Darby
Posted on 09/01/2009 7:59:49 AM PDT by fishtank
Evidence from Scripture of the passing away of the present dispensation.
by J. N. Darby.
<02007E> 89
The testimony of Scripture is the only secure resting-place for man amid the darkness of this world. This, through the teaching of the Spirit, is the believer's light and security; from this his judgment flows; and, consequently, from this the rule and foundation of his conduct springs. Wrong thoughts as to God's dealings, and our own place before Him, must lead to wrong judgment as to the conduct claimed from us; and thus all our service will be folly, and, perhaps, our hopes presumption; our light will be darkness, and then what will become of those "who are led"?
Immediately connected with this inquiry (and thus involving the most practical results) is the question as to the dispensation in which we stand, and what are to be our hopes in it? Many most interesting inquiries are connected with this subject, as to the development of the purposes of God; but it is not my present purpose to enter into them. I intend to confine myself to the scriptural evidence on the two following most important questions, which, in the highest degree, affect the present interests and operations of the church of Christ.
(1) IS THIS DISPENSATION THE LAST, OR NOT?
(2) WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES BY WHICH ANY OTHER IS TO BE INTRODUCED?
The answer to these questions appears to me to involve the whole ground of the judgment of a believer's mind, as to his present position in the world; and, consequently, as to his duty and his hopes. Without examining the detail of circumstances, I shall endeavour to seize on some of the broad facts and principles.
(1) Is this dispensation the last, or is it not?
First - Let us consider the evidence of Scripture as to the Christian body.
The 9th verse of the 1st of Ephesians affords a leading declaration of Scripture on this subject: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance" (v. 10). Now this is in no way applicable to the present dispensation. He is to gather together in one all things which are in heaven, and which are on earth. This the present dispensation does not assume to do: it is a dispensation in which Satan is the prince and god of this world - in which he sows tares among the wheat, and is in high places. In this, God visits the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. This is indeed a dispensation of another gathering (as we shall see presently), in which angels minister and devils oppose - anything but a gathering into one things in heaven and things on earth; for we must be absent from the body to be present with the Lord, and absent from the Lord to be at home in the body; and we "groan" waiting. Indeed, there is ample demonstration in the above passage, that the present dispensation does not and was not meant to do this. .....
There is much more of the article at the link.
I had to download the article and even print it out, since I took a few days to go through the entire monograph.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nelson_Darby
John Nelson Darby (18 November 1800 – 29 April 1882) was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation from the Original Languages by J. N. Darby.
Executive summary: Get right or get left.
Dispensationalism ping
Clearly not the last dispensation - or there would not be a future Kingdom on Earth with Christ physically reining on the seat of David...
I’ve read a lot of Darby. Good man.
ampu
If we place our trust in Christ, what does it matter what dispensation we are in? All things will happen in God’s good time, regardless of what we think we know or what we try to do to affect the timing.
Darby is the guy who came up with the whole “rapture” thing, by the way...
Thanks thanks.
Thanks.
INDEED.
GET RIGHT
OR GET
LEFT.
WRONG.
That would be God . . .
1 Thess 4:16 . . .
yep
Thanks for the ping!
“If we place our trust in Christ, what does it matter what dispensation we are in?”
Here is a good reason: If an unbeliever picks up the Bible and starts to wonder what his Christian friend thinks of the MANY prophecy passages, it does little good for the Christian to tell the unbeliever a preterist interpretation.
Why?
Because the preterist interpretation is so common-sensically wrong, and the average reading person sees it from a mile away.
The unbeliever is then left to wonder if anything from the Bible is true at all as a result.
Actually, the word “rapture” is derived from the Latin Vulgate from Jerome’s translation.
As a former Catholic, I know these things....
:-)
Darby
Enoch and Elijah got ‘raptured’ (taken up) as well.
Because the preterist interpretation is so common-sensically wrong, and the average reading person sees it from a mile away.
The unbeliever is then left to wonder if anything
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INDEED TO THE MAX.
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