John Nelson Darby

John Nelson Darby (1800–1882) was a prominent 19th-century British theologian and preacher, best known for founding the Plymouth Brethren, a Christian movement emphasizing church simplicity and missionary work. He significantly contributed to dispensationalism, a way of interpreting the Bible that sees history as divided into distinct periods, culminating in the Second Coming of Christ. Darby's ideas influenced modern evangelical and fundamentalist thought, particularly views on biblical prophecy, the rapture, and the future of Israel. His theological innovations helped shape contemporary Christian eschatology and inspired various Bible study and prophetic movements around the world.