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Dispensationalism and the Reformed” - Lyle D CALVIN SEMINARY FVol.6F No. 3 ORUORUMMFall 1999 COVER ESSAY DISPENSATIONALISM AND done in fictional form what THE REFORMED Hal Lindsey did a generation ago in non-fiction with The On almost every list of able about this series is that Late Great Planet Earth best-selling fiction these days the authors are evangelical (1970)—popularize a view of is one or more of a series of Christians and the subject the end times known as dis- novels by Tim LaHaye and matter is the Second Coming pensational premillennialism, LYLE D. BIERMA Jerry Jenkins: Left Behind, of Christ, hardly a combina- or dispensationalism for short. Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul tion one would expect to Professor of Systematic Of the various millennial Theology at Harvest, Apollyon, and produce sales in the millions. schools of thought in the Calvin Seminary. Assassins. What is so remark- But LaHaye and Jenkins have Christian Church, premillen- nial dispensationalism is the most recent to emerge. It traces its roots to John Nelson Darby, founder of the than 100 Bible institutes Plymouth or Darbyite founded in the U.S. in the first Brethren in Great Britain in half of the twentieth century, the nineteenth century. It was and especially the publication in the United States, however, in 1909 of The Scofield that Darby’s ideas had and still Reference Bible (a King have their greatest impact. James Version with extensive Through several channels— dispensational study notes by the writings and speeches of C. I. Scofield)—dispensational Darby and the American premillennialism came to William E. Gladstone, a series shape the eschatological of major prophecy conferences thinking of thousands of fun- in the 1880s, the evangelistic damentalist and evangelical “. Be ready, because the Son of Man will come preaching of D. L. Moody and later Billy Graham, the more Please see COVER ESSAY L at an hour when you do not expect him” next page FEATURED ARTICLES “Dispensationalism and the Reformed” - Lyle D. Bierma.................................................................................p. 1 “Reflections on the Future” - James A. De Jong ...............................................................................................p. 3 “The Armageddon Imagination” - John Bolt ....................................................................................................p. 4 “The Church and Y2K” - Alton J. Danks ..........................................................................................................p. 6 “Facing, Not Fearing, The Future” - Calvin P. Van Reken................................................................................p. 7 1 CALVIN SEMINARY FORUM COVER ESSAYcont. despite our differences with BIERMA them, dispensational premillen- nialists are our brothers and sis- Christians across the United Wedded to this view of millennium ters in Christ, fellow members of States. “ is a set of principles of biblical the one, holy, catholic church. Today it continues to hold interpretation not found elsewhere“ There is much that we have in sway in many Baptist, common, including a belief in Pentecostal, and independent in the Christian tradition. the inspiration, infallibility, and evangelical churches. Schools authority of Scripture, in justifi- such as Moody Bible Institute cation by grace through faith on and Dallas Theological Seminary divides biblical history into in the Rapture. This will be the basis of Christ’s substitution- teach from a dispensational distinct periods of time or followed by a seven-year ary atonement, and in the per- perspective, although a group of “dispensations,” in each tribulation on earth during sonal return of Christ at the younger scholars at the latter of which God tests humanity’s which a mass conversion of Jews close of history. There is also institution has developed a obedience to a specific revela- will take place. Then Christ will much that we can learn from modified version known as tion of his will. return to Jerusalem with his these fellow believers. How “progressive dispensationalism.” The New Scofield Reference saints to rule the world for a many of us share their zeal for (Reformed Bible Institute, now Bible (1967) identifies seven thousand years with Israel at the the study of Scripture? Are we Reformed Bible College, was such dispensations: (1) head of the nations. At the end as watchful and ready for the founded in 1939 to provide a Innocence (from Creation to the of the millennium there will be return of Christ as many of them Reformed alternative to dispen- Fall); (2) Conscience (from the one final satanic revolt, Christ are? Is their sense of evangelis- sational lay-training schools like Fall to the Flood); (3) Human and his forces will crush the tic urgency also found in our Moody.) And the dispensational Government (from the Flood to enemy, and God will usher in churches? message is widely disseminated Babel); (4) Promise (from the new heaven and earth. Both throughout the U.S. today (less Abraham to Moses); (5) Law so in Canada) through litera- (from Moses to Christ); (6) ture, videos, CDs, websites, Grace (from Christ to the prophecy conferences, and radio Rapture); and (7) the Kingdom and television programming. Restoration of Israel (from the return of Christ to the end of the What Millennium). Though salvation Dispensationalists Teach in each of these dispensations is by grace through faith, humani- Dispensational premillenni- ty for the most part fails the tests alism is, as the name indicates, a and falls under some form of form of premillennial teaching. divine judgment. At the end of Premillennialists understand Dispensation 5, for example, Revelation 20:1-6 to mean that Christ came to earth and offered the Second Coming will take to restore the kingdom of heav- place before the Millennium, en to the Jews, an earthly reign that is, prior to a millennial or over Israel predicted in Old thousand-year reign of Christ Testament prophecy. The Jews, on the earth at the end of world however, failed the test of Our task as the people of God...is not to figure out history. In this respect dispensa- faith in the Messiah and were God’s blueprint for the future ... tional premillennialism is like its judged by being dispersed Our task is to tell the world that he is coming and to be much older cousin, historic or among the nations. Christ prepared to welcome him at any time. classical premillennialism. postponed the kingdom restora- But that is where the similar- tion of Israel until the redeemed Jews and Gentiles will ity stops. Wedded to this view populate the new universe, but Nevertheless, there are, from Millennium (Dispensation 7) a Reformed point of view, some of the millennium is a set of and has proceeded in the mean- the Jews will never lose their principles of biblical interpreta- distinct identity and status. serious weaknesses in the dis- time to establish the Christian pensational approach to tion not found elsewhere church among the Gentiles How should we in the in the Christian tradition. Scripture that we ought not to (Dispensation 6). Near the end Reformed tradition evaluate this gloss over. Space limits prevent Dispensationalism is a way of of history, however, the Gentile movement? We must begin understanding Scripture that a full treatment of these weak- church will be taken to heaven with the acknowledgment that, nesses, but we shall focus on two of the most important The Bible is the story of one plan of God as it unfolds in one ones—the dispensational claims “ that all prophecy should be covenant of grace that he enters into with his one people.” interpreted literally and that L Cont.page 8 2 EDITORIAL James A. De Jong, Guest Editor REFLECTIONS ON THE FUTURE predictions, made in the infancy created with a sense that this of the industrial and scientific Power will call us to future revolutions more than 200 account and will set all crooked years ago, seem uncannily things straight. As Christ- RECOMMENDED accurate. At least on many following, Bible-believing points! On matters of morality, people, we know that God is our TITLES ON THE civility, justice, racial and ethnic Father who for the sake of his FUTURE relations, and the universal Son’s finished work on the cross acceptance of Christ as Lord, he is gathering, winnowing, and Bavinck, Herman, missed the mark by a country glorifying his people. We The Last Things: Hope mile. know that his kingdom is for this World and the Why would an otherwise coming in all its fullness and Next, edited by John sober Calvinist preacher and that it will never end. Believers Bolt, translated by theologian dally in rhapsodic in Christ have always been John Vriend. Grand JAMES A DE JONG visions of the future? Why did interested in the coming Rapids: The Dutch St. Augustine, Joachim of Fiore, kingdom. Our Lord has taught Reformed Translation President and Professor William Smith of Adventist us to pray for its coming. He Society and Baker of Historical Theology at Calvin Theological fame, and a host of others has taught us to prepare and to Books, 1996. Seminary. through the centuries attempt be ready for his return. We look to set dates for the coming of to the future because we look to Clouse, Robert G., Christ’s kingdom on earth and Christ. Robert N. Hosack, and Richard Pierard, In the 1790s Rev. Samuel The New Millennium: A Hopkins, the Puritan preacher One of God’s greatest gifts to the Once and Future at Newport, RI and disciple “ Guide. Grand Rapids: of Jonathan Edwards, appended church is theologians who instruct Baker Books, 1999. a lengthy “Treatise on the “ Millennium” to his two- us how to think and to believe volume systematic theology. responsibly about the future. Hoekema, Hopkins believed that the year Anthony A., The Bible 2000 would be the begin- and the Future. Grand Rapids: William B. ning of the millennium. He for the mighty outpouring of Christians run amock, predicted an era of enor- the Holy Spirit? Why are Eerdmans Publishing unfortunately, when they read Company, 1979.
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