With few exceptions, this timeline is formed entirely from statements from the writings of Peter Ruckman (especially his autobiography). Some dates are tentative because at times we found differents dates for the same event in different books. We used an asterick (*) in those cases to indicate that a date was tentative for that very reason. There are more major events that could have been listed here, but we could not locate documentation for the exact year in which the event took place.
1921
Peter S. Ruckman was born November 19 in Wilmington, Delaware. His father was John Hamilton Ruckman, and his mother was Mary Warner Armstrong Ruckman.
1922
Moved to Topeka, Kansas.
1939
Enrolled in Citizen's Military Training Camp.
1940
Graduated from high school and enrolled in Kansas State College in Manhattan, KS.
1941
Joined ROTC.
1944
Married Janie Bess May in March.
Graduated from University of Alabama.
Began active duty in the Army.
1945
His first child, Diana, was born on June 27.
Sent to the Philippenes then Japan by the Army.
1948
Released from the Army
1949
Made a profession of faith on the 14th of March.
Enrolled in Bob Jones University in the fall.
1950
Ordained into the ministry in a Southern Baptist church.
1953
Graduated from Bob Jones University with M.A. and Ph.D. degree.
Began full-time interdenominational evangelism.*
1954
Began to teach that salvation was by works during the great tribulation.
1958
Began television ministry.
1959
Began “filling the pulpit” at Brent Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL.
1960
Ended full-time interdenominational evangelism.*
Pastored a small church from August to October that his converts had started in a funeral parlor following the great revival.
Became pastor of Brent Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL*
Wrote The Christian’s Handbook of Manuscript Evidence, which remained unpublished until 1970.
1962
His first wife divorced him.
1964
Started Pensacola Bible Institute.
Bible Babel, his first book on Bible versions was published.
1966
His mother and father and sister all died within three months of each other.
1969
Began publishing Bible commentary series.*
1970
Published his landmark book The Christian’s Handbook of Manuscript Evidence which taught openly and boldly that the KJV contained advanced revelations, that it was superior to the Greek, etc.
1972
Married Sherry Ruben, divorced wife of one his former students at PBI.
Submitted resignation to Brent Baptist Church after a third of the congregation voted against him, but gave them two years to get the work on its feet.
1974
Started Bible Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL after having "picked up 75 people."
Based on an idea shared with him by Herb Evans, he began to teach that 2 Timothy 3:16 was not a reference to the original manuscripts.
1978
First issue of Bible Believers' Bulletin published.
1988
His second wife divorced him.
1989
Married for third time to Pamela Irene Huggins, a member of his church who is 27 years younger.
Guessed that the rapture would occur between the 14th of May and the 20th of June of 1989.
2009
Published the Ruckman Reference Bible.
Do you have suggestions for events to add to this timeline? Feel free to comment below. Please include a source for all suggestions.
Wow…this puts things in perspective. His third wife was approx. 41? I have some thoughts on that.
Yes mr. Smith he is a sinner and we will meet you and your roosters at the judgement seat of Christ