A SURVEY OF DISPENSATIONALISM

[Doug]

This is a brief survey of dispensationalism.

There is a lot of resistance and misinformation about dispensationalism. There are preachers and teachers that misrepresent dispensationalism and fail to teach it correctly.

First of all, dispensationalism is not just about periods of time, in that, dispensational periods can overlap. It is about how God deals with us and what God is doing at different times. I think as far as time frames go, there is times past/ times now/ times to come. God dealt differently with us in times past.

God doesn't give us everything we need to know all at once; he reveals knowledge to us progressively. What God tells us has to be believed. What God commands us has to be obeyed.

Dispensationalism divides old testament Israel/ from new testament Israel/ from the body of Christ. It doesn't lump them all together.

God made covenant with Israel in the old testament. God gave instructions for offerings and sacrifices. God gave commandments for behavioral and civil conduct. God only made covenants with Israel and gave the law to Israel only.

The new testament dispensation is different, in that, God sent his Son into the world to shed his blood for the new testament. By the new testament, the trespasses Israel committed under the first testament were redeemed..............[HEBREWS 9:15 KJV] 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance............. Jesus's sacrifice fulfilled the shadow of animal sacrifices offered under the first testament. Jesus formed the new testament church in which, for eternal life, Israel only had to believe on the name of Jesus, that he was their Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus and the apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom. God promised Israel an earthly kingdom in which they will reign with Christ as priests for a thousand years..........[REVELATION 20:6 KJV] 6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years..............Believing Israel will receive this promised kingdom on earth. Jesus taught about this kingdom throughout the four gospels, especially through parables. Israel had to keep the law to enter this kingdom...........[MATTHEW 5:20 KJV] 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Israel has a unique purpose to reconcile the earth, The body of Christ was formed to reconcile heaven........[COLOSSIANS 1:20 KJV] 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.

Jesus revealed the body of Christ to Paul in this dispensation. The body has a lot of distinct features that separates it from the church of the new testament. This dispensation revealed all the cross accomplished; revealed was forgiveness for all by the cross, revealed was not having to go thru Israel for salvation, revealed was salvation apart from the law and from covenants, revealed was we are crucified with Christ. God did not appoint the body of Christ a kingdom on earth, but rather, a heavenly dwelling place.

In the dispensation of time to come, all things in heaven and earth will be gathered together in Christ...........[EPHESIANS 1:10 KJV] 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

Dispensationalism recognizes that God gave us, in this dispensation, our gospel of Christ to be believed for our salvation. Revealed to Paul are the instructions and commandments for the church, the body of Christ...........[1CORINTHIANS 15:1, 3-4 KJV] 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ... 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:

Dispensationalism, if taught correctly, does not say the church replaces Israel. Dispensationalism acknowledges that Israel has temporarily fallen and is set aside; believing Israel will be restored in the Davidic earthly kingdom. Dispensationalism acknowledges that only the body of Christ will be raptured; the tribulation is determined only for Israel to separate believing Israel from unbelieving Israel. Only believing Israel will enter their earthly kingdom.

Lets look at a simple example of dispensations. God judged the world by bringing the flood. This was how he was dealing with wicked mankind. Then he said he would not judge the world anymore by a flood. Two dispensations are seen here in regard to how he dealt with mankind.

 

[Luther7]

This is a brief survey of dispensationalism.

There is a lot of resistance and misinformation about dispensationalism. There are preachers and teachers that misrepresent dispensationalism and fail to teach it correctly.

First of all, dispensationalism is not just about periods of time, in that, dispensational periods can overlap. It is about how God deals with us and what God is doing at different times. I think as far as time frames go, there is times past/ times now/ times to come. God dealt differently with us in times past.

God doesn't give us everything we need to know all at once; he reveals knowledge to us progressively. What God tells us has to be believed. What God commands us has to be obeyed.

Dispensationalism divides old testament Israel/ from new testament Israel/ from the body of Christ. It doesn't lump them all together.

God made covenant with Israel in the old testament. God gave instructions for offerings and sacrifices. God gave commandments for behavioral and civil conduct. God only made covenants with Israel and gave the law to Israel only.

The new testament dispensation is different, in that, God sent his Son into the world to shed his blood for the new testament. By the new testament, the trespasses Israel committed under the first testament were redeemed..............[HEBREWS 9:15 KJV] 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance............. Jesus's sacrifice fulfilled the shadow of animal sacrifices offered under the first testament. Jesus formed the new testament church in which, for eternal life, Israel only had to believe on the name of Jesus, that he was their Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus and the apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom. God promised Israel an earthly kingdom in which they will reign with Christ as priests for a thousand years..........[REVELATION 20:6 KJV] 6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years..............Believing Israel will receive this promised kingdom on earth. Jesus taught about this kingdom throughout the four gospels, especially through parables. Israel had to keep the law to enter this kingdom...........[MATTHEW 5:20 KJV] 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Israel has a unique purpose to reconcile the earth, The body of Christ was formed to reconcile heaven........[COLOSSIANS 1:20 KJV] 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.

Jesus revealed the body of Christ to Paul in this dispensation. The body has a lot of distinct features that separates it from the church of the new testament. This dispensation revealed all the cross accomplished; revealed was forgiveness for all by the cross, revealed was not having to go thru Israel for salvation, revealed was salvation apart from the law and from covenants, revealed was we are crucified with Christ. God did not appoint the body of Christ a kingdom on earth, but rather, a heavenly dwelling place.

In the dispensation of time to come, all things in heaven and earth will be gathered together in Christ...........[EPHESIANS 1:10 KJV] 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

Dispensationalism recognizes that God gave us, in this dispensation, our gospel of Christ to be believed for our salvation. Revealed to Paul are the instructions and commandments for the church, the body of Christ...........[1CORINTHIANS 15:1, 3-4 KJV] 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ... 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:

Dispensationalism, if taught correctly, does not say the church replaces Israel. Dispensationalism acknowledges that Israel has temporarily fallen and is set aside; believing Israel will be restored in the Davidic earthly kingdom. Dispensationalism acknowledges that only the body of Christ will be raptured; the tribulation is determined only for Israel to separate believing Israel from unbelieving Israel. Only believing Israel will enter their earthly kingdom.

Lets look at a simple example of dispensations. God judged the world by bringing the flood. This was how he was dealing with wicked mankind. Then he said he would not judge the world anymore by a flood. Two dispensations are seen here in regard to how he dealt with mankind.

Romans 2:28-29:
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in flesh; 29 but he is a Jew that is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.

This is a dispensation as well. The only requirement of humanity to be right with God is to be a spiritual " Jew".

Jeremiah 38:31-33:
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: 32 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord. 33 For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

God's people, Christians, of the New Covenant, spiritual Jews.

 

[Doug]

Romans 2:28-29:
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in flesh; 29 but he is a Jew that is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.

This is a dispensation as well. The only requirement of humanity to be right with God is to be a spiritual " Jew".

Jeremiah 38:31-33:
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: 32 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord. 33 For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

God's people, Christians, of the New Covenant, spiritual Jews.

The new covenant is future when Israel is in the land and is made only with Israel not the body of Christ
Romans 2 is directed to Jews its not about us becoming spiritual Jews. In the body of Christ there is no Jew................[Galatians 3:28 KJV] "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Romans 2:28-29:
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in flesh; 29 but he is a Jew that is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.

This is a dispensation as well. The only requirement of humanity to be right with God is to be a spiritual " Jew".

Jeremiah 38:31-33:
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: 32 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord. 33 For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

God's people, Christians, of the New Covenant, spiritual Jews.

The church is separate from Israel and Israel separate from the church. Saved jews in the NT are part of the church as well as part of Israel.

Theis covenant theology allegorical reinterpretation has harmed many sincere believers.

 

[Luther7]

The new covenant is future when Israel is in the land and is made only with Israel not the body of Christ
Romans 2 is directed to Jews its not about us becoming spiritual Jews. In the body of Christ there is no Jew................[Galatians 3:28 KJV] "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

I've never heard someone say the New Covenant isn't for Christians.

Hebrews 9:11,15:

But Christ came as a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
15 And on account of this He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that, since a death has occurred for redemption of the transgressions at the time of the first covenant, that those having been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Everything leads to Christ and His people. Any jew still must be saved ( like everyone else) in order to be with us in the New heavens and earth. It's that simple.

 

[Luther7]

The church is separate from Israel and Israel separate from the church. Saved jews in the NT are part of the church as well as part of Israel.

Theis covenant theology allegorical reinterpretation has harmed many sincere believers.

Actually what really hurts is the thought that many Christians actually believe there are two separate plans of salvation. There is only one relevant covenant for all people who believe in Jesus Christ.
The church or assembly whose names are written in heaven is the body of Christ. These earthly semantics don't mean anything.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Actually what really hurts is the thought that many Christians actually believe there are two separate plans of salvation. There is only one relevant covenant for all people who believe in Jesus Christ.
The church or assembly whose names are written in heaven is the body of Christ. These earthly semantics don't mean anything.

Actually there is not one covenant. but as Paul wrote; "one faith, one baptism, one Lord. And also only one gospel of salvation.

 

[JesusFan]

Romans 2:28-29:
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in flesh; 29 but he is a Jew that is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.

This is a dispensation as well. The only requirement of humanity to be right with God is to be a spiritual " Jew".

Jeremiah 38:31-33:
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: 32 not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord. 33 For this is my covenant which I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the Lord, I will surely put my laws into their mind, and write them on their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

God's people, Christians, of the New Covenant, spiritual Jews.

Think Paul was actually stating that among ther jewish people, they are spiritual jews who would be those who trusted in jesus as promised messaih, as we who are saved gentiles would be co hiers of Abraham by faith, but not spiritual Jews

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Think Paul was actually stating that among ther jewish people, they are spiritual jews who would be those who trusted in jesus as promised messaih, as we who are saved gentiles would be co hiers of Abraham by faith, but not spiritual Jews

You hit the nail on the head!

It is sad that what once was a very antisemitic slur among vhurches has become a supposed mainstream theology, that the Church is now spiritual Israel.

 

[Luther7]

Actually there is not one covenant. but as Paul wrote; "one faith, one baptism, one Lord. And also only one gospel of salvation.

Ronald, Salvation IS the Covenant. God made a covenant ( agreement) with mankind that through His only begotten Son we have the hope of eternal life.

 

[Luther7]

Think Paul was actually stating that among ther jewish people, they are spiritual jews who would be those who trusted in jesus as promised messaih, as we who are saved gentiles would be co hiers of Abraham by faith, but not spiritual Jews

No, that's just not true. The circumcision of the heart ( or made without hands, ) applies to all nations of people:

Colossians 2:9-11:
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and in Him you have been made complete, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 In whom you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

And yet there is " the circumcision", which denies Jesus Christ as God:

Philippians 3:2-3:
Beware of the dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the false circumcision! 3 For we are the true circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

These are actually prophetic words. God is warning us about the evil deeds of " the circumcision", the Pharisees of today.
In verse 2, the word " false" was added by the translators. Jews in the Bible are called " the circumcision".

Titus 1:10:
For there are also many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,

These are God's words. I hope you don't think He's " antisemitic".

 

[Luther7]

You hit the nail on the head!

It is sad that what once was a very antisemitic slur among vhurches has become a supposed mainstream theology, that the Church is now spiritual Israel.

Nah, nothing anti- Semitic ( whatever that's supposed to mean) going on with the truth that spiritual Israel IS the fulfillment of God's salvation plan. Jews gotta be saved before Jesus Christ comes. So let's get out there and start preaching to them, if we really care about them.

 

[Doug]

I've never heard someone say the New Covenant isn't for Christians.

Hebrews 9:11,15:

But Christ came as a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
15 And on account of this He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that, since a death has occurred for redemption of the transgressions at the time of the first covenant, that those having been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Everything leads to Christ and His people. Any jew still must be saved ( like everyone else) in order to be with us in the New heavens and earth. It's that simple.

[Jeremiah 31:31 KJV] "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"...........the new covenant is made only with Israel

Hebrew is written to believing Israel. Israel had High Priests not the body of Christ, the church in this dispensation. Hebrews 9:15 says it Christ died only to redeem the sins Israel committed under the old testament. It was revealed to Paul that we also were redeemed by his blood

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Ronald, Salvation IS the Covenant. God made a covenant ( agreement) with mankind that through His only begotten Son we have the hope of eternal life.

Well it is not called a covenant. We have the varied OT covenants and the New Covenant spelled out in Jer. 31 which is still to come, but the church has no spoken covenant.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Nah, nothing anti- Semitic ( whatever that's supposed to mean) going on with the truth that spiritual Israel IS the fulfillment of God's salvation plan. Jews gotta be saved before Jesus Christ comes. So let's get out there and start preaching to them, if we really care about them.

It was a slur to set aside Israel and call teh church spiritual Israel. Yes we need more people to learn the depths of the OT so they can speak to Jews and show them how Jesus is the Messiah.

I love Arnold Fruchtenbaums Ministry, Ariel.org. He reaches out to his fellow Jews in droves.

 

[Titus]

[Jeremiah 31:31 KJV] "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"...........the new covenant is made only with Israel

Jeremiah 31:31-34,
- I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more
This covenant is CONDITIONAL.
If those whom God are making this covenant with do not repent and turn to Christ by obeying His new testament gospel they WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN.

Nowhere does Jeremiah teach this covenant is made without conditions.
National Israel never fullfilled Jeremiah 31.

Romans 10:2-3,
- they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge

Jesus tells ethnic Israelites,
John 8:37-44,
- ye seek to kill Me, ye are of your father the devil

Jeremiah 31 cannot be fullfilled in unbelieving Israel because,
They do not know the Lord,
Their sins are not forgiven
The law is not written in their hearts

The new testament teaches the new covenant is fulfilled in the church not Israel.
Luke 22:20,
- this cup is the new covenant in My blood which is shedfor you(the church)

Jesus applies Jeremiah 31 to HIS DISCIPLES not ethnic Israel!!!

Only those whom Jesus forgives is in His church.
Never outside it.
Ephesians 5:26, 23
- that Jesus might sanctify and cleanse it(church) with the washing of water by the word
- for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church and He is the Savior of the body

Paul says the church ministers the new covenant.
2 Corinthians 3:6,
- who also hath made us(believers in the body of Christ) able ministers of the new covenant NOT OF THE LETTER(Jewish old covenant law) but of the Spirit

Hebrews is written to christians not unbelieving jews.
The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31 in full and concludes,
- in that He saith a new covenant He hath made the first old

If Jeremiah 31 were written to ethnic Israel ,
Hebrews would not say it is already enacted!!!!
The old covenant would not be obsolete!!!!

Unbelieving Jews are never called HOLY brethren.
Hebrews 3:1,
- wherefore Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling

They are said to be sanctified by Christ's blood,
Hebrews 10:10,
- by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

Unbelieving Jews are not sanctified by Christs sacrifice!!!

They are warned not to fall away proving they cannot be unbelievers.
Hebrews 6:4-6,
- those who were once enlightened and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit

Unbelievers do not partake of the Holy Spirit!!!!
The book assumes they already have forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:17,
- and their sins and inquities will I remember no more
This is Jeremiah 31 present tense!!!!

This covenant is already in effect it cannot be in the future.

 

[Luther7]

[Jeremiah 31:31 KJV] "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:"...........the new covenant is made only with Israel

Hebrew is written to believing Israel. Israel had High Priests not the body of Christ, the church in this dispensation. Hebrews 9:15 says it Christ died only to redeem the sins Israel committed under the old testament. It was revealed to Paul that we also were redeemed by his blood

Jesus Christ is the High priest for all He came to save. The Bible was written as a gospel witness to humanity. National Israel played a role in God's timeline. The New Covenant that was prophesied in Jeremiah 31 was for a remnant of those from the House of Judah and Israel, along with the remnant of all nations.

Like I said before, the church has been indoctrinated or infiltrated with this false doctrine of salvation for a whole nation of people. God saves us individually. He's not saving us because we are a particular ethnicity. There's one plan of salvation for all of humanity.

John 1:11-13:
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name; 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

To summarize:

" He came to His own", but the NATION did not receive Him. They crucified Him. But there was a remnant of jews that believed in Him.
"who were born, NOT OF BLOOD...." Their ethnicity meant NOTHING, as it is to this day. Jews and Gentiles are equal when it comes to redemption because it's not their will but God's.

 

[Titus]

Jesus Christ is the High priest for all He came to save. The Bible was written as a gospel witness to humanity. National Israel played a role in God's timeline. The New Covenant that was prophesied in Jeremiah 31 was for a remnant of those from the House of Judah and Israel, along with the remnant of all nations.

Like I said before, the church has been indoctrinated or infiltrated with this false doctrine of salvation for a whole nation of people. God saves us individually. He's not saving us because we are a particular ethnicity. There's one plan of salvation for all of humanity.

John 1:11-13:
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name; 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

To summarize:

" He came to His own", but the NATION did not receive Him. They crucified Him. But there was a remnant of jews that believed in Him.
"who were born, NOT OF BLOOD...." Their ethnicity meant NOTHING, as it is to this day. Jews and Gentiles are equal when it comes to redemption because it's not their will but God's.

Could you image God saving people based on ethnicity?
Sounds racist.
Acts 10:34,
- then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons

Colossians 3:25,
- but he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respecter of persons

 

[Luther7]

Could you image God saving people based on ethnicity?
Sounds racist.
Acts 10:34,
- then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons

Colossians 3:25,
- but he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respecter of persons

But millions of Christians believe that God is a respecter of National Israel, that He has a special covenant or promise to them.

 

[Titus]

But millions of Christians believe that God is a respecter of National Israel, that He has a special covenant or promise to them.

Anyone saying anything negative towards Jews/Israel will be falsely accused of being anti-semitic.
Berean apologetics ministry has already accused me of this.
Lots of dispensationalist's there. This false doctrine really grew like a cancer in the USA.
Since God shows no favoritism towards men, neither will I.
Christians are to love everyone just as Christ loves.
Philippians 2:5,
- let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus