04.08.09
Why I’m Not A Premillenial Dispensationalist
(Or, Why I Don’t Believe in the Rapture)
Heilsgeschicte, or salvation history, is a theological term describing the history of God’s interaction with humanity, beginning with Adam and Eve, throughout time. Dispensationalism is a particular understanding of salvation history, which divides it into epochs called dispensations. These dispensations are framed by various covenants and certain portions of scripture. Underlying this framework is the assumption that with each new dispensation, a purer understanding of God is achieved (progressive revelation). Premillenial dispensationalism is a particular brand of dispensationalism with an eschatological thrust.
There are four basic views on the millennium:
- Post-tribulational (tribulation happens, Jesus comes back, millennium happens)
- Pre-trib (rapture happens, tribulation happens, Jesus comes back, millennium happens)
- Post-milliennial (millennium happens, Jesus comes back)
- Amillennial (Jesus comes back)
Premillennial dispensationalism and pre-trib sort of go together.
So why am I not a pre-trib/premilleniannial dispensationalist?
Dispensationalism is very new, circa 1830. A man named John Darby, a staunch Calvinist, came up with the idea, which later came to be associated with such paragons of high-caliber academia as the Scofield Study Bible, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Bob Jones University.
Dispensationalism approaches a very complex and nuanced genre of scripture, viz, apocalyptic literature, with a very un-nuanced literalism. This is bad.
Dispensationalism contributes to Chistians being weird. Discussions of hypothetical or metaphorical images of the future (or possibly even of the past) as literal, endless speculation about meaningless particulars of the end times, obsessive searches for the number 666, and the occasional accusation of a public figure being the Antichrist really make us look bad.
Dispensationalism contributes to carelessness and apathy in terms of stewardship of creation. Since it’s all gonna burn anyway, who cares if we destroy the ozone layer? Sucks for us if it isn’t all gonna burn.
I accept the creeds as a source of authority. Here’s what the Nicene creed says: “[Jesus] will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” I don’t claim to know what that looks like. But I believe and hope in the return of Christ, and the fullness of His Kingdom.
I believe that apocalyptic literature has more to offer the Church than inspiration for poorly crafted Christian fiction like the Left Behind series. I believe salvation history is more nuanced and complex and interesting than a series of dispensations. I believe in not being unnecessarily weird. I believe in caring for creation.
Thoughts on Dispensationalism and Christian Zionism
I think scripture points to an ongoing special relationship between God and Israel (the people, not the state). You might even be able to call me a Christian Zionist. I think it’s a good thing (for the most part) that an Israeli state was reestablished. I don’t think it’s a sign that the end is near. In fact, I think looking for such signs betrays a gross misunderstanding of Jesus’ words. I think it’s a good thing (for the most part) that the U.S. has a special relationship with the state of Israel. I don’t think that Israel can do no wrong. I really don’t think that Israel’s handling of the Palestinian situation is cool at all. And I don’t think the U.S. has a special relationship with or favour from God, on its own or as a result of its support of Israel.
If you haven’t guessed, I’m amillennial.
Chester said,
April 10, 2009 at 03:34
FOR PRETRIB RAPTURE REPEATERS
Congratulations! You are now fulfilling the Bible which says “Come now, and let us repeat together.”
Be sure to repeat what Walvoord, Lindsey, LaHaye, Ice etc. repeat what their own teachers repeat what their own teachers repeat etc. etc. etc.!
Repeat that Christ’s return is imminent because we’re told to “watch” (Matt. 24, 25) for it. So is the “day of God” (II Pet. 3:12) - which you admit is at least 1000 years ahead - also imminent because we’re told to be “looking for” it?
Also repeat the pretrib myths about the “Jewish wedding stages” and “Jewish feasts” (where’s your “church/Israel dichotomy” now?) even though Christ and Paul knew nothing about a “pretrib stage” and neither did any official theological creed or organized church before 1830!
You should read “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” on the “Powered by Christ Ministries” site to find out why you shouldn’t repeat everything your pretrib teachers repeat.
Do I have to repeat this?
(saw the above on the web the other day. interesting? Chester)
Allan Svensson said,
October 24, 2009 at 19:35
Hi.
I found your Web Site by Google
And I wish you the best you can get,
the peace of God through Jesus Christ.
Welcome to visit my Site.
Allan Svensson, Sweden
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/INDEX.HTM
The Bridegroom comes, Come out to meet him. Matt. 25:6.
From where shall we go out? We shall go out of the great
Babylon, the great whore. Rev. Chapter 17 and 18. This
command of the Lord in Rev. 18:4 is now highly topical.
Never before we have been so nearly Jesus’ coming as we
are now, but how are God’s people prepared? How is the
unity in the faith? Sorry, very bad! God’s people are more
divided now than ever before. Instead of following what
the Bible teaches about the Assembly of God, they have
followed Satan’s false assembly doctrine. They believe
that the Assembly of God is constituted of church systems
and many religious organizations.
Most Christians have not yet begun to prepare for Jesus’
coming. They can speak and write that Jesus shall come,
and about the signs of the time, yet they do not make any
preparation to meet Jesus. How can we make a preparation?
To make preparation and be ready for Jesus’ coming, God’s
people must get the knowledge of the Assembly of God.
All God’s people must in the first hand begin to study what
the Bible teaches about the Assembly of God. What we
need now before the restoration of the Assembly of God,
it is humility before God’s word and a forgivable disposition
to each other.
The Assembly of God is no Pentecostal church. Please,
consider what this expression “the Assembly of God” in the
reality implies. The Assembly of God must be the same as
the Greek word “ekklesia”, and the Body of Christ. 1 Cor.
12:12-31. Then it is easy to understand that this has nothing
to do with the Pentecostal Movement. Pentecostal churches
have existed about 100 years, but the Assembly of God has
ever existed since Jesus baptized his first disciples by the
Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them the new life in Christ
so that they became born anew. Then the Assembly of God
was born.
The Bridegroom comes, Come out to meet him
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/CRY.HTM
Evil spirits in the churches
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/SPIRITS.HTM
The great Apostasy
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/MESSAGE.HTM#Apostasy
What does hinder the Antichrist to appear?
What is the Restrainer?
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/MESSAGE.HTM#Antichrist
KJV, “the best English Bible” but not perfect
http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/KING.HTM