The Rapture

A reader asks: 

"I would like to know more about the Rapture and it's begings. I saw a show about the book of Revelation. They went very quickly over a Minister in England about 1865 how was the first to teach the Rapture his name was something like Darvie but I am not sure. Can you help me to find  out more about this man and his teachings?"

You have asked the most asked question I am asked.  I am the self-proclaimed "Mojo Chaplain" on www.louisvillemojo.com and I get asked some variation of this question often.  So, please know you are not alone.  A great many people are asking the same question.

Long answer first:  read Barabara R. Rossing's book The Rapture Exposed:  The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.  Rossing teaches New Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.  She has a Ph.D. from Harvard and a Masters degree from Yale.  She is an ordained Lutheran minister.  And she covers this subject very well.

Short answer:  The theological notion of a "rapture" was invented 170 years ago.  In 1830, in Port Glasgow, Scotland, fifteen year old Margaret MacDonald had a vision concerning the return of Christ.  Her vision was adopted by  John Nelson Darby a British minister and founder of a denomination called the "Plymouth Brethern."  In 1909, an American, C. I. Scofield, pubished an annotated version of the "King James" translation of the Bible called the "Scofield Reference Bible."  Scofield's annotations were based on the theology of John Nelson Darby.  The "Scofield Reference Bible" popularized the teachings of Darby.  Fundamentalist Christians in the U. S. adopted Scofield's Bible as authoritative.  With the rise of fundamentalism in the U. S. in recent years, the popularity of the theological notion of the "rapture" has also gained popularity.

Hope that helps!  Charles.

Comments

[Jon Edwards]

I see that the acknowledged expert on the real beginnings of pretrib dispensationalism has a new internet article ("Pretrib Rapture Diehards") proving that John Darby, who has long been credited with it, wasn't first but actually plagiarized others! It seems that the same historian went to Britain and located primary sources that had been known and quoted throughout the 1800's but then later forgotten or swept under the rug. A really different read! Many thanks for your excellent Anglican blog! Jon

[Robbie Brown]

The reference to a rapture is much older that 170 years. Jerome used the word "raptura" - latin for rapture in the Vulgate translated in the 4th or 5th century.

[Jon Edwards]

You're right, Robbie, the word "rapture" can be found before 1830. But before 1830 it always referred to a POST-TRIB rapture which was PART of the final Second Coming of Matt. 24. What was new in 1830 was a PRE-TRIB rapture that was totally disconnected from the final Second Coming. Jon Edwards

[Mark]

Doesn't matter. The "Rapture" is not a new invented theology. It can be found in scripture. The word rapture doesn't appear in the Bible because it's not an English word nor is it Greek which is what the New Testament was written in originally. It is an urban legend that the rapture theology was invented by a girl named Margaret McDonald or first told by Darby. Rapturo is the Latin word describing the event known as the Rapture. Trinity isn't in the Bible either. It's a descriptive word. Just like the word Bible, car or North Dakota isn't mentioned in the Bible. But we know those all exist and are very real.

[Freedom Bound]

The Bible also doesn't mention that the moon is made of green cheese.....ah, cos it isn't!!

Just cos Rapture isn't in Scripture doesn't mean it's true....

The present doctrine is , of course and as has been said already here, rather newly invented.

[Michael]

The pre-tribulation rapture was taught by Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit), and embraced by the early Church.
Those who claim that it was invented less than 200 years ago embarass themnselves with their own ignorance. Please study 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2. These suffering Christians had been falsely told that the Truibulation had already begun. Paul wrote to them to remind them that the Tribulation will not, and cannot begin until The Bride of Christ is removed out of the way first, making way for the rise of the antichrist. This teaching was corrupted by evil religion which sought to set up a thousand year kingdom on earth without Jesus. After the Reformation, Christians began to rediscover this early Church teaching about our Blessed Hope. At the Rapture Jesus will return in the air FOR His Bride. Afer the Tribulation, He will return to the earth WITH His Bride. As Christians we must suffer tribulation, but we have no part in THE Tribulation. That is for another purpose..
In His Love