Quote:
Originally Posted by HERn
This should probably be on another thread (maybe admin can advise). In considering what to "throw out" I have been doing a lot of reading and I'm finding some not so nice information about Darby. I also Just read this in Wikipedia re: the concept of the rapture and Darby.
---
As there was no Christian teaching of a "rapture" before Darby began preaching about it in the 1830s, he is sometimes credited with originating the "secret rapture" theory wherein Christ will suddenly remove his bride, the Church, from this world before the judgments of the tribulation.
---
If true, I did not know that the teaching of the rapture was begun by Darby. I always thought that the teaching of the rapture was right up there with "saved by grace". Did Darby just coin the word "rapture" or was he the one that started the concept that The Lord will return to take the believers to Himself away from the earth. The reason I ask is that from what I'm learning about Darby I'm ready to hold anything new that he taught as being suspect until "vetted" by more godly and spiritual teachers. Whom can I trust to be the "vetter"? "Vetter of the age" (VOTA) anyone?
|
I think the answer is not so simple. There has always been a belief in the Lord's return. But it was generally accepted as something that would be what it would be. Our task was to live this life according to obedience to our Lord and Savior. But Darby brought so much emphasis on the whole eschatological analysis, focusing strongly on the imagery of those taken.
There may be something to it. And there may not. It is more than evident that the book is a kind of coded message. Not necessarily to figure out in so much detail, but to understand the ideas implied by the imagery. So until Darby, they weren't suddenly tossing the "imagery" idea and saying it was straight up prophecy. I notice that there is a lot of reading of Revelation in that manner. Jumps in and out of metaphors to/from literal, and back again. Without warning. Exactly the way some particular preacher wants us to think and follow.
I believe that Revelation warns of continual turmoil. And it tells that the end will not be simple. But it masks so many details. I think the important part is not to have the best belief about the end times, but to have a solid belief in, and following of, Christ here and now. Do that any you can be a pan tribulationist — it will all pan out in the end. It will happen as it happens.
My belief about it will not change anything. My actions today might (or might not). Don't be caught sleeping. Don't be waiting on another day to get this life right. That is the only thing you have any control over.