Themes: Redemption, Message From God, Conspiracies
Main Cast: Kirk Cameron, Brad Johnson, Clarence Gilyard, Jr., Christopher Bondy, Chelsea Noble
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Four people of faith must take it upon themselves to save the soul of humanity in this sequel to Left Behind. When millions of people around the world suddenly disappear into thin air, the entire globe is thrown into chaos, and in the midst of this confusion and uncertainty, Nicolae Carpathia (Gordon Currie), international media magnate and president of the United Nations, steps forward as the leader who will guide all the world's nations in this difficult time. However, television journalist Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron) knows the truth behind what has happened -- the mass disappearances were the result of the Rapture, predicted in the Holy Bible as the beginning of the End Times, and Carpathia is, in fact, the Antichrist. Williams falls in with three remaining believers -- pastor and biblical scholar Bruce Barnes (Clarence Gilyard Jr.), airline pilot-turned-believer Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson), and Steele's headstrong 20-year-old daughter, Chloe (Janaya Stephens). Calling themselves the Tribulation Force, the foursome travel the world, attempting to spread the word about Carpathia and tending to the needs of the wounded; in the course of their work, Buck and Chloe fall in love, while Barnes comes to terms with the loss of his wife and child. But when sinister events occur in Israel at the site of the Wailing Wall, the Tribulation Force suspects Carpathia may have some more unpleasant surprises up his sleeve. Adapted from the popular series of Christian thrillers by Rev. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force, like the first Left Behind picture, was produced by Christian production company Cloud Ten Productions; both films were first marketed on home video, and later released to theaters to widen their public profile. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Les Carlson - Witness Eli; Gordon Currie - Nicolae Carpathia; David Macniven - Chris Smith; Louis Negin - Witness Moishe; Sandi Ross - Verna Zee; Janaya Stephens - Chloe Steele
Credit
Bill Corcoran - Director, Nicholas Tabarrok - Producer, Pamela Wallace - Screenwriter, Paul Lalonde - Screenwriter, John Patus - Screenwriter, Jerry B. Jenkins - Book Author, Tim F. LaHaye - Book Author
It's a week after the rapture and the millions of people who vanished into thin air are still missing. Chaos rules the world as panic and grief stricken survivors continue to search for their lost loved-ones. Suicide rates are sky-rocketing, businesses and homes are being looted, and martial law is in effect. A desperate world looks to the leadership and guidance of UN President Nicolae Carpathia, the only person offering any answers, hope, and plans to restore peace and order.
While Carpathia has the world's adoration and trust, he is seemingly unaware of a small group of rebels spreading the truth that he is in fact the Antichrist. Leading this group of rebels is Pastor Bruce Barnes (Clarence Gilyard), whose in-depth understanding of biblical prophecy helps demystify the present and future events that the world will face in the next seven years, known as The Tribulation.
Buck Williams (Kirk Cameron) is a highly respected television journalist who has seen firsthand Carpathia's manipulative and deadly powers. His position allows him special access to a global audience through the media and to Carpathia himself. Airline pilot Rayford Steele (Brad Johnson) and his 20-year-old daughter, Chloe (Janaya Stephens), make up the rest of this group. Ray is still struggling to come to grips with the loss of his wife and son, but his recent salvation and friendship with Pastor Barnes have brought him back to the church and closer to his feisty daughter. Chloe finds her purpose by tending the sick and wounded as well as a burgeoning love relationship with Buck.
As the Tribulation Force struggles to open the eyes of the world to the truth, Global events get even stranger when word leaks out that three men have mysteriously burned to death at one of the holiest sites in Israel: the Wailing Wall. At the same time, Rabbi Ben Judah, one of the leading religious scholars of his time, plans to make a world-altering announcement based on years of research. Pastor Barnes believes both events are linked to Carpathia, signaling the oncoming terror of The Tribulation. He acts quickly by getting Ray and Buck to embark on a dangerous mission to infiltrate Carpathia's organization. They must get to Ben Judah before he makes his announcement.
Buck goes to meet Rabbi Tsion Ben Judah. They go to the Wailing Wall to meet the two witnesses. Buck and Rayford learn the teachings, but when they are attacked, the two witnesses breathe fire at their attackers. Ben Judah has learned the truth and when it's the day to make the speech he proclaims to the whole world that Jesus is the savior. Carpathia filled with rage tells God that it is his time to rule the Earth.
