The hard truth is that the claim that Darby got his ideas from Irving is 100% pure speculation. We know that Darby read Irving's translation of Lacunza's work. But we also know that he read essentially everything that was published on the subject. As we know this included the writings of William Lowth, it would also have been very unlikely that he had not also read at least some of the two dozen writers who taught a pre-trib rapture during the 1600s and 1700s, as listed by William Watson on page 178 of his book, "Dispensationalism Before Darby."
And we know that Lewis Way, who spoke at meetings Darby attended, published a fully developed Dispensationalism well before Irving published anything on the subject.
We also know that Irving quoted Way in the "Preliminary Discorse" to his translation of Lacunza's work. And that William Lowth, who was highly praised by Darby, taught some of dispensationalism's main precepts before Lacunza was even born.
So basically, every detail of your oft repeated claim about the origins of dispensationalism has been thoroughly disproved.
Dispensationalist Only - The Dispensationalism of Lewis Way
Dispensationalist Only - The Dispensational Futurism of Theodore Beza
While the men who wrote the articles you keep posting may have honestly thought that their statements were correct. Now that you have actually seen the HARD PROOF that they are not correct, is is simple dishonesty for you to keep posting them.
If this were simply a matter of a difference of opinion, I would not say such things. But you have already seen HARD PROOF of what I am saying.
You pretend that my "very selective interpretation" of the text of Irenaeus presents a warped picture of what he taught. But the truth is that I am, as far as I know and believe, the only person who has
ever presented a thorough examination of everything Irenaeus said, in his entire 12 chapters on the subject, about the people whom he said would be passing through this future time period he foresaw. A systematic review of every statement made about these people cannot even rationally be called a "very selective interpretation."
What I demonstrated was that Irenaeus taught that "the church" would be "suddenly caught up" after the Antichrist appeared and had "put the church to flight," but before he began a three and a half year "reign of terror," which period Irenaeus called "great tribulation." And he also taught that "the Jews" would be brought back to their homeland, and would be converted, but not till later. And the only way anyone can make it seem that Irenaeus taught anything other than this, is by using "very selective interpretation" of some of his statements, while ignoring others.
Dispensationalist Only - Ancient teaching of a rapture before the great tribulation.
“Those nations however, who did not of themselves raise up their eyes unto heaven, nor returned thanks to their Maker, nor wished to behold the light of truth, but who were like blind mice concealed in the depths of ignorance, the word justly reckons ‘as waste water from a sink, and as the turning-weight of a balance—in fact, as nothing;’ so far useful and serviceable to the just, as stubble conduces towards the growth of the wheat, and its straw, by means of combustion, serves for working gold. And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, ‘There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.’ For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption.” (“Against Heresies,” by Irenaeus, Book V, chapter 29, paragraph 1.)
Here we find a clear teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture."
Your claim of a "clear teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture", is not found in the words of Irenaeus.
You are turning the word "tribulation" into a "tribulation period" in order to make your doctrine work.
Joh_16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Act_14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and
that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Rom_5:3 And not only so, but
we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom_8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom_12:12 Rejoicing in hope
; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
2Co_1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2Co_7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort,
I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
1Th_3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that
we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Rev_1:9
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
As for the book "Dispensationalism Before Darby", I ordered a copy of the book after you recommended it, and it contains the same type of supposition that you have used above.
I also believe that the unbelievers will be destroyed after the Church is caught up.
The very same idea is found in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, when Christ returns "in flaming fire" taking vengeance on those who do not know God.
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