The Epistle of Baarnabas (AD100) contains the argument for a pre-trib Rapture. Irenaeus in his 'Against Heresies' addressed it. His follower, Hippolytus also addressed it. From the Eastern Church tradition, Ephraem of Nisibis (306-373AD) asserted it clearly in his 'On The Last Times'. Several teachers in the eighteenth century addressed it. And prior to Darby taking up the challenge, at least two others in the nineteenth century had raised the issue.
Well there you go, one of the other reasons I can’t dismiss the pre trib, rapture out of hand. I had read that the arguments go back to the Early church and the pre trib rapture was not a new argument!