Dispensational Premillennialism

Introduction Many new folks – understand what TBC teaches We are dispensational in our view of philosophy of Biblical history We are premillennial in our view of eschatology We are pre-tribulational in our view of the rapture

Philosophy of History Explains the why of historical events in an organized way Covers the whole scope of human history from beginning to end. Why things happened in the past Why we are today where we are What and why of the future There should be a unifying principle that ties everything together

Two Major Views Dispensationalism Non-dispensational –> Covenant Theology (Reformed, Replacement, etc.)

Dispensational Theology Definition: Develops the Bible’s philosophy of history on the basis of the sovereign rule of God. A particular way of administrating His rule over the world as He progressively works out His purpose for world history. Each dispensation has 3 aspects: A particular way of administrating His rule over the world Involves a particular responsibility for man Giving of divine revelation that has not been given before

The Dispensational ‘Strawmen’ Different dispensations are Gods different way of administering His rule over the world. They are not different ways of salvation. A dispensation is not an age of history, though a dispensation may cover the same time period as an age. A dispensation is a particular way of God’s administering rule, an age is a particular period of time. A dispensation may involve a particular way of God’s administering His rule over all mankind, or over only a segment of mankind. Certain factors from previous dispensations may be in effect during progressively new dispensations. Each new dispensation involves new revelation.

The ‘Usual’ Dispensations Dispensation of Innocence (Adam) Dispensation of Conscience (Fall to Flood) Dispensation of Human Government (Flood to Abraham) Dispensation of Promise (Abraham to Moses) Dispensation of the Mosaic Law (Abraham to Jesus) Dispensation of Grace (Jesus through present age) Dispensation of the Millennium (Second Coming to Eternal State)

Overview of Covenant Theology Definition: Develops the Bible’s philosophy of history on the basis of covenants Two Covenants Covenant of Works Covenant 0f Grace Three Covenants Covenant of Grace Covenant of Redemption

Covenant Theology Covenant of Works Established between the creation and fall of man Between God and Adam Perfect obedience –> eternal life Covenant of Grace Established after the fall of man and because of the fall of man Gen 3:15 Abrahamic covenant Between God and … individual sinner, elect sinners, believers and ‘their seed’ Faith in Christ –> eternal life

Covenant Theology Covenant of Redemption Established in eternity past Between God the Father and God the Son (some include HS) Father granted to the Son all authority that He would be the redeemer of the elect Son would make amends for the sin of Adam (and those whom the Father gave Him) perfect obedience He would secure salvation for all His spiritual progeny.

Issues with Covenant Theology Covenant theology’s goal of human history is too limited. Glory of God through the redemption of the elect Though the redemption of the elect is an important part of God’s purpose for human history, it is only one part of that purpose. Covenant theology denies or weakens distinctions in the Bible (different aspects of the covenant of grace) Nullifies distinction between Abrahamic covenant and Mosaic covenant No essential distinction between Old and New covenant –> c.f. 2 Cor. 3:3–11 Denies the distinction between the nation of Israel and the Church In order to make its system work, Covenant theology must employ a double hermeneutic Covenant theologians claim to use the historical–grammatical method of interpretation But when interpreting prophecy and some of the OT, they use allegory/spiritualization Israel doesn’t have to mean the nation of Israel in prophecy, it can and often does mean the Church. The Church fulfills OT prophecies given to the nation of Israel spiritually. For example, the land promise of Abrahamic covenant. Replacement theology

Why dispensational approach? Though dispensational theology did not exist as a developed system of theology in the early church (up to 400 AD), leaders recognized Biblical principles which are basic to dispensationalism. The literal fulfillment of prophecy concerning the first coming of Jesus Christ leads us to interpret prophecy literally. This literal approach to Biblical interpretation is the main pillar of dispensationalism. With the rise of allegorical methods after 400 AD, literal interpretation fell out of favor until after the Reformation. Critical Biblical doctrines are best understood in the context of dispensational theology.

Dispensational Theological Method The recognition of one's own pre-understanding The formulation of a biblical theology from the Old Testament based upon literal interpretation (grammatical-historical method of interpretation) of the Old Testament text The formulation of a biblical theology from the New Testament based upon literal interpretation (the grammatical-historical method of interpretation) of the New Testament text, which method includes the backgrounds arrived at via number 2 above The production of a systematic theology by harmonizing all inputs to theology including 2 and 3 above.

Non-dispensational Theological Method The recognition of one's own preunderstanding The formulation of a biblical theology of the New Testament based upon the literal interpretation (grammatical-historical interpretation) of the New Testament text The formulation of a biblical theology of the Old Testament based upon the New Testament understanding of the Old Testament text The production of a systematic theology by harmonizing all of the inputs above to theology including the results of 2 and 3 above.

Problems with non-dispensational approach With the NT being the priority, OT background into NT text tends to be minimized or ignored Exegetical results from the OT are replaced by the NT analysis, i.e., NT has veto power over the OT. No true Biblical theology of the OT exists that is brought forward to the synthesis of step 4.

Premillennial in Eschatology Premillennial – Second Coming precedes millennium Postmillennial – Second Coming follows the millennium (many non– dispensational theologians) Amillennial – no millennium (most other non–dispensational theologians) Why premillennial? Early church was premillennial Consistent literal interpretation of Bible leads to premillennialism (Dan. 7, 9) Book of Revelation is sequential (Rev. 1:19), Rev. 19 has Second Coming, Rev. 20 the millennium

Pre–tribulational in our rapture view Literal interpretation of Daniel 9:24–27 demands a 7 year period in the future, characterized by God’s final purpose with the nation Israel Pre–trib – rapture before 7 year tribulation period Mid–trib – rapture in the middle of the 7 year tribulation period Post–trib – rapture at the very end of the 7 year tribulation period Why pre-trib? Distinctiveness of the Church and the nation of Israel Tribulation is primarily a time of God’s wrath on the unbelieving world; c.f. 1 Thes. 5:9 Major passages, 1 Thes. 4:13–18, 1 Cor. 15:23–24, 50–55, John 14:1–3 Many minor passages

Summary TBC is: Pillars of dispensationalism Dispensational in our view of Biblical history Premillennial in our view of eschatology Pre-tribulational in our view of the timing of the rapture Pillars of dispensationalism Literal interpretation of the Bible Distinction between Israel and the Church Doxological purpose of history