This is Part Two of my series: Pre-Trib Rapture Defense Offense.
That no-good John Darby…
In the first installment of this series I mentioned prewrath in several places. I’m not just picking on the view. There are good reasons for engaging it. In my experience the prewrath camp has been at the forefront of activism against pretribulationism. They are the squeaky wheels.
Several ministries have responded to the system. Whenever they get some detail incorrect they’re charged with misrepresenting the system. Ironically, I’ve come across proponents who also haven’t grasped certain elements of their view. I’ve been told that the system is being refined, and assured that there’s “agreement in the essentials.” If that’s really the case then one ought to excuse any non-essential mistakes in responses against PW.
In fact, a leading proponent felt it important to warn about PW ministries getting minor details wrong. Proponents of the “pure” PW system in the United Kingdom have even charged Prasch’s Intra-Seal view as heretical. So there certainly are disagreements within this camp. One example is the placement of the 4th seal prior to the Abomination of Desolation in Rosenthal’s charts. In contrast, Van Kampen had to place it post AoD because of his peculiar view of the nature of that seal.
What unites them is the charge that pretrib is a dangerous lie.
I previously mentioned John Darby. See also the article The Lost Honor of John Nelson Darby. He was the primary target of the Left Behind or Lead Astray? documentary. The doc indulged in some elephant hurling, also suggesting a Jesuit connection to pretrib. For whatever reason, it featured Ray Comfort. However, immediately after blogging on this, Daniel Comfort contacted me affirming that Ray does not endorse the LB LA documentary.
One popular teacher has a habit of calling Darby derogatory names. He’s claimed that Spurgeon labeled Darby a “despot”, a “nut”, or “half a wheel.” His critics note that these assertions aren’t supported by citations. Neither are there citations in his books.
As Dennis Swanson points out, Spurgeon disagreed with what he referred to as “extreme futurists.” This would have included Darby antagonists such as B. W. Newton and his cousin S. P. Tregelles. It should also be noted that these two drew less of a distinction between Israel and the church than is commonly held by premil non-pretribbers today.
Demonizing John Darby (and Scofield) is a strategy for attacking pretribulationism. Similarly, others have used Tommy Ice’s, Hal Lindsey’s and Tim LaHaye’s perceived faults to achieve that purpose. Using that reasoning, if I can Google enough dirt on people I disagree with, their systems fail as well.
Logic, objectivity and consistency often give way to emotion in the Rapture Wars. Forget Darby, there were hysterics (and a little gnashing of teeth) when it was alleged Jan Markell labeled PW satanic. People were incensed. Years ago Roger Best and Bob Van Kampen even complained:
It is very interesting to read the negative reviews on the prewrath position. Not one review to date has dealt with the biblical position of prewrath.
I suppose it depends upon your sensitivity level and interpretation of “negative.” I have links to a set of criticisms which were to the point and devoid of ad hominem. Here’s One Example. Also take note of the Appendix, at the end, which addresses Van Kampen’s attitude (I agree). See also Jim McClarty’s thoughts on this system.
No one likes their view criticized. But did Best and Van Kampen really think their system so irrefutable it ought to be criticism-free? What’s “Plain and Simple” to them, isn’t to just-as-informed others. Speaking of hysterics and “negative reviews”, consider what Rosenthal wrote in The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church:
The pretrib position has “impossible-to-resolve problems” (p.197) and “insurmountable exegetical” difficulties (p.147). Worse, pretribulationalism leads to “calamitous” consequences and “a spiritual catastrophe” which is in reality “a satanically planned sneak attack” (p. 281-282).
In The Rapture Question Answered, Van Kampen suggested a link between Darby and the heretical Edward Irving. He then wrote that at the time of the development of pretribulationism, new cults also emerged: e.g., Mormonism, Christian Science, Unitarianism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. There just has to be a clear connection, right?
In Shadows of the Beast, Jacob Prasch warns about “dangers in the Pre-Tribulation position.” He asserts that the rapture-resurrection can’t occur until believers identify the two Beasts of Revelation, and ominously warns:
The popular myth asserting the contrary as if it were an exegetical fact is a dangerous myth which must be debunked as a deception perpetrated against the Elect. (Emphasis mine)
Did you get all that? These alarmist quotes don’t come from obscure conspiracy theorists. This is from the top down. No wonder acolytes, who’ve bought into the narrative, go out into the world preaching to the pretrib deceived. One might even say they’ve been programmed to do it. Judging from my experience these people live in echo-chambers, parroting their teachers. They turn into rapture timing police.
Then again, some just love to argue and mock. I once ran across an aggressive posttribulationist who justified himself by declaring concern for proponents of pretrib. What a saint! Later on I caught him using the same bludgeoning tactics against prewrathers. I’ve seen my share of that.
Examine your motives. And think for yourself.
No one’s view should be mocked. Nevertheless, people come up with all sorts of inane excuses to do it. I hope these observations haven’t offended anyone. I’m addressing inconsistencies and trying to understand this trending antagonistic behavior that I’ve been seeing for years.
Pretribulationism leaves believers unprepared
Another one I wish I had a dollar for every time I hear. Will look at this next time….
Maranatha
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