Why I Am Not A Dispensationalist

Gal 5:8 "This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you." This is the beginning of a series of articles known as the "Why I am Not (Fill in the Blank)" series; published for the truth-lover lucky enough to stumble upon the Cincinnati Church's website. The author of this series believes it appropriate that the first article be an expose on an antichristian system of bible interpretation. Bible study method is the most important set of principles one must come to understand before addressing other basic topics such as salvation or church order. Dispensationalism is not just a matter of eschatology, for its battle cry and unholy cow is a spin of 2 Timothy 2:15, which declares, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Number One. The first reason why I am NOT a Dispensationalist is because it WRONGLY divides the word of truth. A good ol' faithful Dispensationalist will preach "God is a divider, wherefore we must divide the Bible". However, in order to "divide" the scripture, Dispensationalism inserts a complex system of thought that GLORIFIES A PEOPLE UPON WHOM GOD HAS FULLY POURED OUT HIS WRATH (I Thessalonians 2:13-16). According to this system, the earthly seed of Abraham, the Jews, shall one day inherit the earth and dominate it under their conquering Messiah. The power of Dispensationalism lies in its hundreds of bible verses organized and strung together to support this theme. A proper system of interpretation rather supports and glorifies the author of the Book, Jesus Christ (John 5:39), who declares, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." In another place, we read, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 6:4). Paul NEVER preached the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jacob, DID he?

"What think ye of Christ? Is the test
To try both your state and your scheme,
You cannot be right in the rest,
Unless you think rightly of him…"(John Newton)

The true method of Bible study NEVER intimidates and overwhelms the student of scripture with multitudes of verses just to support an idea. Instead, the true way RIGHTLY divides the word of truth, according to the old paths recorded in Nehemiah 8:8, "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." When one learns how to read the scriptures by separating a passage according to its form or structure (II Timothy 1:13), and by primary meaning of words, he can understand the scripture. The Holy Spirit also instructs by comparing, NOT CONFOUNDING, scripture with scripture (I Corinthians 2:13). Yet, one will not need scores of verses just to prove a point, for in Christ there is simplicity (II Corinthians 11:3). The Lord needed but three verses to fell the Devil's threefold taunt (Matthew 4:1-11). Number Two. The second reason why I am NOT a Dispensationalist is because Dispensationalism resurrects a wall of partition between peoples that Christ has broken down by his finished work (Ephesians 2:13-16). A core point of Dispensationalism that makes Dispensationalism what it is, is how there is a sharp distinction between "Israel" and "The Church". According to Dispensationalism, the age of the new testament church is but a parenthetical system of God's dealings with man. Had the Jews received their Messiah during his earthly ministry, an earthly kingdom of God would have been erected then and there. While this scheme may rejoice the heart of the worldling, the heavenly-minded apostles and prophets disagree. The "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16) is a reference to God's elect, the children of promise, NOT children of the FLESH (Romans 9:6-11). How does one know he has a part with Israel? Heed the commandment of the apostle, Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. By being joined unto the new testament church (unto the Lord) through repentance and baptism, he can know he is of Israel. (Acts 2:41; 5:14). Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. As far as the kingdom of God is concerned, the Lord expressly stated that his kingdom was NOT OF THIS WORLD (John 18:36). More on this in our next point. Number Three. The third reason why I am NOT a Dispensationalist is because it is a MAKEOVER of the SATANIC offer of the world's kingdoms proposed to Jesus in his earthly life. Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Dispensationalists are of the persuasion that the Jews will one day rule the world under their Messiah, Jesus Christ, based on dark passages. Texts typically relied on include – Psalm 2, 149; and Zechariah 14:9. King James Dispensationalism (popularized by the late Peter Ruckman and his intellectual students) stands upon the misunderstanding of an adverb used in John 18:36, one of their proof texts. Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. The word "now" is primarily used to denote present time; but in this context, it is used to connect a previous clause with the following statement. Jesus simply reiterated the fact that his kingdom is NOT of this world. In definition 4, Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary expounds the adverb as sometimes expressing or implying a "connection between the subsequent and preceding proposition; often it introduces an inference or an explanation of what precedes." Another example where this word is used as a connection is found in the following - Joh 18:40 "Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber." Does this passage teach that Barabbas then became a robber when they chose to release him, robbing Jesus of his liberty? If it does, then I have an antique Scofield Bible made from papyrus for sale (signed by Moses). Have Premillennial Dispensationalists NOT read where the Jews tried to force Jesus into kingship? Joh 6:15 "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." Dispensational Premillennialism is a school of thought that is OF MEN (Matthew 16:18). You might want to run off to a mountain somewhere, open up the King James Bible, and immerse yourself in the true doctrine of the kingdom ALONE. The truth is usually lonesome. Number Four. The fourth reason why I am NOT a Dispensationalist is because the system profanes the finished work and offering of the body of Jesus by resurrecting the carnal shadow sacrifices at a future time. Dispensationalists teach that in the golden age of Christ's earthly reign, the sacrifices and offerings of beasts shall be resurrected. Certain radical Dispensationalists even teach that these carnal offerings will be necessary for salvation. Their go-to text is found in Ezekiel 40-46, where a future temple and its order is described (distinct from the order of Solomon's temple). Dispensationalists also misread certain phrases used by Paul, such as "…are a shadow of things to come…" (Colossians 2:17); and "…the law having a shadow of good things to come…" (Hebrews 10:1). Grammar is usually where proponents of error break their necks; and such is the case here. If one were to interpret the grammar of these texts in the conventional present tense, one would conclude that Paul is inferring that the Old Testament sacrifices were shadows yet to be fulfilled. The following is a brief lesson on what is called, the historical present – "In linguistics and rhetoric, the historical present or historic present, also called dramatic present or narrative present, is the employment of the present tense when narrating past events… It is typically thought to heighten the dramatic force of the narrative by describing events as if they were still unfolding, and/or by foregrounding some events relative to others." (Historical Present, Wikipedia) With this peculiarity of English grammar in mind, we understand that Paul was not necessarily implying that these shadow sacrifices of yore awaited fulfillment. Durst the Holy Ghost contradict the general theme of his apostle's letters, which is Christ's offering of himself being the fulfillment of the Mosaic sacrifices (Hebrews 10:5-10)? I TROW NOT. For additional verses where this rule of grammar is utilized, see Galatians 4:21-26; and Hebrews 9:11. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: Dispensationalism is an antichristian system of wrongly dividing the word of truth that appeals to the carnal mind hoping for a worldly "heaven on earth", ruled by another Jesus, whom we, the little flock, have not received. Yours in the cause of truth, Philo Logos