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The Incredible Cover Up: Exposing the Origins of Rapture Theories
Excellent Book
- GenresTheologyChristianity
172 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 24, 2022
Wish I had thought up the idea of the Secret Rapture. Not because I believe it mind, but one cannot help but admire the tenacity with which Mr. Darby's speculative eschatological teaching is still considered plausible by many Christians. I can worship with a Tribulationalist (if I must) but only after checking all my early church history at the door. This 19th century theory from Glasgow is not something that should split the Christian church as it definitely still does in many parts of North America. LORD, have mercy and please, oh please . . . Come Quickly.
September 29, 2017
The author attempts to counter popular Christian beliefs in the taking up of believers in Jesus Christ prior to a seven years-long period of world trouble (the "tribulation") by sensationalizing the 19th century origins of the rapture theory. Entertaining, written for a popular audience (as opposed to a scholarly work).
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July 8, 2015Very good boook, that exposes the origins of dispensationalism and the socalled pretribulational secret Rapture theory
September 8, 2024
JOURNALIST FINDS A SURPRISING "ORIGIN" OF THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE TEACHING
Dave MacPherson is a journalist, as well as the author of books such as 'The Rapture Plot' and 'The Great Rapture Hoax.' This 1975 publication incorporates his two earlier books, 'The Unbelievable Pre-Trib Origin' (1973) and 'The Late Great Pre-Trib Rapture' (1974).
He wrote in the Preface to the first book, "My purpose in writing this book is to examine the incredible ORIGIN and EFFECTS of pre-trib rapture teaching... nothing ... has ever intrigued me as much as my search into the origin of pre-trib (or two-stage) rapture teaching. The search really got underway with the discovery in the fall of 1971 of a rare book... which changed my life and drew exciting reactions from many outstanding Bible scholars around the world." (Pg. xi-xii)
He asks, "Is it possible that some little-known person was teaching two-stage or pre-trib doctrine before [Edward] Irving and [John Nelson] Darby taught it? And if so, did any such person ever claim to have originated it? Were such beliefs ever committed to writing and put into circulation before Irving and Darby took up similar views? Did both Irving and Darby know any such individual before they began teaching a pre-trib rapture? Believe it or not, the answer to all of these questions is YES!" (Pg. 32-33)
He summarizes, "a young Scottish lassie named Margaret Macdonald had a private revelation in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in the early part of 1830 that a select group of Christians would be caught up to meet Christ in the air BEFORE the days of Antichrist. An eye-and-ear witness... preserved her handwritten account of her pre-trib rapture revelation in two of his books, and said it was the FIRST time anyone ever split the second coming into two distinct parts, or stages." (Pg. 93)
He says, "the word 'Lord' is found five times in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which supposedly describes the 'day of Christ.' And 'Christ' is mentioned only ONCE. Is the 'day of Christ' supposed to be distinguished from the 'day of the Lord'? Do these terms denote, as pre-tribs insist they do, TWO DIFFERENT STAGES of the second coming? If so, then there must be at least twenty-one different stages because at least twenty-one different terms are found in the Bible that refer to the second advent." (Pg. 107)
He observes, "Sometimes a post-trib teacher, when asked to name anyone between the first century and 1830 who ever held to a pre-trib rapture, will answer something like this: 'Well, you know, there were always those who believed the Lord could come at any moment.' True, but ALL Christians before 1830 who held to an imminent coming really held to an imminent POST-TRIB coming; they were convinced, during times of persecution, that they were probably IN the tribulation and that some earthy ruler was the anticipated Antichrist. No one before 1830 ever believed in an imminent PRE-TRIB coming. Nor did they differentiate the return of Christ and the rapture of the church." (Pg. 110)
MacPherson's "journalistic" style (particularly in the first book) may be "off-putting" to some; but his research should be viewed as almost "required reading" for anyone seriously studying biblical prophecy.
Dave MacPherson is a journalist, as well as the author of books such as 'The Rapture Plot' and 'The Great Rapture Hoax.' This 1975 publication incorporates his two earlier books, 'The Unbelievable Pre-Trib Origin' (1973) and 'The Late Great Pre-Trib Rapture' (1974).
He wrote in the Preface to the first book, "My purpose in writing this book is to examine the incredible ORIGIN and EFFECTS of pre-trib rapture teaching... nothing ... has ever intrigued me as much as my search into the origin of pre-trib (or two-stage) rapture teaching. The search really got underway with the discovery in the fall of 1971 of a rare book... which changed my life and drew exciting reactions from many outstanding Bible scholars around the world." (Pg. xi-xii)
He asks, "Is it possible that some little-known person was teaching two-stage or pre-trib doctrine before [Edward] Irving and [John Nelson] Darby taught it? And if so, did any such person ever claim to have originated it? Were such beliefs ever committed to writing and put into circulation before Irving and Darby took up similar views? Did both Irving and Darby know any such individual before they began teaching a pre-trib rapture? Believe it or not, the answer to all of these questions is YES!" (Pg. 32-33)
He summarizes, "a young Scottish lassie named Margaret Macdonald had a private revelation in Port Glasgow, Scotland, in the early part of 1830 that a select group of Christians would be caught up to meet Christ in the air BEFORE the days of Antichrist. An eye-and-ear witness... preserved her handwritten account of her pre-trib rapture revelation in two of his books, and said it was the FIRST time anyone ever split the second coming into two distinct parts, or stages." (Pg. 93)
He says, "the word 'Lord' is found five times in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which supposedly describes the 'day of Christ.' And 'Christ' is mentioned only ONCE. Is the 'day of Christ' supposed to be distinguished from the 'day of the Lord'? Do these terms denote, as pre-tribs insist they do, TWO DIFFERENT STAGES of the second coming? If so, then there must be at least twenty-one different stages because at least twenty-one different terms are found in the Bible that refer to the second advent." (Pg. 107)
He observes, "Sometimes a post-trib teacher, when asked to name anyone between the first century and 1830 who ever held to a pre-trib rapture, will answer something like this: 'Well, you know, there were always those who believed the Lord could come at any moment.' True, but ALL Christians before 1830 who held to an imminent coming really held to an imminent POST-TRIB coming; they were convinced, during times of persecution, that they were probably IN the tribulation and that some earthy ruler was the anticipated Antichrist. No one before 1830 ever believed in an imminent PRE-TRIB coming. Nor did they differentiate the return of Christ and the rapture of the church." (Pg. 110)
MacPherson's "journalistic" style (particularly in the first book) may be "off-putting" to some; but his research should be viewed as almost "required reading" for anyone seriously studying biblical prophecy.
September 24, 2024
Well document account of the origination of the "pre tribulation" rapture as opposed to the post trib. concept. Will there be a 2 part second coming of Jesus?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews