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Among the Biblical covenants of the Old Testament, the new covenant with Israel takes its place in importance with the Abrahamic and the Davidic covenants as determining the course and destiny of the nation Israel. In the study of premillennialism it is another important evidence for a future millennial kingdom in which its promises can find literal fulfillment.The Promises of the New Covenant with Israel The promises of the new covenant with Israel are among the most specific of the Scriptures. The major passage is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34: “Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a...

Next in importance to the Abrahamic covenant in the Old Testament doctrine of premillennialism stands the Davidic covenant—the promises of God to David that his seed, throne, and kingdom would endure forever. This covenant has been obscured and ignored by most amillenarians and again and again statements are made that premillennialism rests solely upon the interpretation of Revelation 20. Louis Berkhof in his discussion of “the premillennial theory” states, “The only Scriptural basis for this theory is Rev 20:1-6, after an Old Testament content has been poured into it.”1 In other words it is expressly denied that the Old Testament...

Will Israel Be Restored as a Nation?Most of the prophets of the Old Testament with enraptured gaze contemplated the glory of a millennial kingdom in which Israel would be restored and be head of all nations. In the darkest hours of Israel’s apostasy and sin, in the very hour of her captivity and disgrace, the prophets uttered their message of hope. Jeremiah’s word may be taken as typical: “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt...

Will Israel Possess the Promised Land?One of the important provisions of the Abrahamic Covenant is the promise of possession of the land. From Abraham’s point of view, this was undoubtedly one of its main features. In the original promise, he was told, “Get thee out…unto a land that I will shew thee” (Gen 12:1). This anticipation of possessing the land is given more content in Genesis 13:15, where Abraham is promised, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” This promise of the land is subsequently enlarged and given...

Will Israel Continue as a Nation?The point at issue. In previous discussion of the Abrahamic Covenant, it was shown that the term seed of Abraham had three distinct meanings as used in Scripture. It is used (1) of the natural seed of Abraham, limited in some contexts to the seed of Jacob or Israel; (2) it is used of the spiritual seed of Abraham within the natural seed—spiritual Israel; (3) it is used of those who are spiritual seed of Abraham but not natural descendants, i.e., Gentile believers. Premillenarians concede to amillenarians the existence of a spiritual seed of Abraham....

Is the Abrahamic Covenant Unconditional? Amillenarians believe that the Abrahamic Covenant is based on certain conditions, and its fulfillment hinges on these conditions being met. Premillenarians hold that the Abrahamic Covenant is a declaration of God’s intention which is not conditional upon the obedience of individuals or nations for its fulfillment—an unconditional plan of God. As given in the Scriptures, the Abrahamic Covenant is hinged upon only one condition. This is given in Genesis 12:1, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land...

It is recognized by all serious students of the Bible that the covenant of God with Abraham is one of the important and determinative revelations of Scripture. It furnishes the key to the entire Old Testament and reaches for its fulfillment into the New. In the controversy between premillenarians and amillenarians, the interpretation of this covenant more or less settles the entire argument. The analysis of its provisions and the character of their fulfillment1 set the mold for the entire body of Scriptural truth. Most of the discussions on the issue are distinguished for their disregard of the specific provisions...

While amillennialism has its influence in all areas of theology, it is natural that it should affect eschatology more than any other. As a form of denial of a future millennial kingdom on earth, it stands in sharp contrast to premillennial eschatology. In previous discussion of amillennialism, it has been brought out that amillennialism is by no means a unified theology, including within its bounds such diverse systems as modern liberal theology, Roman Catholic theology, and conservative Reformed theology. It is therefore impossible to generalize on amillennial eschatology without dividing it into these major divisions. Aside from various small sects...

In 1962, philosopher-scientist Thomas Kuhn coined the term “paradigm shift” to signal a massive change in the way a community thinks about a particular topic. Examples of paradigm shifts include Copernicus’s discovery that the earth revolves around the sun, Einstein’s theory of relativity, and Darwin’s theory of evolution. Each changed the world of thought (some for better, some for worse) in a fundamental way. From a political perspective, Constantine’s Edict of Milan, issued in AD 313, constituted the formal beginning of a major paradigm shift that signaled the end of the ancient world and the beginning of the medieval period....

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A Broward teenager is accusing a Fort Lauderdale youth pastor of sexually molesting him for the past 10 years, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office. Jeffery London, 48, was arrested Wednesday night at his home in Lauderdale Lakes after returning from conducting Bible study at the Bible Church of God in Fort Lauderdale, sheriff's officials said. The accuser, now 18 years old, recently told a friend from church that he had been abused repeatedly over the decade he lived with London. The alleged victim's mother had left him in London's care when he was 8 after she faced financial difficulties,...

Background and Introduction. The dispensation of Israel began with the Exodus in B.C. 1441 and concluded with the birth of our Lord in 4 B.C. Therefore, most of the Old Testament Canon is devoted to the study of Jewish client nations. There were five Jewish client nations in the dispensation of Israel. The Theocratic Kingdom from the Exodus to the time of Samuel, B.C. 1441 - 1020. The United Kingdom from Saul to Rehoboam.,B.C.1020-926. The Northern Kingdom from Jeroboam to Hoshea, B.C.926-721. The fifth cycle of discipline was administered to the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, commanded by Sargon II....

Colossians tells us that the Jewish festivals “are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:16 NIV) We all understand this principle as key to understanding the Old Testament, but it may be key to understanding Revelation as well… There are a lot types in the Bible, both Old Testament and New (a type being a kind of prophecy-by analogy). The most widely recognized one is, probably, is the Jewish feast of the Passover. The symbolism there is unmistakable: the sacrifice is slain and the blood of the sacrifice is...

snip Following years of devastation under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and the ensuing American invasion of Iraq, World Monuments Fund conservationist Jeff Allen told The New York Times this week that archeologists are beginning to work on ancient Babylonian sites and possibly restore some of them. snip

As one evaluates the current debate between dispensationalism and nondispensationalism, the pervading notion seems to be that dispensationalism is in the midst of an identity crisis. While as a whole the evangelical community is seeking for some common ground in eschatology, certainly a worthy aim, this paper seeks to contribute some understanding to the essence of dispensationalism in a day when the very term has been brought into question by those within dispensational circles. In particular this paper will attempt to articulate the essence of dispensationalism in hermeneutical terms. Earl Radmacher noted that "literal interpretation is the 'bottom-line' of dispensationalism."...

Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary prof David Turner discussed the literal hermeneutic issue that traditionally is seen as a defining difference between covenant theology and dispensationalism. He noted, however, that its actual use in specific textual situations was determined by the presuppositions of the exegete, not by an arbitrarily chosen hermeneutical system. So we see an emerging awareness that dispensational and covenant theologies differ because of deep rooted presuppositions. The trick is to define where they are and what they are. In the following sections I will attempt to contrast the "classical" forms of each system to discover their different senses...

Epistles1. Paul's Epistles (Jew & Gentile) a. Acts Period Epistles (General Course: to the Jew First and also to the Greek—Romans 1:16) These may be considered the "Childhood" Epistles relative to the sign gifts, their doting over Israel as a nation, and the limits therein as to progressive revelation (1 Corinthians 3:1, 2; 13:11; 14:20; Hebrews 5:11-14; etc.). Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians Hebrews b. Post Acts Period Epistles (General Object: the Body of Christ) "One New Man"—Neither Jew Nor Gentile) These may be regarded as the "Adulthood" or "Full-Age" Epistles; not mentioning sign gifts,...

Christ in His Offices and Ministries (Earthly; Heavenly) 1. Prophet (Earthly). After the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16; Hebrews 5:7); to fulfill the promises made unto Israel's Patriarchs and offer Himself as Israel's rightful King; offering Israel their Kingdom. Deuteronomy 18:15; Daniel 2:34-36, 44; 7:23-27; Matthew 4:23; 5:17; 10:5-8; 15:24-28; Mark 7:27; Luke 7:1-10; 18:32-34; Luke 24:19; John 3:2; 6:14; 14:24; 18:20; Acts 3:21; Romans 15:8; etc. 2. Savior (Earthly). After the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16; Hebrews 5:7); in His humiliation, to become the offering for the sin and sins of all men, the propitiation to God, and the reconciliation of...