Somewhere over the North Atlantic, aboard a Boeing 747:

Hattie Durham’s knees buckled as she tried to speak, and her voice came in a whiny squeal.

"People are missing," she managed in a whisper, burying her head in his chest.

Captain Rayford Steele took her shoulders and tried to push her back, but she fought to stay close. "What do you m—?"

She was sobbing now, her body out of control. "A whole bunch of people, just gone!"

"Hattie, this is a big plane. They’ve wandered to the lavs or—"

The senior flight attendant pulled his head down so she could speak directly into his ear. Despite her weeping, she was plainly fighting to make herself understood. "I’ve been everywhere. I’m telling you, dozens of people are missing."

"Hattie, it’s still dark. We’ll find—"

"I’m not crazy! See for yourself! All over the plane, people have disappeared."

"It’s a joke. They’re hiding, trying to—"

"Ray! Their shoes, their socks, their clothes, everything was left behind. These people are gone!"

o begins "the end of the world as we know it" in the aptly titled Left Behind, a novel whose main characters witness the global disappearance of millions of true believers, then band together to search for answers amid the cataclysmic events that follow. Authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins have based their fictional account of the earth’s last days and a string of sequels on their interpretation of biblical prophecy. That’s right—biblical prophecy. And not since Hal Lindsay’s Late Great Planet Earth has the subject created such a stir.

In past years, the end times prophecies rarely have been discussed outside the conservative Christian community, often relegated to Bible studies or prophecy "conferences" where enthusiasts share evidence of the approaching return of Christ. Some of these have seemed biblically solid; others have resulted in outlandish predictions published in supermarket tabloids. But the silence of the mainstream media on the subject has been deafening.

LaHaye and Jenkins, however, have captured the imagination of millions with their fictional version of the Apocalypse, thrusting themselves and Bible prophecy into the spotlight of American culture. With seven books published (of the 12 planned) and more than 16,000,000 copies sold, the public’s interest in the end times is suddenly hard to ignore. The Indwelling (book seven) hit number one on The New York Times bestseller list, selling more than two million hardcover copies within weeks of its release. Book eight, The Mark, is expected to sell even more when it hits the street in November.

Fifty percent of the books’ sales are outside the traditional Christian book marketplace. Left Behind and its sequels have made their way into Wal-Mart and other mass merchandisers, plus Barnes & Noble, Borders and Chapters—even airport bookstores, rare venues for evangelical Christian books.

The leftbehind.com website receives 50,000 daily visitors looking for updates on future titles, author information and book-related, online chats. Some 250,000 fans also receive an electronic newsletter.

And if all that were not enough, principal filming has been completed for a $17 million Left Behind movie adaptation starring "Growing Pains" Kirk Cameron and Clarence Gilyard of "Walker, Texas Ranger." In an unusual move, the February big screen debut will be preceded by an October video release.

When Claudia became a believer, it changed the whole direction of her life. She promised God she would share the good news with her family, her former classmates and all her old friends. And she tried—with less than complete success. Happily, her dad trusted Christ, as did a 17-year-old cousin. But most of the others turned away. Another cousin, Carol, told Claudia to bug off. "I’m just as good a Christian as you are and don’t you forget it!" As one might expect, Claudia’s relationship with Carol was somewhat strained for several years. But Claudia prayed, and the two visited each other often and talked by phone. Years later, when Carol’s daughter became a Christian, the ice began to thaw. Carol didn’t seem so put off by the subject of Christian faith, and many conversations about the Lord ensued. After reading the novel Left Behind in 1999, Claudia decided to send copies to several friends and relatives, including Carol. It wasn’t long before she got a phone call. "I read the book," Carol announced. "Surely you must know what it’s done to me." "What do you mean?" Claudia was caught off guard. "I realized I was going to be left behind!" That thought so terrified Carol that as soon as she finished reading the book (a Sunday), Carol drove to a small nearby community church. At the close of the service, she walked to the front and told the pastor, "I understand I’ll be left behind if the Lord comes, and I don’t want to be!" Later Carol told Claudia, "I know the salvation available to me through Christ was really revealed to me in that book. Thank you for that gift."

Predictably, such commercial success has attracted considerable media attention, but the series’ biblical premise has garnered additional headlines. The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today, People and Entertainment Weekly have given significant ink to Jenkins and LaHaye plus their views on Christian faith and the return of Christ. The authors also have given scores of radio and TV interviews, including an appearance on "Larry King Live."

Not all media coverage of Left Behind and its authors has been positive. One webzine critic suggests that the books’ tone lacks any real compassion for non-Christians. Reviewer Michael Joseph Gross wrote in The Atlantic Monthly: "The books also tempt their audience to feel a self-satisfied derision toward those who don’t share their views." The bottom line, however, is that the lid is off the box; people everywhere are talking about the end times—the news media, millions of readers, and quite likely some of your friends and neighbors.

Dan Barlow, Tyndale Publishing House’s director of marketing, says people may be drawn to the books purely by curiosity, because everyone seems to be talking about them. "But the very act of reading such a book may imply, ‘Hey, talk to me about this!’ Reading Left Behind will leave many wondering what the Bible says about the future."

Rounding out the official Left Behind product offering are audio books, music CDs—including the movie soundtrack—and a juvenile book series, Left Behind: The Kids. Other publishers have been quick to produce apocalyptic novels, videos and even feature films.

On mission Christians are faced with a cultural phenomenon that is inextricably linked to the Bible. How can we turn coffee break chatter about a hot best-seller into meaningful conversations about Christ? How can we help our church make the most of this opportunity?

1. Be prepared. Even if reading the books doesn’t interest you, find out a little about them. Don’t feel obligated to promote the books (or video, movie or other products), but ignoring them effectively relegates you to the cultural sidelines.

2. Be creative. Offer to organize activities for your church—a youth group viewing of the Left Behind video with plenty of popcorn; an adult reading group to discuss the series; an evening Q & A for families with publicity throughout the community. Encourage members to bring guests who are hooked on the series, and be mindful that non-churched attendees may have concerns and questions. Be ready with plans for a forum, even a debate. Be open about the fact that differing opinions abound within Christendom. But be clear that your church is there for help, and your pastor is there for leadership.

3. Be focused. Prophecy is a complicated subject where "rabbit trails" abound. Avoid getting sidetracked on trivia or speculation. The goal is not to get people to agree with a particular future scenario, but rather to introduce them to the One who guarantees the future.

4. Be Bible-centered. Fiction can be entertaining, intriguing—even thought-provoking. But when it comes to your friend’s search for truth, there is no substitute for God’s Word. Guide the discussion toward what the Bible says—about the condition of humankind, about reconciliation with God, about hope for the future.

5. Be realistic. Left Behind may raise questions about Bible prophecy you aren’t equipped to answer. Invite your friend to church where more information is available, where explanations may be more thorough than you can provide, and where she can rub shoulders with other Christians. Ask your pastor or another church leader to assist you in addressing key concerns.

David E. Horton is the author of the Boys Life Adventure Bible Storybook, among other titles.