The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4, NIV)
WHEATON, Ill., May 2 /Christian Wire Service/ — Who better than the authors who’ve sold 
more than 63 million books featuring the antichrist, Left Behind Series writers Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, to use the number most closely associated with “the beast” as the street date for their next title? The duo’s fifteenth book together, "The Rapture" ($25.99/Tyndale), releases on June 6, 2006 or 06-06-06.
LaHaye and Jenkins are not the only ones to give a nod to the 666 sequence. The remake of “The Omen” featuring the young antichrist Damian releases on June 6 as well.
“Why not make the connection?” says Jenkins. “Our novels use the Book of Revelation as a framework and it’s in Revelation 13:18 that 666 is used in reference to the antichrist. The funny thing is that number never appears anywhere in our books.”
Jenkins thought it was too predictable to use 666 in the Left Behind® novels, but he’s found a few clever ways to work it in. For instance, the number 216 occurs often in regard to the antichrist character Nicolae Carpathia.
“Almost every significant number in the story is the sum, remainder, product, or divisor of 666, i.e., 6+6+6, 6-6-6, 6x6x6, etc.,” answers Jenkins. “In this case, 216 = 6x6x6.”
But LaHaye and Jenkins don’t stop with math problems. Note the name of the antichrist’s assistant, Viv Ivins. Look carefully and see that it is 666 in roman numerals.
On June 6, some Christian retailers are embracing the 666 theme by selling paperback editions of the Left Behind books for $6.66.
“It seemed very natural to release ‘The Rapture’ on June 6,” says Cheryl Kerwin, Tyndale marketing manager. “We knew it would make the street date memorable. We’ve had a few people who were a bit rattled by the number call and ask ‘Do you realize what day that is?’”
Jenkins advises that people have nothing to fear on June 6. “People are naturally afraid of the number because of who it is associated with. It’s just a number. It’s the antichrist who is evil.”
ABOUT "THE RAPTURE"
"The Rapture" is the third of three prequels in the “Before They Were Left Behind” trilogy. Set in the days, hours and minutes before the sudden disappearance of all Christians in the original "Left Behind" novel, Jenkins and LaHaye portray the choices made by key characters in these final moments that determined if they would be left behind.
The Left Behind Series is a set of fifteen apocalyptic thrillers dramatizing the vanishing of millions of people followed by seven years of tribulation. Seven titles in the series have earned the number one spot on the bestseller lists for "The New York Times," "USA Today" and the Christian Booksellers Association.
For additional information on the Left Behind Series, visit the media room at http://www.leftbehind.com/. Review copies and interviews are available upon request.