The Dispensational Origins of Modern PreMillennialism

Credenda/Agenda Vol 7 No. 3 ^ | 2000 | Jack Van Deventer

[Jean Chauvin]

The Dispensational Origins
of Modern Premillennialism

by Jack Van Deventer

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The twentieth century has seen a dramatic paradigm shift in prophetic perspectives,first away from and now back toward its historic roots. This shift away from historic Christianity stemmed from a novel approach to Bible interpretation called dispensationalism which was developed in the 1830s and popularized with the 1909 publication of the Scofield Reference Bible. Dispensationalism, with its unique brand of premillennialism, has been thoroughly pervasive, being prominent in many churches, in bookstores, and among radio Bible teachers.

The distinguishing features of dispensationalism are a rigidly applied literalism in the interpretation of Scripture, a compartmentalization of Scripture into"dispensations," and a dichotomy between Israel and the Church. Dispensationalists believe "this present world system . . . is now controlled by Satan" [1] (not by God) and will end in failure and apostasy.

Dispensational premillennialists claim that their unique doctrines have been held since the early church, but these claims have been soundly refuted. Far from being the historic position of the church, premillennialism was described in 1813 by David Bogue as an oddity of Church history. [2] Postmillennialism was the dominant eschatology from the Reformation until at least 1859. [3]

The doctrine of a secret rapture was first conceived by John Nelson Darby of the Plymouth Brethren in 1827. Darby, known as the father of dispensationalism, invented the doctrine claiming there were not one, but two "second comings." This teaching was immediately challenged as unbiblical by other members of the Brethren. Samuel P. Tregelles, a noted biblical scholar, rejected Darby's new interpretation as the "height of speculative nonsense." [4] So tenuous was Darby's rapture theory that he had lingering doubts about it as late as 1843,and possibly 1845. [5] Another member of the Plymouth Brethren, B.W. Newton, disputed Darby's new doctrine claiming such a conclusion was only possible if one declared certain passages to be "renounced as not properly ours." Sandeen writes, "this is precisely what Darby was prepared to do. Too traditional to admit that biblical authors might have contradicted each other, and too rational as to admit that the prophetic maze defied penetration, Darby attempted a resolution of his exegetical dilemma by distinguishing between Scripture intended for theChurch and Scripture intended for Israel. . . . Darby's difficulty was solved by assuming that the Gospels were addressed partly to Jews and partly to Christians." [6]

Thus, the doctrine of the separation of Israel and the Church, the foundation of dispensationalism, was born out of Darby's attempt to justify his newly fabricated rapture theory with the Bible. Dispensationalists believed justification for carving up the Scriptures came from 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) "rightly dividing the word of truth." Subsequent dispensationalists divided the Scriptures in terms of categories of people: Jew, Gentile, and Christian. Chafer taught that the only Scriptures addressed specifically to Christians were the gospel of John, Acts, and the Epistles! Pettengill taught that the Great Commission was for the Jews only. Scofield taught that the Lord's prayer was a Jewish prayer and ought not be recited by Christians. Along with much of the New Testament, the Old Testament was described as "not for today." Ryrie dismissed the validityof the Old Testament commands to non-Jews because "the law was never given to Gentiles and is expressly done away for the Christian." [7] Christians were even mocked as legalists for believing in the Ten Commandments! [8] As other critics have observed, this segmentation of the Bible makes dispensationalism a Christianized version of cultural relativism.

Snowden and others traced the rise of modern premillennialism to a variety of religious splinter groups: the Plymouth Brethren (developed dispensationalism),the Millerites (became the Adventists), Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, [9] and Pentecostals. [10] Dispensational premillennialism was marketed the same way as the cultic groups. First, historic Christianity was discredited by the claim that all the prominent commentaries, all the church fathers, and even the Reformers were deluded by "man-made doctrines." Second, new revelation was claimed. Darby claimed to have received "new truth" or at other times "rediscovered truth" that had been lost since the apostles. Third, enthusiasm was whipped up on the pretense that Christ's coming was imminent. Frequent false predictions did not seem to deter this enthusiasm.

Snowden cited increasing prophetic fervor in the early 1900's rising from (1)a "fresh interest and zeal" in interpreting the "signs of the times," (2) the Great War (WWI) which started a wave of prophetic speculation, and (3) "the fall of Jerusalem out of Mohammedan into Christian hands [which] has whipped the millennarian imagination up to its highest pitch of foresight and prognostication." [11] This background explains the widespread popularity of the Scofield Reference Bible, published in 1909, which had a dramatic influence in spreading dispensationalism. Many well-known scholars warned that the teachings of dispensationalism were "unscriptural" [12] (Spurgeon), "heterodox" (Dabney), "bizarre doctrine" and "grievous error" [13] (Warfield), but the warnings went largely unheeded.

Today, dispensationalism is in a theological turmoil, having declined sharply since the 1970's because of mounting criticism. Grenz notes, "Dispensationalism today is in a state of fluidity. No longer are the rigid distinctives of the past held to with unswerving certainty. Many progressive dispensationalists are no longer certain as to exactly what are the defining tenets of the system that commands their allegiance." [14]

Endnotes
1 John A. Witmer, "A Review of 'Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth,'" Bibliotheca Sacra (July/September 1992) p. 272.
2 Iain Murray, The Puritan Hope (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1971) p.187.
3 In "History of Opinions Respecting the Millennium," American Theological Review 1 (Nov. 1859) p. 642-655.
4 Clarence Bass, Backgrounds to Dispensationalism (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1960) p. 21.
5 Ibid ., p. 64.
6 Ernest R. Sandeen, British and American Millennarianism 1800-1930 (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1970), p. 66.
7 Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life (Chicago, IL: MoodyPress, 1969), p. 88.
8 S. Lewis Johnson, "The Paralysis of Legalism," Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol.120 (April/June, 1963), p. 109. He cites Barnhouse, God's Freedom , p. 134. Johnson wrote "At the heart of the problem of legalism is pride, a pride thatrefuses to admit spiritual bankruptcy. That is why the doctrines of grace stirup so much animosity. Donald Grey Barnhouse, a giant of a man in free grace,wrote, 'It was a tragic hour when the Reformation churches wrote the Ten Commandments into their creeds and catechisms and sought to bring Gentile believers into bondage to Jewish law, which was never intended either for the Gentile nations or for the church.' He was right, too."
9 James H. Snowden, The Coming of the Lord (New York: MacMillan, 1919),p. 23-24.
10 George M. Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture, The Shapingof Twentieth-Century Evangelicalism: 1870-1925 (New York: Oxford UniversityPress, 1980), p. 94. Marsden notes, "Dispensationalism, which fit so well withthe Pentecostal and holiness ideas of the 'Age of the Spirit,' easily gained acceptancein the new Pentecostal movement. . . "
11 Snowden, The Coming of the Lord , p. 24.
12 Charles Spurgeon, A Treasury of David / II (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan,1966), p. 466.
13 Curtis I. Crenshaw and Grover E. Gunn, III, Dispensationalism Today,Yesterday, and Tomorrow (Memphis, TN: Footstool Publications, 1989), p. 391. This book reprints B.B. Warfield's 1918 critique of Lewis S. Chafer's book He That Is Spiritual, from which these comments were excerpted.
14 Stanley J. Grenz, The Millennial Maze (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsityPress, 1992), p. 122.

[Jean Chauvin]

Unfortunatly for dispensationalism and your current argument, Paul has told us that "the promiseS" made to Abraham are made to him and his singular seed, Christ.

Paul does not distinguish between one promise in Gen 22, Paul tells us that ~all~ the promises to Abraham.

Therefore, the argument you present is over ruled by Paul's apostolic authority!

Paul, as does all the N.T. clarifies the O.T.

Jean

[Jean Chauvin]

Correction:

"Paul does not distinguish between one promise in Gen 22, Paul tells us that ~all~ the promises to Abraham."

Should read:

"Paul does not distinguish between one promise in Gen 22 and all the other promises to Abraham, Paul tells us that ~all~ the promises to Abraham."

Jean

[bzrd]

"The just shall live by faith"...Paul says in his letter to the Romans.

The OT saints were justified by their faith in GOD; of course it is unprovable, but I suspect many of them saw the hoplessness of keeping the letter of the Mosiac Law and just came to the place where they trusted GOD for their salvation--by faith.

It is quite possible many of them saw Christ the Messiah in the OT [no, they could not have known Him as Yeshua]--even Job said "I know my redeemer lives and at the latter day I will see Him in my flesh" Job 19:25

No one though, comes to the Father but through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ...either before or after the Cross.

Brian.

[bzrd]

The key phrase in verse 28 is "for you all are one in Jesus Christ."

A present day descendant of Abraham who is not "in Christ" is still part of Israel and not the Church. Israel has recieved temporal blessings from GOD as part of the promise given to father Abraham---who can deny that Jews are and have been, historically important, in that their contributions to science and culture are unsurpassed.
They alwasys rise to the top, where ever they have gone; indeed, this has been part of their demise as anti-semitism almost always is a mask for envy.

Believers in the risen Christ also share in the temporal blessing portion of the promise given to Abraham--but their blessings aren't limited to the temporal realm, but the spiritual as well.

At any rate, GOD is far from finished with His Chosen People...He has not given up on Jacob.

Remember when the brothers of Joseph came into Egypt after having counted him forsaken. It wasn't until their third trip into Egypt that Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.

This is a shadow of the future when Israel "...will look opon Him whom they pierced, and mourn..."

Rev. 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..."

...as the Hebrew Messiah.

Brian.

[RnMomof7]

The Old Testiment is full of promises to the descendents of Abraham; and full of unfulfilled prophecies about God's future treatment of descendants of Abraham. To interpret the words about grafting Christians into these promises is to modify them so as not to give the descendants of Abraham what God promised Abraham He would

  Rom 11:17   And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

     Rom 11:18   Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

     Rom 11:19   Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

     Rom 11:20   Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:   

  Rom 11:21   For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

     Rom 11:22   Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

     Rom 11:23   And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

     Rom 11:24   For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree?   

  Rom 11:25   For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,

[RnMomof7]

I see the Church gone and the focus returns to Israel. I see the trib as the woodshed to bing Israel to repentance and reception of her Messiah.

Who is going to preach to to Israel when the saints are gone?

[drstevej]

Jews who are converted after the rapture.
How will they hear?
Easy, they log onto FR and read all the great Calvinist posts that are archived. This thread ought to make great reading. :-)

[RnMomof7]

No answer huh?

[drstevej]

That was my answer.

When the Church is removed it is not unreasonable to envision the result being many Jews realizing that Christ is indeed the Messiah resulting in a revival in Israel (Ezekiel 37).

[RnMomof7]

When the Church is removed it is not unreasonable to envision the result being many Jews realizing that Christ is indeed the Messiah resulting in a revival in Israel

Except that is not biblical

    Rom 10:14   How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

     Rom 10:15   And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

     Rom 10:16   But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

     Rom 10:17   So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

[drstevej]

***Except that is not biblical ***

Balderdash. Stop and think.

There will be millions of Bibles not raptured. There will be thousands of Christian books explaining the gospel. There will be oodles of cassette tapes and video tapes with the gospel message.

Thousands have come to Christ over the years reading the Bible and books or listening to tapes when there was no one communicating live and in real time.

The rapture removes believers, but not all Christian literature, etc.

[drstevej]

Hypothetical: Bobby believer has been witnessing to a Jewish friend for years but Jimmy Jew has balked at the thought of Jesus as Messiah.

One evening Bobby shows Jimmy Isaiah 53 and asks Jimmy to read it thoughtfully to see if it is not talking about Jesus, the Messiah. (He doesn't suggest the burning bosom test, BTW) Bobby then explains that one day Jesus will return for believers and take them to be with Him.

The next morning Jimmy discovers that Bobby and millions of others are gone. He picks up the Bible and reads Isaiah 53 and embraces Jesus as his Messiah and agressively witnesses to everyone around him.

Purely hypothetical.

[RnMomof7]

The "anti Christ " courts the Jews for three and a half years..rebuilds the temple He IS their Hero ..then he turns on them..also anyone that refuses the mark will be killed..so your story is unlikely

[drstevej]

ok if you say so.

[RnMomof7]

Actually Daniel says so according to pre trib teaching..You are of course free to believe what you will..but if you can not PROVE it with the word it is worth nothing and should not be taught to others...

[drstevej]

***but if you can not PROVE it with the word it is worth nothing and should not be taught to others... ***

This discussion began with your question... ***Who is going to preach to to Israel when the saints are gone?*** which I have answered.

The rapture removes Christians not all Christian witness. It's just that simple.