In the next couple of lessons, we will look at alternatives to the pre-millennial rapture. The first alternative view is the notion that there is no such thing as the rapture. After all, you won’t find that word in your Bible.
The “Secret” Origin of the Rapture Doctrine
Here’s how the story goes in case you haven’t heard it. In 1830 a young Scottish girl named Margaret MacDonald had visions of Jesus taking the saved out of the world before God’s judgment. John Darby heard of these visions and invented the doctrine of the pre-millenial, pre-tribulational rapture.
These teachings were spread around the world through the study Bible of C. I. Scofield (who like Darby was a Plymouth Bretheren), and gained a greater foothold with Fundamentalists through the illustrations and writings of Clarence Larkin; both men laboring in the early 20th Century.
On the Charismatic side, Finis J. Dake, promoted the same doctrines in his study Bible which has been widely used in those circles for 50 years.
Not Much of a “Secret”
There is some truth to the above story, but there is also a lot of fiction in it. Firstly, we have no idea if John Darby ever heard of Margaret MacDonald. Secondly, Darby said that he became convinced of the pre-millenial rapture in 1827, three years before the Scottish girl’s visions.
On top of that, no writer gives her any credit for teaching them about the rapture. Darby said that he came to the realization about this doctrine when he noticed the clear difference between Israel and the church in scripture. Further pre-dating 1830, there is evidence that some of the ancient “church fathers” did believe in the pre-millenial rapture. The reason we don’t have more information about these ancient teachers is that their writings (if they had any) have vanished (Remember the Roman Catholic Church controlled most writings before the printing press.). In those days, also, there were no tape recorders.
The truth in the story is in regards to the Scofield Study Bible, Larkin’s Dispensational Truth, and to a lesser degree the Dake Annotated Reference Bible. These works have taught dispensational truth to Bible believing, fundamental Baptists and Charismatics for the last 90 years.
The $10,000 Challenge
A man named H. Speed Wilson has issued a $10,000 challenge to anyone who can give scripture to clearly support the idea of the rapture. Now before you try to cash in, remember he not only is the challenger, but he’s apparently the judge and the banker too. Somehow I don’t think anyone can give enough compelling evidence to pursuade him to part with his money.
Proof Texts for No Rapture
Here are some of the verses he says refute the idea of the rapture:
- John 17:15 and 20–Jesus prayed that God not take the believers out of the world.
- Matthew 13:29-40–God is going to take out the tares (unbelievers) not the wheat.
- Matthew 13:41–Those that offend (evil) will be gathered out.
- Matthew 13:47-48–The wicked are the ones cast away at the end of the age.
- Matthew 13:49–The wicked are taken from among the just.
- Matthew 24:37-41–One is taken (wicked) the other (righteous) is left.
- II Peter 2:5–Noah was not taken out of the world, but was kept safe through the judgment of the wicked.
- Psalm 37:34-40–The wicked are to be cut off, and the righteous will be kept safe to inherit the land.
So the overall idea is this; the saved are not going to be raptured out of this world, but they will instead be kept safe through hard times. The wicked are the ones who will somehow be cut off and taken away for judgment.
Conclusion
What we will find is these references have application to the saved and unsaved of the Tribulation period. Some have special significance to restored, repentant Israel.
If we wrongly divide the word of truth, we cannot properly interpret scripture.
