who invented the rapture

The concept of the rapture, as it is popularly understood today, was invented by John Nelson Darby, a 19th-century Christian preacher and theologian. Darby developed the doctrine within his broader dispensationalist framework, teaching that Christ would return secretly before a period of tribulation to "rapture" the church, or gather believers up to meet Him in the air. This idea became influential in evangelical and fundamentalist circles, especially in America, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Darby's teachings were based on his interpretation of biblical prophecy, particularly from the books of Daniel and Revelation. Prior to Darby, elements of the concept appear in earlier Christian writings and teachings, including Puritan theologians in the 17th century and commentaries by Philip Doddridge and John Gill, but the formal doctrine of a secret pre-tribulation rapture is primarily attributed to Darby. Some historical accounts also mention a prophecy by Margaret Macdonald, a member of the Catholic Apostolic movement, which influenced Darby's thinking but did not originate the doctrine itself. In summary, John Nelson Darby is credited with inventing the modern rapture doctrine in the 1830s.