Replies

If you go to Dr. Riddlebarger’s Blog, the Riddleblog - http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/ then scroll halfway down the page, on the right side of the page, you’ll find Dr. Riddlebarger’s lecture series titled “AMILLENIALISM 101” in Mp3 format, which can be streamed or downloaded..FREE.

Dr. Riddlebarger was raised in an Evangelical, Dispensational church..he says that he was a committed Dispensationalist for most of his 20’s, until he began to discover deep inconsistencies in the Dispensational schema, compared to what the Bible actually taught.

Most Evangelicals tend to disparage Amillenialism and Post Millenialism without actually reading the primary Amil or Post Mill literature that has been written by Amillenial and Post Mill scholars, like Dr. Riddlebarger, or Dr. Anthony Hoekema, Dr. Greg Bahnsen, or Gary DeMar, and others.

I’ve spoken with more than a few Christians in the past who are strongly against the Amil or Post Mill viewpoint, but find that they have no real knowledge of the Scriptural arguments used by those who hold to these viewponts. They only know what they have been told by other well known Dispensationalists.

Since he was raised as a Dispensationalist, Dr. Riddlebarger is quite familar with the various arguments that are used by Dispensationalists, he presents these arguments in a balanced way, then deals with them in an irenic manner.

This is an INTERFAMILY argument. No one on the Reformed side says that Dispensationalists are not Christians, yet we do insist that classical Darby and Scofield Dispensationalism, and the Modified Dispensationalism of Walvoord and Ryrie is in error.

Dr. Riddlebarger’s book “A CASE FOR AMILLENIALISM” is a good place to start to understand the Scriptural arguments presented by both sides of the issue at hand. His AUDIO Mp3 lecture series is an excellent companion to the book.

Dr. Riddlebarger has a lecture included within this AUDIO series that REFUTES the idea that the Reformed hold to REPLACEMENT theology.

The TERM “Replacement” is a canard. The Reformed have NEVER used this term. The term was coined by, and used by Dispensationalists to describe something that they don’t really understand. Reformed theologians do NOT hold to so called “Replacement” theology at all.

Rather, the classical Reformed position is that since Believeing Christians are grafted onto the branch of Believeing Israel, Believeing Israel IS the Church and the Church IS Believing Israel, and has been since Creation.

God has one people, not two. Believeing Israel and the Believing Church are one and the same, and have always been so. There is no dichotomy between the Believeing Church and Believing Israel. We are all one in God’s Kingdom.

So, understanding that the Church IS Israel, Israel IS the Church, and always has been so, there cannot possibly be any REPLACEMENT of Israel here. Rather, the Believing Church is EXPANDING Israel when God draws people into His Kingdom through evangelism.

So, it’s best that we properly affirm that we hold to EXPANSION theology, rather than the canard of Replacement theology.

Dr. Riddlebarger’s book and audio series is highly recommended for those who wish to further investigate these things.~

STEM Publishing: J. N. Darby: Evidence from Scripture of the passing away of the present dispensation.

"STEM Publishing: J. N. Darby: Evidence from Scripture of the passing away of the present dispensation. Evidence from Scripture of the passing away of the present dispensation.

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."