Mark Eisman

Mark Eisman was one of the members of the Young Tribulation Force and a major character in the Left Behind: The Kids series. He was one of the first non-original YTF members and would later become a late tribulation martyr.

Biography[]

After the Rapture[]

He and his cousin John Preston met Judd Thompson Jr. on their first day at Nicolae Carpathia High School. Coach Handlesman confiscated his and John Preston's Bibles during an assembly that day. For some reason, Mark was forced to repeat his senior year. This was probably not due to inadequate academic performance because Judd recalled that he and John Preston were smart kids, the type who are in the science club and on the honor roll.

In book 6, Mark, John, Vicki Byrne and Judd composed and disseminated The Underground newspaper to the students of Nicolae Carpathia High School. The newspaper presents the dispensationalist account of the Rapture, testimonies of their experience of the Rapture from the Young Tribulation Force, and prophecies of the upcoming period of the Tribulation. The newspaper was repressed by the authorities at Nicolae Carpathia High School for opposing the ideology of the Global Community. For the second attempt to distribute The Underground, the group was to slip in a copy of The Underground with the official school newspaper, The Olive Branch. The Olive Branch was printed off campus, but since Mark and John were on the school newspaper the year before and had pickup duty, they knew when the guys on the loading dock had their break. They arrived at the print shop at 4:10 AM and were able to slip in the contraband periodical to the bundles that were to be given to students while leaving untouched the smaller stack meant for the faculty and news staff. Mr. Carlson, the advisor for the student newspaper and English teacher, picked up the bundles and put them in bins for the distribution to the students. Laverne Jenness and Coach Handlesman thought that was an inside job since they deduced that the distribution of The Underground required knowledge of when and where the papers were to be picked up. On the day of distribution, Mark and John were called to the office along with everyone who has worked on the school paper for the last three years. Mark and John were about to be implicated by Jenness and Handlesman due to Mark and John's connection with the school paper, but Vicki pulled the fire alarm to end the meeting.

In Busted!, Mark expressed interest in joining a militia and even tried defending and justifying his position when he spoke to Bruce Barnes.

In book 8, Mark graduated from Nicolae Carpathia High School, then joined the militia in their rebellion against the Global Community. He was so enthusiastic about his involvement in the militia that he took Judd and Vicki Byrne to one of their training exercises where Global Community helicopters appeared and attacked them. They were all able to escape unharmed. Mark claimed that the "militia is big" and that God is going to use it to overthrow Carpathia. Judd tried to argue to Mark that joining the militia is foolish since Biblical prophesy suggested that thwarting Carpathia through military means is futile since Carpathia had to rule the world for seven years before he would be defeated when Jesus returns. Once World War III commences, his commanding officer, Major Stockton Evers, ordered the younger guys out since Major Evers somehow knew that the Global Community would launch a preemptive attack on the militia. Mark was despondent when he learned that all the soldiers were wipe out from the attack, and he realized that he made a mistake and Judd was right.

Mark's role in the series became more important after the earthquake and John's death in the second trumpet judgment. Mark was with his aunt when she was injured in the worldwide earthquake, and his aunt would succumb to her injuries in Darkening Skies. That left Mark as the only remaining member of his family.

In Fire from Heaven, Mark helped Mitchell Stein to retrieve his money. In Terror in the Stadium, Mark left the schoolhouse to check on his aunt. In Darkening Skies, Mark helped Melinda Bentley to escape the Global Community when she was captured. Mark also brought Janie McCanyon back with them.

In Attack of Apollyon, Mark traveled to Kankakee, Illinois, to meet a friend of John Preston. Mark stayed at a hotel while waiting to meet with Carl Meninger and talk with him. Mark shoved Carl into a car for the latter's safety when Trumpet Judgment #5 occurred and the locusts came after Carl.

In A Dangerous Plan, Mark met Carl Meninger, the young man whose life John saved during the Second Trumpet Judgment. Carl became a believer partly because of Mark. Mark had shoved Carl into a car to protect the latter during Trumpet Judgment #5. Mark discovered that Chris Traickin was pretending to be a believer so that real ones would get arrested by the Global Community.

In book 22, Mark gets involved with a plan to allow unbelievers to enter the schoolhouse.

In book 23, Mark infiltrates a meeting of the Global Community Satellite Schools along with several other members of the Young Tribulation Force. Mark watches as true believers are singled out and taken away.

In Book 24, Mark stole a satellite truck to help Vicki Byrne give young people across the world the message.

In Book 27, Mark leads the others (except Vicki and Darrion Stahley) through raging wildfire in Wisconsin to escape the GC. Mark talks to people at a shelter about God.

In Book 31, Mark assists Vicki in confronting Claudia Zander, Natalie Bishop's former roommate. Mark also helps and supports Manny Aguilara's attempt to evangelize to his former gang, but they murdered Manny when they rejected his message. Mark encouraged Manny to express his message to his gang, even though he was not enthusiastic that the gang would be receptive to Manny presenting the gospel to them. Mark is furious when Vicki abandons the group to help Tanya Spivey, but the reason behind that is Mark was in love with Vicki, but was jealous because Vicki had feelings for Judd, not Mark. Mark is the first in the group to welcome Judd when he and Lionel finally reunite with them.

In Book 37, Mark Eisman is involved in a rescue mission to find Cheryl Tiffane and Ryan Victor Fogarty whom Cheryl kidnapped. During the mission, he finds Clemson Stoddard's hideout and talks to him about God, sin, and repentance and facilitates his conversion to Christianity.

In Book 39, Mark realizes the GC (led by Commander Kruno Fulcire) finally has found the location of their latest hideout and is captured when trying to help his friends. Fulcire and Deputy Commander Lockerbie interrogated Mark with truth serum, but an angel offered his strength and succor during the ordeal, similar to how Jock Ashmore interrogated Chloe Williams in Armageddon. To give Mark fortitude, the unnamed angel said that "one of your hymn writers" has said, "the body they may kill; God's truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever." While he was imprisoned, his evangelism resulted in six other prisoners, including Steve, without the mark of loyalty becoming believers. He was able to get on Global Community media to convey a message of assurance to the Young Tribulation Force because Lockerbie lent Mark his cell phone in hopes that Mark would call the Young Tribulation Force and compromise them but Mark used that opportunity to call the media. Anchorwoman April Wojekowski answered and provided a live television broadcast of Mark's call, but became disappointed when she realized that Mark was still resolutely opposed to the Global Community.

Before he was executed, he said that he felt sorry for Kruno Fulcire because he was following the devil. When Fulcire heard this, he gave a disdainful laugh and wondered how Eisman can feel sorry for him. Mark responded that one day everyone would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, the true Potentate. He told Fulcire that the Global Community would soon battle against God's people and that those who fight for the Global Community would be slain, but Fulcire wanted to be present during the battle to see the destruction of the Judah-ites. Eisman suggested that Fulcire do everything he can to avoid being in Israel for the next six months, but even this advice is futile since he would be condemned in the sheep and goats judgment anyway. Eisman was the last to be executed among the six other believing prisoners. Those prisoners did not want Mark to die alone, so they told the guards that they would refuse the mark of loyalty and never bow to Nicolae Carpathia, and if they were going to use the guillotines, they wanted to be with Mark.

In Book 40, Mark and John are both resurrected along with the other Tribulation martyrs.

Personality[]

Mark was thought of as being smart, since Judd recalled that he was in the science club and on the honor roll in Nicolae Carpathia High School. He was shorter and stockier than John Preston and had dark hair.

In the Dramatic Audio, while Lionel Washington and Conrad Graham were at a Global Community Morale Monitor training camp because they were kidnapped to be there, during the Wrath Of The Lamb earthquake, Lionel Washington said that Mark taught him how to hot-wire a car when they were contemplating an escape plan.

He has some reservations with opening up to people outside of the Young Tribulation Force, such as Janie and Lenore Barker, while they were at the schoolhouse. Lenore and Janie eventually became believers. He initially expressed opposition to Lenore Barker's suggestion to turn the schoolhouse into a type of hospital where those who were stung by the demon-locusts can be cared for and that they can be presented with the Gospel. When the Young Tribulation Force voted on it, everyone voted in favor of Lenore's idea, including Mark.

Mark did not have much patience for Janie McCanyon's insolence when she was an unbeliever at the school house, while Vicki was more forbearing towards her, hopefully that she would become believer.

Mark is focused on ensuring that the Young Tribulation Force performs their missions safely and effectively. He would not overlook things that would compromise and endanger the Young Tribulation Force. For instance, he was upbraided Manny Aguilara when he lied that Hector Rodriguez would help them know whether Claudia Zander was really a rogue Morale Monitor or whether she was leading the Young Tribulation Force into a trap by pretending to resist the mark of loyalty and showing an interest in Christianity. Manny came clean to Vicki and Mark, but he wanted an opportunity to go back to the gang so he can evangelize to them. Mark was sympathetic and supportive of Manny after Manny helped them escape a GC patrol by going to the hideout of Manny's gang.

Mark is empathetic and compassionate while he was evangelizing to Clemson Stoddard. He refrained from the urge to present facts and arguments to convince Clemson of the conclusion that Christianity is true, but instead tried to relate to him by asking him about his upbringing, family, and church life. In the discussion with Clemson, in response to Clemson's objection that one should not believe just to live a bit longer (just as those who have chosen the mark of loyalty under the threat of the loyalty enforcement facilitator), he looked up a verse from the kids website and found Matthew 18:3 where Jesus says that one must turn away from their sins and become like children. While Ryan Victor Fogarty was in their presence, Mark said that one must be dependent on God, just as a child is dependent on everyone else around him.

When he discovered that the GC had discovered the Avery, Wisconsin campground, he went back there to warn the Young Tribulation Force so they would have enough time to escape. He even stole one of their vehicles and led them on a short chase to provide a further distraction. That led to his capture and eventual execution. He was willing to sacrifice himself to protect and avoid endangering his friends.

Interactions[]

Mark was close friends with Judd Thompson Jr., Vicki Byrne, Lionel Washington, and Conrad Graham.

He was also friends with Ryan Daley, Darrion Stahley, Janie McCanyon, Shelly Malloy, Charlie, Bruce Barnes, Carl Meninger, Tom Gowin, Luke Gowin, Colin Dial, Maggie Carlson, Melinda Bentley, Clemson Stoddard, Marshall Jameson, Tom Fogarty, Josey Fogarty, Steve, Chaya Stein, Chad Harris, Cheryl Tiffane, Tanya Spivey, Ty Spivey, Sam Goldberg, Chang Wong, Gustaf Zuckermandel, Jr., Ryan Victor Fogarty, and Mitchell Stein.

He was acquainted with Natalie Bishop, Jim Dekker, Chloe Williams, Gustaf Zuckermandel, Sr., and Kelly Bradshaw.

He disliked Laverne Jenness, Neal Damosa, Terrel Blancka, and Kruno Fulcire.

He had a conflict with Coach Greg Handlesman, but was on good terms with him afterwards.

Trivia[]

In the dramatic audio presentation, he is played by Mike Olsen.
Mark's first appearance was in book 5.
Mark, John, and Shelly Malloy were the first non-original Young Tribulation Force members.
Mark may have had the strongest role out of all the non-original Young Tribulation Force members.
Mark is considered to be the fourth most important character in the entire Left Behind: The Kids series.
Mark is considered to be the tetartagonist in the Left Behind: The Kids series.
Mark had the most POVs of all the non-original Young Tribulation Force members.
Mark made an appearance in every book after book 13.
Mark had the highest amount of appearances of all the martyred Young Tribulation Force members.
Mark had the highest amount of appearances of all the non-original male Young Tribulation Force members, appearing in 32/40 books.
Mark had the highest amount of interactions of all the martyred Young Tribulation Force members.
Mark had the strongest role of all the martyred YTF members.
The only eight books in the Left Behind: The Kids series that Mark does not appear in are The Vanishings, Second Chance, Through the Flames, Facing the Future, The Search, On the Run, Earthquake!, and The Showdown.
Mark is the only male Young Tribulation Force member to have been involved with a militia.
Mark's choice to be involved with the Mountain Militia is a mistake that has been mentioned multiple times in the series, most notably by Judd and Vicki.
Mark and John were both 17 years old when the Rapture occurred, making them the oldest named students at Nicolae Carpathia High School.
Chinese food is one of Mark's favorite meals.
Mark called Kruno Fulcire a "monster" when he mocked the former about Natalie Bishop's death.
Mark stole a satellite truck which had Marjorie Amherst in the back, unconscious.
Mark saw Cameron Williams driving his Range Rover during the earthquake.
Claudia Zander unknowingly predicted Mark's death in Escape to Masada, the 31st book of the Left Behind: The Kids series.
Mark was the last member of the Young Tribulation Force to die.
Mark was the last named believer to be executed by the guillotine in the entire Left Behind franchise.
Mark was the last named believer to die that did not appear in the adult Left Behind series.
Mark was the last non-original member of the Young Tribulation Force to be arrested.
Mark's last conversation with Shelly Malloy convinced her to give Conrad Graham another chance and to reconcile their relationship.
Attack of Apollyon, the 19th book of the Left Behind: The Kids series, is the first book in which Mark's name is written in the synopsis.
Escape from New Babylon, the 22nd book of the Left Behind: The Kids series, is the last book in which Mark's name is written in the synopsis.
On the Run, the 10th book of the Left Behind: The Kids series, is the only book after the fourth book in which Mark is not written about at all.
Mark shares a similar first name to Marc Thompson, the younger brother of Young Tribulation Force member Judd Thompson Jr.
Mark shares the same first name as Mark Seven, Charlie's voice actor from the dramatic audio presentation.
Mark's first name is the middle name of Tyrola Mark Delanty, a member of the adult Tribulation Force.
Mark was the only male member of the Young Tribulation Force to be executed by the guillotine.
Mark was the first member of the YTF to discover that Chris Traickin was an imposter.
Mark managed to avoid being arrested by the Global Community for more than six years.
Mark was the last named believer to have been executed by Kruno Fulcire.
Mark's death was in book 39.
Everyone in Mark's family was raptured except for John, their aunt, and himself.
Mark was the martyred Young Tribulation Force member that met the most members of the Young Tribulation Force. In fact, Nada Ameer is the only Young Tribulation Force member that Mark hasn't met.
Mark lived the longest out of all the martyred Young Tribulation Force members, dying approximately at the age of 23.
Mark and John were both attending a church in Arlington Heights before attending New Hope Village Church.
Mark's aunt died at the same makeshift hospital that Ryan Daley died in.
Mark's aunt survived the earthquake but died from her injuries shortly after Trumpet Judgment #3.
Mark drove Vicki to Nicolae Carpathia High School before she delivered copies of the last issue of The Underground Newspaper.
Mark outlived his cousin John by approximately 4 years.
Mark was mentioned more times than John in the series.
Mark had more interactions than John.
Mark made more appearances than John.
Mark was the last remaining member of the Eisman-Preston family at the time of his death.
- With Mark's death, none of the members of the Eisman-Preston family survived to the Glorious Appearing.
- With Mark's death, only 12 Young Tribulation Force members survived to the Glorious Appearing.
- With Mark's death, none of the graduates from Nicolae Carpathia High School are confirmed to have survived to the Glorious Appearing.
- With Mark's death, none of the characters introduced in book 5 are confirmed to have survived to the Glorious Appearing.
- With Mark's death, Shelly Malloy is the earliest non-original Young Tribulation Force member to be alive at the Glorious Appearing.
Mark's first POV was in book 16, after John's death.
Mark was often concerned about the safety of the YTF, like Judd.
Mark and John both designed an untraceable website for the YTF.
Mark volunteered to confess his involvement with The Underground Newspaper, but Vicki Byrne wouldn't let him.
Mark liked playing with Ryan Victor Fogarty, Tom and Josey's adopted son.
Of the three male martyred Young Tribulation Force members that died during the second half of the Tribulation period, Mark was the only one not to be a member of the Gowin family.
Mark decided not to return to school so he could help The Young Tribulation Force.
Mark is one of two characters to have quoted Jesus Christ as his last words before being executed. ("Into your hands I commit my spirit") The other character was Gustaf Zuckermandel, Sr.
At one point, Mark had threatened to kick Vicki Byrne out of the Young Tribulation Force despite the fact that she is an original YTF member. Mark said that she had to leave or he would.
Mark was the last member of the YTF to make an announcement on the Global Community News Network.
Mark was the last non-original member of the YTF to be injured.
Mark was the only YTF member to be injected with truth serum.
Mark was the only martyred Young Tribulation Force member whose name was never removed from the introductions in books 29 through 40.
Mark's last name (as well as John's) was not revealed until book 16.
Of the four YTF members that died during the second half of the Tribulation period, Mark was the only one that joined the YTF prior to the Tribulation period starting.
Of the four YTF members that died during the second half of the Tribulation period, Mark was the only one that had any interaction with Tribulation Force member Bruce Barnes.
In book 39, after Mark was captured, he met LeRoy Banks, the man who killed Lionel's uncle.
Mark is the only non-original Young Tribulation Force member to have interacted with LeRoy Banks.
Mark never really got over John's death.
Mark thought that his cousin John Preston going to college was a waste of time.
The last words of both Mark and John were prayers to God just before their respective deaths.
Mark was badly injured when he was captured by the Global Community but an angel healed his wounds.
Caleb visited Mark when the latter was imprisoned and facing death.
Mark was the only Young Tribulation Force member to have met and spoke with Caleb.
Mark was in love with Vicki, though it was not revealed until book 39.
Vicki wrote a tribute to Mark on Tsion Ben-Judah's website.
Mark was the only YTF member that lived in the schoolhouse in Illinois that did not survive to the Glorious Appearing.
Mark was the only YTF member that stayed in the campground in Avery, Wisconsin, that did not live to the Glorious Appearing.
Mark was a believer before the Tribulation began. Presumably that means that he prayed to God straight after the Rapture and became a believer, which is possible.
Mark and John repeated their senior year at Nicolae Carpathia High School. The reason why is unknown.
Mark is one of three Young Tribulation Force members to give a farewell message just before his death. The other two are Ryan Daley and John Preston.
Mark died six months before the Glorious Appearing. If he had left the hideout when it was burning in book 39, it is guaranteed he would have lived to see the Glorious Appearing.
Mark and John were both named after the disciples.
Even though Mark died in The Road to War, his name still appeared on the list of living Young Tribulation Force members in Triumphant Return.
In the dramatic audio presentation, Mark gets in a romantical relationship with Darrion Stahley.
In the dramatic audio presentation, Mark fought with Conrad Graham because both boys developed feelings for Darrion.
In the dramatic audio presentation, he is mistakenly referred to as "Mark Anderson" at least two times. This is likely errors in the script.
In the dramatic audio presentation, Darrion Stahley suggests the real reason Mark wants to fight against the Global Community so badly is to avenge the death of his cousin, John Preston.

Appearances[]

Left Behind: The Kids

Mentions[]