Dispensationalism
A view held among orthodox Christians
A way of reading Scripture that keeps a lasting distinction between Israel and the church, and expects God to fulfil his promises to national Israel in a future earthly kingdom.
Also called: dispensational, dispensationalist, classic dispensationalism, revised dispensationalism
What it means
Dispensationalism arose in the nineteenth century and spread widely through study Bibles, Bible institutes, and prophecy conferences. It divides history into a series of dispensations, or stewardships, in which God tests humanity in different ways. Its central conviction is that God has two peoples with distinct programmes: Israel, with earthly promises of land and kingdom, and the church, a heavenly people formed between Pentecost and the rapture.
Classic and revised dispensationalists read prophecy as literally as possible. They expect a rapture of the church, a seven-year tribulation in which God resumes his dealings with Israel, and a thousand-year reign of Christ from Jerusalem in which the promises to Abraham and David are fulfilled to the nation. They have done much to keep before the church God's faithfulness to his promises and the hope of Christ's return.
Covenant theologians and 1689 Federalists disagree with the two-peoples distinction. They see one people of God, saved the same way in every age, and read the promises to Israel as fulfilled in Christ, who is the true offspring of Abraham, and in all who are united to him. Dispensationalists affirm salvation by grace through faith; the dispute is about how the promises are fulfilled.
In Scripture
God promises Abraham a land, a great nation, and blessing for all families of the earth.
God declares that Israel will not cease to be a nation before him.
Paul speaks of a hardening on Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, and says the gifts of God are irrevocable.
Paul speaks of the stewardship of God's grace and a mystery now revealed.
The disciples ask whether Jesus will restore the kingdom to Israel, and he says the times are the Father's.
History
Developed in Britain in the 1830s and carried to America, where reference Bibles and Bible institutes made it the most common evangelical view of prophecy for much of the twentieth century.
Where it comes up
On this site: Covenant framework
Related terms
Progressive dispensationalismA view held among orthodox Christians
A later form of dispensationalism that sees Christ already reigning on David's throne, while still expecting a future fulfilment of God's promises to national Israel.
Pretribulation raptureA view held among orthodox Christians
The premillennial view that Christ will take the church from the earth before a seven-year tribulation.
PremillennialismA view held among orthodox Christians
The belief that Christ will return before a literal thousand-year reign on earth.
Covenant theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A way of reading the whole Bible as the story of God's covenants, centred on one covenant of grace administered across both testaments.