John Nelson Darby - Father of the Rapture Theory

John Nelson Darby (1800 to 1882) is the father of dispensationalism and the rapture theory. He started his religious career as an Anglican preacher stationed in Ireland, where he won hundreds of converts a week to the Anglican Church. After a decree from the Archbishop requiring Irish converts to also swear allegiance to the King of England, Darby began to grow disillusioned with the Anglican Church. Following an injury which required extensive time to recuperate, he began to formulate his theories which would later have tremendous impact on many churches in America.

Sources:
Writings of John Nelson Darby: https://www.stempublishing.com/authors/darby/

Thy Precepts: http://www.presenttruthpublishers.com/pdf/Precepts-1996.pdf

Biography and letters: https://web.archive.org/web/20051212210328/http://www.mybrethren.org/bios/framjnd.htm

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity

A Short History of Dispensationalism (stated why Darby leaves the Anglican Church, & how his views spread in America): https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1036&context=pretrib_arch

https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/john-nelson-darby

https://www.socalsem.edu/john-nelson-darby-a-brief-sketch-of-his-life-and-impact/#_ftn1

The Seven Dispensations: https://www.compellingtruth.org/seven-dispensations.html

http://johndarby.org/beginning/index.html (origin of the Brethren Movement)

https://lighthousebc.com/beacon/2016/06/07/who-was-john-nelson-darby-part-1/

https://www.gotquestions.org/Plymouth-Brethren.html

“Considerations addressed to the Archbishop of Dublin and the Clergy who signed the petition to the House of Commons for Protection.” (Darby’s letter of protest to the archbishop): https://www.stempublishing.com/authors/darby/ECCLESIA/01001E.html

Earlier rapture ideas: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=pretrib_arch

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=pretrib_arch

Short biography - https://www.dib.ie/biography/darby-john-nelson-a2398

Powerscourt meetings: https://www.brethrenarchive.org/features/powerscourt/the-powerscourt-meetings-enc/

Brethren Archive: https://www.brethrenarchive.org/features/powerscourt/

JN Darby Bible Translation: https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Darby-Translation-Bible