Released on Tuesday, 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.
Upon its publication, Glorious Appearing initially served as the conclusion of the Left Behind saga, drawing to a close numerous plot threads that had been developed since the first book in the series.
Mac McCullum goes to Jerusalem undercover to find Buck Williams and discovers his dead body before being ushered to a meeting with several more troops and Nicolae Carpathia's cabinet in Solomon's Stables.
As Mac returns and Chaim visits Rayford as night falls, the sun and moon go out before the stars and meteors fall upon the Global Community army, slightly reducing their numbers before the Sign of the Son of Man (a giant cross) appears and heals Rayford and all other saved and undecided of their injuries, causing many to become saved, including one third of the Jewish Remnant.
This does not dissuade the enemies of God, as the Unity Army, led by Carpathia himself, makes their final charge against Petra, seeking to annihilate all remaining rebels against the Global Community, even children.
As Jesus speaks, the entire third of the Global Community forces and Carpathia loyalists at Petra are slain with Nicolae and Leon fleeing to Bozrah.
Viv Ivins is killed by a large hailstone crushing her before Nicolae and Leon escape the rising swamp of blood and gore of the fallen Global Community troops and make for Jerusalem in a Humvee.
The Mount of Olives splitting also ushers in the largest global earthquake ever felt, completely flattening the world and causing Jerusalem to rise more than three hundred feet.
Jesus then opens a hole in the ground which leads directly to the Lake of Fire before Nicolae Carpathia and Leon Fortunato are thrown into it and enter into eternal torment.
Olson also argues that the plot and details of the Left Behind series are similar to-and possibly plagiarised from-the Rapture novel 666 by Salem Kirban.