What is Dispensationalism?

[BradC]

[h=1]What is dispensationalism?[/h]In the study of a compilation of 66 books written by 40 different authors over the course of 1500 years, it is essential to determine a framework for interpretation. The last book of the Bible was written nearly 2000 years ago. Both Testaments were written in a drastically different culture and language. It is clear that much of the Bible was intended as history, but some is also allegory and symbolism, some poetry, and much of it prophecy. Determining how to consolidate several different literary forms and determine God's over-arching story almost requires a methodology as flexible as the scientific method—make a prediction, see how the evidence supports that prediction, refine the prediction until no further anomalies occur, then use the established framework to interpret the more ambiguous texts. The established framework adhered to by dispensationlists is that the text of the Bible should be taken literally wherever possible and that the church and the nation of Israel are two separate entities which God has managed via two distinct plans.

Within the literal interpretation of dispensationalism is allowance for metaphor, figures of speech, and allegory. Jesus was fond of using allegory in His parables (Matthew 13:10-17). God often used imagery to reveal facets of His character whether it is His protective side (Matthew 23:37) or His power (Hosea 5:14). But the meaning behind the metaphor is taken literally. God makes it evident through His use of language which passages are literal and which are metaphorical. Even in such miraculous events as the creation of the world, He uses specific language to reveal His literal meaning. For instance, while many try to force the text to mean God created the world during a long expanse of time, the text specifically states "And there was evening and there was morning…" (Genesis 1:5,8,13,19,23,31). In no other place in the Bible does the phrase "evening and morning" refer to a symbolic period of time; it always refers to a 24-hour day.

God also worked through the course of history to encourage a literal interpretation of the Bible. Those prophecies which have been fulfilled have all been fulfilled literally. Jesus was literally born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). God did not have to fulfill these prophecies literally, but because He did, it impels us to interpret other prophecies just as literally. It makes sense that He would want His word interpreted literally. To fill His word with symbolism and hidden mysteries would be to invite too much subjectivity into interpretation, something that can be readily witnessed in the church today, and throughout its history.

A literal interpretation of the Bible may have its greatest and most divisive effect in the interpretation of what will happen in the end times. Dispensationalism holds that the church and Israel are two different entities, with whom God interacts in two specific ways. Unlike Covenant theology, dispensationalism teaches that the church did not inherit the promises God made to Israel. Although both the church and Israel receive salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, the church is not a political/national entity and is not called to enforce God's standards on a nationwide or worldwide scale. With this distinction in mind, God's plan for Israel is yet to be fulfilled; Israel still has an essential part in the end times which will ultimately come to pass in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20). God's attention is temporarily on the church, but will return to Israel when the church is raptured before the Tribulation.

"Dispensationalism" gets its name from the "dispensations" inferred in the Bible. They are innocence (Genesis 1:1–3:7), conscience (Genesis 3:8–8:22), human government (Genesis 9:1–11:32), promise (Genesis 12:1–Exodus 19:25), law (Exodus 20:1–Acts 2:4), grace (Acts 2:4–Revelation 20:3), and the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). Perhaps ironically, these seven timeframes are notliterallynamed in the text, but they do accurately describe the different ways in which God has interacted with His creation. A literal interpretation of the Bible shows that God has related to mankind in different ways over the course of history, and that Israel and the church are two separate entities. That is the essence of dispensationalism.


Read more:What is dispensationalism?

 

[p_rehbein]

From Article found here:


Dispensationalist theology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Dispensational theology refers to the unified teachings of Dispensationalism that address what other views teach as divergent theologies in the Old Testament and New Testament. Its name reflects a view that biblical history is best understood as a series of dispensations, or separated time-periods, in the Bible.
Each dispensation is said to represent a different way in which God deals with man. Some writers also believe that it also involves a different testing of Man. "These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God's method of dealing with mankind, in respect to two questions: of sin, and of man's responsibility," explained C. I. Scofield. "Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment—marking his utter failure in every dispensation."


[h=2]Alternatives to dispensationalism[edit][/h]Prior to dispensationalism's 19-20th century systemization, Covenant Theology was the prominent Protestant view regarding redemptive history and is still the view of the Reformed churches. A relatively recent view, which is seen as a third alternative, especially among Reformed Baptists, is called New Covenant Theology.

 

[BradC]

What is replacement theology?

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus with the sound of a violent, rushing wind and the appearance of tongues of fire. In the ensuing years, the alteration of the worship of God was no less dynamic for the Jews who had chosen to follow Jesus as their Messiah. Christ caused an upheaval in their worldview. The Jewish believers no longer relied on the daily sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins, and they learned to think of God as Someone whom they could speak to directly, bypassing the system of priesthood. They also had to deal with the steady influx of Gentiles into the church, which challenged their Jewish sensibilities. The Jews, who had always been God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2), now faced the fact that God was choosing people from all nations, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.

The crucial first-century transition from Judaism to Christianity was so significant that we are still debating its ramifications. Specifically, if God is now relating to the world through the church instead of through the nation of Israel, what does that mean for Israel? Is this a temporary condition, as the dispensationalists believe, or is God really and completely done with the Jews as a nation?

The latter belief is called "replacement theology." It teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plans, prophecies, and blessings. The roles of Israel and the church are foundational to the events of the end times; what one believes about replacement theology largely determines what one believes about the rapture, the tribulation, and the millennial kingdom, not to mention the role of the church in modern society.

A couple of practical matters led to the formation of replacement theology. One was that, for 2,400 years, from their exile to Babylon to the formation of Israel in modern times, Jews did not have a sovereign nation. And, after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Jews were largely spread throughout the world. Another matter was the increasing wealth, advancement, and global reach of Christian sects and "Christian" nations. All this seemed to indicate God's abandonment of Israel and His focus on the church. Anti-Semitism also played a role. As the church emphasized the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, some Gentile believers adopted the common pagan belief that Jews are religiously backward and socially unapproachable.

Replacement theology is not based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. As the Bible uses metaphor (no one really expects God to send all the goats of the world to hell, asMatthew 25:31-33allegorizes), some theologians concluded that much unfulfilled prophecy must have also been intended as metaphor—the promises made to Israel were really meant for the church. Once this simple "explanation" was made, large portions of the Bible became open to personal interpretation.

The Bible is filled with prophecies promising peace and wealth to Israel, and a great many are still unfulfilled, including a promise detailing specific borders (Genesis 15:18-20;Numbers 34:1-12), a promise of a King from the line of David (2 Samuel 7), and a promise that Israel would one day be wholly devoted to God (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Given the continued non-existence of a Jewish state and the success of Christian-led endeavors, it was difficult to see how such prophecies would ever be fulfilled. Some assumed they would be more easily and completely fulfilled through the church than through the Jewish people, and replacement theology was born.

In order to shift prophecy to the church, several specific promises must be "spiritualized" or "allegorized," that is, reinterpreted non-literally. Abraham's descendants beyond counting (Genesis 22:17) become all Christ-followers, not literal biological descendents. The literal 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-6) becomes symbolic, either referencing the saints in heaven or the reign of Jesus in believers' hearts.

Allegorizing such a foundational concept as the subject of prophecy opens up many more issues. If the millennial kingdom is for the church, when will the rapture occur? If the prophecies of peace are for the church (Isaiah 32:18), should the church enforce peace in international affairs? If God's plan is for the church to lead (Isaiah 2:2), should the church take over politics? Replacement theology has several consequent beliefs:

- Amillennialism: The belief that the millennial kingdom is not literal, that it began at Christ's resurrection and is manifest either in the hearts of saints in heaven or saints on earth.
- Postmillennialism: The belief that the church is responsible for arranging the "golden age" of Christ's rule in people's hearts, resulting in godly overtones in politics, entertainment, family, and social life.
- Dominionism: Similar to postmillennialism but more extreme; the belief that the church is responsible for reinstating the Old Testament laws in all of the world's governments and societies.

As witnesses to the re-establishment of a Jewish state in 1948, we have an advantage over those earlier theologians; we've seen God's power in action to set the stage for a more literal interpretation of prophecy. This event, combined with a careful study of biblical prophecy, shows that the church was never designed to take the place of Israel.

First of all, the church is not a punishment on Israel for their failure to spread the gospel. It is God's work to draw Jews to Him (Romans 11:11).Daniel 9:20-27is clear that God's plan for Israel is to last seventy "weeks" or 490 years, starting at the time of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Verses 25 and 26 suggest a significant event at the sixty-nine "week" mark—the point of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It also allows for a break before the arrival of the seventieth week—this space of time has been manifested as the church age. As this prophecy is forDaniel's people(vs. 24), the church era is not mentioned. Instead, the prophecy skips ahead to the last "week"—the tribulation. Before the tribulation is the rapture, which marks the removal of the church—and the re-establishing of God's work with Israel.

Paul, in a letter written primarily to Gentiles, explicitly states that God is not finished with Israel.Romans 11:12says that if Israel's rejection of Jesus is a blessing for the Gentiles, therestorationof Israel will be more so.Romans 11:25-26goes on to say, "Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob'" (cf.Daniel 9:24). As the previous verses clearly delineate Jews and Gentiles, there is no way that this prophecy can be applied to the church.

The more literal interpretation of God's plan for humanity is called "dispensationalism." Instead of the churchreplacingIsrael, dispensationalism teaches that the Bible shows God working in very specificdispensationsthroughout history. The previous dispensation focused on Israel and the law. The current one on the church and grace. In "the fullness of time" (Ephesians 1:10), the next dispensation will begin. The church will be removed (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Israel will be sanctified (Daniel 9:24), and the prophecies made to both Israel (Genesis 15:18-20;Jeremiah 31:31-34;Isaiah 11:6-9) and the church (Revelation 20:1-5) will be fulfilled in Jesus' literal millennial kingdom.

The problem with replacement theology is that it relies on the judgment and effort of man instead of the Word and power of God. Two hundred years ago, the idea of a restored Jewish state was incredible. Today, the Jewish state is a fact. Having such gracious proof of God's sovereignty, we should be greatly exhorted to read the Bible as literally as it was written. God has given the church specific blessings and responsibilities. We should concentrate on these and reject the allegorical interpretations of replacement theology.


Read more:What is replacement theology?

 

[zone]

[h=1]What is dispensationalism?[/h]
Read more:What is dispensationalism?

"Determining how to consolidate several different literary forms and determine God's over-arching story almost requires a methodology as flexible as the scientific method—make a prediction, see how the evidence supports that prediction, refine the prediction until no further anomalies occur, then use the established framework to interpret the more ambiguous texts.

The established framework adhered to by dispensationlists is that the text of the Bible should be taken literally wherever possible and that the church and the nation of Israel are two separate entities which God has managed via two distinct plans."

What is dispensationalism?



TRUE? OR FALSE?

is this hard?

 

[BradC]

What are the different covenants in the Bible?

Covenants are an important feature of the Bible's teaching. Seven specific covenants are revealed in Scripture. These seven covenants fall into three categories—conditional, unconditional, and general. Conditional covenants are based on certain obligations and prerequisites; if the requirements are not fulfilled, the covenant is broken. Unconditional covenants are made with no strings attached and will be kept regardless of one party's fidelity or infidelity. General covenants are not specific to one people group and can involve a wide range of people.

The conditional covenant mentioned in Scripture is the Mosaic Covenant; the blessings it extends are contingent upon Israel's adherence to the Law. The unconditional covenants mentioned in the Bible are the Abrahamic, Palestinian, and Davidic Covenants; God promises to fulfill these regardless of other factors. The general covenants mentioned are the Adamic, Noahic, and New Covenants, which are global in scope. Each of these covenants is listed below in biblical order with a brief description:

1.Adamic Covenant.Found inGenesis 1:26-30and2:16-17, this covenant is general in nature. It included the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, pronounced a curse for sin, and spoke of a future provision for man's redemption (Genesis 3:15).

2.Noahic Covenant.This general covenant was made between God and Noah following the departure of Noah, his family, and the animals from the ark. Found inGenesis 9:11, "I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." This covenant included a sign of God's faithfulness to keep it—the rainbow.

3.Abrahamic Covenant.This unconditional covenant, first made to Abraham inGenesis 12:1-3, promised God's blessing upon Abraham, to make his name great and to make his progeny into a great nation. The covenant also promised blessing to those who blessed Abraham and cursing to those who cursed him. Further, God vowed to bless the entire world through Abraham's seed. Circumcision was the sign that Abraham believed the covenant (Romans 4:11). The fulfillment of this covenant is seen in the history of Abraham's descendants and in the creation of the nation of Israel. The worldwide blessing came through Jesus Christ, who was of Abraham's family line.

4.Palestinian Covenant.This unconditional covenant, found inDeuteronomy 30:1-10, noted God's promise to scatter Israel if they disobeyed God, then to restore them at a later time to their land. This covenant has been fulfilled twice, with the Babylonian Captivity and subsequent rebuilding of Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great; and with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, followed by the reinstatement of the nation of Israel in 1948.

5.Mosaic Covenant.This conditional covenant, found in Deuteronomy 11 and elsewhere, promised the Israelites a blessing for obedience and a curse for disobedience. Much of the Old Testament chronicles the fulfillment of this cycle of judgment for sin and later blessing when God's people repented and returned to God.

6.Davidic Covenant.This unconditional covenant, found in2 Samuel 7:8-16, promised to bless David's family line and assured an everlasting kingdom. Jesus is from the family line of David (Luke 1:32-33) and, as the Son of David (Mark 10:47), is the fulfillment of this covenant.

7.New Covenant.This covenant, found inJeremiah 31:31-34, promised that God would forgive sin and have a close, unbroken relationship with His people. The promise was first made to Israel and then extended to everyone who comes to Jesus Christ in faith (Matthew 26:28;Hebrews 9:15).

While not all Bible scholars agree on every detail regarding these biblical covenants, it is clear that God has made certain promises. Some of His promises are to all people, and some are limited to Israel. All of God's promises are based on who He is and His plan for the world. Under the New Covenant, which Jesus sealed with His own blood, everyone is offered salvation by grace through faith. "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).


Read more:What are the different covenants in the Bible?

 

[BradC]

What is the definition of theology?

The word "theology" comes from two Greek words,theosmeaning 'God' andlogosmeaning 'the word about (or the study of) God' as He is revealed in the Scriptures. Even though our attempts to understand an infinite God will fall short because of our limited understanding (Romans 11:33-36), God has given us the Bible for us to study and understand who He is. Some people try to avoid theology because they believe it is divisive. However, understanding God as He is revealed is uniting and a beneficial thing (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Without theology, our relationship with God would be limited. Practically, theology is reading the Bible to discover what God has said about Himself. Theology teaches us that God is the Creator, Sustainer and Judge of all things; that He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of all things; that He is, as Moses learned (Exodus 3:14), the great "I AM", the free, purposeful, self-sufficient, almighty, self-existing, self-determining Being and not an impersonal cosmic force. Through theology we learn that God has revealed Himself to humanity through His Son Jesus Christ and that through His blood we have eternal life.

In our own lives, we must understand theology in order to live a life of love and obedience. How can we love God if we don't know Him? And how can we obey him if we don't love Him? As we get to know God better through reading His Word, our lives are immeasurably enriched by the comfort and hope that He imparts to those who know, love, obey Him. Inversely, poor theology and a superficial or inaccurate understanding of God will make our lives worse instead of bringing the comfort and hope we long for. Without theology, we have no direction about who God is and what He does, and we waste our lives and lose our souls.

All Christians should be preoccupied with theology—the intense, personal study of God—so that we may know, love and obey the One with whom we will joyfully spend eternity.


Read more:What is the definition of theology?

 

[zone]

"A literal interpretation of the Bible may have its greatest and most divisive effect in the interpretation of what will happen in the end times.

Dispensationalism holds that the church and Israel are two different entities, with whom God interacts in two specific ways.

Unlike Covenant theology, dispensationalism teaches that the church did not inherit the promises God made to Israel.

Although both the church and Israel receive salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus, the church is not a political/national entity and is not called to enforce God's standards on a nationwide or worldwide scale.

With this distinction in mind, God's plan for Israel is yet to be fulfilled; Israel still has an essential part in the end times which will ultimately come to pass in the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20).

God's attention is temporarily on the church, but will return to Israel when the church is raptured before the Tribulation."

What is dispensationalism?



any problems with this scheme?

this should be a cakewalk.
Dispensationalism debunks itself.

LOL.

 

[zone]

What is replacement theology?

Daniel 9:20-27is clear that God's plan for Israel is to last seventy "weeks" or 490 years, starting at the time of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem.

Verses 25 and 26 suggest a significant event at the sixty-nine "week" mark—the point of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

It also allows for a break before the arrival of the seventieth week—this space of time has been manifested as the church age.

As this prophecy is for Daniel's people (vs. 24), the church era is not mentioned.

Instead, the prophecy skips ahead to the last "week"—the tribulation.

Before the tribulation is the rapture, which marks the removal of the church—and the re-establishing of God's work with Israel.

TRUE OR FALSE?


is 490 years actually 2490+ years and counting?

 

[jimmydiggs]

What is replacement theology?

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus with the sound of a violent, rushing wind and the appearance of tongues of fire. In the ensuing years, the alteration of the worship of God was no less dynamic for the Jews who had chosen to follow Jesus as their Messiah. Christ caused an upheaval in their worldview. The Jewish believers no longer relied on the daily sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins, and they learned to think of God as Someone whom they could speak to directly, bypassing the system of priesthood. They also had to deal with the steady influx of Gentiles into the church, which challenged their Jewish sensibilities. The Jews, who had always been God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2), now faced the fact that God was choosing people from all nations, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.

The crucial first-century transition from Judaism to Christianity was so significant that we are still debating its ramifications. Specifically, if God is now relating to the world through the church instead of through the nation of Israel, what does that mean for Israel? Is this a temporary condition, as the dispensationalists believe, or is God really and completely done with the Jews as a nation?

The latter belief is called "replacement theology." It teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plans, prophecies, and blessings. The roles of Israel and the church are foundational to the events of the end times; what one believes about replacement theology largely determines what one believes about the rapture, the tribulation, and the millennial kingdom, not to mention the role of the church in modern society.

A couple of practical matters led to the formation of replacement theology. One was that, for 2,400 years, from their exile to Babylon to the formation of Israel in modern times, Jews did not have a sovereign nation. And, after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Jews were largely spread throughout the world. Another matter was the increasing wealth, advancement, and global reach of Christian sects and "Christian" nations. All this seemed to indicate God's abandonment of Israel and His focus on the church. Anti-Semitism also played a role. As the church emphasized the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, some Gentile believers adopted the common pagan belief that Jews are religiously backward and socially unapproachable.

Replacement theology is not based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. As the Bible uses metaphor (no one really expects God to send all the goats of the world to hell, asMatthew 25:31-33allegorizes), some theologians concluded that much unfulfilled prophecy must have also been intended as metaphor—the promises made to Israel were really meant for the church. Once this simple "explanation" was made, large portions of the Bible became open to personal interpretation.

The Bible is filled with prophecies promising peace and wealth to Israel, and a great many are still unfulfilled, including a promise detailing specific borders (Genesis 15:18-20;Numbers 34:1-12), a promise of a King from the line of David (2 Samuel 7), and a promise that Israel would one day be wholly devoted to God (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Given the continued non-existence of a Jewish state and the success of Christian-led endeavors, it was difficult to see how such prophecies would ever be fulfilled. Some assumed they would be more easily and completely fulfilled through the church than through the Jewish people, and replacement theology was born.

In order to shift prophecy to the church, several specific promises must be "spiritualized" or "allegorized," that is, reinterpreted non-literally. Abraham's descendants beyond counting (Genesis 22:17) become all Christ-followers, not literal biological descendents. The literal 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1-6) becomes symbolic, either referencing the saints in heaven or the reign of Jesus in believers' hearts.

Allegorizing such a foundational concept as the subject of prophecy opens up many more issues. If the millennial kingdom is for the church, when will the rapture occur? If the prophecies of peace are for the church (Isaiah 32:18), should the church enforce peace in international affairs? If God's plan is for the church to lead (Isaiah 2:2), should the church take over politics? Replacement theology has several consequent beliefs:

- Amillennialism: The belief that the millennial kingdom is not literal, that it began at Christ's resurrection and is manifest either in the hearts of saints in heaven or saints on earth.
- Postmillennialism: The belief that the church is responsible for arranging the "golden age" of Christ's rule in people's hearts, resulting in godly overtones in politics, entertainment, family, and social life.
- Dominionism: Similar to postmillennialism but more extreme; the belief that the church is responsible for reinstating the Old Testament laws in all of the world's governments and societies.

As witnesses to the re-establishment of a Jewish state in 1948, we have an advantage over those earlier theologians; we've seen God's power in action to set the stage for a more literal interpretation of prophecy. This event, combined with a careful study of biblical prophecy, shows that the church was never designed to take the place of Israel.

First of all, the church is not a punishment on Israel for their failure to spread the gospel. It is God's work to draw Jews to Him (Romans 11:11).Daniel 9:20-27is clear that God's plan for Israel is to last seventy "weeks" or 490 years, starting at the time of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem. Verses 25 and 26 suggest a significant event at the sixty-nine "week" mark—the point of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It also allows for a break before the arrival of the seventieth week—this space of time has been manifested as the church age. As this prophecy is forDaniel's people(vs. 24), the church era is not mentioned. Instead, the prophecy skips ahead to the last "week"—the tribulation. Before the tribulation is the rapture, which marks the removal of the church—and the re-establishing of God's work with Israel.

Paul, in a letter written primarily to Gentiles, explicitly states that God is not finished with Israel.Romans 11:12says that if Israel's rejection of Jesus is a blessing for the Gentiles, therestorationof Israel will be more so.Romans 11:25-26goes on to say, "Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob'" (cf.Daniel 9:24). As the previous verses clearly delineate Jews and Gentiles, there is no way that this prophecy can be applied to the church.

The more literal interpretation of God's plan for humanity is called "dispensationalism." Instead of the churchreplacingIsrael, dispensationalism teaches that the Bible shows God working in very specificdispensationsthroughout history. The previous dispensation focused on Israel and the law. The current one on the church and grace. In "the fullness of time" (Ephesians 1:10), the next dispensation will begin. The church will be removed (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Israel will be sanctified (Daniel 9:24), and the prophecies made to both Israel (Genesis 15:18-20;Jeremiah 31:31-34;Isaiah 11:6-9) and the church (Revelation 20:1-5) will be fulfilled in Jesus' literal millennial kingdom.

The problem with replacement theology is that it relies on the judgment and effort of man instead of the Word and power of God. Two hundred years ago, the idea of a restored Jewish state was incredible. Today, the Jewish state is a fact. Having such gracious proof of God's sovereignty, we should be greatly exhorted to read the Bible as literally as it was written. God has given the church specific blessings and responsibilities. We should concentrate on these and reject the allegorical interpretations of replacement theology.


Read more:What is replacement theology?

I think the fact that "REPLACEMENT THEOLEGEE!!!" gets thrown around like the liberal throws around "RACISST!!!" is evidence enough of what is happening.

 

[zone]

THE FALSE DICHOTOMY and FATAL (embarrassing) ERROR:

The more literal interpretation of God's plan for humanity is called "dispensationalism." Instead of the church replacing Israel, dispensationalism teaches that the Bible shows God working in very specific dispensations throughout history.

the simplest message of the entire Bible - God is taking to Himself a people from every kindred tongue and nation, including ancient Israel, is lost entirely in this diabolical scheme.

the fathers of this system set up a straw man:

Instead of the church replacing Israel

.......a straw man that doesn't exist in Scripture; doesn't exist in reality; nor in what they call "Covenant" Theology :

"the church" replacing "israel"

the notion itself is void of any meaning whatsoever.

but - when your starting point is false to begin with, well - you're never going to reach the truth.
just error on error on error.

amazing.

What is replacement theology?

The Jews, who had always been God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2), now faced the fact that God was choosing people from all nations, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.

The crucial first-century transition from Judaism to Christianity was so significant that we are still debating its ramifications. Specifically, if God is now relating to the world through the church instead of through the nation of Israel, what does that mean for Israel? Is this a temporary condition, as the dispensationalists believe, or is God really and completely done with the Jews as a nation?

there it is again.
instead of.



the entirely empty and false premise that the "church" and israel are distinct and separate programs and people of God is so anti-christian anti-Bible it's mind-numbing.

the article rightly says in one sentence:

"The Jews........now faced the fact that God was choosing people from all nations, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds."

was He? or wasn't He?

was this a New Plan?

was this some replacement plan?
or was it an EXPANSION PLAN?

The latter belief is called "replacement theology."

It teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plans, prophecies, and blessings.

why'd y'all come up with the notion then?
so you could argue with yourselves? LOLOLOL.

wow...

The latter belief is called "replacement theology."

It teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's plans, prophecies, and blessings.

The roles of Israel and the church are foundational to the events of the end times; what one believes about replacement theology largely determines what one believes about the rapture, the tribulation, and the millennial kingdom, not to mention the role of the church in modern society.

um...Red, the Church IS Israel.
the Israel of God.
Israel entered her New Covenant and became the church.
how could Israel replace itself

the gentiles were grafted in and Israel GOT BIGGER

Israel who didn't enter the New Covenant just didn't.



and this is such a true statement, i hardly know what to say:

"what one believes about replacement theology largely determines what one believes about the rapture, the tribulation, and the millennial kingdom, not to mention the role of the church in modern society"



mkay....

 

[BradC]

Zone, out of respect for others why not let other posters make comments on this thread. You have your own thread, why not stay busy with that and allow the body of Christ to express themselves on this issue.

 

[zone]

What is replacement theology?

Replacement theology [< MISNOMER] is not based on a literal interpretation of the Bible.

As the Bible uses metaphor (no one really expects God to send all the goats of the world to hell, asMatthew 25:31-33allegorizes), some theologians concluded that much unfulfilled prophecy must have also been intended as metaphor—the promises made to Israel were really meant for the church.

wow. was there ever a system of confusion greater than this one?:

- Replacement theology is not based on a literal interpretation of the Bible.
- the Bible uses metaphor

um...literal or metaphor?
does it or doesn't it?

was the nation of Israel a metaphor?
or a literal nation of people - who were promised and received a literal New and Better Covenant? < read CHURCH

Replacement theology is not based on a literal interpretation of the Bible.

As the Bible uses metaphor (no one really expects God to send all the goats of the world to hell, asMatthew 25:31-33allegorizes), some theologians concluded that much unfulfilled prophecy must have also been intended as metaphor—the promises made to Israel were really meant for the church.

Once this simple "explanation" was made, large portions of the Bible became open to personal interpretation.

mmm.....arguing with themselves over their own false dichotomy.
amazing.

"a theological prison"

totally blinding.

 

[zone]

Zone, out of respect for others why not let other posters make comments on this thread. You have your own thread, why not stay busy with that and allow the body of Christ to express themselves on this issue.

hi Red.
this is the internet.
it works like this: anyone can post anytime they like, and all the posts show up.
your thread might be 50 miles long, but everyone can express themselves, dear.
i like this topic
thanks for opening it up.

my position re your OP:

Re: What is Dispensationalism?

is: false doctrine.
and i can prove it
might as well, eh?

zone.

 

[zone]

TRUE OR FALSE?


is 490 years actually 2490+ years and counting?

second thought, this would actually need to say:

is 490 years actually 3490+ years and counting? < cuz you need da millennium to restore Israel's carnal kingdom.

(Red do you explain what happens in the millennium? that's the part i like. flesh people and spirit people and stuff)

 

[zone]

What are the different covenants in the Bible?

3.Abrahamic Covenant.

This unconditional covenant, first made to Abraham inGenesis 12:1-3, promised God's blessing upon Abraham, to make his name great and to make his progeny into a great nation.

was that literally fulfilled in Egypt?

Genesis 46:3
And He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.

Deuteronomy 1:10
'The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

Deuteronomy 10:22
"Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the Lord has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.



here's an Israelite Theologian who tells us what happened:



Acts 7
Stephen’s Speech
1And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2And Stephen said:

“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ 8And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

9“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. 14And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17“But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt

18until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. 19He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. 20At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, 21and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.

23“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

30“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. 39Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

44“Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.a 47But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

49 “‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’

51“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen
54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed togetherb at him. 58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

[zone]

What is dispensationalism?

God also worked through the course of history to encourage a literal interpretation of the Bible. Those prophecies which have been fulfilled have all been fulfilled literally.

Jesus was literally born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

God did not have to fulfill these prophecies literally, but because He did, it impels us to interpret other prophecies just as literally.

It makes sense that He would want His word interpreted literally.

To fill His word with symbolism and hidden mysteries would be to invite too much subjectivity into interpretation, something that can be readily witnessed in the church today, and throughout its history.

What is dispensationalism?

too much subjectivity into interpretation:



Is there any Bible prophecy about the United States of America?

Neither the United States of America, nor any country in North or South America, is directly mentioned in the Bible. Yet many struggle with the idea that the world's leading nation would not once be the subject of Scripture's end time prophecies. As a result, some have found places in which America may be included as part of a larger discussion of God's prophetic future, though many details are uncertain.

For example, the United States will likely be one of the many nations included among those who generally reject God in the end times (Revelation 10:11; 11:18; 14:8; 15:4; 16:19).

In addition, a global coalition of nations will serve under the leadership of an international leader known as the Antichrist. While this leader appears to arise from within the revived Roman Empire that includes Europe and the Mediterranean area, the United States will likely serve as a member nation in whatever conglomerate arises during this time.

Some also see a potential mention of America and other Western nations in the words of Ezekiel 38. This important future prophecy speaks of a coalition of nations that will arise in battle against Israel in the last days. Ezekiel 38:1-12 speaks of this battle. Verse 13 notes, "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, 'Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?'" Sheba and Dedan historically mark the Arabian Peninsula that consists of Saudi Arabia and its attached nations.

Tarshish has been used in more than one way in the Bible. Tarshish was a literal city in Southern Spain that is believed to be the location Jonah fled to after God called him to preach against the wicked city of Nineveh (Jonah 1). Yet Tarshish is also sometimes used as a general reference to the Western ends of the earth. This understanding could well fit the context of Ezekiel 38:13. If so, it could indicate that Western powers, including the United States, will speak out against the coalition that attacks Israel in the last days, though they do not join in defending the nation in battle.

Finally, it is important to explain some of the potential reasons the United States is not mentioned explicitly in the Bible. Many reasons are possible. First, the focus of Bible prophecy is Israel. It would therefore be natural to focus on this land and those that surround it rather than on other nations. Second, the United States may not be the most dominant nation during the tribulation period. Whether due to the loss of many Christians at the time of the rapture, internal problems, or attack from external forces, it is possible America will not have the same level of influence during that future time.

America has been blessed as a leading nation and one with many Christians who serve the Lord. The Bible is clear regarding how its people should live, yet does not speak directly about the role of the United States in the last days.

Is there any Bible prophecy about the United States of America?


First, the focus of Bible prophecy is Israel


oh...i thought it was JESUS CHRIST.

also, one of these days i was hoping to find out where this is in the Bible:

In addition, a global coalition of nations will serve under the leadership of an international leader known as the Antichrist. While this leader appears to arise from within the revived Roman Empire that includes Europe and the Mediterranean area, the United States will likely serve as a member nation in whatever conglomerate arises during this time.

where is that?

 

[Stephen63]

Zone, out of respect for others why not let other posters make comments on this thread. You have your own thread, why not stay busy with that and allow the body of Christ to express themselves on this issue.

BradC I think it's rude & downright disrespectful for people to take over your thread by constantly posting to derail it. If anyone wants to speak against the topic, I think they ought to be civilized about it. When athiests come on here & show more respect than christians do, that's really saying something.

I actually believe in dispensationalism, but not completely. I cannot believe in replacement theology, for too many scriptures say God is still gonna save a remnant of Israel. Neither do I believe He's gonna save them a different way. Theres only 1 Savior, 1 plan of salvation, & Paul plainly says it's for the Jew & the Greek (gentile).

 

[1still_waters]

In general there are not rules against replying to threads and such.
But on the other hand, just hypothetically speaking here, just for the purpose of having an example.

If someone is an anti-dispensationalist, and they have posted a ton already on the forums about said views - Maybe if they see a thread started by a dispensationalist that looks like it's meant to be an in house type of discussion - Maybe they could grant said dispensationalists the ability to have said in house discussion without said objections that you've already posted a ton on the forum already?

And maybe the same could be done if an anti-dispensationalist creates a thread too?

Again this isn't a rule.
But maybe it could be a courtesy type thing?
I'm not typing this as ADMIN 1still_waters.
It's just a suggestion that may help in keeping things more peaceful.

 

[zone]

In general there are not rules against replying to threads and such.
But on the other hand, just hypothetically speaking here, just for the purpose of having an example.

If someone is an anti-dispensationalist, and they have posted a ton already on the forums about said views - Maybe if they see a thread started by a dispensationalist that looks like it's meant to be an in house type of discussion - Maybe they could grant said dispensationalists the ability to have said in house discussion without said objections that you've already posted a ton on the forum already?

And maybe the same could be done if an anti-dispensationalist creates a thread too?

Again this isn't a rule.
But maybe it could be a courtesy type thing?
I'm not typing this as ADMIN 1still_waters.
It's just a suggestion that may help in keeping things more peaceful.

yup no prob.
it didn't look like an in-house type thing.
but i already left that thread.
i just be postin on the one i started.

 

[BradC]

hi Red.
this is the internet.
it works like this: anyone can post anytime they like, and all the posts show up.
your thread might be 50 miles long, but everyone can express themselves, dear.
i like this topic
thanks for opening it up.

my position re your OP:

Re: What is Dispensationalism?

is: false doctrine.
and i can prove it
might as well, eh?

zone.

I know how it works. It was a request, but you don't have to honor it if you so choose.