Dispensationalism, Some History

Objectives

• Students will recognize that dispensationalism is not a new doctrine.
• Students will look for ways in which dispensational thinking should impact their day to day life.

Materials

Dispensationalism, Some History - Activity

Opening

• What are examples of items for which the latest and greatest is desirable?

• Why do we want the latest and greatest?

• What warning is given in Hebrews 13:9?
  • We need to be wary of the latest and greatest doctrines.

Main Body

A New Fad

I once had a friend approach me to tell me that he was surprised to learn that all the theology in the Left Behind book series was invented within the last few hundred years. According to this friend, this presented a significant problem with my eschatology. After all, how could I believe that no theologian in 1600 years had discovered my eschatological doctrines. Wasn't it likely that instead the apostles never intended for us to see these doctrines? At the time I had no good response but now I understand that my friend was really misinformed. In fact, the eschatological doctrines present in the Left Behind book series have very early support in church history. In this lesson we will argue that dispensationalism is not a modern invention, but a modern label applied to foundational doctrines of the New Testament that had very early acceptance in the Church.

• Is it necessarily true that all an early doctrine is more true than a later doctrine?
  • No, in fact, we know that false doctrines crept into the church very early. In fact, 1 John 4:1-6 appears to be a challenge to the false doctrine of doceticism, the denial of Christ's humanity. Proto-gnostic doctrines seem to be the target of Colossians 2, and Baptismal Regeneration was taught very early in the history of the church despite passages like Ephesians 2:8-9. An early doctrine is not necessarily a good doctrine.

• What danger does Christ speak about in Matthew 15:9?
  • Holding the doctrine of men above the doctrines taught in the Bible. In short we must look at scripture before anything else. Our highest authority is the authority of scripture. That being said, it is worth asking how early interpreters interpreted Scripture, such interpretations should not be the end all, but are worth considering.

More about History

We have argued that it is a fallacy to argue that all early doctrines are correct and all late doctrines are false. That being said, it is also not the case that all doctrines associate with dispensationalism are late doctrines.

Many argue that dispensationalism began with John Nelson Darby (1800-1882). In particular, Darby considered Isaiah 32 and decided that some prophecies for Israel had yet to be fulfilled. In Darby's view, the Church and Israel were distinct entities with distinct programs. In particular, Darby argued for a "rapture" of the Church that would remove the Church from earth and allow God's program for Israel to resume. It is worth noting that some have taken this to argue that the rapture was invented by Darby. Historical research demonstrates that the doctrine of the rapture predates Darby.

• What biblical doctrine is taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:17?
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is what we commonly us to defend the rapture. A natural question arises, did the early church see this as evidence of the rapture? Ephraem of Syria (C. 306-373) taught that their would be a pre-tribulational rapture of the church.

    For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the Tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins

    . However, we can go even earlier in Church History. In The Shepherd of Hermas and early 2nd century church text we see a pre-tribulational removal of the Church

    Go therefore, and declare to the elect of the Lord His mighty works, and tell them that this beast is a type of the great tribulation which is to come. If therefore ye prepare yourselves beforehand, and repent (and turn) unto the Lord with your whole heart, ye shall be able to escape it, if your heart be made pure and without blemish, and if for the remaining days of your life ye serve the Lord blamelessly. Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will set them straight.

• Dispensationalists believe that God's program includes varying dispensations. Is there any support for this claim? In particular, is there evidence that Israel and the church are truly distinct?
  • That is what the next action will cover.

Distinguishing Israel from the Church

• What event takes place in Genesis 35:10-15?
  • God renews the covenant with Jacob and establishes Jacob as the father of Israel.
• What are the origins of Israel?

• According to Romans 9:4, to whom do the OT covenants belong?
  • The covenants were for Israel.

• According to Matthew 16:16-18, what was the origin of the Church?
  • The Church started with Christ.

• What were the conditions for being an Israelite?
  • Must have been a descendent of Jacob, or in some circumstances someone might be allowed to join into the Israelites (Caleb is one example).

• What are the conditions necessary for bing part of the Church?
  • According to 1 Corinthians 12:13 baptism by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation gives one entrance into the Church.

• Israel was a distinct ethnic group, what do Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11 say about nationality in the Church?

• What inheritance is discussed in Ephesians 1:3, 11, 14, 18? What inheritance is discussed in Genesis 13:14-15? How are these different.
  • God promise a physical inheritance to Abraham and his descendants while promising a spiritual inheritance to the Church.

• What promise is made in 2 Samuel 7:12?
  • Eternal reign of a Davidic descendent on the throne in Jerusalem.

• What promise is made in Luke 1:32?
  • Christ would be the one to fulfill the promise made in 2 Samuel 7:12.

• Did Christ give any indication that his fulfillment would be done by replacing Israel with the Church or does Christ indicate that he will reign over a literal nation of Israel?
  • Matthew 19:28 seems to indicate that Christ will reign over a literal Israel.

• What offer did Peter make in Acts 3:19-21?
  • Peter offered the Israelites a literal fulfillment. Just because they did not accept then does not mean they will not accept later.

Historical Evidence

• Is there historical evidence outside the Bible that the early church saw Israel as distinct from the Bible?
  • This is frankly a little harder to develop. Once the Church spread to Gentiles many factors began influencing doctrine and it appears that replacement theology took hold fairly quickly. That being said, there are some early writings worth consideration. We do not have much from Papias, born sometime before AD 72, all that has survived is fragments. However, we do have writings about his writings. One example is Eusibius, who writing nearly 200 years later disagreed with a literal millennial reign and wrote.

    To these belong his statement that there will be a period of some thousand years after the resurrection of the dead, and that the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this very earth. I suppose he got these ideas through a misunderstanding of the apostolic accounts, not perceiving that the things said by them were spoken mystically in figures.

    It seems that Papias expected a literal return and reign of Christ.

So what we can say is that while there seems to be some problems distinguishing Israel from he church in early church history, the Bible does make that distinction and the early church recognize the need for a millennium to complete prophecies.

Covenants

Dispensationalism is often contrasted with Covenant Theology and we certainly believe that dispensationalism is the appropriate method. However, covenants are part of the Bible and so as dispensationalists we need to deal with the covenants in a consistent way.

• What is a covenant?
  • A chosen relationship between 2 parties in which one or both parties make binding promises to one another.
  • A Covenant can be conditional or unconditional - in contrast to a contract which is voided when one party breaks its side of the deal.

• What are some of the major covenants that you know of in the Bible?
  • Eden
  • Adam
  • Noah
  • Abraham
  • Moses
  • Palestinian
  • David
  • New
    • With the exception of the Edenic and Adamic covenants, the word covenant is used.

• So how do we, as dispensationalists, deal with covenants?
  • Some Theologians use the term dispensation to describe the time between the covenants. In general, dispensationalists focus on the different ways God deals with different people at different times (the times between the covenants).
• Someone might argue that God is unchanging. How do we explain a God who deals with people in different ways at different times?
  • Just because God changes the way He deals with people at different times, that does not mean that God changes.
  • In general, God can deal with different people differently to bring Himself the most glory if that is how He chooses to do so. Th unifying theme is God's glory, that is unchanging. How God accomplishes His glory is His choice.
  • In fact, Covenant Theology has become popular lately as many popular pastors and authors are going back to the reformers. Covenant theologians will us the word dispensations as well. However, they essentially only believe in two dispensations, one of works (before the fall) and one of grace (after). Essentially, salvation by grace is the unifying theme.

Conclusion

• The Church is distinct from Israel. What does that mean for us?
  • The Church is not itself a political or national power but rather an institution God ordains.