Easy-to-read Summaries of John Nelson Darby’s Writings

Who was Darby?

Darby Simplified – by adayofsmallthings.com

John Nelson Darby (1800-82), otherwise known as J N Darby or simply JND, had a major influence on evangelical Christendom in the nineteenth century. God used him to bring back Evangelical Christians of all persuasions to the truth as presented by Paul and the other Apostles.

Leading preachers such as Moody, Charles Spurgeon and more recently John Macarthur and Billy/Franklin Graham have followed much of his dispensational, pre-millennial’ teaching – expecting Jesus at any time to rapture His Church (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

He insisted God has not abandoned Israel. (See Romans 11:1) He influenced Lords Palmerston and Shaftsbury, leading to the Balfour Declaration and thence to the establishment of the State of Israel.

Christ’s Church

He said ‘The Church is in ruins!’: Many lovers of Jesus left organised sects forming Christian assemblies gathering to the Lord’s Name. (See 2 Timothy 2:19-22)

JND perceived the truth of Christ as the Head in heaven, with His body here, the church heavenly in origin and destiny, perfectly united in the sight of God, and its hope of being with Him at the imminent (pre-millennial) rapture. Pre-tribulation (pre-trib) Christians know him as ‘the father of dispensational theology. As his epitaph says ‘Unknown, yet well known’.

Darby’s works span about 60 large volumes – his literal bible translation, his ‘Collected Writings’, the Synopsis of the Bible and more – full of sound teaching but often difficult to read. So on this site, there are hundreds of easy-to-read summaries of his work to encourage and help lovers of our Lord Jesus who seek to ‘walk in the light’ waiting for His call to rapture His saints.

adayofsmallthings.com covers

The Hope of the Church, the Rapture and other Prophecy

The Church, its Perfection, its Ruin and Assembly Experience

Christian Experience and our Knowledge of God

With many articles by other authors and myself – See side panel

By Sosthenes – who just wanted to be ‘a brother’ – For more see ‘Introduction’

Please email me at sosthenes@adayofsmallthings.com or use the contact form below:

Notes 1. The quotation ‘John Nelson Darby is the most influential Evangelical Christian that Most Evangelical Christians have never heard of’ is by Dr. Thomas Ice (Director, Pre-Trib Research Center) in his Foreword to ‘For Zion’s Sake’ by Paul Wilkinson, 2007.

2. I use the pseudonym ‘Sosthenes’ so as not to be associated with any particular group of Christians. I am not seeking anonymIf you follow the link ‘Introduction’, you will arrive at the real ‘me’ – God’s blessings DJR.

Some Servants who valued JND

Mackintosh	Stoney	Raven
Charles Henry Mackintosh – a co-worker of Darby who avoided the praise of men.	James Butler Stoney had a distinct impression of the Lord’s greatness and that he was in the gain of what he ministered.	Frederick Edward Raven said ‘I should not recognise a company. If I were asked to what company I belong, I should say, To none’.