Conference: 1993 Pre-Trib Study Group
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(Much of this materialis included in a chapter in a forthcoming book. Therefore, I did not feel theliberty to reproduce the entire chapter in advance of publication. Hence onlythis outline).
Two questions to beconsidered. (1) Is dispensationalism developing and/or changing? (2) What maybe the effect of change or development on pretribulationism?
I. The DifferenceBetween Development and Change in Theology (including the need for criteriaagainst which development and/or change can be measured)
II. Contributions in thePast
A. J. N. Darby (1800-1882) B. Early Bible Conferences in America (1883-1897) C. C.I. Scofield (1843-1921) and L.S. Chafer(1871-1952) D. The Sine Qua Non in Dispensationalism Today(1965)
III. Today's ProgressiveDispensationalism
A. Its Rejection of the (and probably any) Sine QuaNon B. The "Already/Not Yet" Fulfillment ofthe Davidic Covenant C. The Blurring of the Israel/Church Distinction D. ItsComplementary Hermeneutic
IV. PossibleEschatological Fallout from Progressive Dispensationalism
A. Because the Body of Christ Is Less Distinct,since 1. The mystery of the body of Christ is redefined,and 2. Spirit baptism is not unique to this age, and 3. The lsraelitish character of Daniel's 70 weeks isgiven very little attention;
B.The Pretribulation Rapture Is No Longer on Solid Ground, since 1. History teaches us that the 'already/notyet" view of the kingdom can accommodate posttribulationalism (as in thetheology of G.E. Ladd), and in the moderate form of dispensationalism (thedesignation used by posttribulationist Robert Gundry before progressivedispensationalism came on the scene),
andsince
2. A complementary hermeneutic provides no sureboundaries against complementary revelations which in reality depart fromliteral interpretation. For example, what, in using a complementaryhermeneutic, forbids understanding the temple in Rev. 11 as an image representingthe messianic community of both Jews and Gentiles, therefore placing the churchin the tribulation?
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3. The importance between a present earth vs. anew earth millennium is already lessened, can the importance of God's returningto His program for Israel in the tribulation, having removed the church beforethe 70th week begins, be far behind? The following quotes are taken fromDispensationalism, Israel and the Church (Zondervan. 1992).
Robert L. Saucy, pp.145, 146: "A mystery may be hidden in the sense that its truth has yetbeen realized. The corresponding revelation consists not in making the truthknown in an objective or propositional sense but in bringing it to reality orexistence . ... [Saucy then quotes Grosheide with approval] Hidden does notmean 'totally unknown,' but 'not yet existing."
David L. Turner, p. 288:"This number [12] is ... most frequently associated with the sons ofJacob, the twelve tribes of Israel, and the twelve apostles of the 'newIsrael,' the church."
Bock and Blaising pp.392-393 on the meaning of complementary hermeneutics: "According to thisapproach, the New Testament does introduce change and advance; it does notmerely repeat Old Testament revelation. In making complementary additions, however,it does not jettison old promises. The enhancement is not at the expense of theoriginal promise."(.)
The following quote isfrom Robert L. Saucy, The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism (Zondervan, 1993), pp.183-186. "The recognition that Spirit baptism belongs to all of theparticipants of the new covenant, including the nation of Israel when it turnsto the Messiah, raises the question how to apply the images metaphorsassociated with the present work of God in the church. This question is especiallyimportant in relation to the metaphor of the body. According to the apostlePaul, baptism with the Spirit forms the body of Christ [which] is frequentlyidentified with he church . ... From this we could conclude that allparticipants in the new covenant, including the nation of Israel, are includedin the church as the body of Christ and therefore any distinction betweenIsrael and the church--which is at the heart of the dispensationalisminterpretation--is prohibited. And what can be said of the body would seem toapply tot he other images of the church also . ... A study of the body metaphortherefore leads us to conclude that this image is applicable to others besidesbelievers who are in the church."
The following quote isfrom Understanding Dispensationalists by Vern S. Poythress (Zondervan, 1987),p. 22: "A fourth and final point of distinctiveness [of normativedispensationalism] is the belief in a pretribulational rapture . ... Thoughthis is one of the best known aspects of popular dispensationalism, it is notas foundational as the other distinctives. It is simply a product of the otherdistinctives. Nevertheless it is an important product. Scofield maintains thatthe church and Israel have distinct, parallel destines. Since prophecy concernsIsrael and not the church, the church must be removed from the scene at theRapture before Old Testament prophecy can begin to be fulfilled again. At thattime Israel will be restored and Daniel 9:24-27 can run to completion. If thechurch is not removed, the destinies of the church and Israel threaten tomix." |
