Is your church teaching dispensationalism? If so, you might not know it. In fact, you might be a dispensationalist yourself and not even realize it.
Dispensationalism is a kind of Biblical interpretation that divides God’s plan for salvation into different “dispensations.” These dispensations are periods in history when God applies his law and gospel in different ways to different groups of people based on their cultural context.
Because of this, dispensationalists frequently hold very rigid beliefs about what it means to be a Christian and who is eligible for salvation through Jesus Christ, depending on which dispensation we are currently in. They believe that our current dispensation is the final one before Christ returns (which is why it’s called “premillennialism”). And they also believe that during this time period, only those who are part of the elect—or chosen few—will be saved.
Churches that teach dispensationalism are in several places in the USA. Dispensationalism is an evangelical theological system that addresses issues concerning the biblical covenants, Israel, the church, and the end times. It also argues for a literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies involving ethnic or national Israel and the idea that the church is a New Testament entity that is distinct from Israel. even if they don’t trust Him with their physical lives (by being raised again at the second coming of Christ). Do you live in or near the Madeira, KY, area and are you troubled by visions of rapture that never seem to come? Perhaps you need to find a church that teaches dispensationalism.
In the last few decades, dispensationalism has become a popular doctrine among churches in the United States. While its origins are said to be found in the writings of John Nelson Darby and C.I. Scofield, dispensationalism has been most popularized by the writings of Hal Lindsey, who wrote The Late Great Planet Earth in 1970. The idea behind dispensationalism is that there are seven different time periods in history, each with their own distinct purpose and mission from God. These seven time periods are called “dispensations.” These time periods can be categorized into three main groups: (1) Innocence: before Adam’s fall from grace; (2) Conscience: after Adam’s fall from grace but before Noah’s flood; (3) Human Government: after Noah’s flood through the present day; (4) Kingdom/Church Age; and (5) Millennium or Messianic Age.
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Churches That Teach Dispensationalism
They attributed the Rapture to be in 1988. I recall their claims with disgust because they blatantly lied to their followers! If a religious leader who is supposed to be godly preaches error and lies about end-time events, then how can anyone trust him or her? There are many churches that teach from a dispensational point of view. The dispensational interpretation of the Bible is commonly contrasted against covenant theology and more often than not, many critics have said that dispensationalism teaches that Israel and the Church are separate, which is simply not true. This website provides an overview and explanation of dispensational thought.
There are many churches that teach dispensationalism. J. Dwight Pentecost founded Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924, which is one of the most well-known. This seminary teaches its students that the Bible is not progressive in nature but instead is composed of distinct eras or ages. The church believes that each age has a distinct purpose and message from God to humanity. Dr. F.F. Boschma founded the Grace Brethren Church International (GBCI) in 1959, which is another dispensationalist organization. GBCI teaches that there are two ages: the current age, which they call “this present evil world,” and the future age, which they call “the world to come.” GBCI also teaches that God has two purposes during these two ages—to save sinners during this present evil world and to judge sinners at the end of it—and that God has two different plans for each of these purposes: one plan for saving sinners and one plan for judging them.
Arguments Against Dispensationalism
Churches that teach dispensationalism include Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Philadelphia Biblical University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dispensationalism is a way of interpreting the Bible that sees it as containing several different dispensations or periods of time in which God relates to humans in different ways under different biblical covenants. According to the five-point system of dispensationalist theology developed by theologian C. I. Scofield, there are seven dispensations: Innocence (Adam), Conscience (Noah), Human Government (Abraham), Promise (Israel), Law (Moses), Grace (Church) and Kingdom.
Dispensationalism has become very popular with American evangelicalism, especially among nondenominational Bible churches, Baptists, Pentecostal, and Charismatic groups. Conversely, Protestant denominations that embrace covenant theology as a whole tend to reject dispensationalism.
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is a conservative, evangelical, and reformed school of theology that was founded in 1924. It is located in Dallas, Texas, and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America.
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian college and seminary in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by Dwight L. Moody and it has been in operation since 1886.
Moody Bible Institute is the alma mater of Billy Graham, Robert H. Schuller and many other Christian leaders.
Philadelphia Biblical University
You can find the school on the Evangelical Theological Society’s list of member schools, in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities’ listing of member schools, on the Association of Christian Schools International’s directory of members, and as one of Pennsylvania’s charter members of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
As an institution with a long history (it was founded in 1867), Philadelphia Biblical University has been able to evolve while retaining its identity. It holds to dispensationalism because this view is central to its mission statement: “To prepare students for service as Christ’s ambassadors by integrating biblical studies with practical ministry experiences.”
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is a Christian seminary in Deerfield, Illinois, with a main campus in Palos Heights, Illinois, and an additional campus in Florida.
The school was founded by Carl McIntire in 1947 as International Bible Institute. It changed its name to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) when it moved from New Jersey to its current location on the former grounds of the Elmbrook Memorial Hospital for Children.[1] The school was renamed again when it moved into the former estate of William McCormick Blair on North Avenue.[2]
In June 2013 TEDS began offering courses through distance education at no cost worldwide via its Online Education program.[3][4]
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth)
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is the largest seminary in the world, with an enrollment of over 6,000 students representing more than 40 states and 50 countries. It was founded in 1905 as Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Bible Institute at Fort Worth and relocated to its current location on a 170-acre campus in 1951.
Southwestern has long been known as a dispensationalist institution, but it also teaches other theological perspectives along with dispensationalism.
Bethel Seminary (St. Paul)
Bethel Seminary (St. Paul) is a graduate school of theology in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1890 by the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Bethel has several campuses throughout Minnesota, as well as one in San Diego, California.
Premillennialists argue that there are multiple wars and tribulations mentioned throughout the New Testament. In Matthew 24, Christ teaches his disciples about the “end times,” which includes a time of great suffering for Christians who live during that time period. The apostle Paul also talks about this same thing in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 when he describes how Christians can be prepared for their own suffering.
When you look at all of these passages together, it becomes clear that premillennialists believe it is important for Christians to prepare themselves physically and mentally for what lies ahead. They believe this so much so that they teach we should be ready to go through a difficult period before Christ returns again on earth.
“Premillennialists argue that the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah involve two separate comings—one to suffer and die, the other to reign in power. The first coming was to suffer and die; the second coming will be to reign in power.”
Dispensationalists teach that God has worked differently with different groups of people at different points in history. Dispensationalists believe that while they serve the same God as Christians who lived before them, their relationship to him is different because they are living under a new covenant established by Jesus Christ.
For these reasons, dispensationalists believe that the church is not spiritually on par with Israel; rather, it is a new entity entirely (Ministry of the Missionary Church). In other words, while all Christians have been redeemed by Christ and can be saved through faith alone, only those who have been born again (i.e., received salvation) will go to heaven when they die.
The dispensations are seen as models of how believers can rightly relate to God.
The dispensations are seen as models of how believers can rightly relate to God. Each dispensation is a period of time during which God has tested man’s ability to live up to His expectations. Each dispensation reveals a different aspect of who man is and how he lives in relation to God.
The dispensations reveal that the Christian life is a progressive one, with each new stage bringing greater maturity, understanding and responsibility as we serve Christ within society. This means that we should not expect instant perfection from converts but rather encourage them toward maturity at their own pace (e.g., Galatians 6:1-4). The goal is not for us merely to attain spiritual maturity for ourselves but also for our families and communities; thus, we must consider how our decisions affect both individuals and groups (Ephesians 4:18).
Dispensationalism Vs Covenant Theology
What are the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism? Dr. Guy Waters notes both the common ground and differences between covenant theologians and dispensationalists.
So what are the differences between covenant theology and dispensationalism? Well, as we address that question, it’s important first to note the similarities among dispensationalists and covenant theologians. We are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We uphold the Bible as the word of God, our ultimate authority, and we exalt Christ and him alone as the savior of sinners. And it’s important that we recognize these commonalities. But dispensationalists and covenant theologians, as brothers, differ in the way that we read and interpret the Scripture.
Dispensationalism
Evangelical theology, known as dispensationalism, examines themes relating to the biblical covenants, Israel, the church, and the end times. Additionally, it supports the notion that the church is a New Testament institution that is apart from Israel as well as a literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies regarding ethnic or national Israel.
Covenant theology helps us to see the grand and glorious unity in Scripture.
According to dispensationalists, God has had two people throughout history: Israel and the church. And he has two futures for those two peoples: one for the church that is spiritual and ultimately pertains to heaven, and one for Israel that is earthly and pertains to the land and the temple. And they see a succession of historical eras, or dispensations, one after the other, in which God is putting Israel or the church to the test. And inevitably, those tests are unsuccessful, which ushers in the subsequent dispensation.
Covenant Theology
According to covenant theologians, God has only had one people throughout redemptive history. In the Old Testament, this people was known as Israel, and in the New Testament, it was known as the church. And God has one saving purpose for this one people, which is to use the blood of Jesus Christ to atone for sinners from every tribe, tongue, nation, and race. And a series of covenants are used to carry out that aim. History starts in the garden. The covenant of works exists. In addition, when Adam disobeyed God, we too fell into sin along with him. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, was the one through whom God revealed his plans to rescue sinners. And he makes that known in Genesis 3:15. And
Famous Dispensationalists
Other prominent dispensationalists include Reuben Archer Torrey (1856–1928), James M. Gray (1851–1925), William J. Erdman (1833–1923), A. C. Dixon (1854–1925), A. J. Gordon (1836–95), and William Eugene Blackstone, author of the book Jesus is Coming (endorsed by Torrey and Erdman). These men were active evangelists who promoted a host of Bible conferences and other missionary and evangelistic efforts. They also gave the dispensationalist philosophy institutional permanence by assuming leadership of new independent Bible institutes, such as the Moody Bible Institute during 1886, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University) during 1908, and Philadelphia College of Bible (now Cairn University, formerly Philadelphia Biblical University) during 1913. The network of related institutes that soon developed became the nucleus for the spread of American dispensationalism.
What Are The Core Beliefs of Dispensationalism
If you read much End Times theology, you’ve probably heard the term “dispensationalism” used many times. What does this word mean, and what is its history?
If you read much End Times theology or attended seminary in the 1970s and 1990s, you’ve probably heard the word “dispensationalism” tossed around. You probably wondered what this word meant and what it had to do with the last days.
What Are the Basic Beliefs of Dispensationalism?
A dispensation is a method God uses to enact His purposes toward humanity. It is also a way of reading Scripture that divides it into how God deals with His people in different dispensations. The purpose of each is to see how God planned for peoples’ salvation in each dispensation—what relates to Israel, what relates to the church, and what the End Times will look like.
“Dispensationalism is an evangelical theological system that addresses issues concerning the biblical covenants, Israel, the church, and end times.”
Dispensationalists insist the Bible must be read literally. They believe that since there were literal Old Testament promises to Israel regarding ethnic and national Israel, those promises must be fulfilled in the millennium, or God is false. They also argue that the church is a wholly distinct New Testament unit separate from Israel.
Dispensationalists believe that salvation has always been by grace through faith alone. However, dispensationalism teaches that God has worked in different ways in different eras of history. Those who hold to this belief often teach that the various dispensations involve a trial for humanity, a failure, then a judgment followed by the next dispensation. Different adherents have different views on the number of dispensations and what they should be called. The norm is seven dispensations, while some claim between four and eight. Adherents also debate the criteria for determining dispensations.
The seven distinct dispensations are:
1. Innocence: The time from creation to the fall (Genesis 1:28–30, 2:15–17). This period saw sinless, deathless peace for humanity with one command—not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve’s disobedience and expulsion from the Garden of Eden ended this dispensation.
2. Conscience: Humanity was left to live alone via their own sinful will and conscience (Genesis 3:8–8:22). It was a catastrophe, as God grieved His creation of man. The dispensation of conscience ended with the flood, after which God began anew with Noah and his family (Genesis 6:11–18).
3. Human government: God made promises (not to curse the earth again nor send another flood), and He gave commands to men (repopulate, capital punishment, permitted foods, etc.). In Genesis 11:1-9, man built the Tower of Babel, and God confused their languages and scattered them, resulting in human government.
4. Promise: The call of Abram (Abraham) is the hallmark of this dispensation, via God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1–7 of a great nation and life in the promised land. The Exodus from Egypt ended this dispensation.
5. Law: Beginning with the Exodus and culminating 1500 years later with the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ Included is the giving of the law to Moses.
6. Grace: We are in the dispensation of grace (also called the age of grace or the church age), which started at Christ’s Resurrection and is called the new covenant in Christ’s blood. Dispensational scholars believe this 2000+ year dispensation transpires between the 69th and 70th weeks in Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:24). A seal of this age is the indwelling Holy Spirit in every believer. The end of the age points to the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 3:10).
7. Kingdom (the millennial kingdom of Christ): The defeat of Satan ushers in this dispensation (Revelation 20:1–3), and 1,000 years of peace follow with Christ’s reign on earth. After the millennium, the devil is released and defeated by Christ, and then a final judgment is made of all people (Revelation 20:11–15). The old heaven and earth are destroyed by fire; Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire; and then the eternal kingdom will begin with a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21–22).
What Is the History of Dispensationalism?
Michael J. Vlach explains that “Dispensationalism has progressed into three general ages: (1) Classical or Traditional Dispensationalism (1830–1940s); (2) Revised Dispensationalism (1950–1986); and (3) Progressive Dispensationalism (1986–present).”
Anglican minister John Nelson Darby instituted dispensationalism in 19th-century England. Centered on his study of Isaiah 32, Darby believed Israel and the church differed in the blessings they would enjoy. Darby believed Israel had a future beneficial dispensation, and he supported a strong distinction between Israel and the church. He supported a clear division between Israel and the church, and he propagated the idea that the church would be raptured just before the 70th week of Daniel.
Ironically, Darby aligned himself with Calvinism, and most Calvinists support covenant theology, which emphasizes God-ordained covenants seen in the Bible. Yet Darby wanted to protect grace as the Bible presents it, and he decided Christians are exempt from all the Bible says as law. Instead, Christians are led by grace. When asked why the Bible contains the law, he responded that the law would save Israel and that the millennium’s goal was to “allow the Jews to fulfill the law that they never properly fulfilled in the old covenant.”
Great Britain was the home of early dispensationalism. It got popular in the United States when Darby and other Plymouth Brethren ministers brought it to America. Bible conferences aided its rise in popularity, along with Bible institutes and colleges that taught dispensational views. For example, dispensationalist Lewis Sperry Chafer founded the Dallas Theological Seminary in 1824 and provided a curriculum promoting his view. Dallas Theological Seminary professors included noted dispensational authors like Charles Ryrie (who compiled a popular study Bible), John Walvoord, and J. Dwight Pentecost.
Best-selling books promoting premillennial dispensational theology include The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey and the mega best-selling Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The theology remains well-accepted in America, critics notwithstanding.
Darby also influenced lawyer-turned pastor Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, whose Scofield Reference Bible has had widespread use since its initial publication in 1909. Its all-in-one mixture of Dispensational-Premillennial theology with the King James text led many students to regard this version as authorized.
Do All Dispensationalists Believe in Premillennialism?
All dispensational followers believe in premillennialism, which states the millennium (thousand-year reign of Christ) is a future event following His second advent. Hence, premillennial dispensationalists believe Christ will have three advents. Pre- refers to the church’s catching up (rapture) before the seven-year tribulation before Christ’s second advent (Revelation 20:1-6). The Old Testament passages cited for this view are Isaiah 9, 11, and Zechariah 14.
For further reference:
- Amillennialism argues that we are already in the millennium with Christ’s spiritual reign in heaven.
- Postmillennialism argues Christ’s return will occur after the millennium, and the reign will be physical—on earth.
Is Dispensationalism Biblical
The separation of the Bible into various ages is not, in and of itself, unbiblical. Dispensational theological practices become unbiblical when they are applied to the whole Bible without accounting for the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). With a framework that emphasizes the different roles of Israel and the church and their separation into two distinct entities, strict dispensational theology greatly differs from clear biblical teaching. A Christian is implored to carefully study the Bible, approaching it prayerfully and without preconceptions that hinder the revelation given by God’s Word through His Spirit.