Transcription
A Guide to the DoctrineofDispensatonalismDr. Steven WaterhouseWestcliff Presswww.webtheology.com
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismOTHER BOOKS BY STEVEN WATERHOUSENot By Bread Alone; An Outlined Guide to Bible DoctrineStrength For His People; A Ministry For the Families of the Mentally IllBlessed Assurance; A Defense of the Doctrine of Eternal SecurityWhat Must I Do To Be Saved? The Bible’s Definition of Saving FaithLife’s Tough QuestionsHoly Matrimony; The Image of God in the FamilyOutside the Heavenly City; Abortion in Rome and the Early Church’s ResponseJesus and History; How We Know His Life and ClaimsDepression Recovery; According to the BibleSuffering: Why Would a Good God Allow Evil and Pain?Messianic ProphecyA Biblical Look at Unborn ChildrenHusband and Wife: The Imitation of ChristJesus, Miracles and HistoryBible Counsel for Raising ChildrenAll Books Available for FREE DOWNLOAD at ------------------------------------Published by Westcliff PressFirst Edition 2012, Copyright 2012 by Steven W. WaterhouseAll rights reserved. This book or portions thereof may be reproduced or retransmitted withoutwritten permission from the publisher only if attributed to the author and without alteration.Westcliff Press, P.O. Box 1521, Amarillo, TX 79105 (Mailing)5300 Amarillo Blvd. West, Amarillo, TX 79106 (Office)email: gy.comScripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright The LockmanFoundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995Printed in the United States of America2
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismPREFACEThis booklet is an extract from Chapters 11 and 12 of Not by BreadAlone, An Outlined Guide to Bible Doctrine. The hardback copy of thecomplete book is available through (Amazon.com) and via freedownload from Westcliff Press’ website, www.webtheology.com.Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Core Christianity need notinvolve agreement with the dispensational method of Bibleinterpretation. However, in-depth theological study and the correctinterpretation of many Bible texts require agreement that God nolonger works by the Law administration (dispensation) but hastransitioned to the Church administration (dispensation). When Christreturns he will set up His Kingdom or millennial administration(dispensation).Acceptance of these basic dispensational administrations is necessaryfor deeper Bible study. Dispensational changes not only affect endtime events but also the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (which dramaticallychanged from Law to the Church at Pentecost). Furthermore, viewsabout the Church and church-state relations can depend uponinterpreting the Bible dispensationally. Those who accept a changefrom the Law to the Church would not parallel the Old Testamentsystem with a contemporary “priesthood.” All New Testamentbelievers are priests. Furthermore, arguments addressed to a secularsociety on contemporary ethics would be more effective if onequalified them with a clear dispensational change. The Law requiredburning witches and stoning homosexuals, but the Church is not underthe Law. Failure to mention such important dispensational distinctionsis almost universal, and needlessly results in the world giving littlecredence to Christian rhetoric. While dispensational theology mightseem irrelevant to many, ignorance of it has produced negative resultsin both Bible interpretation and ministry in the modern world.3
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalism4
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismThe Doctrine of DispensationalismContentsEvidence for Dispensationalism p.61. Law vs. Grace, or Judaism vs. the Church p.62. The Coming Kingdom p.83. Countering Criticism of a Future Millennium p.17a. Covenants not Fulfilled in Old Testament Times p.17b. Christ Seated on the Throne in Heaven does not Fulfill HisRule on David’s Throne p. 20c. Blessings not Transferred from Israel to the Church p. 24(1) The Church as Israel p. 25(2) The Church as “Sons of Abraham” p. 28(3) The Church as the true Circumcisions p. 31(4) Transfer of the Kingdom to the Church p. 32(5) An Evaluation of Amillennial Arguments p. 334. Logic and Additional Dispensations p.365. The Church as a Mystery p. 37a. Tracing a System given by New Testament Truths about“Mysteries.” p.37b. Conclusions about Mysteries Revealed in the New Testamentp.426. Evidence for a Change of Administrations p. 427. Is Dispensation a Biblical term? p.438. Various Dispensational Details p.46Chart A p. 47Chart B p. 48Appendix p. 50The Doctrine of Dispensationalism5
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismEvidence for DispensationalismAnyone who does not bring a sacrifice to church or celebrate the feastof tabernacles by living in huts made of palm branches is, in practice, adispensationalist, although in theory he might deny it. The evidencethat God has worked by various administrations or systems ofmanagement is conclusive.1. Law vs. Grace, or Judaism vs. the ChurchScriptures clearly speak of the abrogation of the Law of Moses. It hasbeen rescinded and is no longer binding upon believers unless a givenpoint is repeated in Scripture pertaining to the Church. That is why weno longer have a temple, a priesthood, sacrifices or other rituals ofJudaism.To say that the Law of Moses has been set aside is not the same asaffirming its destruction (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 5:17). While theChurch is not under the Law, this does not mean the Law has beendestroyed or that Christians disparage the Old Testament. Because Goddoes not change in His attributes, everything that the Old Testamenttaught about God’s nature is still valid (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). OldTestament verses and Old Testament stories may be used to eitherprove or apply truths that were carried over into (i.e., repeated in) theScriptures for the Church (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11; 2Timothy 3:16). The Law of Moses still proves man’s guilt (Romans3:19-20; 1 Timothy 1:8 ff.). The Law also contains many unfulfilledprophecies and teaches about God’s dealings with gentile nations.Furthermore, the Old Testament is rife with ideas that may not bestrictly binding upon the whole Church but might serve as a source fordeveloping personal convictions in areas of Christian liberty (e.g., notlending at interest to a poor believer). Dispensationalists do notdisregard the Old Testament. They just use it properly. See 1 Timothy1:8: “ the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully.”There is little excuse for failure to grasp the change from Law to Grace.It is one of the fundamental teachings of the New Testament.For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth wererealized through Jesus Christ [John 1:17].For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law,but under grace [Romans 6:14].6
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismTherefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Lawthrough the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another,to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruitfor God [Romans 7:4].For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyonewho believes [Romans 10:4].But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, camewith glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at theface of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more withglory? .For if that which fades away was with glory, muchmore that which remains is in glory [2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 11].Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ,that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come,we are no longer under a tutor [Galatians 3:24-25].[B]y abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law ofcommandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself Hemight make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace[Ephesians 2:15].[H]aving canceled out the certificate of debt consisting ofdecrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has takenit out of the way, having nailed it to the cross [Colossians 2:14].Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for onthe basis of it the people received the Law), what further needwas there for another priest to arise according to the order ofMelchizedek, and not be designated according to the order ofAaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity theretakes place a change of law also. For the one concerning whomthese things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which noone has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord wasdescended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Mosesspoke nothing concerning priests. And this is clearer still, ifanother priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,who has become such not on the basis of a law of physicalrequirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.For it is witnessed of Him, “Thou art a priest forever accordingto the order of Melchizedek.” For, on the one hand, there is a7
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalismsetting aside of a former commandment because of itsweakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect),and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope,through which we draw near to God.so much the more alsoJesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant [Hebrews7:11-19, 22].For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would havebeen no occasion sought for a second.When He said, “A newcovenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever isbecoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear[Hebrews 8:7, 13].2. The Coming KingdomIt is surprising that anyone could read the Bible and not believe that itpromises a future earthly Kingdom centered in the nation of Israel.Scriptural evidence is more than conclusive. God has changedadministrations from Law to the Church, and He will one day changefrom a church administration to that of a political kingdom with Christsitting on the Davidic throne in Jerusalem.God promised that the land of Palestine would belong to Abraham’sseed eternally. The word eternal occurs both in the original promiseand in reaffirmations of it in coming centuries. This promise of a landto Abraham’s seed must be kept. Israel will have a Kingdom.[F]or all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to yourdescendants forever [Genesis 13:15].“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you andyour descendants after you throughout their generations for aneverlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendantsafter you.” .But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bearyou a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establishMy covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for hisdescendants after him” [Genesis 17:7, 19].[T]he covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath toIsaac. He also confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as aneverlasting covenant [1 Chronicles 16:16-17].He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which Hecommanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He8
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalismmade with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. Then He confirmedit to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant[Psalm 105:8-10].“Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in thedays of your youth [either with Abraham or Moses] and I willestablish an everlasting covenant with you. Then you willremember your ways and be ashamed when you receive yoursisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give them toyou as daughters, but not because of your covenant. Thus, I willestablish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I amthe LORD” [Ezekiel 16:60-62].“And they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob Myservant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it,they, and their sons, and their sons’ sons, forever; and David Myservant shall be their prince forever. And I will make a covenantof peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant withthem. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set Mysanctuary in their midst forever” [Ezekiel 37:25-26].What I am saying is this; the Law, which came four hundred andthirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previouslyratified by God, so as to nullify the promise [Galatians 3:17].For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He couldswear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.In the sameway, God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promisethe unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it isimpossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement,we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set beforeus [Hebrews 6:13,17-18].God also promised David that his seed would have a right to rule andwould eventually rule over Israel forever. Yet, David’s children havenot ruled over Israel since the exile. (King Herod was neither ofDavid’s line nor even truly Jewish.) The promise of an eternal thronefor David’s son must be fulfilled in the ultimate Son of David, JesusChrist. He must someday come to enjoy a literal rule over theDavidic Kingdom, a rule that will be both 1,000 years according toRevelation 20:4-6 (hence called the Millennium) but also eternal in thesense that the Millennium will merge with the Eternal State. The9
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalismoriginal promise to David was stated to be eternally binding. Just aswith the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant is reaffirmedthroughout Scripture as being irrevocable and eternal in nature. In thefuture, the church dispensation will end and the Kingdom will begin.“When your days are complete and you lie down with yourfathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will comeforth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build ahouse for My name, and I will establish the throne of hiskingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a sonto Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rodof men and the strokes of the sons of men, but Mylovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away fromSaul, whom I removed from before you. And your house andyour kingdom shall endure before Me forever, your throneshall be established forever” [2 Samuel 7:12-16].“I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn toDavid My servant, I will establish your seed forever, and buildup your throne to all generations” [Psalm 89:3-4].“My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, and Mycovenant shall be confirmed to him. So I will establish hisdescendants forever, and his throne as the days of heaven”[Psalm 89:28-29].“But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, nor dealfalsely in My faithfulness. My covenant I will not violate, norwill I alter the utterance of My lips. Once I have sworn by Myholiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endureforever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall beestablished forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky isfaithful” [Psalm 89:33-37].“Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; andI will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to thefaithful mercies shown to David” [Isaiah 55:3].“And it shall come about on that day,” declares the LORD ofhosts, “that I will break his yoke from off their neck, and willtear off their bonds; and strangers shall no longer make themtheir slaves. But they shall serve the LORD their God, and10
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismDavid their king, whom I will raise up for them” [Jeremiah30:8-9].For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king orprince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod orhousehold idols. Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seekthe LORD their God and David their king; and they will cometrembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days[Hosea 3:4-5].“In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, and wallup its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as inthe days of old” [Amos 9:11].The Old Testament prophets also spoke of a New Covenant that wouldbe made with Israel. The New Covenant is based upon Christ’s blood(Matthew 26:28). It is in force with the Church but will eventually alsobe ratified with the nation of Israel (see also Hebrews 8:7-13). ThisNew Covenant is unconditional. It cannot be broken, and thus,guarantees a future for Israel. This means a Kingdom dispensation willfollow a Church dispensation.“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I willmake a new covenant with the house of Israel and with thehouse of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with theirfathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out ofthe land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although Iwas a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “But this is thecovenant which I will make with the house of Israel after thosedays,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them, andon their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and theyshall be My people. And they shall not teach again, each man hisneighbor and each man his brother, saying ‘Know the LORD,’for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatestof them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquityand their sin I will remember no more.” Thus says the LORD,who gives the sun for light by day, and fixed order of the moonand the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that itswaves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: “If this fixedorder departs from before Me,” declares the LORD, “Thenthe offspring of Israel also shall cease from being a nationbefore Me forever.” Thus says the LORD, “If the heavens11
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalismabove can be measured, and the foundations of the earthsearched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspringof Israel for all that they have done,” declares the LORD[Jeremiah 31:31-37].“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I willnot turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fearof Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me”[Jeremiah 32:40].“For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all thelands, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkleclean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse youfrom all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I willgive you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I willremove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart offlesh” [Ezekiel 36:24-26].“Therefore prophesy, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,“Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up outof your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land ofIsrael. Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I haveopened your graves and caused you to come up out of yourgraves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you, and youwill come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Thenyou will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it,”declares the LORD’ ” [Ezekiel 37:12-14].“And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be aneverlasting covenant with them . and will set My sanctuaryin their midst forever” [Ezekiel 37:26] (This reference inEzekiel 37 helps prove those in Ezekiel 36 also refer to the NewCovenant ratified with Israel).The Old Testament promises that Israel will be the center of aworldwide and enduring Kingdom. Unless we are to believe that eitherGod is a liar or is too weak to keep His promises, we must maintainthat there is coming a future Kingdom for Israel. (See also Jeremiah31:3.)Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of thehouse of the LORD will be established as the chief of themountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations12
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalismwill stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, “Comelet us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of theGod of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways, andthat we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth fromZion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He willjudge between the nations, and will render decisions for manypeoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares, andtheir spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up swordagainst nation, and never again will they learn war [Isaiah 2:24].“And nations will come to your light, and kings to thebrightness of your rising.Then you will see and be radiant, andyour heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of thesea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come toyou” [Isaiah 60:3, 5].“And foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings willminister to you; for in My wrath I struck you, and in My favor Ihave had compassion on you. And your gates will be opencontinually; they will not be closed day or night, so that menmay bring to you the wealth of the nations, with their kings inprocession” [Isaiah 60:10-11].“You will also suck the milk of nations, and will suck the breastof kings; then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior,and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronzeI will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, andinstead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. And I willmake peace your administrators, and righteousness youroverseers. Violence will not be heard again in your land, nordevastation or destruction within your borders; but you will callyour walls salvation, and your gates praise. No longer will youhave the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moongive you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlastinglight, and your God for your glory. Your sun will set no more,neither will your moon wane; For you will have the LORD foran everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will befinished. Then all your people will be righteous; they willpossess the land forever, The branch of My planting, the workof My hands, that I may be glorified [Isaiah 60:16-21].13
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismBut you will be called the priests of the LORD; you will bespoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth ofnations, and in their riches you will boast [Isaiah 61:6].On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all dayand all night they will never keep silent. You who remind theLORD, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest untilHe establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth[Isaiah 62:6-7].“At that time they shall call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of theLORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, toJerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor shall they walkanymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart” [Jeremiah3:17].And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of thehouse of the LORD will be established as the chief of themountains. It will be raised above the hills, and the peoples willstream to it. And many nations will come and say, “Come andlet us go up to the mountain of the LORD and to the house of theGod of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that wemay walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law,even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He will judgebetween many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distantnations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares andtheir spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up swordagainst nation, and never again will they train for war [Micah4:1-3].“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples willcome, even the inhabitants of many cities. And the inhabitants ofone will go to another saying, “Let us go at once to entreat thefavor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will alsogo.” So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seekthe LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of theLORD.’ Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten menfrom all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew saying, “Letus go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” ’ ”[Zechariah 8:20-23].14
A Guide to the Doctrine of DispensationalismAnd the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day theLORD will be the only one, and His name the only one[Zechariah 14:9].And people will live in it, and there will be no more curse, forJerusalem will dwell in security [Zechariah 14:11].And Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all thesurrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver andgarments in great abundance [Zechariah 14:14].Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nationsthat went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year toworship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate theFeast of Booths. And it will be that whichever of the families ofthe earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, theLORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them [Zechariah 14:1617].All these promises (covenants) find their ultimate fulfillment in theLord Jesus Christ who will return to give Israel her eternal right to theland and her eternal Davidic throne. Many verses focus upon Messiah’srole in a coming Kingdom.“But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holymountain” [Psalm 2:6].For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and thegovernment will rest on His shoulders; and His name will becalled Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Princeof Peace. There will be no end to the increase of Hisgovernment or of peace, on the throne of David and over hiskingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice andrighteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of theLORD of hosts will accomplish this [Isaiah 9:6-7].“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when Ishall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reignas king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in theland. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwellsecurely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘TheLORD our righteousness’ ” [Jeremiah 23:5-6].15
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalism“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the cloudsof heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came upto the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And toHim was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all thepeoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him.His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not passway; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed”[Daniel 7:13-14].And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day theLORD will be the only one, and His name the only one[Zechariah 14:9].These conclusions about a future for Israel should in no way beconstrued to mean that believers, who are a part of the Church, willhave no role in the Kingdom. Believers are the “Sons of Abraham” andcan be called the “true circumcision.”1 Yet, the fact that the Church willshare in millennial blessing does not cancel out the equally Biblicaltruth that Israel has a future and that Christ’s rule over David’s thronemust culminate in a political and earthly rule (as opposed to merely aspiritual rule through the church as under present conditions). Promisesfor an earthly Kingdom centered in Israel with Christ as King are notrestricted to only Old Testament literature. The New Testamentteaches the same. Just as the Law Dispensation ended, so theChurch Dispensation will give way to the millennial Kingdom.And Jesus said to them. “Truly I say to you, that you who havefollowed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will siton His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones,judging the twelve tribes of Israel” [Matthew 19:28].“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and Hiskingdom will have no end” [Luke 1:32-33].For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of thismystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partialhardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of theGentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as itwritten, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove1See pp. 24-36, especially 28-3216
A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalismungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them,when I take away their sins” [Romans 11:25-27].And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment wasgiven to them. And I saw the souls of those who had beenbeheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of theword of God, and those who had not worshipped the beast or hisimage, and had not received the mark upon their forehead andupon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christfor a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to lifeuntil the thousand years were completed. This is the firstresurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who had a part in thefirst resurrection; over these the second death has no power, butthey will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign withHim for a thousand years [Revelation 20:4-6].The Bible teaches there has been a dispensational change from the Lawof Moses to the Church and that there must be a future rule of Christ onearth with Jerusalem as His world capital. The past change from Law tothe Church (or “grace” dispensation), and a future change to themillennial kingdom establish the basic foundation of the dispensationaltheological system. God’s promises in the Abrahamic, Davidic, andNew Covenants guarantee a future land and throne after Christ’s return.Many try to argue that those promises have either been fulfilled orcancelled by transference to the Church. Often both arguments occur inthe same criticism
While dispensational theology might seem irrelevant to many, ignorance of it has produced negative results in both Bible interpretation and ministry in the modern world. A Guide to the Doctrine of Dispensationalism
