I’m probably opening up a can of worms here (or possibly a bottle of Ambien), but I wanted to do a few posts on dispensationalism because it had me so confused for many years.Dispensationalism is a way of interpreting the Bible. It was invented by a man named John Nelson Darby (right) in the 1830s, and popularized through the explanatory notes in the Scofield Reference Bible. It’s also the framework for the “Left Behind” novels.
According to the dispensational narrative, Christ’s ultimate plan was to start a literal kingdom in Israel. He came to earth the first time to offer such a kingdom to the Jews, but, surprisingly, they rejected Him. He then had to implement Plan B: dying on the cross for sins and establishing His church.
In dispensational theology, this “church age” is seen as a temporary fix—a historical “parenthesis.” The cross was not the focal point of all history, but more of an afterthought. Christ still wants to be the leader of a literal Israeli superpower. The next time He comes back, however, He won’t offer His kingdom politely. He’ll force everyone into submission. Membership will not be optional. (Means of salvation: compulsion).
The dispensationalists teach that the world will only get worse. The church will grow weaker. Satan will raise up a politician called the Antichrist. Christians need only cluck their tongues disapprovingly and disengage from the world, because any second now Christ will evacuate us. He’ll leave His Father’s right hand in heaven, return to earth and secretly resurrect/rapture us (but not Old Testament saints) and take us to heaven.
With Christians gone, Jews will go through a tribulation and become “saints” (their method of salvation is not entirely clear). After 7 years, Christ will again return to earth, bringing all the Christians back. He’ll kill Mr. Antichrist, resurrect all Jewish saints, and judge each nation (not individuals) based on how it treated the Jews. Then He’ll set up His government and reinstate the Old Testament system of animal sacrifices.
Now take note, Christians: you’ll be living on a sin-cursed earth in your glorified, immortal body during this earthly kingdom—right next door to neighbors who have regular bodies and regular lives. This will make for some awkward encounters.
After 1,000 years, there’ll be a military rebellion against King Christ (even though He’s immortal), but God the Father will crush the rebels. Then--1,007 years after Christians were resurrected--all the wicked throughout history will be resurrected and judged. At this point everyone will go to either heaven (this time permanently) or hell.
I’ve read countless books by dispensationalists and attended dispensational churches for 15 years. This is what they teach. Here’s another good summary, in case my explanation wasn’t very clear.
So let’s recap. The church fails. The Great Commission fails. Two separate returns of Christ. Animal sacrifices reinstated. Three separate resurrections. Multiple Judgment Days. Various means of salvation. Christians shuttling back and forth between heaven and earth.
Confused? Me too. But “God is not the author of confusion” (I Cor. 14:33), so there’s gotta be a more Biblical way of explaining His plan than this, right?
2 comments:
Dear Brother,
May I gently say that you've been rather unfair to your brethren who hold to Premillenial Dispensationalism? Your descriptions of what is believed by them is largely incorrect, or only held by extremists. There was never any error on the part of the Godhead, nor was the church the result of "plan B". Generally it is held that the OT saints WILL be raptured, and that the means of salvation has been and will be consistent in every age - by faith ("Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness").
There's more, of course, but I won't belabor the point. I do realize (as I'm sure you do) that the future hasn't happened yet, and we may all be surprised at our lack of understanding. Praise the Lord we may agree on this: that Jesus Christ WILL return to receive us unto Himself. That's His promise, and I'm taking Him at His word.
P.S. Good picture of Darby - intense looking.
CBC, thank you for your comments. I realize there are variations within dispensationalism, including "progressive dispensationalism" which revises the claims about different means of salvation. Of course, C. I. Scofield himself wrote: "As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ…The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ"--so different means of salvation have clearly been posited by dispensationalists.
Most dispensationalists believe animal sacrifices will be reinstated in a future millennial temple for sin offerings (see Ezekiel 40: 39-41).
Tim LaHaye, among others, teaches that OT saints are in Sheol (apart from Christians) awaiting their rapture at the Third Coming (the Glorious revelation) rather than the Second Coming (or "Phase II" rather than "Phase I").
As I said, I opened a can of worms, and expect great resistance for examining this "sacred cow," but I appreciate any criticism and any illuminating debate, so long as all claims are compared with Scripture. There are things we'll never know, I agree. But the things we claim to know should always be analyzed against Scripture.
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