While researching the teachings on our "meeting the Lord in the air",
or
as it is commonly called,
"The Rapture" of the Church.
The question arose as to why a "Secret Rapture"
Before the Tribulation Period
is so popular
and commonly taught in churches today,
since it's not what is actually described in scripture.
* See some of my other posts
on this topic for more details
of why the "rapture" comes at the end of the tribulation period
and not before.
I found several writers discussing the origin of the teaching.
And while some would claim
it has always been taught,
most would agree
that it became popular in the early 19th century.
Most mention John Nelson Darby,
usually listed as just Darby or J.N. Darby,
as one of the early promoters of the doctrine.
As early as 1827,
he began formulating a dispensation view of God's dealings with man.
Dividing the Church "age" from the nation of Israel.
Other details
and why I do not accept the Dispensational teachings
will have to wait for another post.
Today
I am just sharing a very short / abbreviated history
of the Secret Rapture teaching
that has been commonly taught
( and retaught )
for the last 150 years.
Namely;
That Darby taught this in the Brethren Church,
and at many other Bible Prophecy conferences in England,
and later made at least 6 speaking trips to the United States.
Between 1859 and 1874.
He was well received by those who saw the prophecy in Revelation
as "future" events, yet to occur.
As many others at the time
had been teaching them as "historical"
and all having occurred in the past.
The "futurist" view is more accurate than the "historical" view,
but
the Rapture still occurs at the end,
upon the return of Christ
to rule and reign,
and
not before the tribulation period begins.
One of the early promoters in the Americas
of the Dispensational view
and Secret pre-tribulation Rapture
was C.I. Scofield.
His popular study bible included this teaching.
Lewis Sperry Chafer included the teachings in his Bible study guides,
and was a founder ( with his brother Rollin ) of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924,
where many others were taught this doctrine.
After Chafer's passing in 1952, John F. Walvoord became president of the school,
and a more modern promoter of the Secret Rapture theory.
Writing several books on the subject.
This is just a quick highlight of a few KEY promoters of the teaching.
If you do an in depth study,
you'll find many writers and preachers that have promoted it over the years.
And if you look a little more closely,
you'll also find many who have written and taught against it.
One of the best books on the subject as a whole would be,
THE BLESSED HOPE,
A BIBLICAL STUDY OF THE SECOND ADVENT AND THE RAPTURE.
By George Eldon Ladd.
He writes in a clear manner
and discusses all the KEY scripture passages,
while quoting and refuting those with an opposing viewpoint.
All in a most gracious manner.
I'll close with one of the Key Bible passages on the subject of the Rapture,
I Corinthians 15:51-53
Behold, I tell you a mystery;
we will not all sleep,
but we will all be changed,
in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trumpet;
for the trumpet will sound,
and the dead will be raised imperishable,
and we will be changed.
For this perishable must put on the imperishable,
and this mortal must put on immortality
AMEN!
Saved by Grace,
Andrew Cross
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
