COVENANT AND DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

1) INTRODUCTION

A) SIGNIFICANCE

These two systems determines the lens we use in understanding the end times.

The significance between Covenant and Dispensational Theology cannot be overstated in the study of Eschatology (the study of end times).

The theological system you embrace determines:

The role Israel has in the end times

The role the church has in the end times

Whether there is a millennial reign of Christ

Whether there is no reign of Christ

How we interpret the study of last times

Allegorical

Literal

B) VARIETY

Within both theological systems there are variety

Covenant Theology - There is now a New Covenant Theology, which changes the outcome at the end times but does not change the role the church or Israel has in the end times.

Dispensational Theology - All over the map but does not change the essential outcome of the end times.

2) COVENANT THEOLOGY

A) OVERVIEW

Covenant theology centers on one overall covenant known as the covenant of grace

Within this Covenant of Grace there are six subordinate covenants:

Adamic covenant - Sin and Judgement and redemption

Noahic covenant - God will never destroy the earth by water again.

Abrahamic covenant - To redeem a covenant people

Mosaic covenant - The Law - Conditional blessings

Davidic covenant - God will establish David’s throne forever and his seed will sit on the throne - This is manifested through Christ coming and the church

New covenant - God promises to give Israel a new heart and this is manifested in the Gentiles

Covenant Theology does not see these as separate covenants; rather one covenant building upon the previous covenant.

B) PEOPLE - HOW DO THEY VEIW GOD’S PEOPLE

They view God’s people as one people

Galatians 3:26 KJV 1900

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26–28 KJV 1900

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

C) GOD’S PLAN FOR PEOPLE IN COVENANT THEOLOGY

God has one people—the church—for whom He has one plan, in all ages since Adam: to call out this people into one body, in both the Old and New Testament ages.

Genesis 17:7 KJV 1900

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

D) GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION

God has one plan of salvation for all his people since the time of Adam. The plan is one of grace, being an outworking of the eternal covenant of grace, and comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

E) THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH IN COVENANT THEOLOGY

DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

The church existed prior to the NT era, including all the redeemed since Adam.

F) THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST FIRST COMING IN COVENANT THEOLOGY

DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

Christ came to die for our sins and to establish the New Israel, the NT manifestation of the church. This continuation of God’s plan placed the church under a new manifestation of the same covenant of grace. The kingdom that Jesus offered was the present, spiritual, and invisible kingdom.

G) THE FULFILLMENT OF THE NEW COVENANT IN COVENANT THEOLOGY

Jeremiah 31:31–34 KJV 1900

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 KJV 1900

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.

H) HOW THE MILLENNIAL IS VIEWED IN COVENANT THEOLOGY

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Historically, covenant theology has been either amillennial, believing the kingdom to be present and spiritual, or postmillennial, believing the kingdom is being established on earth with Christ’s coming as the culmination.

New Covenant Theology

Theologians have been premillennial, believing that there will be a future manifestation of God’s kingdom on earth (Historic Premillennialism). However, God’s dealings with Israel will be in connection with the church.

Postmillennialists believe that the church is bringing the kingdom now, with Israel ultimately to be made a part of the church.

DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

A) OVERVIEW

There are various periods or stages of different economies whereby God deals with His work and mankind in particular. These various stages or economies are called dispensations.

There are seven dispensations:

Innocence - Before the fall

Conscience - From the Fall to the flood

Human government - Post flood to the call of Abraham

Promise - The call of Abraham until the Exodus

Law - From the time of Moses until the New Testament

Grace - From Jesus to the 2nd coming

Kingdom - 1000 year reign of Christ

B) GOD’S PEOPLE IN DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

God has two people Israel and Christian

C) GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS PEOPLE IN DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

Israel - God has a future plan for the nation of Israel

Christian - God is currently calling out a heavenly people

D) God’s plan of salvation in Dispensational Theology

God has only one plan of salvation, but the content of faith may vary until the full revelation of God in Christ.

E) THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH IN DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

During the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and empowered on the Day of Pentecost

F) THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST FIRST COMING IN DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

Christ came to establish the messianic kingdom. Some dispensationalists believe that this was to be an earthly kingdom in fulfillment of the OT promises to Israel. If the Jews had accepted Jesus’ offer, this earthly kingdom would have been established immediately.

Other dispensationalists believe that Christ did establish the kingdom in some form, in which the church participates, but the earthly kingdom awaits the second coming of Christ to the earth. Christ always intended the cross before the crown.

G)THE FULFILLMENT OF THE NEW COVENANT IN DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

The Church - Rapture of the saints

Israel - The Millennial Reign of Christ

Jeremiah 31:31–34 KJV 1900

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant With the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; Which my covenant they brake, Although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.

H) HOW THE MILLENNIAL IS VIEWED IN DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY

Jesus Christ will establish His Kingdom in Israel and reign a thousand years

There will be a final battle between Satan’s armies and the Lord

After this, the New Heaven and Earth.

Revelations 20

DANGER OF COVENANT THEOLOGY

ALLEGORICAL METHOD OF INTERPRETATION IS DANGEROUS - WHY STOP AT ESCHATOLOGY AND ECCLESIOLOGY?

Theology: the study of God

Christology: the study of Christ

Soteriology: the study of salvation (as in, discussing how salvation happens, what it is, what happened on the cross, etc.)

Pneumatology: the study of the Holy Spirit

Ecclesiology: the study of the Church

Missiology: the study of the mission of the Church

Eschatology: the study of last things (or, what will happen in the end)

Bibliology: the study of the Bible

Hamartiology: the study of sin