The Christ-mockers at South Park have decided to make a great case for Dispensationalism in a recent episode. In the episode, they have the character 'Cartman' as a Charlie Kirk (TPUSA) figure debating on a college campus. At one point he has Cartman quoting from the Law:
“Leviticus 3:17 says it shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings.”
Here is the verse in full:
As a continual [perpetual] statute for your generations in all your settlements, you shall not eat any fat or any blood.
This is a perpetual statute for Israel. The text is plain. The Lord is clear It is also a command for gentiles living among Israel (while remaining separate and distinct from Israel) which is placed upon the gentiles believers in the Acts (Acts 15, Acts 21). Those claiming that they are either some "New Israel" or that they are an "Acts" church claim these clearly taught instructions (commands)? Some will call themselves "cessationists" to try and skirt the latter, but the commands in Acts 15 and 21 are not connected to any spiritual gifts, they are, in fact, commands for gentile believers living in Israel.
Even in that age, certain practices and commands were limited to the land and distinctions we made between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. Israel did not somehow cease to be on Pentecost. But we take that matter up elsewhere.
The word translated "perpetual" in Leviticus 3:17 is עֹלָם (ʻôwlâm).
The word translated "perpetual" in Leviticus 3:17 is עֹלָם (ʻôwlâm).
Let us briefly look at how the Bible dictionaries describe the word.
Usage: alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (without end).
[Strong's]
long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, worldancient time, long time (of past)
(of future)for ever, always
continuous existence, perpetual
everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity
[Brown-Driver-Briggs]
If the argument is that the Old Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant, then even in that scenario (which I do not hold as I believe the NC is yet future), a change in God's commandments and direction must be recognized. Even the most dispensationalist-hating preterist or Calvinist must recognize that we no longer keep this "perpetual" statute (or other "perpetual" statutes).
The concept of "perpetual" promises or promises and commands stated as perpetuating "throughout your generations," must be rightly divided (cp. 2 Tim 2:15) and understood as connected to a people, a land, and dispensational relationships. The land promised to Abraham and his descendants is promised "throughout your generations" long before the law.
I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
-Genesis 17:7
How many will today run to Galatians today to claim he is of "Abraham's seed" (Gal 3:29)? Yet these same have no interest in the promises ("everlasting covenant") to Abraham's seed regarding the promised land.
Whether it be the Passover before the Law is given or in the pages of the Law itself, Israel has many things that they are promised or commanded to perform "throughout [their] generations." Those dismissing dispensational and right division truths while claiming the promises of Abraham as some sort of "New Israel" pick and choose what they want from the Law and even from the New Covenant itself (as revealed in Jeremiah 31).
This day shall be a memorial to you, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord. Throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an eternal ordinance.-Exodus 12:14
Once a year he must make atonement on it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord.
-Exodus 30:10
There are many such statements. And let us not miss that the Law addresses gentiles living among Israel. We note that these laws are not for gentiles everywhere, but those living peacefully among Israel. There is no place for such a company today if the "church" is somehow a "New Israel." Regardless, the statute is stated as being enforced "throughout your generations." These must bring an offering to the Lord.
A foreigner who lives with you, or who resides among you throughout your generations, and would present a fire offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, shall do as you do.
-Numbers 15:14
Who would this company be? Does God ask a sacrifice from unbelievers in the "church"?
All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a perpetual statute in your generations concerning the food offerings of the Lord made by fire. Everyone who touches them shall become holy.
-Leviticus 6:18
We could quote many similar "perpetual" statutes. This is why (among other truths) we do not look to the Law (including the Ten Commandments) or to the promises to Abraham as a guide for the current age or for the Body of Christ. If we do, we will find ourselves slicing up the Law and even the Ten Commandments) opening God's word to mockery and causing many to question their own faith.
So the anti-dispensationalist must either agree that "perpetual" is time or people or condition limited OR they must agree that God recognizes different ages and different hopes for different peoples in different ages. In either case, to one degree or another, despite their protestations (and often their mockery), they are dispensationalists. That is, they recognize God has different plans, different promises, and different hopes for different people in different ages.
We could further point to other pre-Abraham figures (Adam, Abel, Noah, etc.) and recognize their hopes (etc.) also have nothing to do with Abraham or Israel or the land or the Law.
Rifts in Christendom are created as each "scholar" decides what does and does not apply from the Law for today. People then submit their minds and will to that "authority" (this is commanded in Catholicism regarding both bishops and the Pope). Slicing and dicing the Law, applying bits and pieces (only parts) to everybody everywhere at any time destroys more faith and enslaves more professed believers almost as much as professed Christians pretending all the Lord's ministry in the gospels is for us does.
Still waiting for the “red letter” Christians to sell everything they have and to start raising the dead. And they also need to start limiting their ministries to Israel only, in the land of Israel only as the Lord Jesus commanded in the red letters..
Still waiting for the “red letter” Christians to sell everything they have and to start raising the dead. And they also need to start limiting their ministries to Israel only, in the land of Israel only as the Lord Jesus commanded in the red letters..
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell all that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fail not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts,
-Luke 12:32-33
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.-Matthew 10:5-8
When we strive to "rightly divide the Word of Truth" and "compare the things that differ," we will start to understand God's plan for our own age. The writers at South Park mock scripture by mocking those who claim all the Bible for themselves and all the Bible as a guide for all men in all ages.
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- More Misrepresentations of Ultradispensationalism
- Matthew Henry's New Covenant Errors
- Old and New Covenants Veil the Truth of Grace
- Romans 9 and the Promises to Israel
- Who is a Jew - Part 3
S4 Ep3 Rightly Dividing Pentecost and the New Covenant
S1 Ep 29 The New Covenant Is Not Yet Here and It's For Israel, Not The Body
(audio only)
