Dispensationalism1.doc

8/14/2019 Dispensationalism1.doc

1/14


2/14

Dispensationalis/

The 0o(1 1ispensationalis/ 0hen /ention a/ong Ch(istians )an a0a2en all 2in1s

o3 e/otions an1 1i33e(ent (ea)tions a/ong the/4 So/e (ea)tions a(e 3avo(a5le4 So/e

(ea)tions a(e 1istu(5ing an1 1o0n (ight 3(ightening4 The(e a(e those 0ill not even 1is)uss it

0ith you4 Thei( (ea)tions 1epen1 upon 0hethe( o( not they have t(uly 5een e1u)ate1 to

0hat 1ispensationalis/ (eally /eans4 Dispensationalis/ tea)hes 5i5li)al histo(y as a

nu/5e( o3 su))essive e)ono/ies o( a1/inist(ations, )alle1 1ispensations4

Fo( the )onse(vative evangeli)al Ch(istians it is a (e/in1e( o3 ho0 they have 5een

5lesse1 5y a 5ette( un1e(stan1ing o3 Go16s 7o(1 th(ough the tea)hing o3 1ispensation8

alis/4 This /etho1 o3 tea)hing ignite1 a 3i(e that )oul1n6t 5e 9uen)he1 0ithin an1 )ause1

the/ to get inte(este1 in (ea1ing an1 stu1ying the 5i5le se(iously the/selves4

The 1ispensationalist 3eels this /etho1 o3 tea)hing helpe1 the/ in th(ee 0ays: ;*the a)tion o3 a1/iniste(ing, o(1e(ing, o( /anaging: the syste/ 5y 0hi)h

things a(e a1/iniste(e1?: an1 ;&< >the a)tion o3 1ispensing 0ith so/e (e9ui(e/ent4? +In

3u(the( 1e3ining the use o3 the 0o(1 theologi)ally, the sa/e 1i)tiona(y says that a

1ispensation is >a stage in a p(og(essive (evelation, ep(essly a1apte1 to the nee1s o3 a

pa(ti)ula( nation o( pe(io1 o3 ti/eAlso, the age o( pe(io1 1u(ing 0hi)h a syste/ has

p(evaile14?Thus, the /eaning o3 the 0o(1 dispensation is Go16s 0ay o( syste/ o3

/anaging his people 3o( "is g(eate( goo14

I 3eel the 1e3inition o3 1ispensation is Go16s /etho1 o3 1ealing 0ith the people o3

Is(ael an1 the Chu()h in 1i33e(ent 0ays at 1i33e(ent ti/es to 5(ing 3o(th his pu(pose he(e

on ea(th so that "is glo(y )an an1 0ill 5e (evile14 Salvation is one o3 his pu(poses: 5ut it is

not the only one4 In the 5oo2 o3 E))lesiastes, )hapte( th(ee, ve(se one, Solo/on 0(ote, To

every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.6This is saying

3


4/14

that Go1 has a season ;ti/ing< an1 a pu(pose 3o( all that he 1oes4 Go1 uses ti/e

;1ispensation o3 ti/e< to a))o/plish his pu(poses4

In Go16s ti/ing Go1 1elegates 1uties to his people4 Out o3 o5e1ien)e 0e a(e to o5ey

his inst(u)tions4 esus 0as o5e1ient to the )(oss ;"e5(e0s , H


5/14

the -romised and, "e#ieve and o"ey God. &udgments for diso"eying $as 0gyptian "ondage

and $i#derness $anderings. 4osaic a$ is the fifth dispensation (0odus 1:15cts 1:26!.

The responsi"i#ities of man $ere to %eep the #a$ and $a#% $ith God. &udgment for diso"eying

$as captivities. Grace is the sith dispensation (5cts 2:1eve#ation 1:21!. The

responsi"i#ities of man are to "e#ieve on &esus 'hrist and $a#% $ith 'hrist. &udgments for

diso"eying are death and #oss of re$ards. 4i##ennium is the seventh dispensation (eve#ation

2/:11+!. The responsi"i#ities of man $i## "e to "e#ieve and o"ey 'hrist and is government.

&udgments for diso"eying $i## "e death and the Great 7hite Throne &udgment..

The(e is a /atte( o3 )a((yove(s 0hen it )o/es to Dispensationalis/4 The(e a(e things

that a(e 0(itten in the Ol1 Testa/ent that )a((yove( to the Ne0 Testa/ent4 Fo( ea/ple,

the Ten Co//an1/ents 0e(e 0(itten in the Ol1 Testa/ent ;Eo1us '-'8*.Go1 only /ove1 this 0ay at this ti/e4? That 0oul1

5e a 3alse state/ent an1 3alse tea)hing4 ust 5e)ause a 1ispensation en1s, 1oes not /ean

Go1 )an6t an1 0ill not /ove that 0ay again4

O(igin O3 Dispensationalis/

The tea)hings o3 Dispensation 5egin in the ea(ly )hu()h not the nineteenth )entu(y as

/any 5elieve4 This syste/ o3 theology is not as ne0 as so/e /ay thin2 an1 the(e3o(e not

unt(ue4 The(e is evi1en)e in 0(iting that 1ispensationlis/ tea)hing goes 5a)2 as ea(ly as

the eighteenth )entu(y4 The(e 0e(e seve(al /en that 5elieve an1 )lea(ly ha1 an

5


6/14

un1e(stan1ing that Go1 1ealt 0ith his people 1i33e(ently in 1i33e(ent ti/es4 These /en

0e(e not 2no0n as 1ispensationalists4 But thei( 0(itings late( 1evelope1 into 1ispensational

)on)epts4 So/e o3 the ea(ly 1ispensational 0(ite(s 0e(e Pie((e Poi(et ;*+8*.*H


7/14

The se)on1 (eason 1ispensationalist 5elieve in the lite(al p(in)iple o3 inte(p(etation is

5e)ause eve(y p(ophe)y in the Ol1 Testa/ent )on)e(ning esus Ch(ist 3(o/ the

announ)e/ent o3 "is 5i(th, the 0ay "e live1 "is li3e, "is 1eath, 5u(ial an1 (esu((e)tion

has 5een 3ul3ille1 lite(ally4 The thi(1 (eason is i3 you 1i1 not use plain, no(/al o( lite(al

/etho1 o3 inte(p(etation the t(ue /eaning o3 Go16s 7o(1 )an 5e lost4 This )an an1 has

lea1 to 3alse 1o)t(ines an1 )ults 5eing 5o(n out o3 /isapplying S)(iptu(e4

Despensationalis/ p(ovi1es )onsistent he(/eneuti)s ;the s)ien)e an1 /etho1ology o3

inte(p(etation o3 s)(iptu(e


8/14

an1 la04 Dispensationalis/ 1oes not tea)h /o(e that one 0ay to 5e save14 Thei( vie0 is an1

al0ays 0ill 5e 5ase1 on the su5stitution 1eath o3 esus Ch(ist 3o( /an6s sin4

The Chu()h In Dispensationalis/

The i/po(tan)e o3 1ispensationalis/ 1o)t(ine o3 the )hu()h is un1e(stan1ing Go16s

pu(pose 3o( 5oth the Chu()h an1 3o( the Nation o3 Is(ael4 But 5e)ause o3 so /u)h

)ont(ove(sy in the )hu()h )on)e(ning the tea)hing o3 1ispensationalis/ this t(uth )an 5e

(e=e)te1 5e)ause o3 a la)2 o3 2no0le1ge4 So/e still 1is/iss 1ispensationalis/ as

uno(tho1o4

The )hu()h 0as esta5lishe1 on the Day o3 Pente)ost4 This is also the sta(t o3 the

1ispensation o3 G(a)e4 The Chu()h is the Bo1y o3 Ch(ist ;Col4 **That the

Chu()h is the Ne0 Is(ael4? No 0he(e in S)(iptu(e 1oes the Ne0 Testa/ent say, >That the

Believe(s a(e hei(s o3 the p(o/ise1 /a1e to the physi)al 1es)en1ants4? Go1 has a pu(pose

3o( Is(ael an1 Go1 has a pu(pose 3o( "is Chu()h an1 "is glo(y shall 5e (eveale1 in the/

5oth4 The Chu()h 0ill (e)eive a 1i33e(ent set o3 p(o/ises than that o3 Is(ael4 The syste/ o3

Dispensational Es)hatology a)tuality helps you un1e(stan1 this so /u)h 5ette(4

Dispensational Es)hatology

Es)hatology is the stu1y o3 3utu(e things ;eithe( 3utu(e 0hen 0(itten o( 3utu(e 3(o/ the

(ea1e(6s ti/e


9/14

inte(p(etation 3o( 1ispensational p(e/illenialis/4

The(e a(e seve(al 3eatu(es to un1e(stan1ing Dispensational Es)hatology4 The first

feature isthe hermeneutica# princip#e: it is "asic to the entire dispensationa# system, inc#uding

its eschato#ogy. The second feature is the #itera# fu#fi##ment of the 9#d Testament prophecies.

This is the "asic tenet of premi##ennia#.The third feature is the c#ear and consistent distinction

"et$een Israe# and the 'hurch, $hich is a vita# part of dispensationa#ism.*-

The 5asis o3 Es)hatology is the lite(al inte(p(etation o3 Go16s p(o/ises to Is(ael an1 the

Chu()h4 This syste/ o3 tea)hing helps eplains an1 gives you a 5ette( un1e(stan1ing o3 the

(aptu(e, #illennial ing1o/, Is(ael an1 the Chu()h4

P(og(essive Dispensationalis/

7hat 1oes the te(/s-rogressive ispensation#isman1 systemo3-rogressive

ispensationa#ism/ean@ In-rogressive ispensationa#ismthe 1e3inition o3 a 1ispensation

is >a pa(ti)ula( a((ange/ent in 0hi)h Go1 (egulates the 0ay hu/an 5eings (elate to "i/?

;a no(/al 0ay to 1e3ine the 0o(1the 1ispensations not si/ply as 1i33e(ent a((ange/ents

5et0een Go1 an1 hu/an2in1, 5ut as a su))essive a((ange/ents in the p(og(essive (elation

an1 a))o/plish/ent o3 (e1e/ption4?*'

To help eplain the syste/ o3 P(og(essive 1ispensationalis/ he(e a(e th(ee points

;*


10/14

form.*&

7alte( A4 El0ell, a 1ispensationalist, thin2s that p(og(essive 1ispensationalis/ >0ill 5e

0a(/ly (e)eive1 5y non1ispensationalist? an1 )on)lu1e that >the ne0e( 1ispensationalis/

loo2s so /u)h li2e non1ispensationalist p(e/illennialis/ that one st(uggles to see any (eal

1i33e(en)e4? *+

Covenant Theology

Covenant Theology is a syste/ o3 theology 5ase1 on the t0o )ovenants o3 0o(2s an1

g(a)e as gove(ning )atego(ies 3o( the un1e(stan1ing o3 the enti(e Bi5le4 * The th(ee

)ovenants a(e The Covenant o3 Re1e/ption, Covenant o3 7o(2s ;Genesis *'*8&


11/14

lt(a1ispensationalis/

So/e thin2 lt(a1ispensationalis/ is =ust a /o(e et(e/e vie0point hel1 5y the so/e

people 0ho )all the/selves 1ispensationalists4 Any one 0ho 1ivi1es 5i5li)al histo(y into

va(ious 1ispensational pe(io1s is so/eti/es )alle1 ult(a1ispensational4*.Dispensationalists

5elieve that the(e a(e so/e 5asi) e((o(s in the ult(a1ispensational syste/, an1, the(e3o(e,

they (e=e)t the syste/ as 1ive(se 3(o/ thei( o0n an1 (e=e)t any i/pli)ation that the t0o a(e

si/ila(4*

lt(a1ispensationalis/ is (elate1 in so/e 0ays to Dispensationalis/4 They 5oth 5elieve

that the(e is )lea( 1istin)tion 5et0een Is(ael an1 the Chu()h4 An1 5oth o3 these g(oups

a)tually inte(p(et the Bi5le lite(ally4 But the(e a(e so/e 5asi) 1i33e(en)es 5et0een the t0o4

T0o o3 the 1i33e(en)es is ove( 0hen the )hu()h, the Bo1y o3 Ch(ist t(uly 5egan an1 the

Baptis/ >in? the Spi(it4 Dispensationalists 5elieve that the )hu()h 5egan at Pente)ost ;A)ts

'not? 5e loo2e1 upon as the sa/e as Dispensationalis/4

A Plea

Dispensationalis/ has not al0ays 5een taught 3ai(ly 0ith integ(ity4 That is the /ain

(eason that this 5oo2 0as 0(itten to )o((e)t so/e /is)on)eptions a5out 1ispensationalis/

an1 give a positive p(esentation o3 no(/ative 1ispensational tea)hing4'- As Chil1(en o3

Go1 0e shoul1 not let Dispensationalis/ 1ivi1e the 5o1y o3 Ch(ist4 7e all 0hethe(

11


12/14

1ispensationalist o( non1ispensationalist have a (ight to ou( )onvi)tions a5out 5i5li)al

t(uth4 But 0e all /ust 2eep in /in1 that as long as 0e a(e hu/an, none o3 us a(e in3alli5le4

None o3 us have all the ans0e(s4 As )hil1(en o3 Go1 0e shoul1 5e a5le to put asi1e ou(

1i33e(en)e an1 0al2 in unity an1 integ(ity4 7e shoul1 ta2e the ti/e 0ith an open /in1 an1

t(uly see the 0hole pi)tu(e an1 not =ust loo2 at a photo4 The 5otto/ line is, >Is the tea)hing

S)(iptu(al an1 is it Bi5li)al@?

"o0 Rea1ing This Boo2 "as I/pa)te1 /y E1u)ation

Rea1ing this 5oo2 has i/pa)te1 /y e1u)ation4 It has 5lesse1 /e in /any 0ays4 It has

/a1e /e thin2 outsi1e o3 /y 5o4 I ha1 al0ays hea(1, >That 0e a(e living in the

1ispensation o3 G(a)e4? I neve( (eally thought a5out that state/ent until I (ea1 this 5oo24

I have (ea1 the Bi5le all the 0ay th(ough in 1i33e(ent t(anslations4 I have an1 still 1o (ea1

an1 listen to the Bi5le on CD4 7hile I 0as (ea1ing this Boo2 I lite(ally )oul1 see the han1

Go1 1ealing 0ith the people o3 Is(ael an1 the Chu()h in 1i33e(ent 0ays at 1i33e(ent ti/es to

5(ing 3o(th his pu(pose he(e on ea(th so that "is glo(y )oul1 5e (evile14 This 5oo2 has

given /e a 5ette( un1e(stan1ing o3 The 7o(1 o3 Go14 But it has also /a1e /e (ealiKe1

that the Bo1y O3 Ch(ist goal shoul1 5e pla)e1 on pleasing Go1, 0al2ing in unity 0ith ou(

B(othe(s an1 Siste(s in Ch(ist 0ith one /otive, >To 3ul3ill the pu(pose that Go1 )(ate1 us

3o(4? 7e shoul1 not 5e 3ighting ea)h othe( ove( 1o)t(ine tea)hing that 0ill not 2eep us out

o3 heaven4

12


13/14

NOTES

*4 ohn Ge(stne(, 7(ongly Divi1ing the 7o(1 o3 T(uth A C(iti9ue o3 Dispensationalis/

B(ent0oo1, Tenn4 7oleg/uth J"yatt, *HH*< *-, ''

'4 S)o3iel1 Re3e(en)e Bi5le ;Ne0 %o(2 O3o(1, *H-HDispensationalis/s o3 the Thi(1 in1,? Ch(istianity To1ay, *'

Septe/5e(

*HH+, '

*4 Cha(les C4 Ry(ie, Dispensationalis/ Revise1 an1 Epan1e1, #oo1y Bi5le Institute,*HH,

'--.< '*+

*4 I5i1, '*

*.4 T4A4 "eg(e, The C(oss an1 San)ti3i)ation ;#inneapolis: Bethany Fello0ship, *H-


14/14

*4 Cha(les C4 Ry(ie, Dispensationalis/ Revise1 an1 Epan1e1, #oo1y Bi5le Institute,

*HH,

'--.< '&+

*H4 I5i1, '&H

'-4 I5i1, '+&

14

Dispensationalism1.doc

Documents

Transcript of Dispensationalism1.doc