Jerry B. Jenkins, the co-author of the Left Behind series, recently sat down with The Christian Post to discuss his newest book, his son’s success with the crowdfunded TV series “The Chosen” and why he believes we are living in the end times.
Jenkins has authored over 200 books and has no desire to slow down. He told The Christian Post that he doesn’t have any plans to retire. He said, “Well, I don’t see any place in the Bible that talks about retirement, and at the risk of sounding falsely modest, I really think I’m mono gifted. I don’t sing, or dance, or preach – writing is all I do, so I feel obligated to keep doing it.”
Jenkins is not the only successful creator in his family, as his son Dallas is responsible for the greatest crowdfunded media project in history – The Chosen. Jenkins drew inspiration for his latest book from his son’s series. The Chosen: I Have called You By Name tells the story of those who trusted in Jesus Christ and saw their lives changed by following him.
Jenkins’s hesitation about retirement cannot be ascribed only to his writing gift. He is also driven by the conviction that “we’re getting pretty close to the end” of the world. He said, “I think we have more reason to believe that now than we ever have.” He continued, “It seems like something is coming. You just wonder how long God can carry us as sinful and restless as the world is.”
He admitted that he doesn’t know these things for sure, saying, “On the other hand, God has a different economy of time than we do. He wrote in the Bible 2,000 years ago that the end was soon or imminent, and that we should watch and wait.” He added, “The Bible also says that to God, 1,000 years is as a day and a day is as 1,000 years. So if he waits one more day, in His mercy, that would be 1,000 of our years. Yet, I don’t think there’s any more prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the end, so it could be today as well.”
His newest book is one way for Jenkins to fulfill what he believes is God’s mission for Christians today. “I think it’s obvious that we need to be at the task of being sure that the fewest people possible are left behind,” he said. “That means sharing our faith and being bold and not holding back. Sometimes we’re so afraid to offend somebody, we could offend them right into Hell.”
The Chosen: I Have Called You by Name released in March of this year.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Mario Villafuerte/Stringer
Scott Slayton writes at “One Degree to Another.”
