Dispensationalism and the church

Dispensationalism is a theory of interpretation of Bible prophecy based on the perceived distinction between the church and Israel. The theory requires separate destinies and roles for Israel and the church throughout history, and in Bible prophecy. Since the gospel of Christ teaches us the true role of God's church in the world, this affects one's view of the gospel.

Dispensationalism says there are no prophecies in the OT that specifically relate to the church of the NT, but in fact, there are many examples where the writers of the NT refer to the OT prophecies and other scriptures and apply them to the church.

In Genesis, God promised Abraham that in his seed, all nations are to be blessed. This promise is repeated several times. "And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;" [Genesis 26:4].

Paul identifies this promise with the gospel in Galatians 3:8: "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."

Israel was a "peculiar people". At the Exodus, when Moses led the people out of Egypt, where they were in bondage, the children of Israel agreed to keep God's law, and they became a special nation, a "kingdom of priests", and God's "peculiar treasure". The following scriptures show this.

Exodus 19:5-6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 14:2
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:18
And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

Psalm 135:4
For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Abraham's male descendants were circumcised. This includes the Arabs, who are said to be descended from Ishmael. Israel was unique, because God revealed his judgements and oracles to Israel alone. No other nation was given that privilege. The Psalmist wrote: "He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgements unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgements, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD." [Psalm 147:19-20]

In the NT, the church is also called a "peculiar people". Paul referred to the uniqueness of God's dealings with Israel when he wrote: "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." [Romans 3:1-2]

In the NT, it is the church, consisting of Jewish and Gentile believers, that inherits the special status of Israel. Paul wrote, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." [Philippians 3:3]

Paul applied the phrase "peculiar people" to the church: "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." [Titus 2:14]

Peter also said it, quoting from the OT, thus identifying the church with the true Israel: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" [1 Peter 2:9]

Can there be two Israels? Or two "peculiar peoples"? It is an oxymoron! One of the great proofs that the church has become the Israel of God is the New Testament itself. Psalm 147:20 says no other nation but Israel is given the oracles of God, therefore the true "Israel" is the church!

Paul explained that the circumcision of believers is a matter of the heart, and physical circumcision is not required. "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." [Romans 2:29]

Paul taught that being born a Jew was not relevant; what counts is faith in Christ. "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. [Romans 4:16-17]

Salvation is promised to Israel, but while the natural Jews remained in unbelief, Gentiles who believe the gospel are included, by being added to the true Israel, which is the church. Eventually even those Jews will believe, and they will be included too, as Paul wrote: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:" [Romans 11:26]

The blessing that comes to all nations is because they will be included in Israel, and so inherit the promises of Abraham.

Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Galatians 3:8
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.

Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ephesians 2:19-22
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;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The above scriptures show that the promises that were the heritage of Israel in the OT have been inherited by the church of the NT.

This presents a dilemma for Dispensationalism. If Christ's kingdom is destined to last forever, how can it be an earthly kingdom, subject to corruption and death?

Daniel wrote, "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." [Daniel 7:14]

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said of Christ, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." [Luke 1:32-33]

Isaiah wrote that the Lord's house will become exalted, and all nations are to eventually come into God's kingdom. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it." [Isaiah 2:2]

The veil, or the covering, that has kept people from understanding the gospel, will be removed. "And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it." [Isaiah 25:7-8]

This prophecy shows that all people will be delivered from death! That is what the gospel is about. Nations that have never heard the truth will then turn to God: "Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee." [Isaiah 55:5]

The seed of David and of Christ will become as numerous as the sand of the sea, because the Gentiles will come into the kingdom of God. "As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me." [Jeremiah 33:22]

At the council of the church in Jerusalem, where the question of circumcision of Gentile believers was decided, James identified the church with the "tabernacle of David" mentioned in the OT prophecy of Amos 9:11, which discredits the basic premise of dispensationalism. This is related in Acts 15:13-17.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

The identification of the early church with "Abraham's seed", the "children of Abraham", God's "peculiar people", a "holy nation", a "royal priesthood", and similar expressions that the Apostles Peter and Paul applied to the church in the NT all show the theory of dispensationalism is false. The inspiration of the NT also demonstrates that the church has now become the "peculiar people" and the Israel of God. The phrase "peculiar people" certainly implies uniqueness!