Research

(For more than 30 years my pretrib critics have falsely claimed that leading
scholars condemn my research. Since those critics are in effect slamming
poor, helpless, long-departed Margaret Macdonald, I hereby come to her
defense with a few of the many reactions from scholars who generally haven't
had a huge axe to grind either for or against the pretrib rapture view. My
usual practice, by the way, has been to obtain permission when quoting
personal letters.)

     Loraine Boettner (theologian, author): "I think that you have done a
magnificent job in showing the real origin of the Pre-trib rapture theory."
     F. F. Bruce (theologian, encyclopedia contributor): "It is strange that
Darby should acknowledge his indebtedness to a young lady in Limerick and
say nothing about the young lady in Port Glasgow [that is, not acknowledge
her pre-Antichrist rapture of part of the church]....If this work of yours
can do anything to counter the influence of Hal Lindsey..., you will have
rendered a signal service." Superficial----and even devious----scholarship
loves to repeat Bruce's 1975 surmise that pretrib was "in the air in the
1820s and 1830s." Hired critic Thomas Ice knows that this wasn't a
scientific conclusion (does reliable data rest literally "in the air"?), and
Ice moreover has ignored Bruce's later statements complimenting my evidence!
     Gary DeMar (theologian, author): "THE RAPTURE PLOT is the
never-before-told, true story of the plot----how plagiarism and subtle
document changes created the 'mother of all revisionisms.' A fascinating
piece of detective work."
     Robert H. Gundry (theologian, author): "As usual, Dave MacPherson
overwhelms his critics with a superior knowledge of the primary sources. His
is a rare combination of historical research and investigative reporting.
Those who would refute him have failed to outhustle him, especially in the
tracking down of information uncatalogued in academic libraries."
Superficial scholarship is aware that the first----1973----printing of
Gundry's THE CHURCH AND THE TRIBULATION stated on pp. 185, 187: "The
likelihood is that Edward Irving was the first to suggest the
pretribulational rapture....the outpouring on Margaret Macdonald did not
include revelation of a pretribulational rapture...." But careful
scholarship has long known that after Gundry saw my Macdonald findings, he
deleted his Irving statement and substituted favorable comments about the
Scottish lassie----changes appearing in his classic work since the 1980's!
     John H. Kromminga (Calvin Sem. president emeritus): "The material
appears to be well researched, and this impression is confirmed by the
excellent comments you cite from well-established evangelical commentators."
     Harold Lindsell (church historian, author): "...must reading for anyone
who is interested in the [pretrib] origins...."
     C. S. Lovett (pastor, author): "You have to be, in my opinion, the
world's authority on Margaret."
     Peter Marshall (pastor, author): "I am in emphatic agreement with you
on your thesis."
     Walter Martin (researcher, author): "[MacPherson has produced] a
fascinating historical detective story...with surprising and not easily
refutable conclusions."
     J. Gordon Melton (editor): "According to the best scholarship
available, the pretribulation, premillennial eschatology originated among
members of the Catholic Apostolic Church as a result of a vision and
revelation to Margaret MacDonald. See Dave MacPherson, THE UNBELIEVABLE
PRE-TRIB ORIGIN." (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN RELIGIONS, 1978)
     Gary North (author, church historian): "...Dave MacPherson has
inflicted a deep wound on the pre-trib camp by showing that a teenage
Scottish girl named Margaret Macdonald...came up with this doctrine...."
(Dispensationalism in Transition, Nov., 1988)
     Harold J. Ockenga (theologian, author): "You have done your research
well."
     J. I. Packer (author, church historian): "From my own explorations of
the origins of Darbyism I judge that you are presenting facts fairly, and I
am glad you are, for I also regard dispensationalism as an unhappy
aberration."
     J. Barton Payne (theologian, author): "MacPherson has once and for all
overthrown Ernest Sandeen's assertions that the Irvingites never 'advocated
any doctrine resembling the secret rapture' and that to connect J. N. Darby
and early dispensationalism with Irving's church is 'a groundless and
pernicious charge'....For serious students of the history of
dispensationalism the study of MacPherson's discoveries has become a must."
(Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Winter, 1974)
     The Prairie Overcomer (Canada): "...MacPherson's case seems to be
watertight." (July, 1974)
     Reformed Review: "MacPherson has done excellent historical research."
(Spring, 1985)
     Ian S. Rennie (author, church historian): "...it is likely that
[Margaret's revelation] was grist for Darby's mill." (DREAMS, VISIONS AND
ORACLES, 1977)
     R. J. Rushdoony (theologian, author): "Dave MacPherson has been
responsible for major change in the eschatology of evangelical churches by
his devastating studies of some of the central aspects thereof. In THE
RAPTURE PLOT MacPherson tells us of the strange tale of 'rapture' writings,
revisions, cover-ups, altercations, and confusions. No one has equalled
MacPherson in his research on the 'pre-trib rapture.' Attempts to discredit
his research have failed...."
     The Seminary Review: "[MacPherson] shows conclusively that Margaret
Macdonald was the originator of the concept." (June, 1984)
     Oswald J. Smith (pastor, author): "You have some excellent thoughts
here that will be difficult to answer."
     Merrill C. Tenney (theologian, author): "...the connection between
Margaret Macdonald and Irvingites and Brethren is reasonably well
established. You have done a valuable piece of research."
     The Witness (oldest & largest Darbyist Brethren magazine in England):
"What [MacPherson] succeeds in establishing is that the [pretrib] view
outlined was first stated by a certain Margaret Macdonald...early in 1830."
(April, 1974)

     (The critics who have tried to cover up the above scholarship are
basically the ones who've tried to muddy the waters by "discovering" hints
of pretrib before 1830. For more on this, see my internet article entitled
"Deceiving, And Being Deceived.")