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The author is obviously not well versed on the many differing views of 'the end times' held by Protestants world wide. Yes, unfortunately, many Evangelical and Pentecostal churches in North America, and by extension, the English speaking world and much of Africa, due to the missionary outreach by many such churches, seem to be quite enamoured of the idea of a 'pre-trib rapture'. That said, there are millions of Protestant Believers who find Darby's interpretation to be somewhat suspect. And yes, the '69 1/2 weeks' with a gap of over 2,000 years IS certainly a stumbling block. FWIW, the Evangelical Covenant church I was re-baptised in as an adult (after an infant baptist in a different denomination), took a 'partial preterist' view of the 'end times' and 'dispensationalism' was considered to be in error.

While I do not wish to go through a terrible 'tribulation' in my life, at least no more that I already have, I fear that so much of the preaching in N. America points to 'accept Jesus as Saviour, and He will make life easy and prosper you so you can buy your Pastor the new jet he ~~craves~~ needs' (sarc)!

A 'pre-trib rapture' suggests that we will skip all the pain that life can provide. Given that when we are 'in the valley', THAT is where God best shapes and molds us, as we have only He to depend upon. That said, such 'fire' burns away the dross of this world and focuses our attention on Him and His guiding us through such turmoil. Unfortunately, many who come to the Lord may fall away when times get tough. Teaching such as Darby's can lead a believer to despair when times get tough, and lose their faith. Reemember, Jesus instructed us to 'count the cost' of following Him.

I look at what Paul and the disciples and the saints went through, and what Believers are going through in Africa and the Middle East, and I find that a 'pre-trib rapture' makes no sense. We North Americans, are fat, rich and spoiled, versus our Christian brethren in much of the world. For many of us, our only concept of 'persecution' is that we cannot wear a scripture verse on their T-shirt or our kids can no longer pray in school! (And yes, I count myself among the fat, rich, spoiled North Americans!). How would we, who have suffered little, be 'raptured' while millions have suffered and ultimately died for their faith?

If Pastor Darby had not formulated his interpretation, a 'pre-trib rapture' sounds like an ending devised by Hollywood (before it went fully over to the dark side). For me, Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection is the climax, I don't need additional dramatic proof that He is who He claims to be. After all, on the cross He said, "It is finished." The job was done and the battle won. Anything else is anticlimactic.

Instead of focusing on endless debate over the 'end times', we should be focused on spreading the Gospel and 'being the hands and feet' of Jesus. If the Bible is true, and I find nothing contradictory in it, then if I am in Him, it does not matter whether there is a tribulation or not. If I am in Him, Satan CANNOT steal me away, my salvation is assured! Having us focus on how time will wind down is yet another ploy by the Deceiver to take our eyes off Jesus and can cause us to miss what He wants us to do.

if I am strolling along a road and there is a house on fire ahead, do I keep strolling or go and see what I can do to help if there are people in need? You are so correct that Americans should be seeing to what He wants US to do. Sadly, our elected leadership is sold out to those who are using our power to trample the world into accepting a one world government and economic system. So, while this is happening, this misuse of the power of America, American Christians are waxing cold, or at best luke warm/tepid. The Holy Spirit is in them yet they are not faithing in His leadership, like the Laodiceans. How do we stir these tepid believers into action? ... By emphasizing that time is short. He is coming soon to rapture His bride and the oil in the lamps better be up to the watch. Darby may have been used to focus believers to the coming events. To poo poo Darby for raising again an issue which has old roots in Christendom is sort of oblique to the thing you end on, that we need to be about whatever it is that Our God has for us to do. How many Christian professors believe the Bible is The Word of God in books? How many actually believe His prophecies are ALWAYS accurate? How do we stir up a luke warm degenerating body of believers? Imminence. When Daniel registered his prophecy, Gabriel told him the exact number of days from the command to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah King. To the day. It happened exactly as Gabriel said it would for 69 weeks of sabbatical years, with 360 days per year as the calculation factor. The 69th week ended the day Jesus rode the donkey with a colt into Jerusalem. The seventieth week will begin just as Daniel told Daniel it will, with the Jewish people signing a seven year compact for Peace and Safety. The restrainer will be out of the way when that happens. Now, whom do you think is the restrainer and what is He doing during this Church Age?