3. Dispensational Theology
John Nelson Darby – (1800-1882)
Belief:
• The Church is the body of believers indwelt by the
Holy Spirit, distinct from Israel, which began on
the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
• Ethnic Israel still has a future in the program of God due
to the Abrahamic Covenant.
Adherents: Baptists, Independent Churches, Many from Dallas Theological
Seminary.
Dispensationalism:
A Protestant evangelical interpretation which breaks history into different time
periods, called dispensations, in which God relates to human beings in different
ways under the different Biblical covenants offering different dispensations
(means of salvation) for Israel and the church.
4.
5.
6. Parenthesis:
a word, clause, or sentence inserted as
an explanation or afterthought into a
passage that is grammatically complete
without it, in writing usually marked
off by curved brackets, dashes, or
commas.
7. Parenthesis theory – the church age is an unforeseen
parenthesis in the Jewish program prophesied by the OT
prophets.
• If the Jews had not rejected Jesus, the Jewish kingdom
fulfillment would have begun at Christ’s first coming.
• The church is plan B, totally unforeseen by the OT
prophets.
• The kingdom program is to resume where it left off in
the future dispensational tribulation and millennium
after the church age.
• Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy – according to
dispensationalists the church age is between the 69th
and 70th week.
17. A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a
bud will sprout from his roots;
At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a
signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to
him for guidance, and his residence will be
majestic.
Isaiah 11:1, 10
