Rainer Kurtzmann

Rainer Kurtzmann
Biographical information
Full Name	Rainer Kurtzmann
Gender	Male
Nationality	German
Died	Within 6 years into the Tribulation, shortly before fifth bowl judgment
Occupation	Understudy (formerly)
Relatives	Gretchen Kurtzmann (wife, killed by bomb), Unnamed aunt, Mr. Kurtzmann (father), Mrs. Kurtzmann (mother), Kurtzmann (brother, killed by bomb)
Religion	Christianity
Spiritual State	Saved during the Tribulation
First Appearance	Heat Wave

Rainer Kurtzmann was a German believer and tribulation martyr living in New Babylon.

Biography

Before the Rapture

Rainer was born and raised in Germany. It can be assumed that he was very close with his brother, as he would be heartbroken by his death many years later. Rainer's aunt was taken in the Rapture. Rainer found her notes shortly after the disappearances and became a believer.

After the Rapture

Rainer's parents were killed in the Wrath Of The Lamb earthquake, and died as unbelievers. He was convinced by Otto Weser to emigrate from Germany to New Babylon and he said that fighting the GC in Germany was got boring. Somehow, they survived in the belly of the beast until the plague of darkness.

Personality

He is former stage actor. He was an understudy, who was there in case the lead actor is unable to perform, for example, from sickness. It is like being a backup quarterback. He makes the metaphor that he was an understudy in life, but after the Rapture, he had to be brought from the shadows and have a relationship with God during the terrible events of the Tribulation.

Interactions

Rainer was friends with Otto Weser until the mission in which Rainer's wife and brother would be killed by the Global Community. Rainer also seemed to be on good terms with Judd Thompson Jr., Westin Jakes, Gunther Carr, Helga, and Klaus.

Appearances

Left Behind: The Kids

• 37. Heat Wave (first appearance)
• 38. The Perils of Love (last appearance, death)

Trivia

• Rainer's first appearance was in book 37.
• With Rainer's death, none of the members of the Kurtzmann family were alive at the Glorious Appearing.
• Rainer was friends with and worked with Tribulation Force member Otto Weser until a mission in which Rainer's wife, Gretchen, was killed by a bomb hurled by the Global Community. Because of this, Rainer severed ties with Otto and would never see him again.
• Rainer is a modern form of the Germanic name Raginheri, a combination of ragin ("advice") and heri ("army").
• Kurtzmann is a German/Jewish surname which translates into "short man".