The question at hand was not whether or not the doctrine of a rapture before the great tribulation had accepted before the time of Darby, but whether or not it had been taught. But if what you require is something from someone a widely respected teacher, you could hardly find a man more respected than Morgan Edwards, the Baptist theologian who founded the now famous Brown University.
About the year 1743, that is, when Manuel Lacunza, who is sometimes alleged to be the ultimate source of these ideas, was only 12 years old, Morgan Edwards wrote very clearly and repeatedly on a rapture long before the Lord comes to set up the millennium. Some have disparaged this as merely the suppositions of a theological student, but he published it in 1788 (with updates, for on page 14 he referred to 1787 as “the last year.”) So he still believed this as an older and famous Christian leader. For this was 24 years after he had founded Brown University.
Edwards wrote:
"The distance between the first and second resurrection will be somewhat more than a thousand years.
“I say, somewhat more—, because the dead saints will be raised, and the living changed at Christ's 'appearing in the air' (I Thes. iv. 17); and this will be about three years and a half before the millennium, as we shall see hereafter: but will he and they abide in the air all that time? No: they will ascend to paradise, or to some one of those many 'mansions in the father's house' (John xiv. 2), and so disappear during the foresaid period of time. The design of this retreat and disappearing will be to judge the risen and changed saints; for 'now the time is come that judgment must begin,' and that will be 'at the house of God' (I Pet. iv. 17)..." (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pg. 7, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
“Preclusive to the millennium, and preparatory for it, are the following events.
“1.The present usurpers of the country given to Abraham and his seed will be dispossessed,
viz. The Turkish or Ottoman Empire will be demolished; for otherwise the right owners cannot
posses their inheritance. The said demolition' of the Turk (or beast that started out of the earth) is
exhibited at the opening of the first seal, when .a horseman with his bow issues forth conquering
an to conquer, (Rev. vi. 2): his exploits are specified at the sounding of the first trumpet (ch.
Viii.7), and at the pouring of the first vial (ch. XVi, 2). The fifteenth chapter of Esdras is a
prophecy of these events wherein Asia is particularly. Mentioned, (ver. 46.)
“2. The twelve tribes (is observed before) will return to their ancient inheritance, else how
can the twelve apostles be their judges? Men have thought that the ten tribes are lost, viz. have
dwindled away, so as to cease to be a people, like many other nations; but Christ faith that the
Jewish nation shall not pass away till he come in his glory. (Matt. xiv. 34.) The other two tribes
are in being yet, and are seen in most parts of the world a distinct people. But all Israel must be
saved, according to Paul (Rum. i, 25. 26); therefore the ten tribes are in-being, and a distinct
people:” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pp. 13-14, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
“5. Another event previous to the Millennium will be the appearing of the son of man in
the clouds, coming to raise the dead saints and change the living, and to catch them up to
himself, and then withdrawing with them, and observed before, This event will come to pass
when Antichrist be arrived at Jerusalem in his conquest of the world; and about three years and a
half before his killing the witnesses, and assumption of godhead. The signs of Christ’s appearing
in the clouds, will be extraordinary ‘wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines,’ &c.
(Matth. Xxiv. 6, -8.)” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pg. 21, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
“6. Another event previous to the Millennium will be, the destroying of that Antichrist or
false god. And this will come to pass about a month before said millennium: I say about a month
before; for there is another number in Daniel which supposes as much, ‘From the time that the
daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination which maketh desolation is felt up is 1260
days.’ (Chap. Xii. 11.): but he will maintain his godhead only for time, times, and half a time
(chap. Xii. 7.); that is, for a year, two yours and half a year or 1260 days, as observed before: the
difference between these numbers is 30 days, or one month: time little enough to demolish his
god ship, bury his army and cleanse the temple, &c. The manner of his destruction is thus
described by Daniel, (chap. Vii. 25) “He shall be broken without “hand:” and well did he
foresee; ‘for he will be consumed with the spirit of Christ’s mouth, and not with hands (2 Thess.
Ii. *.).” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pg. 23, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
“8.The last event, and the event that will usher in the millennium, will be, the coming of Christ from paradise to earth, with all the saints he had taken up thither (about three years and a half before to justify, against the accuser of the brethren; and to fettler their future business and rewards, ‘the time is come that “thou should give rewards to thy servant the Prophets, and the saints, &c. (Rev. xi. 18) as it is written, ‘be thou ruler over all I have thou authority over ten cities thou over five be thou ruler over all my goods thou over all my household be thou judge of such a tribe of Israel thou king of such a kingdom thou priest of such a parish, &c. &c. (Luke xii, 42. Xix, 7. 8. Matt. Xxiv, 47,48)” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pp. 24-25, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
“Coincident with the Millennium will be the following events.
“1.Reducing to the obedience of Christ all the kingdoms and states that will be refuse
submission to him, or to the viceroys that he shall appoint over them. Resistance will be made,
not with standing the wonders in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, which happened
but three years and a half before; and not with standing the recent and awful destruction of
antichrist, and the descent of Christ and his saints, from heaven to earth, which will be fresh in
all memories.” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pg. 26, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
“3. Another affair that will be set up in the beginning of the millennium, and will continue with it
is, an annual feast to be celebrated in an about Jerusalem. Of this feast Zechariah speaks largely
under the name of the feast of tabernacles: but that he means not the Jewish feast of tabernacles
is evident; for that was to be observed only by Israelites born. (Lev. Xxxiii. 42 ) this is
commemoration of tabernacles used in the wilderness; this, to worship the king: the penalty of
neglecting that is not mentioned; the penalty of neglecting this is very extraordinary, “countries
used to rain shall have none, if they come not up to the feast year by year, and countries that have
no rain shall have the plague (ch.xiv.17, 18). Besides; the prophet throughout the chapter is
speaking of things that have not yet had existence. Nothing plainer therefore than that he does
not mean any Mosaic feast, but a millennium feast; he calls this last a feast of tabernacles for an
obvious reason. Viz. Because it must be celebrated in tabernacles, or tents, or booths; for it will
be impossible to find houses for all that will then resort to Jerusalem to feast; and worship the
king. This annual resort accounts for the long and particular descriptions which the prophets give
of the fine and safe roads to Zion, thro’ deserts, and across rivers and mountains. (Isaiah xi.
Xxxv. Zech. Viii. Rev. xiv.)” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pg. 29, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
And one final interesting note further down in the book shows that there had been much written abut prophecy in the years before the time he wrote:
“I wonder that so many great men have taken upon them to fix the time when the millennium
and its preceding events are to take place, by an arbitrary use of Daniel and john numbers: I say
arbitrary; denominate years, and then rummage the histories of Rome pagan and Rome papal for
points to begin at; and yet their gross mistakes, discovered by time, give no warning! I have
taken the arithmetic of those two divine chronometers under the denominations which they
themselves give their figures (but with what success time will show); and am content with the
old, and hitherto, unconsumed hypothesis, viz. ‘that this world is to last seven thousand years,
and that at the end of the sixth thousand the millennium will begin.’ This hypothesis is grounded
partly, on a prophecy of Elias, which the Jews have among them; where they got it we cannot
tell, any more than we can tell where Jude found the prophecy of Enoch: and partly on Moses
septenaries, such as the seventh day, and the seventh year, &c. which day was a day of rest to
man and beast, and which year was a year of rest to the land; and if one day be a thousand years
with the Lord, (2 Pet. Iii, 8), it follows, that the six days of the week are six thousand years, and
that the seventh is a thousand years of rest: Paul confirms this signification of the seventh day by
making it typical of the sabbatism which remains for the people of God. (Heb.iv. 4-9).” (“Two Academical Exercises on Subjects Bearing the following Titles; Millennium, Last-Novelties,” by Morgan Edwards, pg. 33, Philadelphia: self-published, 1788 - spelling modernized.)
The entirety of this book is available from Amazon.com and can be read online at many sites, including
http://www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/Edwards-TwoAcademicalExercis.pdf