Dispensationalism Makes Sense

Pauline Dispensationalism makes more sense to me than any other way of interpreting the Bible; but I'm confused about something. Bearing in mind that not only did Peter, James & John all think the 2nd coming of Christ would happen in their lifetime (based on what Jesus said in Matt.24:34), but evidently so did Paul (based on his teachings on the Rapture, especially in 2 Thess. Ch.2). None of those guys thought there would be a span of 2,000 years (more or less) in between Daniel's 69th & 70th weeks.

I'm not a Preterist, but that's kind of hard for me to swallow too.  So bearing in mind what they thought, how can Hebrews thru Revelation be written 2,000 years ago, yet somehow not come into effect until after the Rapture?  It just doesn't make sense that Peter, James & John would write their epistles 2,000 years ago, then deliver them to the "Jews of the Dispersion" of that time (way back then), but not be addressing any Jew at all until some 2,000 years in the future.  We might be able to look back and make that presumption today; but I don't think they would have bought it back in their day. I look forward to your thoughts.

These are fantastic questions!  People like to hear about these things.  You’re right at the precipice of learning how to rightly divide the word.  You’re on the right path, so hopefully this will help you.  That is why our ministry is here.  I love questions and we make the answers available in video, audio and written form to suit a variety of learning styles.

You said that Pauline dispensationalism makes more sense to you than any other way of interpreting the Bible.  The first thing I want to say about that is that it is the only way to interpret the Bible.  Pauline dispensationalism is not a type of theology (study of God); it is the way we are to study the Bible.

There is only one verse in the Bible that tells us to study the Bible and how to study it and it is written by Paul.

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We need to rightly divide the word of truth, and it is significant that it is the Apostle Paul who instructs us to do so. 

Paul comes on the scene in Acts 7 as Saul.

Acts 7:58

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

We see him again in Chapter 8:

Acts 8:1a

And Saul was consenting unto his death.

He became the ‘sent one of Christ’ in chapter 9.  He was saved by God’s grace through faith plus nothing (no works) on the road to Damascus in spite of his works of destroying the Little Flock, the Jewish believing remnant of Jesus Christ in Time Past (Acts 9:1-6, 15).

God began a new dispensation called the dispensation of the grace of God…

Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

…with a gospel for this dispensation:

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

When we study all the scriptures and understand God’s word rightly divided and the Pauline dispensation of grace, then we understand Pauline dispensationalism.

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

All 66 books of the Bible are for our learning! We need to know them.  But not every book of the Bible and not every verse in the Bible is written directly to us and about us.

When you rightly divide the word of truth you understand that the books of Genesis through Acts speak to a different people – the nation of Israel.  They contain their history, beginning with Abraham, and the account of how God dealt with the Hebrew people.  So God is primarily dealing with just one nation in those books.  The Lord says of the other gentile nations:

Luke 12:30a

For all these things [what they should eat, drink and wear] do the nations [plural] of the world seek after:

They are called ‘gentiles’ or the ‘nations.’  The word ‘nations’ is used as a general term for all other nations other than Israel.  The word ‘gentiles’ refers to the individuals in those nations.  God had been dealing with one people group, the nation of Israel; but when he saved Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) he began to deal with the individuals of other nations.  He also continued to deal with Israel for a time while the nation was being provoked by Paul’s ministry.

Romans 11:11

I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

The book of Acts is a transition away from God’s plan and purpose for Israel which is found in Genesis through John (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are still old testament).

Galatians 4:4

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Jesus Christ was under the Law.

Hebrews 9:16-17

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

All of the Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry was to and for Israel.

Matthew 15:24

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:5-6

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christ ignored the gentile woman in Matthew 15…

Matthew 15:23

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

…because it was not yet time for him to go to the gentiles.  He had to save Israel first.

Matthew 15:26-27

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

The Gentile dogs could have the crumbs, but that’s it.  God was only dealing with the nation of Israel; but that changed beginning in Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen, and particularly in Acts 9 when by his grace God saved Saul, the chief persecutor of the Little Flock, and he sent him out to all nations.

Acts 9:15

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

There were Jews scattered about in the nations – lost Jews, heathen.  The ‘heathen' is now anyone (Jews and gentiles, alike) who is lost.

Romans 11:32

For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Galatians 1:16a

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;

The book of Acts shows the fall of Israel.

Romans 11:11

I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Again, Israel fell in Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen who indicted their religious leaders.

Acts 6:15

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Stephen’s face shone like Moses’ did after meeting with God (Exodus 34).  Stephen spoke God’s word but the council, the religious leadership, rejected it (Acts 6, 7).  They rejected God’s word through Stephen and stoned him.

Acts 7:55-59

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

That was the beginning of a new way of dealing with man.  God was supposed to then pour out his wrath, but instead he poured out his grace.

Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul, is now on the scene.  God sends him out to all nations, including Israel.  God is no longer dealing with Israel as a nation, but as individuals within that nation.  Through the Apostle Paul’s gospel of grace, God is dealing with individual Jews and Gentiles in one body by the cross.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

That is what God is doing today and we have to understand it.  We have to understand how to rightly divide the word of truth.  Pauline dispensationalism is the only way to correctly interpret the Bible. 

Throw out all the other things you have been told.  I can tell that you are intelligent by your question, but don’t let intellect be what guides you when dealing with God’s word.  Intellect is good when it is tempered by the truth from the scriptures. 

You’re having some trouble understanding some things and we will help fit those puzzle pieces together; but the greatest thing I am going to tell you is to trust the verses; believe the verses; have faith in God’s word, and not in your intellect.  God’s word is not hard to understand if you have faith; but it might take some time to grow in your understanding.

Many may not have heard the term ‘dispensation,’ but in your King James Bible it is mentioned four times.

1 Corinthians 9:17

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Ephesians 1:10

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times [That is coming up after the dispensation of grace] he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

That is coming up after the dispensation of grace.

Ephesians 3:2

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Colossians 1:25

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

A dispensation is like a soap dispenser.  When you push down on the pump, the soap inside is dispensed.  In the dispensation of grace, the dispensation of God, God is dispensing himself and dealing with humanity by pure grace and peace.  That is what God is doing today; that is Paul’s message. 

So we need to understand the Bible based upon that principle.  Pauline dispensationalism not only makes more sense than any other way of interpreting the Bible; it is the only way to do it, so throw all that other stuff out.

To be continued…

Click here for "Dispensationalism Makes Sense, Part 2"