Bruce Barnes (Left Behind)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Barnes is a fictional character of the Left Behind
series by Tim LaHaye
and Jerry B. Jenkins
He is pastor of the New Hope Village Church in Chicago
.
Following the Rapture, after he found that he lost his wife and his three children, Bruce almost fell into depression and disbelief, knowing that he had been weak in his faith. Despite his losses, Bruce was determined to start anew, going to New Hope church that night and meeting Loretta and a few other members who had also been left behind he found his former pastor's video made to be played after the rapture. From watching the video Bruce learns that though he missed the rapture it is not too late for him to be saved and he commits his life to God. He finds some new-found friends in Christ
, namely Rayford Steele
who he supplies with a copy of the video which leads him to Christ, his daughter Chloe
, and Cameron "Buck" Williams
, and together they form an inner core group with the name Tribulation Force
, supplied by Chloe. Their mission is to help the lost find Christ and prepare for God's Judgement that would follow the peace between Antichrist
and Israel
. Bruce acts as a spiritual mentor and adviser to the Tribulation Force, explaining the foretold prophecies of what is to come in the final days. Their study reveal that the peace covenant with Israel would mark the beginning of the seven years' war with Antichrist, known as the Tribulation
.
After returning to the States from a mission trip, Bruce is killed by the Red Horse of the Apocalypse when World War III breaks. Bombs hit the hospital that he was admitted in for over-seas bug that stopped his world wide encouragement of "Tribulation Saints". Barnes was the first of many casualties the Tribulation Force suffers during the seven years. Even though Bruce is killed relatively early in the Tribulation, the Force he helped establish became a driving presence during the seven years of chaos. It is hinted later in the series that Bruce was poisoned by The Carpathia administration and may have died prior to the actual bombing.
He is resurrected at the Glorious Appearing
, much to the joy of the Tribulation Force. In the Millennium World, he and his wife go with Rayford's missionary trip to Egypt and help spread the gospel. He is present at the final battle of the Millennium, watching from a safe distance in Jerusalem with the rest of the Trib Force.
Left Behind (series)
Left Behind is a series of 16 best-selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatological viewpoint of the end of the world. The primary conflict of the series is the members of the Tribulation...
series by Tim LaHaye
Tim LaHaye
Timothy F. LaHaye is an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker. He is best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.-Early life:LaHaye was born in Detroit,...
and Jerry B. Jenkins
Jerry B. Jenkins
Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye, Jenkins has written over 150 books, including romance novels, mysteries, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction...
He is pastor of the New Hope Village Church in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Fictional Biography
Before the Rapture of the world's millions of Christians, Bruce was assistant pastor at New Hope Village Church, serving with the then-senior pastor Vernon Billings. Though Bruce believed with his lips, he didn't truly believe in his heart. He later admits that he was a phony, and that he never received Christ's gift of salvation.Following the Rapture, after he found that he lost his wife and his three children, Bruce almost fell into depression and disbelief, knowing that he had been weak in his faith. Despite his losses, Bruce was determined to start anew, going to New Hope church that night and meeting Loretta and a few other members who had also been left behind he found his former pastor's video made to be played after the rapture. From watching the video Bruce learns that though he missed the rapture it is not too late for him to be saved and he commits his life to God. He finds some new-found friends in Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, namely Rayford Steele
Rayford Steele
Rayford Steele is a fictional character and the de facto protagonist in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. He is the leader of the group known as the Tribulation Force, and is the most elaborated character in the series....
who he supplies with a copy of the video which leads him to Christ, his daughter Chloe
Chloe Steele
Chloe Steele, a fictional character from the Left Behind series of novels, was a Junior at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California until the disappearance of millions of people worldwide.-Fictional Biography:...
, and Cameron "Buck" Williams
Cameron "Buck" Williams
Cameron "Buck" Williams is a fictional character in the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Buck is a celebrated news reporter who, after being left behind following the Rapture, becomes one of the founding members of the Tribulation Force.-Pre-Rapture:Buck was born 30...
, and together they form an inner core group with the name Tribulation Force
Tribulation Force (group)
The Tribulation Force is a fictional Christian-based group composed of those left behind after the Rapture, as portrayed in the fiction series Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B...
, supplied by Chloe. Their mission is to help the lost find Christ and prepare for God's Judgement that would follow the peace between Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Bruce acts as a spiritual mentor and adviser to the Tribulation Force, explaining the foretold prophecies of what is to come in the final days. Their study reveal that the peace covenant with Israel would mark the beginning of the seven years' war with Antichrist, known as the Tribulation
Tribulation
The Great Tribulation refers to tumultuous events that are described during the "signs of the times", first mentioned by Jesus in the Olivet discourse...
.
After returning to the States from a mission trip, Bruce is killed by the Red Horse of the Apocalypse when World War III breaks. Bombs hit the hospital that he was admitted in for over-seas bug that stopped his world wide encouragement of "Tribulation Saints". Barnes was the first of many casualties the Tribulation Force suffers during the seven years. Even though Bruce is killed relatively early in the Tribulation, the Force he helped establish became a driving presence during the seven years of chaos. It is hinted later in the series that Bruce was poisoned by The Carpathia administration and may have died prior to the actual bombing.
He is resurrected at the Glorious Appearing
Glorious Appearing
Glorious Appearing: The End of Days is the 12th book in the Left Behind series. Released on March 30, 2004, this book sees the surviving believers awaiting the return of Jesus Christ as the war of Armageddon and the seven-year Tribulation period draws to its climax...
, much to the joy of the Tribulation Force. In the Millennium World, he and his wife go with Rayford's missionary trip to Egypt and help spread the gospel. He is present at the final battle of the Millennium, watching from a safe distance in Jerusalem with the rest of the Trib Force.