Why the Doctrine of the Pretribulational Rapture Did Not Begin with Margaret Macdonald -- By: Thomas D. Ice

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 147:586 (Apr 1990)
Article: Why the Doctrine of the Pretribulational Rapture Did Not Begin with Margaret Macdonald
Author: Thomas D. Ice


Why the Doctrine of the Pretribulational Rapture Did Not Begin with Margaret Macdonald

Thomas D. Ice

Pastor, Oak Hill Bible Church
Austin, Texas

Did the key elements of the doctrine of the pretribulational rapture originate with a young Scottish girl named Margaret Macdonald, as advocated by another “Mac”—Dave MacPherson? This is the thesis put forth in a number of publications for over 15 years by MacPherson, a newsman turned rapture researcher. MacPherson’s major book The Great Rapture Hoax1 is one in a series of revisions of his original discourse The Unbelievable Pre-Trib Origin.2

Dave MacPherson is convinced “that the popular Pre-Trib Rapture teaching of today was really instigated by a teenager in Scotland who lived in the early 1800’s.”3 “If Christians had known [this] all along,” bemoans MacPherson concerning the historical beginnings of the pretribulational rapture, “the state of Christianity could have been vastly different today.”4 He thinks this ignorance has been due not merely to a historical oversight, but rather to a well-orchestrated “cover-up” carefully managed by clever

pretribulational leaders each step of the way.5 Before discussing the background of the doctrine of the pretribulational rapture, this article first discusses the background of Dave MacPherson.

MacPherson’s Background

Dave MacPherson is dedicated to disrupting belief in the pretribulation rapture, since, according to his interpretation, it has been the cause for great disruption in his own life. “Back in 1953 I had a jolting encounter with the Rapture,” is the first sentence in one of MacPherson’s books.6 This is a reference to his expulsion from a Christian college in California for propagating views that conflicted with the pretribulational view. He suggests that this experience was so devastating that it accounts for a setback in his Christian life. Because of his discouragement MacPherson and a friend got drunk in Mexico and passed out. MacPherson says this was a brush with death because of the many dangers that could befall someone in that condition in Mexico. Later he was involved in a wreck with a car while riding his motorcycle, and he almost lost his left arm. But these were not the beginning of his nor his family’s troubles because of the pretribulational rapture.7

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