reformedfan said:
For sure that view didn't become popular until the turn of the century, when it was invented. Before the 1880's there was no such school of thought on any pre- or post- trib rapture.
Hi there!
How untrue!
The strongest arguments for a premillenial rapture comes from interpretations of the Book of Revelation written by the Apostle John. The strongest evidence and support comes from Polycarp and Hierapolis who both studied with John.
A literal interpretation is the basis for the premillenial rapture. Tertullian argues in his work "Against Praxeas" (Chapter 13) that "words ought to be taken and understood in the sense in which they are writen, especially when they are not expressed in allegories and parables, but in determinate and simple declarations."
Ephraim (pseudo-Ephraim) writes a homily on "The End of the World" with the statement "Why therefore do we not reject every care of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of the Lord Christ, so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms the world?.... All the saints and elect of God are gathering together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which ovrwhelms the world because of our sins." (Jeffrey Grant, Apocalyps, Frontier Research Publications, 1992, p85-96)
The doctrines concerning the Rapture were squelched by the Gnostics and the rule of the Roman Catholic Church as being heretic. There were no Bibles available to the masses until the printing press made copies available to the public. Trinity College of Dublin Ireland was a frontrunner in the studies of premillenialism, and there was recurring of premillenial thought after the reformation.
Martin Luther writes, "I believe that all the signs which are to precede the last days have already appeared. Let us not think that the coming of Christ is far off; let us look up with heads lifted up; let us expect our Redeemer's coming with longing and cheerful mind." Just as the early church thought that the return of Christ was imminent, so did Luther. A belief that the return of Christ was imminent is reflective of a "Rapture" return prior to the tribulations as Martin Luther was aware that the tribulations were not over when he wrote stating to look for the return of our Redeemer. The early church questioned if the persecutions that they were enduring were of the tribulations, and Paul told them to look for the return of Christ at any time. Paul obviously believed in a "rapturing" of the church and imminent return of Christ for his Bride.
Paul identifies this in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, when Paul shows that the day of the Lord could not take place until there was a departure 1) from earth, or 2) of the saints. In Verse 7 of the same chapter the lawless system could not be in effect until the restrainer is taken away. The Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth with the rapture. The Holy Spirit is the only restrainer holding back the evil of this world (satan).
Premillenialism and Rapture doctrine was again developed through the 18th and 19th centuries. Reverend Morgan Edwards published a book, "Milleneum, Last Days Noveltus", in 1788 which described the tribulation. He claimed to have preached the rapture from 1742 and was probably influenced by John Gill's teachings.
In the 1830's, John Darby supported the rapture doctine and included futurism which supported a secret rapture. This is not the current doctrine as the Word of God tells us that every eye will see the Christ on his return (Rev 1:7). C. I. Scofield developed the dispensationist views on the Bible as well as developed and published the doctrines on Rapture. This brought the doctrine into mainstream Christianity.
This doctrine is what is carried into the 21 Centruy and with a slight modification of progressive dispensationalism introduced in 1988; it the doctrine taught in the fundamental schools of theology today.
I hope this helps in your understanding.
~serapha~
