The Left Behind Complete Set, Series 1-12

by Tim LaHaye

Then he reached in, loosened Carpathia’s belt, grabbed him by the lapels, and yanked him out of the chopper. Carpathia landed on his seat on the uneven ground. He jumped up quickly, as if ready to fight. Rayford pushed him back up against the helicopter. “Captain Steele, I understand you are upset, but—” “Nicolae,” Rayford said, his words rushing through clenched teeth, “you can explain this away any way you want, but let me be the first to tell you: You have just seen the wrath of the Lamb!” Carpathia shrugged. Rayford gave him a last shove against the helicopter and stumbled away. He set his face toward the airport terminal, a quarter mile away. He prayed this would be the last time he had to search for the body of a loved one in the rubble.

DUN DUN DUN! So, this final image of Rayford is evocative of a western. Rayford is a man who’s finally broken, and now he’s alone in a world without rules. And while, yes, there was some foreshadowing that Rayford’s restraint might give out, he still hasn’t done anything interesting that might warrant this kind of framing. If Rayford had truly snapped, he would have tried to straight-up kill Carpathia. He had the opportunity, and the means, but he just throws a lame insult at Carpathia and walks away. Imagine if he *had* tried to kill Carpathia. It would be an interesting dilemma for the character to struggle with, as it was a breach of his Christian morals and a moment where he refused to trust God’s plan. But nope, that’d be too interesting. Guess we’ll just have to tune in next time and see if Hattie and Amanda have both been fridged.