to Masada (2003)
Published in 2003, Escape to Masada is listed as book #47 in the Left Behind series. - War of the Dragon (2003)
War of the Dragon is a 2003 release and appears as book #48 in the Left Behind series. - Attack on Petra (2004)
In the Left Behind series, Attack on Petra is book #49 and was published in 2004. - Bounty Hunters (2004)
Bounty Hunters was first published in 2004; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #50. - The Rise of False Messiahs (2004)
The Rise of False Messiahs was published in 2004 and is listed as book #51 in the Left Behind series. - Ominous Choices (2004)
Published in 2004, Ominous Choices is listed as book #52 in the Left Behind series. - Heat Wave (2004)
Heat Wave is a 2004 release and appears as book #53 in the Left Behind series. - The Perils of Love (2004)
In the Left Behind series, The Perils of Love is book #54 and was published in 2004. - The Road to War (2004)
The Road to War was first published in 2004; within the Left Behind series, it is listed as book #55. - Triumphant Return (2004)
Triumphant Return was published in 2004 and is listed as book #56 in the Left Behind series.
About Left Behind
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins built the Left Behind novels around a specific end-times framework drawn from the Book of Revelation and related prophetic books, turning theological ideas into a long-running apocalyptic thriller. Tyndale describes the original series as the twelve books covering the Rapture and the seven-year Tribulation that follows, while broader series listings also include the later prequel trilogy and the follow-up Kingdom Come.
At the center of the story is a world thrown into chaos after millions of people suddenly vanish in the Rapture. In the aftermath, airline pilot Rayford Steele, journalist Buck Williams, Rayford’s daughter Chloe, and pastor Bruce Barnes become part of the Tribulation Force, a group trying to understand the catastrophe, resist the rise of the Antichrist, and help others come to faith while the world moves through escalating judgment. Tyndale’s overview and standard series references identify this as the core storyline running through the main sequence.
For readers following publication order, the main line begins with Left Behind (1995), then continues with 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), and Glorious Appearing (2004). Tyndale explicitly presents these twelve as the original series.
That original run is the heart of Left Behind, and it is usually the best place to start because it introduces the major players before the mythology expands outward. The first novel sets the emotional shock of the disappearances; Tribulation Force begins forming the resistance; Nicolae brings Nicolae Carpathia fully into view as the political figure rising toward global power; and the later books widen the conflict from survival and conversion into open spiritual and political warfare. By the time the series reaches Armageddon and Glorious Appearing, the story has moved from confusion and hidden resistance to the final open clash between the forces of Christ and the Antichrist.
After those twelve books, LaHaye and Jenkins expanded the saga with the Before They Were Left Behind prequel trilogy: The Rising (2005), The Regime (2005), and The Rapture (2006). Those novels step backward chronologically, showing Nicolae Carpathia’s early rise and the conditions leading up to the events of the first book. Then came Kingdom Come (2007), which continues beyond the original climax into the millennial kingdom period. Britannica and standard series listings include those books when discussing the full franchise.
What made the series so widely read was not just its theology, but its structure. These books are written like page-turning suspense novels, with cliffhangers, global crises, shifting alliances, and recurring characters whose relationships grow under extreme pressure. Britannica notes the series’ enormous commercial reach, and Wikipedia’s overview cites more than 65 million copies sold worldwide by 2016.
If the goal is to read the Left Behind books in order, publication order works especially well here because it preserves the original pacing of the revelations. The prequels are more rewarding once the central conflict is already familiar, and Kingdom Come lands best after the twelve-book arc has fully played out.