Well, so much for Left Behind. The sequel is entitled Tribulation Force, from the organization the characters for to deal with the last days. Since Tribulation Force was made several years after Left Behind, Clip 1 is mostly just expository flashback, reminding the audience what happened in the original movie. As such, expecting it to be any good is really asking too much, but here goes.
During the credits, we see bulletin board with missing notices, asking about lost loved ones, then a fireball (huh?) and then switch to Buck, in his role as a TV reporter, reminding the audience what has happened. It has been a week since the Rapture. He reminds us of the situation as of the end of the last movie -- hundred of millions disappeared, including every child on the planet, car accidents, plane crashes, general breakdown in law and order, overwhelming crime wave, mass suicide (okay, we didn't see those last three in the movie but they do, indeed, seem a highly plausible reaction to the disappearances).
Carpathia is watching. With him are Hattie (now with her hair down again) and his press secretary, later identified as Steve Plank. I can't quite tell whether this Steve Plank is the same guy who was Buck's boss in the first movie. I raise the question because in the novel, Buck's boss, Steve Plank did, indeed, go to work for Carpathia. If this one is the same guy, he is a lot better groomed than in the first movie and more professional. (Buck's boss was really repulsive in the first movie). Anyhow, Carpathia is much impressed with Buck and wants him to work for him.
Buck ends his broadcast by saying that for the first time in his career, he doesn't know what to say or where to begin. This is apparently a deviation from script; a woman in the sound room doesn't know what to make of it. Rayford and Chloe are watching, and clearly being born again has not ended conflict in the family. Chloe still has a lot of resentments against her father.
As Buck leaves the studio, we see signs of the social breakdown that (Fred Clark constantly complains) were not present in the novel. Trashed streets, overturned cars, random fires, often burning cars. A handful of youths are breaking into a van. Uniformed men with machine guns (police? U.N. troops?) gun them down. Buck tries to stop them, too late. "They were just kids." Clearly stern measures are being used to stem the general breakdown. This, too, seems plausible.
Next morning a talk show is going on. Apparently the U.N. has shut down the Wailing Wall after three men were mysteriously burned to death there. The talk show participants debate whether the U.N. was justified. Bruce Barnes looks up with interest. As Buck walks in to work, past the broadcasters, Steve Plank (now identified by name) is waiting for him, gives Buck his card, and says Carpathia wants to talk to him.
Buck goes into his office, turns on his screen, and sees various U.N. delegates, begging Carpathia to become world leader and adopt a single world currency. Carpathia humbly and grudgingly agrees, then proceeds to call for universal peace and disarmament, and "to put aside all their racial, social, political, and, the deadliest of all, religious differences." He then says there is no Heaven or Hell, only us here and now. (Hm, somehow I don't think that is the best way to get people to set aside difference). And then, "Together we need not fear temptation or evil, for ours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever, amen." Buck and Bruce look on in alarm, apparently only realizing now that this is the Antichrist speaking. (Um, wasn't that made clear in the last movie?) It also really surpasses belief that Carpathia would think no one would notice the blasphemy and take offense or alarm at it. A crowd of indeterminate size applauds (close ups show a lot more people than we actually see in the U.N. when the camera pulls back).
In New Hope Church, at night, there are candles on the altar. (Do RTC's do that? I asked in the comments and basically got the answer that some do and some don't). Rayford is alone, praying. He sees and hears flashbacks, reminding us again of the Rapture from the last movie. And then Loretta, his raptured wife, walks up to him.
End of part one. Here is Slacktivist's take.
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