Posted on 01/02/2007 11:31:58 AM PST by cowboyfan88
Dispensationalism is a system of theology that has two primary distinctives. (1) A consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy. (2) A distinction between Israel and the Church in God's program.
(1) Dispensationalists claim that their principle of hermeneutics is that of literal interpretation. "Literal interpretation" means giving each word the meaning it would commonly have in everyday usage. Symbols, figures of speech and types are all interpreted plainly in this method, and they are in no way contrary to literal interpretation. Even symbolisms and figurative sayings have literal meanings behind them.
There are at least three reasons why this is the best way to view scripture. First, philosophically, the purpose of language itself seems to require that we interpret it literally. Language was given by God for the purpose of being able to communicate with man. The second reason is Biblical. Every prophesy about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament was fulfilled literally. Jesus' birth, Jesus' ministry, Jesus' death, and Jesus' resurrection all occurred exactly and literally as the Old Testament predicted. There is no non-literal fulfillment of these prophecies in the New Testament. This argues strongly for the literal method. If literal interpretation is not used in studying the Scriptures, there is no objective standard by which to understand the Bible. Each and every person would be able to interpret the Bible as they saw fit. Biblical interpretation would denigrate into "what this passage says to me..." instead of "the Bible says..." Sadly, this is already the case is much of what is called Biblical interpretation today.
(2) Dispensational Theology believes that there are two distinct peoples of God: Israel and the Church. Dispensationalists believe that salvation has always been by faith (in God in the Old Testament; specifically in God the Son in the New Testament). Dispensationalists hold that the Church has not replaced Israel in God’s program and the Old Testament promises to Israel have not been transferred to the Church. They believe that the promises God made to Israel (for land, many descendants, and blessing) in the Old Testament will be ultimately fulfilled in the 1,000 year period spoken of in Revelation 20. They believe that just as God is in this age focusing His attention on the church, He will again in the future focus His attention on Israel (Romans 9-11).
Using this system as a basis, Dispensationalists understand the Bible to be organized in seven dispensations: Innocence (Genesis 1:1 – 3:7), Conscience (Genesis 3:8 – 8:22), Human Government (Genesis 9:1 – 11:32), Promise (Genesis 12:1 – Exodus 19:25), Law (Exodus 20:1 – Acts 2:4), Grace (Acts 2:4 – Revelation 20:3), and the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4 – 20:6). Again, these dispensations are not ways of salvation, but manners in which God relates to man. Dispensationalism, as a system, results in a premillennial interpretation of Christ’s Second Coming, and usually a pretribulational interpretation of the Rapture.
Sounds like a made up idea to me.
!
Time to make some popcorn. I suspect there will be fireworks, bannings and a thread closing RSN.
And?
ping
Heh, heh! Well, I hope not.
That usually takes at least one good grenade thrower, with a couple of strong willed and opinionated opponents.
Interesting. A question and answer site?
I need to correct that website. It's actually gotquestions.org. I put .com instead.
Heh, heh! Well, I hope not.
Threads about dispensationalism tend to degenerate into multi-hundred post flamefests.
Click, click, click --- WHOOOSH! 
The idea of dispensationalism is that God has established different ways for humans to relate to him in different eras. (That's an off-the-cuff definition.)
The Old Testament and the New Testament indicate at least two of these ways. (Law versus Cross)
That is exactly what those seven dispensations listed above are: ages framed by the word of God.
Many Dispensationalists (who are actually merely Sensationalists) use a technique called selective literalism in their interpretation of Scripture. In other words, they only interpret the Scripture literally when it suits their purpose.
I believe that God has dealt with man differently in different periods. It is the only way the bible makes sense. Paul is the Apostle of the gentiles and dealt in this age of grace and Jesus dealt with the Jews under the law. You can't take what Jesus had commanded from the Jews and apply it to the Gentiles. Jesus came to the Jews to fulfill the covenant promises to Abraham. We were pagans without God until after the cross when Jesus gave us Paul. The whole bible is for our learning but you have to know where you get you doctrine. My personal testimony is this helped lead me to the way of salvation. I'm still in the learning process. We can have a debate about things like this and we can differ in our opinions. The only thing that isn't is the finished work of the cross. In that I won't ever waver. It is faith and nothing more.
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