Author: Weremchuk, Max
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Rick Shrader‘s Review:

Max Weremchuk has been a biographer of J.N. Darby since 1992 when he wrote his first edition of this book. In this edition he admits to expanding and even correcting things not available in his original research (from the 1980s). F.F. Bruce said of this up-to-date edition, “This is most interesting, and it reflects a degree of research hitherto unequalled, to my knowledge. Your research has brought to light a large number of facts which are not widely known–many indeed of which I was ignorant myself, so that I have found this part of the work to be an education, and I am sure that many other readers will have the same experience” (quoted in the Forward). I quote Bruce here because, as a highly respected scholar, his statements should cause the critics of Darby to pause before typically condemning Darby before ever doing the research themeselves. I found the biographical material interesting and yet so detailed as to be almost tiring. However, the more doctrinal part I found to be very helpful. Darby was a highly educated man knowing Latin, Hebrew, Greek, modern French, German, Italian, Dutch and even mastering New Zealand’s Maori language (listed on page 130). Of many of Darby’s written works is his Collected Writings in thirty-four volumes. Other writings include Notes and Comments in seven volumes, an Notes and Jottings in five volumes. Darby and other “Brethren” (all of whom were connected to the Anglican church) became convicted of the millennial reign of Christ. From this Darby became aware of the nature of the New Testament church, and then of the rapture of the church as a necessity, realizing that the promises to Israel and the Church were entirely separate, including tribulation judgment. Since the early ante-Nicene millennialists believed in an imminent coming of Christ, Darby rightly concluded that the rapture of the church, therefore, must be imminent. These and other New Testament convictions have been held by Christian believers for hundreds of years (at least from the 17th century). Darby began to organize these beliefs but certainly was not the originator of them.  

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