Debunking Dispensationalism
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John Nelson Darby
Dispensationalism is a theological framework for interpreting the Bible which maintains that history is divided into multiple ages called “dispensations” in which God interacts with his chosen people in different ways. This doctrine is only about 200 years old.
Dispensationalism was systematized and promoted by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren in the mid-19th century.
Dispensationalism has become popular within American evangelicalism. It is commonly found in nondenominational churches, as well as Baptist, Pentecostal, and Charismatic groups.
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield
( August 19, 1843 – July 24, 1921 )
American theologian, minister, and writer whose best-selling annotated Bible popularized futurism and dispensationalism.
SEVEN SO-CALLED DISPENSATIONS
The Scofield Bible divides the history of the world into periods of time, known as “dispensations:”
Innocence
Prior to Adam’s fall
Gen. 2:8-17, 25
Conscience
Adam to Noah
Gen. 3:10-18; Rom. 2:11-15
Human Government
Noah to Abraham
Gen. 9:6; Rom. 13:1
Patriarchal rule or Promise
Abraham to Moses
Gen. 12:1-3; 22:17-18; Gal. 3:15-19
Mosaic Law
Moses to Christ
Ex. 20:1-26; Gal. 3:19
Grace
The current church age
Rom. 5:20-21; Eph. 3:1-9
Kingdom
A literal earthly 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom that has yet to come but soon will
Is. 9:6-7; 11:1-9; Rev. 20:1-6
This doctrine teaches that in each of these periods, the God “deals with man upon a plan different from the plan of the other dispensations.” For example, the period from Sinai to Calvary was
“the dispensation of LAW” from the cross to the second coming,
“the dispensation of GRACE” and from the second coming to the close of the millennium,
“the dispensation of the KINGDOM”.
Meaning of Dispensationalism:
In the Bible the word “dispensation” never refers to a period of time. Invariably its meaning is “a stewardship,” “the act of dispensing,”
“an administration.” Read the four New Testament texts in which the word “dispensation” is found: 1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2; and Colossians 1:25. Weymouth’s translation of
1 Corinthians 9:17 reads: “A stewardship has nevertheless been entrusted to me.”
Clarence Larkin
( 1850-1924 ) was an American Baptist pastor, Bible teacher and author whose writings on dispensationalism had a great impact on conservative Protestant culture in the 20th century.
Dispensationalist a believe that the Jews will have just a short period and tribulation to repent and only then will they be saved.
Scripture that Refutes this Doctrine
Exodus 12:49
“ONE LAW shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the STRANGER that sojourneth
among you.”
Numbers 15:29
“Ye shall have ONE LAW for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the STRANGER that sojourneth among them.”
Leviticus 24:22
“Ye shall have ONE manner of LAW, as well for the STRANGER, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.”
Romans 2:27–29
“And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is NOT a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one INWARDLY; and circumcision is that of the HEART, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
1 Corinthians7:19
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”
Ephesians 2:11–20
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past GENTILES in the FLESH, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the MIDDLE WALL of PARTION between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
MIDDLE WALL of PARTITION
A low wall separated the Gentile Court from the Temple enclosure itself. This wall was called, ”Soreq”, in Hebrew, and had thirteen openings in it to allow Jews only to enter from the Gentile Court into the four other courts. No Gentile was permitted past this dividing wall.
Romans 9:3–9
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my KINSMEN according to the FLESH: who are ISRAELITES; to whom pertaineth the ADOPTION, and the glory, and the COVENANTS, and the giving of the LAW, and the service of God, and the PROMISES; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the SEED of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the FLESH, these are not the children of God: but the children of the PROMISE are COUNTED for the SEED. For this is the word of PROMISE, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Galatians 3:6–10
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of FAITH, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through FAITH, preached before the GOSPEL unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall ALL NATIONS be BLESSED. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the WORKS of the LAW are under the CURSE: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the BOOK OF THE LAW to do them.”
Galatians 3:26–29
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither JEW nor GREEK, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s SEED, and heirs according to the PROMISE.”
Law of Christ
Galatians 6:15
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.”
Romans 11:13–25
“For I speak to you GENTILES, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are MY FLESH, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the FIRSTFRUIT be HOLY, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a WILD OLIVE TREE, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of UNBELIEF they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
2 Peter1:19–21
“We have also a more sure word of PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY of the SCRIPTURE is of any PRIVATE INTERPRETATION. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the HOLY GHOST.”
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Replacement theology, also known as supersessionism or fulfillment theology, is a Christian doctrine that states that the Christian Church has replaced the Jewish people.
Supersessionism has formed a core tenet of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches for the majority of their history. Many early Church Fathers including Justin Martyr and Augustine of Hippo were supersessionist.
This concept, known as “Replacement Theology,” is embraced by the majority of professing Christians today.
Churches that preach Replacement Theology
- The Roman Catholic Church. (This is NOT part of Christianity)
- (Some) Southern Baptist Convention – (depends on leadership).
- The United Methodist Church.
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
- The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
- African Methodist Episcopal Church.
- The Episcopal Church.
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
- African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
- United Church of Christ.
- Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, Joplin, Mo.
- Emergent Churches
- Vineyard Churches
- Third Wave Churches
Replacement Theology, promoted by many Christians, is largely based on interpretations of different biblical passages taken out of context. Mainly: Romans 9:6, Matthew 21:43, Galatians 3:7, 9, Galatians 3:28-29, Galatians 6:16, and Revelation 2:9.
This doctrine is an anti-Semitic doctrine propagated by the Roman Catholic Church. This as well as the creation of Islam around 605 AD.
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Romans 11:1
“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”
Revelation 21:12
“and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:”
The Church is Israel
Church in the Wilderness
Acts 7:37–40
“This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the CHURCH in the WILDERNESS with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.”
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Amos 5:18
“Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.”
The teaching regarding “Secret Rapture” or the silent taking away of the church before the time of trouble, is a most serious error. Note well the sequence of events in verses 30 and 31 of Mathew 24. The gathering of the elect ( verse 31 ) follows the coming of Yeshua in glory and power (verse 30). Do not be misled by the false use of the words “parousia” and “apokalupsis.” The very word translated “coming” in Mathew 24:27 and 1 Thessalonians 4:15 is the Greek word “parousia.” “Lightning,” “voice,” “shout” are words which describe the
“parousia.”
Matthew 10:22
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the END shall be saved.”
The terms “premillennial,” “postmillennial,” and “amillennial” are used to describe the different views Christians hold about the timing of the Second Coming of Yeshua in relation to the millennium:
- Premillennial: The belief that Yeshua will return before the millennium, which is the thousand-year period when Christ will reign with his saints
- Postmillennial: The belief that Yeshua will return after the millennium
- Amillennial: The belief that there will be no literal millennium, and that the current time is the church / messianic age
The prefixes “pre-” and “post-” indicate the timing of the Second Coming in relation to the millennium. The word “millennium” comes from Revelation 20, a chapter in the New Testament that is considered difficult to interpret. Because of this, the church has a number of different views on the millennium.
1 Thessalonians4:16–17
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Matthew 24:30–31
“and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall ALL the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a TRUMPET, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
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Grace – Charis
G5485
Pronunciation : khar’-ece
Definition : From G5463;
of graciousness (as gratifying) of
manner or act abstract or concrete; literal figurative or spiritual; ✨especially the
DIVINE INFLUENCE upon the HEART✨and its reflection in the life; including gratitude: – acceptable benefit favour gift grace (-jous) joy liberality pleasure thank
Charis
1 Peter1:10–11
“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the GRACE that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”
1 Peter1:13
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the GRACE that is to be BROUGHT UNTO YOU at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
Zechariah 12:10
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the SPIRIT OF GRACE and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son…
2 Corinthians12:9
“And he said unto me, My GRACE is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Titus 2:11–15
“For the GRACE of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS of
GOOD WORKS. These things speak, and EXHORT, and REBUKE with ALL AUTHORITY. Let no man despise thee.”
Luke 2:40
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in SPIRIT, filled with WISDOM: and the GRACE of God was upon him.”
Hebrews 4:15–16
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the THRONE of GRACE, that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE to help in time of NEED.”
John 1:14
“And the WORD was made FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of GRACE and TRUTH.”
2 Peter3:18
“But GROW in GRACE, and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Corrupt Communication is Lying
Minister Grace?
Ephesians 4:25–32
“Wherefore putting away LYING, speak every man TRUTH with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye ANGRY, and SIN NOT: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no CORRUPT COMMUNICATION proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may MINISTER GRACE unto the hearers. And grieve NOT the
HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Colossians 4:5–6
“Walk in WISDOM toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your SPEECH be alway with GRACE, seasoned with SALT, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Romans 11:5–8
“Even so then at this present time also there is a REMNANT according to the ELECTION OF GRACE. And if by GRACE, then is it no more of WORKS: otherwise GRACE is no more GRACE. But if it be of WORKS, then is it no more GRACE: otherwise WORK is no more WORK. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the ELECTION hath obtained it, and the rest were BLINDED (according as it is written, God hath given them the SPIRIT OF SLUMBER, eyes that they should NOT SEE, and ears that they should NOT HEAR;) unto this day.”
Matthew 12:31
“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of SIN and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the HOLY GHOST shall NOT BE FORGIVEN unto men.”
Romans 5:18–21
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the RIGHTEOUSNESS of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, GRACE did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might GRACE reign through RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
John 14:26
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the FATHER will send in my name, he shall ✨TEACH YOU all things✨, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
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Romans 10:1–5
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a ZEAL of God, but NOT according to KNOWLEDGE. For they
being IGNORANT of
God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS, and going about to establish their OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS to every one that BELIEVETH. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the LAW, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.”
Psalm 119:172–173
“My tongue shall speak of thy WORD: For all thy COMMANDMENTS are RIGHTEOUSNESS. Let thine hand help me; For I have chosen thy PRECEPTS.”