Premillennialism became popular because it best fits what a literal interpretation of the Bible says.
The return of Israel more than just about any other event propelled it into the mainstream.
Sir Robert Anderson wrote about it in the 1800’s in The Coming Prince by being one of the first theologians in over a millennium to take the New Testament literally, and he was remarkably prescient in his interpretation that Israel would return.
BUT it is NOT an issue Christians should be divided over. Different eschatological views are well within orthodoxy, except of course the fundamental belief that Jesus will one day return to claim his throne.
In 1830, a man named John Darby read in Thessalonians Paul talking about the resurrection. He decided that it meant a pre- trib rapture/resurrection.
No one ever heard of this until he made this up.
There is only one resurrection. It is on the last day.
In John 6, Jesus tells us at least 4 times the rapture/resurrection is on the last day and Revelation 20 tells us there is only one resurrection called the First Resurrection.
The second one is called The Second Death (of the damned).
The Resurrection occurs only once, on the LAST day. The pre-tribulation rapture is a church thing, it is not biblical. Google it. READ THE BOOK: The Incredible Cover-up by Dave MacPherson.
Those that believe the falsity of a pre-tribulation rapture, will think they were left behind and Satan is counting on them taking the mark of the beast.
“BUT it is NOT an issue Christians should be divided over. Different eschatological views are well within orthodoxy, except of course the fundamental belief that Jesus will one day return to claim his throne.”
That is where I stand. I took eschatology in college decades ago. The professor made a solid case for pre-trib rapture but he also helped us understand other views and how they could also be biblical. My takeaway from that class was this:
God is in control
God wins in the end
This keeps me going through tough times today and gives me hope for the future, no matter what it holds.