My dear friend and colleague, Dave MacPherson, has been in the forefront for several decades in presenting data and other facts about the origin of the “Pre-Tribulation Rapture mythology. As a matter of fact, when I first started doing research for my two books back in the late seventies, his was the only material in publication that outright refuted the whole left behind notions that were being promulgated by author Hal Lindsey's mega hit book, The Late Great Planet Earth!
Many other premillennial dispensationalists began popping up after Lindsey’s book grabbed the attention of not only the Christian community (especially evangelical organizations such as the Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel and many “pop” evangelical groups) but by mainstream media as well!
Authors such as Robert Gundry, Alexander Reese and George Eldon Ladd opposed the premillennialist juggernaut, but did not necessarily come out and outright refute the Pre-Tribulation Rapture! Dave MacPherson did and has been providing more evidence to shore up his polemic against the likes of Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, Tommy Ice, John Hagee, Mike Evans, et al.
Well folks, Dave MacPherson has done it again by obtaining a copy of Margaret MacDonald’s handwritten note of her 1830 ‘pretrib rapture revelation,’ which pretty much pounds the last nail on the coffin of thousands of ersatz prophets who claim the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory was founded by John N. Darby.
Well folks, Dave MacPherson has done it again by obtaining a copy of Margaret MacDonald’s handwritten note of her 1830 ‘pretrib rapture revelation,’ which pretty much pounds the last nail on the coffin of thousands of ersatz prophets who claim the Pre-Tribulation Rapture theory was founded by John N. Darby.
The End Times Passover blog and web site is honored to be the first to ever present a copy of part of Macdonald’s handwritten note, along with a brief narrative of this historical discovery by author Dave Macpherson. Here it is again folks!
(zoom in to see the document up close)
PRETRIB RAPTURE COPYCATS
"A handwritten copy of Margaret Macdonald's 1830 "pretrib rapture revelation" was finally located in 2009 at the British Library after a decades-long search! This is a facsimile (underlining mine) of the history-making portion in lines 58-63 - the first instance of "seeing" a rapture before the revealing (II Thess. 2:8) of the Antichrist who reigns during a future "tribulation." This document is part of the "Clement Boase" collection of Irvingite material (British Library shelf mark 764.n.14). Margaret made a number of handwritten copies of her novel interpretation before she married her biographer, Dr. Robert Norton. After her 1840 death, others made copies of her copies, at least one of which was erroneously titled "Mary McDonald's Vision" - evidently a mix-up with her older sister Mary who also handwrote and distributed copies.
For further information on the history of this 19th century theory which has captivated many evangelicals (especially in America), see my Google articles including "Pretrib Rapture Diehards," "X-Raying Margaret," "Edward Irving is Unnerving," "Thomas Ice (Bloopers)," "Deceiving and Being Deceived," "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty," and "Scholars Weigh My Research." For the most accurate documentation on pretrib history to be found anywhere, read my 300-page book "The Rapture Plot" (available online at Armageddon Books etc.)" ~ (Dave MacPherson)
Much thanks to Dave and his wife Wanda for their over forty years of diligent research and writing books, in an effort to inform not only Christians as to the fallacy of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture escape to Heaven, but non-believers as well. Not only Christians need to prepare to suffer great tribulation, but all humanity must recognize that time is short and it's running out! It's time for all mankind to prepare for the impending horrors that lay before us, such as nation shattering earthquakes, wars, floods and total chaos!
How? Simply draw closer to Jesus than ever before, because he can (and will) provide His Children of Promise a way to escape persecution through The End Times Passover!
Dave and Wanda MacPherson (left to right) attend Disneyland with Martha Ortiz and her journalist/author husband, Joe Ortiz, last year. Few people are aware that Dave MacPherson (Disneyland History) has the distinction of being the first person to cross the gates of Disneyland at its grand opening in 1955.
For more information about Joe Ortiz and his books, click here Joe Ortiz web sites and blogs ~
What a historical find! And congratulations are in order for Dave for finding it and for Joe for being the first person to air it worldwide! When pretrib leaders hear about this discovery, I predict they will either ignore it or muddy it up in some dishonesty way (Google "Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty" to find out what they do when they think no one is watching). Keep up the great and valuable blog that you have, Bro. Joe! Gratefully, Esther
ReplyDeletePeople called me a "conspiracy thereorist" when I sent out to my family and friends the truth about Darby and where he got his pretrib doctrine. Most of them were either in the Exclusive Tunbridge Wells Brethren or used to be, like me. Growing up in this "Meeting", I just had this sense as a young girl on up that the J.N. Darby books that were being read out of in meetings just didn't seem right. What I was reading on my own seemed different than what was being read/taught in meetings. Thanks so much for posting these writings of Margaret! I know people will say, "Well, this could be ANYONE'S handwriting!" I'm assuming Dave will show more "proof" that this is HER handwriting in a future book? Hope so!
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