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Refuting the Darby/ MacDonald Fallacy
All too often, we hear the claims of those who oppose the Pre-Tribulation Rapture as "false", "heresy", "Satanic" and so forth. Many who attack it are well-meaning brethren who have gotten into some bad theology and want to "save others from a heartbreaking lie" as it were; others are those seeking to foist their own agenda and destroy the faith of other. One of the more insidious attacks is the claim that "John Darby was the progenitor of the Pre-Trib Rapture, and he got that idea from a young Scottish girl named Margaret MacDonald"The entire problem here is that John Darby and Margaret MacDonald were not the "creators of the pre-Trib Rapture". That's a charge that was created against Pre-Trib by specific opponents who are desperate to prove themselves "right". For the inventors of this fallacy, the truth doesn't matter as much as "winning" against anyone who disagrees with them: the more threatened they feel, the more vehemently they will fight and the viler the attacks they create will be. And this does tremendous harm to the cause of the Gospel, as it fractures the Church and turns brethren against one another.
With that said: it's time to disassemble this lie once and for all.
There are three main points I'd like to make:
1) The earliest mention of the Pre-Trib Rapture (outside of Scripture) was not John Darby or Margaret MacDonald: Opponents of the Pre-Trib Rapture often point to two people (Margaret MacDonald and John Darby) and try to claim they "created the idea of the Pre-Trib Rapture". While a proper reading and interpretation of Scripture is the true source of the Pre-Trib Rapture, they insist that these two individuals are its' "inventors" . Unfortunately for their argument, nothing could be further from the truth: an ancient epistle called Pseudo-Ephraem , written between 300 and 700 AD., carrieds the first extra-biblical mention of the Pre-Trib Rapture("Pseudo" meaning "false", as in, written in his name but not by him specifically). It was discovered by Canadian prophecy scholar Grant Jeffery in 1997. This document was written as a sermon, not "Scripture"; that said, in Section 2 of the sermon, the author writes;
"See to it that this sentence be not fulfilled among you of the prophet who declares 'Woe to those who desire to see the day of the Lord!' For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins." -Pseudo-Ephraem.
Regardless of who wrote the sermon, it becomes clear that this predates Darby and MacDonald by centuries, and puts the Pre-Trib Rapture much closer to the New Testament time period than its' opponents would like people to believe.
This leads us into our second point:
2) Margaret MacDonald was not "Pre-Trib", and John Darby did not "get his ideas from her": It wouldn't be until some time after the Reformation (unfortunately, theologians retained the allegorical method for quite a while), that the literal method of interpretation would return to the world at large, and it would take two more centuries before it would be applied to eschatology (Bible Prophecy).
In the 18th and 19th centuries, there grew an increasing interest in prophecy, and Premillenialism showed up on the stage again rather quickly after literal interpretation was employed. Bible conferences and camps became popular in the 19th century greater U.K. and amongst those teaching was John Darby. It was while writing a systemic study of the New Testament on the doctrine of the Church, that Darby came to a discovery: God's purposes for Israel and the Church were so completely different, that they could not be conducted at the same time. In order to deal again with Israel as a disinct people, Israel would have to be reborn, and the Lord would have to remove the Church. In studying Scripture even further using the literal method, Darby also found distinguishing differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming. As he studied and read, Darby became increasingly convinced that the Church would not be here for the Tribulation, and in that light, rediscovered what had been lost: the Pre-Tribulation Rapture.
However, many out there now teach that "John Darby got his ideas from Margaret MacDonald". But there's a slight problem with that: her own words contradict the Pre-trib Rapture (Emphasis mine on pertinent points):
“It was first the awful state of the land that was pressed upon me. I saw the blindness and infatuation of the people to be very great. I felt the cry of Liberty just to be the hiss of the serpent, to drown them in perdition. It was just 'no God.'
I repeated the words, Now there is distress of nations, with perplexity, the seas and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear. Now look out for the sign of the Son of Man. Here I was made to stop and cry out, O it is not known what the sign of the Son of Man is; the people of God think they are waiting, but they know not what it is.
I felt this needed to be revealed, and that there was great darkness and error about it; but suddenly what it was burst upon me with a glorious light. I saw it was just the Lord himself descending from Heaven with a shout, just the glorified man, even Jesus; but that all must, as Stephen was, be filled with the Holy Ghost, that they might look up, and see the brightness of the Father's glory.
I saw the error to be, that men think that it will be something seen by the natural eye; but 'tis spiritual discernment that is needed, the eye of God in his people.
Many passages were revealed, in a light in which I had not before seen them. I repeated, 'Now is the kingdom of Heaven like unto ten virgins, who went forth to meet the Bridegroom, five wise and five foolish; they that were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them; but they that were wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.'
'But be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is; and be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit.' This was the oil the wise virgins took in their vessels - this is the light to be kept burning - the light of God - that we may discern that which cometh not with observation to the natural eye.
Only those who have the light of God within them will see the sign of his appearance. No need to follow them who say, see here, or see there, for his day shall be as the lightning to those in whom the living Christ is. 'Tis Christ in us that will lift us up - he is the light - 'tis only those that are alive in him that will be caught up to meet him in the air.
I saw that we must be in the Spirit, that we might see spiritual things. John was in the Spirit, when he saw a throne set in Heaven. But I saw that the glory of the ministration of the Spirit had not been known. I repeated frequently, but the spiritual temple must and shall be reared, and the fullness of Christ be poured into his body, and then [note: no imminency teaching here!] shall we be caught up to meet him. Oh none will be counted worthy of this calling but his body, which is the church, and which must be a candlestick all of gold. I often said, Oh the glorious inbreaking of God which is now about to burst on this earth; Oh the glorious temple which is now about to be reared, the bride adorned for her husband; and Oh what a holy, holy bride she must he, to be prepared for such a glorious bridegroom.
I said, Now shall the people of God have to do with realities - now shall the glorious mystery of God in our nature be known - now shall it be known what it is for man to be glorified. I felt that the revelation of Jesus Christ had yet to be opened up - it is not knowledge about God that it contains, but it is an entering into God - I saw that there was a glorious breaking in of God to be.
I felt as Elijah, surrounded with chariots of fire. I saw as it were, the spiritual temple reared, and the Head Stone brought forth with shoutings of grace, grace, unto it. It was a glorious light above the brightness of the sun that shone round about me. I felt that those who were filled with the Spirit could see spiritual things, and feel walking in the midst of them, while those who had not the Spirit could see nothing - so that two shall be in one bed, the one taken and the other left, because the one has the light of God within while the other cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven.
I saw the people of God in an awfully dangerous situation, surrounded by nets and entanglements, about to be tried, and many about to be deceived and fall. Now will THE WICKED be revealed, with all power and signs and lying wonders, so that if it were possible the very elect will be deceived. - [This is the fiery trial which is to try us. - It will be for the purging and purifying of the real members of the body of Jesus]; but Oh it will be a fiery trial. Every soul will he shaken to the very centre. The enemy will try to shake in every thing we have believed - but the trial of real faith will be found to honour and praise and glory. Nothing but what is of God will stand. The stony-ground hearers will be made manifest - the love of many will wax cold.
I frequently said that night, and often since, now shall the awful sight of a false Christ be seen on this earth, and nothing but the living Christ in us can detect this awful attempt of the enemy to deceive - for it is with all deceivableness of unrighteousness he will work - he will have a counterpart for every part of God's truth, and an imitation for every work of the Spirit.
The Spirit must and will be poured out on the church, that she may be purified and filled with God - and just in proportion as the Spirit of God works, so will he - when our Lord anoints men with power, so will he. This is particularly the nature of the trial, through which those are to pass who will be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man. There will he outward trial too, but 'tis principally temptation. It is brought on by the outpouring of the Spirit, and will just increase in proportion as the Spirit is poured out.
[The trial of the Church is from Antichrist. It is by being filled with the Spirit that we shall be kept].
I frequently said, Oh be filled with the Spirit - have the light of God in you, that you may detect Satan - be full of eyes within -be clay in the hands of the potter -submit to be filled, filled with God. This will build the temple. It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord. This will fit us to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb.
I saw it to be the will of God that all should be filled. But what hindered the real life of God from being received by his people, was their turning from Jesus, who is the way to the Father. They were not entering in by the door. For he is faithful who hath said, by me if any man enters in he shall find pasture. They were bypassing the cross, through which every drop of the Spirit of God flows to us. All power that comes not through the blood of Christ is not of God.
When I say, they are looking from the cross, I feel that there is much in it - they turn from the blood of the Lamb, by which we overcome, and in which our robes are washed and made white. There are low views of God's holiness, and a ceasing to condemn sin in the flesh, and a looking from him who humbled himself, and made himself of no reputation. Oh! it is needed, much needed at present, a leading back to the cross. I saw that night, and often since, that there will be an outpouring of the Spirit on the body, such as has not been, a baptism of fire, that all the dross may be put away. Oh there must and will be such an indwelling of the living God as has not been - the servants of God sealed in their foreheads - great conformity to Jesus - his holy holy image seen in his people - just the bride made comely by his comeliness put upon her.
This is what we are at present made to pray much for, that speedily we may all be made ready to meet our Lord in the air - and it will be. Jesus wants his bride. His desire is toward us. He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.
Amen and Amen Even so come Lord Jesus.''
(Source: Memoirs of James and George MacDonald, of Port-Glasgow, 1840 )
What we see from reading her "vision":
1) Margaret taught a "partial rapture"
2) She taught that even the "spiritual ones" (Christians") would be on Earth for the Tribulation.
3) She equates the "Sign of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:30) with the Rapture Statement of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 ('The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout").
4) Darby was against the "charismatic gifts" (he viewed such things as "demonic"); as such, he would not have used Margaret MacDonald's "vision"; in fact, Darby had written his views on the Pre-Trib Rapture on January 1827 , three full years before Margaret MacDonald's "prophetic utterances".
The chief proponent of the "Margaret MacDonald/ John Darby theory is Dave MacPherson, author of the book The Incredible Cover-up. He, like others alongside him, have attacked the Pre-Tribulation Rapture vehemently, but have ignored important points such as the ones brought up in this article. Needless to say, MacPherson's "scholarship" is at best, lacking.
That brings us to our 3rd point:
3) Darby rediscovered the Pre-Trib Rapture by reading Scripture literally instead of "allegorically":
Most false doctrine can be traced to a failure to heed 2 basic rules of Bible Interpretation:
1) Begin with the clear statements of Scripture that specifically apply to it, and use those to interpret parables, allegories and obscure passages.
2) Consistently interpret by the literal, grammatical method:
A) Each word is interpreted in light of its normal usage that was accepted when it was written
B) Each sentence is interpreted according to the rules of grammar and syntax normally used when the document was written
C) Each passage is interpreted in light of historical and cultural context.
However, the Alexandrian School abandoned this solid basis; J. Dwight Pentecost (quoting F.W. Farrar) pointed out:
"It was the rise of ecclesiasticism and the recognition of the authority of the church in all doctrinal matters that gave great impetus to the adoption of the allegorical method. Augustine, according to Farrar, was one of the first to make Scripture conform to the interpretation of the church". (F.W. Farrar, quoted by J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, Finley, O.H.: Dunham Publishing Co., 1958)
Church history from that point then showed that the "Alexandrian Method" was not in a desire to better understand Scripture, but to integrate Greek philosophy with Scripture:
"Origen was the first to lay down, in connection with the allegorical method of the Jewish Platonist, Philo, a formal theory of interpretation, which he carried out in a long series of exegetical works remarkable for industry and ingenuity, but meager in solid results. he considered the Bible a living organism, consisting of 3 elements that answer to the body, soul and spirit of man, after the Platonic psychology. Accordingly, he attributes to the Scriptures a threefold sense: ( 1 ) a somatic [body], literal, or historic sense, furnihed immediately by the meaning of the words, but only serving as a veil for a higher idea: ( 2 ) a psyche [soul] or moral sense, animating the first and servingfor general edification; ( 3 ) a pneumatic [spirit] or mystic and ideal sense, for those who stand on the high ground of philosophical knowledge. In the application of this theory, he shows the same tendency as Plato, to spiritualize away the letter of Scripture... and instead of simply bringing out the sense of the Bible, he puts into it all sorts of foreign ideas and irrlevant fancies" (Staff, Philip, Anti-Nicene Christianity: Ad 100-325, Vol. 2 of A History of the Christian Church, Cedar Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1958)
Not only did Origen make "church authority" equal to Scripture, but attempted to superceded it. And this introduced the allegorical method that many use even to this day to interpret Scripture. The problem is: it makes Scripture say what the Lord never intended, including denying the Pre-trib Rapture. And Darby would never have used such a "method" to interpret Scripture; instead, he simply took the Word as it was and believed it.
As we all should.
Hopefully, all of this gives folks some tools with which to bolster their own case for the Pre-Trib Rapture, and to disprove the claims by those who simply seek to tear down.
I bid you all peace.
YBIC,
-Sojo414
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