Dispensationalism
Copyright by Norman L. Geisler 2008
Outline
I. The Nature of a Dispensation
II. The Names of Dispensations
III. The Number of Dispensations
IV. The Nemesis of Dispensationalism
V. The Defense of Dispensationalism
I. The Nature of A Dispensation
A. Definition: Lt: an economy, house-order, or
administration. It is God’s way of
administration on earth during a certain
period of time which is characterized by
several factors:
1. Condition of Man (e.g., innocence,
conscience, government, law, grace, etc.)
2. Command of God (to obey God)
3. Choice of Man (to disobey God)
4. Condemnation of God (God’s judgment)
5. Continuance of the plan (God grace)
B. Biblical Use: “…in the dispensation of the
fullness of times He might gather together in
one all things in Christ…” (Eph. 1:10).
II. The Names of Dispensations
A. The Times—From the Creation to the
New Creation (New Heaven and Earth)
B. The Titles
1. Probation* (Creation to Fall)
2. Conscience (Fall to Flood)
3. Human Government (Flood to Abraham)
4. Promise (Abraham to Moses)
5. Law (Moses to the Cross)
6. Grace** (the Cross to Second Coming)
7. Kingdom*** (Second Coming to the Great
White Throne)
*Also called “Innocence”—emphasis on condition
**Also called “Church Age”—stresses time, not test
***Also called “Millennium”—highlights time
III. The Number of Dispensations
A. Minimum Number—Two
1. Old Testament
2. New Testament
B. Common—Three (OT, NT, Millennium)
C. Others—Four (with the Garden of Eden)
D. Maximum--Seven (above)
E. Hyper—Eight (early Jewish Church in
Acts (1-13 [or 28] before Gentile Church).
Note: Everyone is a dispensationalist-the only question is how many
dispensations they hold.
Outline
I. The Nature of A Dispensation
II. The Names of Dispensations
III. The Number of Dispensations
IV. The Nemesis of Dispensationalism
IV. The Nemesis of Dispensationalism
(Covenant Theology)
A. Definition: God has two covenants or agreements
with Man—
1. One of works with Adam that lead to death.
2. One of grace since then leading to life.
(3. Some [Berkoff] speak of a covenant of redemption from all eternity).
Origin: Johannes Cocceius (coke-cius)—A.D. 1648
B. Distinctives
1. One principle--Grace
2. One people of God (Israel replaces the Church)
3. Two Covenants
a. Covenant of Works—demand’s man’s doing
b. Covenant of Grace—demands God’s doing
4. Two hermeneutics—one mostly literal; the other
allegorical on prophecy to Israel.
5. Five Points (T, U, L, I, P)
IV. The Nemesis of Dispensationalism
A. Definition
B. Distinctives
C. Differences
Covenant Theol. vs Dispensationalism
Basic Unit A Covenant
People
One People
of God
Israel’s
None as
Future
a nation
Church
Began in OT
Revelation Explanatory
Goal of
In eternity
History
HermenPartly Allegory
eutic
Eschatolgy Amillennial
(Postmillennial)
A Dispensation
Two People: Israel
and the Church
National Future
Began in NT
Expansive
(and Progressive)
In Time (Millennium)
Consistently Literal
Premillennial
Outline
I. The Nature of A Dispensation
II. The Names of Dispensations
III. The Number of Dispensations
IV. The Nemesis of Dispensationalism
V. The Defense of Dispensationalism
V. The Defense of Dispensationalism
A. Arguments for Dispensationalism
•
It is based on a literal hermeneutic which is
inconsistent self-refuting to deny.
•
There is a difference between Israel and the Church (1
Cor. 10:32; Acts 1:6; 3:12f.; Rom 9:3-4; 10:1;11;1, 26).
•
The Church began at Pentecost (Mt. 16:16-18; Acts 1:5
cf. 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 9:4 cf. Gal. 1:13).
•
The Abrahamic land covenant with Israel is
unconditional and yet future (Gen. 12:15; 15:7, 17-19;
17:8).
•
The Davidic throne covenant is unconditional and yet
future (2 Sam. 7:16; Psa.89:24-37; Rom. 11).
•
Literal interpretation of Revelation 20 on the millennial
reign of Christ (cf. Mt. 19:28) supports the
dispensational premill view.
•
Literal interpretations of the two resurrections (Rev.
20:1-6 cf. Jn. 5:28-29) supports the premill view.
•
Only a premill view has climax and victory in history.
V. The Defense of Dispensationalism
A. Arguments for Dispensationalism
B. Answering Arguments Against Dispensationalism
1. It is a late view: a) So is Covenant Theology. b)
There is progress of doctrine--eschatology is later.
c) It is the Fallacy of Chronological Snobbery.
2. It has two Gospels: a) False, there is only one
Gospel (Gal. 1:8: 3:8). b) There is progressive
revelation regarding the content of the Gospel.
3. It fails to see continuity in plan of redemption. a) Not
true. b) There is one Savior and one plan of
salvation. c) Like a good story, there are different
stages, ages, and people in this one plan.
4. It has two new covenants (Jer. 31). a) Almost no
one hold this. b) There is only one new covenant
made with Israel (Jer. 31) but also applied to NT
believers (Heb. 8) since Jesus died for everyone.
5. It is a theology of discontinuity. a) It recognizes
both. b) Covenant theology neglects differences.
c) We should not join what God has separated.