The Rapture is Not Baptist

 

The rapture is often considered synonymous with conservative Baptist churches. But this is really a modern development, which happened in the early to mid-20th century. The pre-trib rapture doctrine attached to the 7 year tribulation, and the idea that the tribulation is “Jacob’s Trouble”, was an innovation of the Plymouth Brethren in the 19^th century. It is not a historical Baptist doctrine.

Previous generations of Baptists, for centuries, taught one return of Christ, as does the New Testament.

From the 1660 Standard Confession:

"II. And when Christ who is our life shall appear, we shall also appear with him in glory, Col. 3. 4. For then shall he be King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Rev. 19. 16. for the Kingdome is his, and he is the Governour among the Nations, Psal. 22. 28. and King over all the earth, Zech. 14. 9. and we shall raign (with him) on the Earth, Rev. 5. 10. the Kingdomes of this World, (which men so mightily strive after here to enjoy) shall become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and his Christ, Rev. 11. 15. for all is yours, ( 0 ye that overcome this world) for ye are Christs, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3. 22, 23. For unto the Saints shall be given the Kingdome, and the greatness of the Kingdome, under (mark that) the whole Heaven, Dan. 7. 27. Though (alas) now many men be scarce content that the Saints should have so much as being a mong them; but when Christ shall appear, then shall be their day, then shall be given unto them power over the Nations, to rule them with a Rod of Iron, Rev. 2. 26, 27. then shall they receive a Crown of life, which no man shall take from them, nor they by any means turned, or overturned from it, for the oppressor shall be broken in pieces, Psal. 72. 4. and their now vain, rejoycings turned into mourning, and bitter Lamentations, as ‘tis written, [page 10] Job 20. 5, 6, 7. The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment; though his excellency mount up to the Heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds, yet shall he perish for ever, like his own dung; they which have seen him, shall say, where is he?"

The doctrine of the rapture only really became a thing in the 19th century, and it was made popular through the Scofield Reference Bible, which was a brazen attempt to influence the church through putting man’s teachings next to God’s teachings in the notes of a Bible. There are some indications of individual preachers teaching something that could be interpreted as the rapture earlier than the 19^th century. But these a scant, few, and never to be found in the confessions of church associations, before Darby, as far as I am aware. And many of these references are debatable anyway. Many can be read as referring to the second coming, the historical teaching of the church.

What is not debatable is that the Baptist Church once universally considered it important to affirm the historical doctrine of one return of Christ, so as to be seen as Orthodox and not Heterodox. Many Baptists hold to the idea of the rapture, but it is not a Baptist belief.