The pre-tribulation rapture theory is the necessary outgrowth of the futurist interpretation of all bible prophecy. The assumption is made that bible prophecy all is future, and has not yet been fulfilled, and many writers have written book upon book to that effect.
Ah, but there is not much money to be made in understanding the past. Books written about it don't sell very well. And so, a trip to any bible bookstore, and a visit to the prophecy section will yield the discovery that many authors have written a great many things about what they believe is about to happen on Planet Earth. Are any correct?
The bible does not show forth many examples where men have attempted to take prophecy, study it, and make sense out of it. There are really only a few. Daniel saw that his country was nearing the point of Jeremiah's 70 year prophecy. What was Daniel's response? Did he study and write a book? No, he prayed, and had visions, and was visited by angels. Still, he lacked understanding about the future events he was being shown.
There are many examples where New Testament writers quoted an old testament prophetic passage and noted that it was now fulfilled with what they were seeing in their day, or had just seen in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
Still, anointed men and women of God tell me that I should not study history. Everywhere I look, I find that all Christian people are ignorant of their history: the history of their church, the martyrs, antichrists and the biblical empires and kingdoms that must be understood before the bible may be understood.