The Secret Pre-Trib Rapture – Why So Popular?

Secret Rapture

(Watch the video of this post)

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.
John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby

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.

C.I. Scofield was one of the early promoters in the Americas of the Dispensational view and Secret pre-tribulation Rapture. 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.
The Blessed Hope
The Blessed Hope
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

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