Posted on 02/08/2010 9:18:08 AM PST by fishtank
"What men, then, according to these definitions, should be classed as dispensationalists? The answer to this question might be stated in a variety of ways. Three of these may suffice:
(1) Any person is a dispensationalist who trusts the blood of Christ rather than bringing an animal sacrifice.
(2) Any person is a dispensationalist who disclaims any right or title to the land which God covenanted to Israel for an everlasting inheritance. And
(3) any person is a dispensationalist who observes the first day of the week rather than the seventh. To all this it would be replied that every Christian does these things, which is obviously true; and it is equally true that, to a very considerable degree, all Christians are dispensationalists. However, not all Christians, though sincere, are as well instructed in the spiritual content of the Scriptures as others, nor have they seen the necessity of recognizing other and deeper distinctions which do confront the careful student of the Word of God."
ping
Most any Christian recognizes dispensations in God’s Word. The disagreement is about how far to push it. There are others who were even more dispensational than Chafer (like E.W. Bullinger, Charles Welch, et al.).
No kidding. You have that right!
I notice the Baptist Church I attend teachers the lighter messages of God. Few controversial or condemning lifestyle behaviors are heard from the pulpit today. Lots of practical messages are offered weekly. Which are good in their own way but I consider them to fall short of effective preaching of the Word ala Spurgeon and the like.
Bullinger’s model answers a lot of questions people have and also eliminates many apparent contradictions.
It’s not limited to the pulpit.
I remember swinging by Fuller Seminary in Pasadena,CA, going in the bookstore and asking for anything by Lewis Sperry Chafer. They never heard of him and couldn’t find anything when they searched, but they could offer plenty of New Age sales. Go figure.
Number two is wrong: a dispensationalist is one who rightly divides the word of truth. When this is done one knows he has no promise of any land on this earth nor are we in any covenant.
Number three: a dispensationalist does not observe any days,weeks,months,or years. No sabaths for us today
2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
In regards to #3, worshiping on a particular day of the week.
Col 2:16-23
(16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
(17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
(19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
(20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.
* Summary:
Jesus returns physically
Returns after tribulation, before millennium
No rapture before Second Coming
There is a Great Tribulation
Christians suffer during tribulation
After tribulation, Christ returns for 1000 years to reign on earth.
Modern state of Israel is not relevant to Revelation prophecies.
God's Promises to Hebrews conditional on obedience.
Most references to Israel in Revelation refer symbolically to the church.
http://modelsofeschatology.com/week-2-classic-premillennialism/
“Number two is wrong: a dispensationalist is one who rightly divides the word of truth. When this is done one knows he has no promise of any land on this earth nor are we in any covenant.”
Disagree: The word “disclaims” is the opposite of “claims”.
Number three: a dispensationalist does not observe any days,weeks,months,or years. No sabaths for us today.
Disagree: Chafer makes it clear that there is no sabbath. He is just making the point that a Christian has the freedom to discard a particular day, and has a freedom to worship on Sunday, if he so chooses.
“You: Number two is wrong: a dispensationalist is one who rightly divides the word of truth. When this is done one knows he has no promise of any land on this earth nor are we in any covenant.”
Me: Disagree: The word “disclaims” is the opposite of “claims”.
“You: Number three: a dispensationalist does not observe any days,weeks,months,or years. No sabaths for us today.”
Me: Disagree: Chafer makes it clear that there is no sabbath. He is just making the point that a Christian has the freedom to discard a particular day, and has a freedom to worship on Sunday, if he so chooses.
(1) Any person is a dispensationalist who trusts the blood of Christ rather than bringing an animal sacrifice.
You might be a dispensationalist if....15)you think animal sacrifices are coming back, and this is a good thing.
any person is a dispensationalist who observes the first day of the week rather than the seventh.
I know it's futile to say it, but read Vos, read Kline. Then we'll talk.
christianbook.com has Chafer’s Systematic Theology unabridged for 49.99 .... not an ad here, just an FYI
I’ve downloaded it since, from the web. It’s loaded up now and comes up on a .pdf browser with links to all the chapters and volumes.
bkmk
So here we have a non-dispensationalist insisting on a literal “After tribulation, Christ returns for 1000 years to reign on earth” and then also insisting a non-literal approach to “Modern state of Israel is not relevant to Revelation prophecies” and “Most references to Israel in Revelation refer symbolically to the church.”
Christ said we must pluck out our eyes and amputate any body part that causes us to sin--will you LITERALLY interpret that advice, or do you see that Christ was using hyperbole and used literary devices such as parables THROUGOUT his ministry.
Here is one of my favorite verses about Israel, from the apostle Paul:
"It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring." ~ Romans 9: 6-8
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