Meet John Darby

John Darby (1800-1882) was one of the founders of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby's best known accomplishments were Dispensationalism and providing "the intellectual mantle" that made the doctrine of the pre-Tribulation Rapture respectable. Darby and C.I. Scofield (1843-1921) were the key figures in putting forward the most popular eschatological schema of our day, bolstered by the likes of Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye, etc. (Please do not read any disparagement to any of those named in that.) Prior to the 19th century, pre-millennialism held a timeline that went something like this. In the end times, there would be 7 years of tribulation (called "the Great Tribulation"), after which Christ would return, call His own to Himself, and take control of the world for a millennium. After this, the judgment and the end. The so-called "Rapture" was in their belief system, but occurred after the Tribulation. Pre-millennialists, then, were prepared to go through 7 years of Tribulation under the persecution of the so-called "Antichrist" (who, by the way, is not mentioned in the Book of Revelation -- just "the Beast") and under the protection of Christ (which could include up to and including martyrdom).

Enter John Darby. In Darby's studies, he determined that all those prior to him had misinterpreted (or were simply unclear on) the Scriptures on this subject. The "Rapture¹" was a shared belief with the Church fathers (1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:17; etc.) of a time when Christ would return and take His people with Him. Darby simply put that event at the start of the Tribulation (around 1820). Early Church fathers, however, believed they were in the Tribulation, so they believed in a post-Tribulation Rapture. (Some put the Rapture at the end, just before the final judgment.) Darby put it before the Tribulation. Prior to him, there are no records of anyone else holding that position.

There are several Scriptures that give us this quite certain "Rapture" -- this "taken up to be with Christ." Anyone who reads the Bible concurs that such an event will take place. The primary Scripture offered that would place it prior to the Tribulation is Rev 3:10 -- "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." This, however, doesn't require a physical absence, does it? And the pre-Tribulation Rapture concept has a few other difficulties. For instance, if God's people (and, as some claim, the Holy Spirit) are removed prior to the Tribulation, how are there believers in the Tribulation (e.g., Rev 7:1-8; Dan 7:21; Rev 14:12-13)? And why is the promise of Rev 3:10 (if that is the promise of Rev 3:10) kept from them? If Christ comes at the beginning of the Tribulation and at the end of the Tribulation (some like the "pre-wrath Rapture" that would occur at the midpoint of the 7-year period), isn't that a 3rd coming? So there are questions. Mine begins with, "What took the Holy Spirit so long to get this information across?" Who knows? Maybe the overbearing hold the Roman Catholic Church held on theology blocked Him. Maybe He did get it across ... but no one recorded it prior to Darby. Or ... maybe the pre-Trib Rapture isn't the correct understanding. I, for one, really like the idea of being "taken up" prior to the Tribulation described in Scripture, but that's primarily because I'm not keen on serious ... Tribulation. Maybe it will happen. I can see a version in which it does not ... and all God's Word and promises are still true. So I'm not going to make this my hill to die on. I'll just count on God to do what's right and look eagerly for His imminent return. If we end up going through the Tribulation, up to and including the possibility of martyrdom, I won't be standing in front of Christ saying, "You were wrong! You lied!!" I'll be okay with it. You'll have to decide that for yourselves.
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¹ The term, "Rapture," does not appear in the Bible. Mind you, that is not sufficient reason to reject the doctrine. The term, "Trinity," doesn't appear there either. The Rapture got its name from the Latin rapturo in the Latin translation of the Greek word, harpazō, translated "taken up" or "caught up" in 1 Thess 4:17.