Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Penny G. Vera
Hello all,
If you want to understand Dispensationalism, There is an author who wrote fantastic books on the subject; "Clarence Larkin."
He wrote:
"Dispensational Truth"
"The Second Coming of Christ",
"The Book of Revelation",
"Rightly Dividing the Word."
"The Jews, The Gentiles and The Church."
Penny
Joshua Lessard
While I appreciate Dispensationalism's high view of the Bible and their rejection of Replacement Theology (the Church replacing Israel), I do have some disagreements.
#1. Not all prophecy is literal nor has it all had a literal fulfillment. For example, in Matthew 11:14, Yeshua calls John the Baptist, Elijah. John was not literally Elijah (John 1:21) but symbolically fulfilled that role (consider also, Jeremiah 33:18 which must have a symbolic fulfillment considering the message of the book of Hebrews). If Yeshua accepted non-literal fulfillment of Malachi 4:5, then non-literal interpretation of prophecy that honors the heart of the prophets' words must be legit.
#2. I do not believe that the New Testament teaches such a clear distinction between the Church and Israel. There may be different callings on the life of the Jewish and Gentile believer (Acts 15, 21:20-15, 1 Cor 7:17ff), but the stark distinction between Israel and the Church seems absent to me. Rather, the Gentile believer has joined the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12, 13) and the Jewish Olive Tree (Romans 11). Ephesians 2 and Galatians 3:28, 29 in particular speak of Gentiles through Jesus now having access to the covenants and promises of Israel. This is not to replace Israel nor to start a new "People of God", but to join Israel (note: to join Israel as one people receiving the promises of God, not to become Jews).
Bonnie Shores
Thank you, Joshua, for your specific references. I definitely agree with you on point #2. I'm so grateful for people like you (and Michael Houdmann) who take the time to answer these questions using scripture so that people like me can further "study to show ourselves approved".
Terry Gillard
I'm now 66 years old, and in Pentecostal Churches, dispensationalism was more assumed than taught. It never bothered me - and I never bothered it!
The issue that gets to me though, is that when did we ever have the right to decide how our Creator works? As a system dispensationalism cannot be true because God has saved by grace ever since Adam. Nothing has changed; yet I also recognise that dispensationalism is a handy way of understanding God's interaction with people over the generations; however--that is all it is. Useful, not law.
Mark Vestal
I agree Paula, but I believe it is our purpose, as ministers of reconciliation, to show there is currently only one "branch" in operation. If anyone is following the other branch, they will fall out of the tree...so to speak. The other branch will not be in operation again until today's branch is full. Both groups have access to the fatness of the root, but as you know are certainly two distinct groups for two distinct ages.
You are correct that the confusion comes from not recognizing and separating the two groups, which is the only way the correct foundation can be laid (Christ crucified for us by God's grace). Mixing the kingdom gospels into the grace gospel has made a denominational mess of the truth, the "simplicity that is in Christ". Amazingly to me, this contention goes back to even Peter and Paul themselves! (Gal 2:11-21)
2 Cor 11:3
"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
1 Cor 15:1-4
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"