The concept of a pre-tribulation, pre-millennial removal of believers from Earth before a period of tribulation and the second coming of Christ is a relatively recent theological development. It is important to understand that the specific idea of a sudden, secret “rapture” as commonly understood today is not explicitly described in the Bible using that particular terminology or sequence of events. Scriptural passages used to support this concept, such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Matthew 24:40-41, are subject to varied interpretations.
The significance of understanding the origins of this doctrine lies in accurately interpreting scripture and tracing the development of theological thought. The doctrine gained prominence in the 19th century, largely through the influence of John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren. Darby systematized dispensationalism, a system of theology that divides history into distinct periods, or dispensations, and emphasizes a literal interpretation of biblical prophecy. His teachings regarding a future, seven-year tribulation period, and a pre-tribulational removal of the church, were instrumental in popularizing the concept.
