Rapture and Tribulation

Session 1

Where does the Rapture come from? Who created it?

J.N. Darby and Margaret MacDonald are the prime reason that “rapture” is such an important topic of today. Though it is often debated whether these two official created the theology and ideology of the “rapture” solely. It can be said that these two relayed the prominent aspects to the modern-day rapture theory. Many people who believe in the rapture tend to coincide with the ideology of pre-tribulation period as well. J.N. Darby is commonly known as the creator of modern-day dispensationalism—this is more based on literal translation of Biblical texts than some fundamental figurative perspectives. J.N. Darby having been set on these ideas of literal translation of Biblical texts was then to come across a young girl named Margaret MacDonald. Margaret MacDonald was the visionary and inspiration for this pre-tribulation rapture ideology. Again, it is vastly debated whether these two started the theology of pre-tribulation rapture, but they both played a major role in laying its foundations.

Tribulation in nearly every context by Greek definition means to be afflicted or oppressed. Tribulation in the Greek means thlipsis or thlibo—which literally means to be pressed ; as in afflicted.

Hebrews10:1 “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.” — This shows that Old Testament is just a shadow of what has happening in the New.

Col. 2:14 “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” — The Jewish law was against us because we could never uphold or keep the law, these requirements that were against us were nailed on the cross with Christ, blotting it out. i.e. the rituals that were practiced by every Jew in the ancient era. This would entail sacrafices, pentacost, going into the holy of holies, etc. The Jews could not uphold every law because there were well over 600 of them.

Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” — Christ says that we will be handed over into tribulation and that they will kill and hate us for His sake.