The Brief Teaching on Dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is God’s creative management of the ages in keeping with His own eternal plan, incorporating the good and bad choices of humans.   -Danny Campbell

3 Key Features of Dispensationalism:

The overall theme of the Bible is the glory of God. Takes Bible texts at their plain meaning. Therefore Bible passages are read literally unless the context indicates otherwise. Maintains a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. Unfulfilled Promises made to Israel will be fulfilled. Dispensationalists reject the idea of the church replacing Israel.

Clarifying items about Dispensational teaching: Salvation is always by grace through faith! The call in every dispensation is to believe God and love Him. Then each dispensation has specific commands to obey.

There is both continuity and discontinuity between the dispensations:

Salvation is always a matter of believing in and loving God; some commands are reiterated, others non-applicable (Priestly Law, Civil Law)

Some things end at the end of a dispensation

Access to Garden; Civil Law of Israel

The Rites to observe may be different in different dispensations

7th Day Principle observed on the Sabbath by Israel, on Lord’s Day for the Church

Circumcision for Israel, Baptism for the Church

Passover sacrifice for Israel; Lord’s Supper for the Church

No need to “spiritualize” battles Israel fought, or to try and justify what God called them to do in that ‘dispensation’ as if they were the church

No need to speak of “the church in the OT” – the church wasn’t in the OT!

No need to insist that the church replaces Israel – God has a future plan for Israel that will fulfill all of His literal promises to Israel.

Verses to Consider:

Genesis 3:22-24 Genesis 6:1-8 Psalm 37:34 Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Dan.9:1-2 Daniel 9:24-27 Daniel 12:1-2 Matthew 5:17 John 1:17 John 7:37-39 Luke 11:24 Acts 1:5-9 Acts 3:21 Romans 11:1-7, 25-29 Galatians 3:13-29, v. 24 Ephesians 1:10 Revelation 3:10

Eternity Past

Being omniscient, or all-knowing, God was able to factor in all the free will choices that angels and humans would make ________________ He created everything.

2 big timing Questions about angels and demons:

When did God create angels?

When did some angels rebel with Satan and become demons?

Since the angels were singing and shouting as God was creating, they themselves must have been __________________ before Genesis 1:1. In other words, before the 6 days of creation!

Nowhere are we told the total number of angels and demons. But there is a place that tells us what percentage of angels became demons.