Dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is a theological system that is significantly different from either Roman Catholic theology or the mainstream Protestant theologies of Lutheranism, Reformed, and Arminianism. It is therefore treated separately here since its understanding of the doctrine of last things is somewhat unique.[i]

Although many of the elements of modern dispensationalism have existed for centuries, dispensationalism as a theological system was first developed by John Nelson Darby (1800–1882 CE), who was the leader of the Plymouth Brethren. Dispensationalism was then given broad exposure through the Scofield Reference Bible. In addition, independent seminaries like the Moody Bible Institute and the Dallas Theological Seminary educated many dispensational pastors, a large number of whom went on to found dispensational churches.

The primary characteristics of dispensationalism can be summarized as follows: (1) an understanding that God has separate plans for Israel and the Church; (2) biblical interpretation that is literal, especially with regards to OT prophesies; (3) an understanding that the way God interacts with mankind periodically changes throughout the Bible, with each period called a dispensation; and (4) a much greater emphasis on unfulfilled prophesy than other theological systems.

Classic dispensationalism recognizes seven identifiable dispensations in the Bible: innocence, conscience, civil government, patriarchal rule, Mosaic law, grace, and the Millennium. Each of these dispensations can be characterized by its period of time in the Bible, the associated responsibilities of people to God, and the consequences imposed by God for people failing to meet their dispensational responsibilities.

Dispensation of Innocence. This dispensation is in effect from Gn 1:3 to Gn 3:6, the time when Adam and Eve are in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. Their dispensational responsibilities were to tend the Garden, maintain a close fellowship with God, and to refrain from eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The consequences for failing to meet these dispensational responsibilities were curses, physical death, and spiritual death.

Dispensation of Conscience. This dispensation is in effect from Gn 3:7 to Gn 8:14, the time from the Fall until the end of the Flood. Dispensational responsibilities during this time were to follow one’s moral conscience. The consequence for failing to meet these dispensational responsibilities was a worldwide flood that destroyed almost all of mankind.

Dispensation of Civil Government. This dispensation is in effect from Gn 8:15 to Gn 11:9, from the end of the Flood to the building of the Tower of Babel. Dispensational responsibilities were to govern well, especially with regard to the administration of capital punishment. The consequence for failing to meet these dispensational responsibilities was a forced scattering of people due to a confusion of languages.

Dispensation of Patriarchal Rule. This dispensation is in effect from Gn 11:10 to Ex 18:27, the time of the scattering up until Moses is given the Law. It is at this point where God’s dispensations are redirected from all people of the world to a particular people: Abraham and his descendants. Dispensational responsibilities were to believe and obey God and to stay in the promised land. The consequences for failing to meet these dispensational responsibilities were slavery in Egypt and wanderings in the wilderness.

Dispensation of Mosaic Law. This dispensation is in effect from Ex 19:1 to Acts 1:26, the time when Moses is given the Law to just before the Holy Spirit descended upon believers at Pentecost. The dispensational responsibility was to keep the Law. The consequences for failing to meet this dispensational responsibility were various captivities by foreign nations.

Dispensation of Grace. This dispensation is in effect from Acts 2:1 to Rv 19:21, from when the Holy Spirit descended upon believers at Pentecost to just before the Millennium. This is also called the Church Age. According to dispensationalism, the Church on earth is temporary. It began at Pentecost and will be raptured away before the tribulation. Dispensational responsibilities are to believe in the redeeming power of Christ and to increasingly become more Christlike. The consequences for failing to meet these dispensational responsibilities are eternal damnation for unbelievers and loss of rewards for believers.

Dispensation of the Millennium. This dispensation is in effect from Rv 20:1 to Rv 20:15, from the start of the Millennium to the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth. According to dispensationalism, Christ will return to earth after a seven-year period of tribulation to reign over an earthly Kingdom for 1000 years. The Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, there will be a mass conversion of Jews, and animal sacrifices will be practiced again. Dispensational responsibilities during this time will be to believe and obey Christ and to submit to His earthly rule. The consequences for failing to meet these dispensational responsibilities are eternal damnation for unbelievers and loss of rewards for believers.

It is easy to think that dispensational theology’s most distinctive characteristic is biblical interpretation in the context of dispensations. But this is not the case. The most distinctive characteristic of dispensational theology is its strict distinction of Israel and the Church. According to dispensationalism, God has one plan for the Nation of Israel and another plan for the Church. The earthly plan for Israel is the literal fulfillment of promises made by God in the OT. The spiritual plan for the Church is to have it raptured away before the Tribulation.

But perhaps dispensationalism is best known for its eschatology, which is why dispensationalism is covered in this chapter. Eschatological events according to dispensational theology include the following.[ii]

1. Rapture. The first eschatological event that will happen is the rapture of the Church, when Christ will appear in the clouds. Dead believers will be resurrected and then all believers will be meet Christ in the clouds and then be transported to Heaven to be with Christ forever. Dispensationalists believe that the Rapture can occur at any time (nothing has to happen first), and therefore tend to spend much effort in examining how current events could be an indication of a Rapture that is very near.
2. First Judgement. Soon after the Rapture, all church-age believers will be judged before the judgement seat of Christ. This judgement is not for salvation, as all church age believers are already saved. Rather, this judgement will be a public examination of each person’s Christian life and determine their heavenly rewards.
3. Western Alliance. There will be the formation of a western alliance, probably led by the future antichrist This western alliance invades Egypt.
4. Battle of Gog & Magog. There will be the formation of a northern alliance that invades Israel that is opposed by the western alliance. God will supernaturally intervene, allowing the western alliance to defeat the northern alliance.
5. Beginning of the Seven-Year Tribulation. The antichrist will sign a peace treaty with Israel which marks the beginning of the seven-year period of hardship known as the Tribulation. The Tribulation is also called Daniel’s Seventieth Week, the Great Day of the Lord’s Wrath, and Time of Jacob’s Trouble.
6. The Six Seals. The six seals are opened, resulting in a conqueror on a white horse, war, famine, death, martyrs, and terror.
7. The 144,000. A world-wide ministry is undertaken by 144,000 witnesses.
8. Escalation. The antichrist’s reign of terror intensifies. He sets himself up as God and demands worship. The false prophet, second in command to the antichrist, takes on an increased role and assumes control of global commerce. There is a severe persecution of Jews and all believers.
9. Bowls of Wrath. Angels pour our seven bowls of wrath corresponding to disease, death to sea creatures, blood in rivers, intensified sun rays, a darkened kingdom, a drying up of the Euphrates river, and a global catastrophe consisting of a major earthquake and intense hailstorms.
10. End of the Seven-Year Tribulation. Nations from the east unite and attempt to stop the antichrist. The armies from the east and west engage in a series of battles climaxing the battle of Armageddon. The antichrist and the false prophet are defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire.
11. Second Judgement. Christ will judge the world to see who may enter the Messianic Kingdom. This is referred to as the separation of the sheep from the goats.
12. Millennial Reign of Christ. Satan is bound for one thousand years and Christ rules over the earthly Messianic Kingdom from Jerusalem.
13. Loosing of Satan. At the end of the millennial period, Satan will be loosed and there will be one final battle with God. Satan and the false prophet will be defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone where they will experience eternal torment.
14. Great White Throne of Judgment. Christ will judge all non-believers according to their deeds. These are the people whose names are not written in the Book of Life.
15. New Heaven and New Earth. The old Heaven and old Earth will be destroyed (or transformed), followed by the creation of a perfect and sinless new Heaven and New Earth. Christ will rule over the new Heaven and New Earth for all eternity.

Dispensational theology is often contrasted with covenant theology. Whereas dispensational theology interprets the Bible based on dispensations (like the seven listed above), covenant theology interprets the Bible based on different covenants between God and His people. The most common approach to covenant theology is to recognize two covenants: the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. The covenant of works was in place between God and Adam and Eve before the Fall. The covenant of grace has been in place for all of mankind after the Fall. Some Reformed theologians add the covenant of redemption. This is a covenant between God the Father and God the Son where the Son agrees to redeem the elect by voluntarily assuming the penalty of their sins.

As stated above, the defining feature in dispensational theology is a strict distinction between the nation of Israel and the Church. Dispensational theologians typically call the opposing view, that some-or-all of the OT promises for Israel have been fulfilled in the Church, as replacement theology. That is, Israel was replaced by the Church in the NT. This is also known as supersessionism, since it holds that the Church has superseded Israel in terms of God’s soteriological plan.

Dispensationalism as described above has been highly criticized. It is not the purpose of this book to attack or defend dispensationalism, but theologians should be generally aware of these criticisms. Charles Ryrie writes, “The opposition to dispensational teaching has come from many quarters, and the attacks have been quite varied in their intensity.”[iii] He goes on to describe dispensationalism being attacked as crude, superficial, taught by false teachers, heretical, deviant, unscriptural, a danger, and a modern invention. These ad hominin attacks do not prove dispensational theology wrong. But the aggressiveness of these criticisms demonstrates the extreme discomfort that many theologians have with dispensational teachings.

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[i]        There are many variations of dispensationalism, and it is beyond the scope of this book to address them all. Therefore, this section describes “normative dispensationalism” such as is taught at the Dallas Seminary and the Moody Bible Institute. My discussion of normative dispensationalism is primarily based on the classic book Dispensationalism: Revised and Explained, by Dr. Charles Ryrie.

[ii]        This order of events is based on a document from Dr. J.B. Hixon called the “Sequential Order of End Times Events.” It is available for free download at Dr. Hixon’s website notbyworks.org.

[iii]       Charles Ryrie, Dispensationalism: Revised and Explained, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2007: 14.