Morgan Edwards: A Pre-Darby Rapturist -- By: Thomas D. Ice

Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 01:1 (Apr 1997)
Article: Morgan Edwards: A Pre-Darby Rapturist
Author: Thomas D. Ice


Morgan Edwards: A Pre-Darby Rapturist

Thomas Ice

Executive Director
Pre-Trib Research Center, Washington, D.C
.

Introduction

Opponents of pretribulationism have often tried to “poison the well” by contending that a pre-tribulation understanding of the Bible is novel and/or has sprung from a polluted source.1 These opponents insist that pretribulationism was a product of a momentary inspirational outburst. Instead, it is becoming increasingly clear that pretribulationism, like other biblical doctrines, can be demonstrated to have been the product of the normal development of the progress of doctrine in history. The last few years have witnessed the discovery of voices from the Church’s past testifying to a two-stage return of Christ.2 While it is possible that some have held to some form of a pretribulational rapture throughout the history of the church, another instance of a pre-Darby rapturist has come to light within Evangelicalism. American Baptist pastor, historian, and educator, Morgan Edwards (1722–96), has surfaced to join the chorus of pre-Darby voices who taught a form of pretribulationism.

The Early and Medieval Church

The early church was clearly premillennial in their eschatology, with only a few dissenters. Irenaeus (d. ca. A. D. 202) “stated in the strongest possible terms that premillennialism was traditional orthodoxy” (Ag. Her. 5.32.1).3 Pretribulationism is not clearly represented within the extant writings of these early fathers. However, before one draws the conclusion that it is totally absent, it is possible that a few ancient statements do represent elements of a fuzzy form of pretribulationism.

At least two elements of pretribulationism—Christ’s imminent return and a hope to escape tribulation—can be found in early church writings. The early church was often subjected to persecution for their faith and as a result

tended to confuse church age tribulation with the tribulation of the 70th week of Daniel. At the same time they often spoke of a belief in an “any-moment” return of the Lord. Expressions of imminency abound in the Apostolic Fathers. Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, The Didache, The Epistle of Barnabas, and The Shepherd of Hermas all speak of imminency.4 Furthermore, The Shepherd of Hermas speaks of the pretribulational concept of escaping the tribulation.

You have escaped from great tribulation on account of your ...

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