Please note that I am not arguing that only self-identified dispensationalists are the only true believers. What I am saying is that even those who say they despise and reject dispensationalism are, in fact, dispensationalists whether they like it or not. This is assuming they actually believe in redemption by grace alone through faith alone.
In the comments section at a news/commentary site, an atheist (who was openly politically conservative and MAGA, not just some left wing troublemaker) started posting scriptures. He was holding Christians to their stated belief that all the Bible is for them. Here is one passage he chose:As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever.
-Lev 25:44-46a
I added verse 46a to highlight that this was a "forever" statute and unless you understand what "forever" means in scripture, you will have to deal with all the "forever" passages. But that's another topic for another time. And he could have picked verses even more troublesome for the "church = Israel" believer.
One believer unbelievably responded that this verse sounded like Islam not Christianity. Well, thanks for falling into his trap, my friend.
“You shall [Thou shalt] have a place outside the camp, and you shall go out to it. And you shall have a trowel with your tools, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig a hole with it and turn back and cover up your excrement. Because the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.
-Deuteronomy 23:12-14
This one is also a Bible command ("You SHALL..."). Honestly, there are far more extreme examples from the Law the atheist could have chosen, but he settled for this one. Anyway, the simple explanation is that, like the Law (including the 10 commandments), these commands are for Israel and they are part of a specific, earthly covenant.
Israel's covenant is an earthly compact which involves a specific earthly hope. This and other "commands" were not given to Adam, Abel, Seth, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. The very foundation of dispensationalism (in general) is that while all scripture is FOR, it's not all TO us. It's not even all FOR Israel in what we call the "Old Testament."
To help illustrate this fact, let is look at a rather obvious "bible command" (a very specific one at that) that can easily be see to have limited application. It applies neither to us today nor ever to Israel (despite being part of the Pentateuch).
To help illustrate this fact, let is look at a rather obvious "bible command" (a very specific one at that) that can easily be see to have limited application. It applies neither to us today nor ever to Israel (despite being part of the Pentateuch).
Make an ark of cypress wood for yourself. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. And this is how you must make it: The length of the ark will be three hundred cubits, the width of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits
-Genesis 6:14-15
No Christian sect or seminary teaches this is for all believers of all ages and applicable in our day. But we must not miss that there are THREE reasons for this.
- God is clearly speaking directly to Noah (subject of the command)
- There is no flood coming (condition for the command)
- The earth is being cleansed (the focus of God's plan and action)
The same concept for certain commands works with promises such as the specific promise to the twelve in Matthew 18:28 that the twelve will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel in the Kingdom (regeneration). Clearly spoken to them. There are not an unending number of thrones. "Twelve" is not some euphemism for "untold millions." The land and the nation of Israel in her promised earthly kingdom is in sight (the future regeneration).
Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This is obviously in the gospel accounts. This promise is yet future to our age today. We cannot somehow dismiss its specificity or substitute some sort of "spiritual" thrones, tribes, or Kingdom. The only way to understand the commands to Noah and the promises in the gospels to the chosen apostles is to understand them in the context of the plan in sight.
Note what we are told in John 15:16 (which is not some Calvinistic choosing of all believers of all ages, but a specific choosing of the twelve). And despite the twelve being "chosen" by Christ himself, Judas will lose his position as elder (his office) and as a future ruler in Israel despite being chosen. How does this fit "election" as it is commonly taught? And do we really believe that the Lord will do whatever any believer asks merely if he asks in His name?
You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that the Father may give you whatever you ask Him in My name.
-John 15:16
Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. For it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
-John 6:70-71
“Brothers, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit previously spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became the guide to those who seized Jesus... “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
‘Let his habitation become desolate,
and let no one live in it,
and,
‘Let another take his office.
-Acts 1:16, 20
The objection might be raised that the Lord Judas was a deceiver. Yet that foreknowledge does not negate that he was chosen nor that he has all the same gifts the others had and was to be treated the same as all the chosen.
These twelve Jesus sent out, and commanded them, saying, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper for your purses, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor even staffs. For the workman is worthy of his keep. “In whatever city or town you enter, inquire in it who is worthy. And live there until you leave. When you come into a house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.
-Matthew 10:5-15
Israel had commands on how to build and move the tabernacle. Then Israel had commands on how to build the temple, etc. The commands concerning the tabernacle were put aside in light of the temple. Then Israel lived without a temple again when the first temple was destroyed. Then they built another temple, etc. Adam, Abraham, etc. had no tabernacle or temple, etc. So, even within ages "forever" commands and "You shall" commands changed.
Now, I could reference many more verses that nobody (well, almost nobody) is teaching that we should be obeying merely because "it's a Bible command!" or that the statute is said to be "forever."
The atheist in our account did not limit himself to random verses in the Old Testament. He turned to John 14 and quoted a verse similar to what we have seen in John 15.
Now, I could reference many more verses that nobody (well, almost nobody) is teaching that we should be obeying merely because "it's a Bible command!" or that the statute is said to be "forever."
The atheist in our account did not limit himself to random verses in the Old Testament. He turned to John 14 and quoted a verse similar to what we have seen in John 15.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.-John 14:13-14
For this one (John 14), the atheist asked the Christians why they're not at hospitals healing kids. We could add additional scriptures to this. Isn't this a promise made by the Lord Jesus to all his followers as some claim? This promise is found in John 14, 15, and 16. Yet those who claim the earthly ministry of the Lord to Israel and the promises to the twelve for themselves fail to claim all the commands and neither do they claim all the promises. They pick and choose what they like as they accuse those of us who are labeled "ultra-dispensationalists" as the ones denying all the Word of God.
They choose being chosen for themselves, but ignore the fact that God does not do everything they ask in His name. The obvious "failure" of this promise to work essentially always in this age is explained away by such trite excuses that none of the billions of asks are actually "in His name."
We look at similar "red letter" words of our Lord (again, the horrible practice of printers separating out the words spoken by the Lord Jesus by printing them in red). Why are they not in children's hospitals laying hands on the sick? We could also quote James 5:14 (an epistle specifically addressed to "the twelve tribes scattered abroad") along these lines.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
-Mark 16:17-18
Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
-James 5:14
Matthew 10 states that the sent one will not only heal the sick, but raise the dead.
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.-Matt 10:7-8
The "you" here is again specific to the twelve as are the Lord's words in John 14-16.
We must also distinguish what "the kingdom of heaven" and "the gospel of the kingdom" are in Matthew (as opposed to the Gospel of Grace, etc.) and the future position of the chosen twelve. If we do not we are left with this "bible command" unanswered today. Now, the obvious objection is that he is clearly speaking to the twelve. Well, yes, but very few will apply that to the other commands and promises given only to the twelve.
To argue this is to acknowledge that not all the Bible (even the gospels) is TO us. We cannot claim all the commands or promises before the Law was given, in the Law itself, in the earthly ministry of the Lord, or in the Acts and Acts-age epistles.
A personal favorite "command" of the Lord Jesus (in red letters):
The generally Leftist, progressive "red letter Christians" seem to ignore that one. The other ones they conveniently ignore are the Lord's comments on gentiles in Matthew 10 and Matthew 15. The Lord clearly excludes gentiles from the preaching of the Kingdom in both chapters and agrees that gentiles are "little dogs" while Israel are the "children" and their "masters" in the latter. He clearly states he was sent ONLY to Israel and rejects the cries of a gentile who tries to call him "Son of David."
We must also distinguish what "the kingdom of heaven" and "the gospel of the kingdom" are in Matthew (as opposed to the Gospel of Grace, etc.) and the future position of the chosen twelve. If we do not we are left with this "bible command" unanswered today. Now, the obvious objection is that he is clearly speaking to the twelve. Well, yes, but very few will apply that to the other commands and promises given only to the twelve.
To argue this is to acknowledge that not all the Bible (even the gospels) is TO us. We cannot claim all the commands or promises before the Law was given, in the Law itself, in the earthly ministry of the Lord, or in the Acts and Acts-age epistles.
A personal favorite "command" of the Lord Jesus (in red letters):
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.
-Luke 12:33-34
The generally Leftist, progressive "red letter Christians" seem to ignore that one. The other ones they conveniently ignore are the Lord's comments on gentiles in Matthew 10 and Matthew 15. The Lord clearly excludes gentiles from the preaching of the Kingdom in both chapters and agrees that gentiles are "little dogs" while Israel are the "children" and their "masters" in the latter. He clearly states he was sent ONLY to Israel and rejects the cries of a gentile who tries to call him "Son of David."
Can we imagine that when the Lord Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in Matthew 4 and 9 that he was preaching salvation by grace through faith in his death, burial, and resurrection? When he tells his disciples (whom he sent out in Matthew 10 to preach to Jews only) that he must go to Jerusalem, not only do they not believe him, Peter says it shall not be so!
The Gospel of the Kingdom is not the gospel we preach to all men today.
And we don't have the space to get into the Acts and Acts epistles.
It is my contention that many people either (a) will not consider the faith or (b) that some professed believers will even leave the faith because they do not know what to do with all the commands and all the promises of scripture. They cannot possibly obey all the commands and they do not see the fruition of all the promises.
And we don't have the space to get into the Acts and Acts epistles.
It is my contention that many people either (a) will not consider the faith or (b) that some professed believers will even leave the faith because they do not know what to do with all the commands and all the promises of scripture. They cannot possibly obey all the commands and they do not see the fruition of all the promises.
They fail to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" (2 Tim 2:15) or "compare the things that differ" (Phil 1:10). Sadly, this is because the young believer is not taught how to rightly divide. He is often told that if he doubts a promise, God has rejected him. For some that leads to an enslavement to fear for others they recognize the almost universality of that state and determine the Bible is a lie.
Does anyone dare quote Jeremiah 29:11 (many a professed believer's "life verse") to those parents in Texas who lost their precious little girls in the recent flood? I don't know if any has done this, but that verse is plastered on many a wall in many a church and in many youth retreat centers. We ask again, how many have it as his/her "life verse"?
Here it is in contemporary English:
Do you claim this for your life today, dear friend?
It is the height of cruelty to tell every believer today this future promise to national Israel is theirs to claim now. Again, such wrong division will lead unbelievers to mock God and the faith and cause some believers to fall away.
Does anyone dare quote Jeremiah 29:11 (many a professed believer's "life verse") to those parents in Texas who lost their precious little girls in the recent flood? I don't know if any has done this, but that verse is plastered on many a wall in many a church and in many youth retreat centers. We ask again, how many have it as his/her "life verse"?
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Here it is in contemporary English:
I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering.
It is the height of cruelty to tell every believer today this future promise to national Israel is theirs to claim now. Again, such wrong division will lead unbelievers to mock God and the faith and cause some believers to fall away.
And even when some believers, even the most hardcore dispensationalist-mocking believers, come to these scriptures they do not claim all the promises and certainly not all the commands. This makes them dispensationalists whether they like it or not. Unfortunately, having such disgust for the word, they do their best to try and wrest what they can from scripture. The convenient parts anyway.
As the original translators of the King James Bible have done in their chapter headings, many Christians take scripture and argue "cursings for Israel" and "blessings for the Church" to excuse the obvious difficulties in the text. Some use it as an excuse for their anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is another excuse to hate dispensationalism for them. They cannot stomach that God will fulfill his earthly promises to an earthly people (the true offspring of Abraham).
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen by race, who are [still] Israelites, to whom belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants [plural, old and new], the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises, to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom, according to the flesh, is Christ, who is over all, God forever blessed. Amen.
-Romans 9:3-5
Israel was not put aside at the cross. They were very much in the forefront to the end of the Acts age and they will be again when God turns his attention back to his earthly plan.
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Living in the Great Parenthesis of our Age
Believers and Antisemitism Because of Wrong Division
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