A Refutation of False Origin of the Rapture Theories

Dr. Thomas Ice, executive director of the Pre-Trib Research Center, concludes his history of the doctrine of the pre-tribulational rapture with this lecture.
In this final message, he explains four views of extra-John Nelson Darby influence for the development of this understanding of the rapture.
The views include the idea that Darby was influenced by Edward Irving or another Irvingite; that he took the idea from a Jesuit priest; that it came from an Irvingite woman's prophecy; and that it came from Margaret MacDonald.
Dr. Ice shows, among other things, that the Irvingites were historicists -- believing that they were already living in the tribulation and that Babylon was the apostate church. Dr. Ice details that Darby actually wrote against Irving.
Dr. Ice also explains that MacDonald was actually post-tribulational, not pre-tribulational, in her comments about the rapture.
In distinction to these views, Darby saw the epistles warning of apostasy before the rapture and began to develop and systematize his teachings.
Whitcomb Ministries is grateful to Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, Penn., for the kind permission allowing us to post these messages, which were originally given as part of the annual Barndollar Lectureship Series in September of 2010 (www.bbc.edu/seminary/barndollar.asp).

(See also www.bbc.edu/barndollar/Barndollar_Refutation_Rapture.pdf.)