Antichrist takes the throne.

Rayford Steele and his ragtag team of flying rebels — having arrived by the dozens from around the globe — ready themselves to serve as agents of rescue for God’s chosen people. Led by soft-spoken Chaim Rosenzweig, believers in Jerusalem must flee or take the mark of the beast.

His Excellency Global Community Potentate Nicolae Carpathia, no longer pretending to be a pacifist, has ordered every Morale Monitor armed as he prepares to travel along the Via Dolorosa and then onward to the temple, where shocking surprises await. Crowds loyal to Carpathia gather to see their potentate and are eager to take the mark in his presence.

Buck Williams, unsure of Chaim’s leadership abilities, questions whether he should take charge. Chloe Steele Williams fears for Buck’s safety and acts on her own desire to be more involved. Tsion Ben-Judah prepares for his trip to meet with fellow believers in Petra. Meanwhile, Rayford struggles with the idea of using arms to protect believers from GC.

The lines are drawn between good and evil as God inflicts the first Bowl judgment upon the flesh of those who have taken the mark while his chosen ones flee to the wilderness, on the brink of Armageddon.

Book 9 in the Left Behind end-times thriller series, by Time LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.