I have been studying end-time events for the last few years, off and on.
The four major views of end-time events come from:
Amillennialism
Historical Premillennialism
Postmillennialism
Premillennial Dispensationalism
I have ordered them according to the ones I find the most credible.
Anyways, if you engage folks who hold the different theologies, you would likely find that Premillennial Dispensationalists are the most nasty, in terms of insults. In fact, one premillennial dispensationalist on this forum told me I was accursed for my position on this issue. The accusation of this individual is the primary reason why I am starting this thread.
The most common claim is that others believe in "replacement theology". This is a term that I find objectionable, because it implies that others don't think God has any purpose for Jewish individuals.
Well, this isn't true. There is only one people of God, Jews and Gentiles together. God doesn't have a separate plan for Jews, and a separate plan for Gentiles.
Scripture clearly teaches that the Church is one people, Jew and Gentile together. They have been united in Christ:
Ephesians 2:11-22 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
(ESV Strong's)
Galatians 3:28-29 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
(ESV Strong's)
Additionally, the claim is that non-dispensationalists believe that God is a promise-breaker..not true.
The questions I would have about any promise God made to anyone are:
1. Was the promise unconditional, or was it conditional upon obedience, etc?
2. Was the promise fulfilled already in the past?
3. Is the promise fulfilled in Jesus?
4. Is the promise fulfilled exactly, or is it fulfilled in an even greater way?
No non-dispensationalist I know claims that God is a promise-breaker.
Let me give you an example on where I think dispensationalists don't view Scripture correctly.
Abraham and his descendants were promised the land of Canaan in the OT. Yet, in the NT, we find that Abraham is heir to the WHOLE WORLD.
Romans 4:13 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
(ESV Strong's)
Dispensationalists are looking for Abraham's descendants to occupy the Promised Land, but not the whole world, when Scripture says that it is fulfilled in his inheritance of the whole world.
But how is that fulfilled? Jesus is his physical descendant, and all believers, Jew and Gentile, are united through faith with Jesus. Therefore, all of Abraham's descendants, both physical and spiritual, receive this inheritance as co-heirs with Christ.
I don't think the dispensationalist wants you to hear that, though..because they believe in Separation Theology. I don't know if this a term that has already been coined, but it amply describes their position. While they accuse others of being adherents to "Replacement Theology", they themselves believe in Separation Theology.
As I have studied the doctrine of union in Christ heavily, I believe that dispensationalism is abhorrent to God due to this artificial separation of God's people.
By the way, I will anticipate that those on this thread will accuse me of "spiritualizing" away Scripture....and tell me that I am using "allegory". In this attempt, they are simply denying clearly what Scripture says on this particular point. Additionally, there is no spiritualizing of Scripture to realize that God is fulfilling the promises to Abraham and his descendants (both physical and spiritual) through Abraham, who is Jesus' ancestor, and who all believers are joined to.
In fact, I think union with Christ is a sorely neglected topic in the Church, and this neglect has contributed to dispensational doctrine.
The sad thing is that within the USA, dispensationalism is the norm because it is taught by sects that have been heavily involved in evangelizing.
I would recommend the book A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger to understand how dispensational theology doesn't align with the way the apostles interpreted the Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament. It is very clear that dispensationalists are not in alignment with the apostles on this. If you examine John MacArthur on some of the NT texts regarding fulfillment of OT texts regarding Israel by the Church, you will find that he has to do gymnastics to read his dispensationalism into them.
I am attaching a chart that is handy for understanding how dispensationialism views the Millennium.
The four major views of end-time events come from:
Amillennialism
Historical Premillennialism
Postmillennialism
Premillennial Dispensationalism
I have ordered them according to the ones I find the most credible.
Anyways, if you engage folks who hold the different theologies, you would likely find that Premillennial Dispensationalists are the most nasty, in terms of insults. In fact, one premillennial dispensationalist on this forum told me I was accursed for my position on this issue. The accusation of this individual is the primary reason why I am starting this thread.
The most common claim is that others believe in "replacement theology". This is a term that I find objectionable, because it implies that others don't think God has any purpose for Jewish individuals.
Well, this isn't true. There is only one people of God, Jews and Gentiles together. God doesn't have a separate plan for Jews, and a separate plan for Gentiles.
Scripture clearly teaches that the Church is one people, Jew and Gentile together. They have been united in Christ:
Ephesians 2:11-22 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
(ESV Strong's)
Galatians 3:28-29 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
(ESV Strong's)
Additionally, the claim is that non-dispensationalists believe that God is a promise-breaker..not true.
The questions I would have about any promise God made to anyone are:
1. Was the promise unconditional, or was it conditional upon obedience, etc?
2. Was the promise fulfilled already in the past?
3. Is the promise fulfilled in Jesus?
4. Is the promise fulfilled exactly, or is it fulfilled in an even greater way?
No non-dispensationalist I know claims that God is a promise-breaker.
Let me give you an example on where I think dispensationalists don't view Scripture correctly.
Abraham and his descendants were promised the land of Canaan in the OT. Yet, in the NT, we find that Abraham is heir to the WHOLE WORLD.
Romans 4:13 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
(ESV Strong's)
Dispensationalists are looking for Abraham's descendants to occupy the Promised Land, but not the whole world, when Scripture says that it is fulfilled in his inheritance of the whole world.
But how is that fulfilled? Jesus is his physical descendant, and all believers, Jew and Gentile, are united through faith with Jesus. Therefore, all of Abraham's descendants, both physical and spiritual, receive this inheritance as co-heirs with Christ.
I don't think the dispensationalist wants you to hear that, though..because they believe in Separation Theology. I don't know if this a term that has already been coined, but it amply describes their position. While they accuse others of being adherents to "Replacement Theology", they themselves believe in Separation Theology.
As I have studied the doctrine of union in Christ heavily, I believe that dispensationalism is abhorrent to God due to this artificial separation of God's people.
By the way, I will anticipate that those on this thread will accuse me of "spiritualizing" away Scripture....and tell me that I am using "allegory". In this attempt, they are simply denying clearly what Scripture says on this particular point. Additionally, there is no spiritualizing of Scripture to realize that God is fulfilling the promises to Abraham and his descendants (both physical and spiritual) through Abraham, who is Jesus' ancestor, and who all believers are joined to.
In fact, I think union with Christ is a sorely neglected topic in the Church, and this neglect has contributed to dispensational doctrine.
The sad thing is that within the USA, dispensationalism is the norm because it is taught by sects that have been heavily involved in evangelizing.
I would recommend the book A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger to understand how dispensational theology doesn't align with the way the apostles interpreted the Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament. It is very clear that dispensationalists are not in alignment with the apostles on this. If you examine John MacArthur on some of the NT texts regarding fulfillment of OT texts regarding Israel by the Church, you will find that he has to do gymnastics to read his dispensationalism into them.
I am attaching a chart that is handy for understanding how dispensationialism views the Millennium.
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