Examining One of the Greatest Heresies to Attack the Church

Nov 20

Written By HHCC

There are fewer than 5 or 6 topics that I can preach about, which always tends to get folks riled up. Abortion, Sexual Sin, Forgiveness, and of course, certain theological subjects as well. This article is based on one of those topics.

Let me give you some rooted foundation first.

Generally, when most Christians hear the term “doctrine,” they don’t know what to do with it. Well, doctrine means: a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church. So, if a Christian is truly committed their faith, they should yearn to more about God. And since Doctrinal Theology means studying God, the word “doctrine” would most definitely be of utmost importance.

When it comes to doctrine there are two categories. Essential and Non-Essential Doctrine. “Essential doctrines” mean they are essential for Salvation. So, a true believer must hold to truths like the virgin birth, the crucifixion, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Deity of Jesus, the sinless life, etc. These are unwavering pillars to our faith. These are… essentials. The “non-essential doctrines” are not essential to our salvation. However, that does not render them unimportant. In fact, a basic understanding of what these doctrines are, is vital. Because human beings who like the challenge of thinking, investigating, and so forth, need the banter of discussion to keep our thought-lands (minds), provoked and engaged. We don’t even have to agree on the different interpretations of these non-essentials. But it remains key that we are made aware of them.

With that said, there is a non-essential doctrine that has birthed an argumentation within the New Testament Church. The non-essential doctrine that I am referring to is Eschatology, or the study of end times. This doctrine covers sub-topics that range from how the Lord will return, where we go when we die and the answer to the question about eternity.

Over the previous eight years of my life or so, I have loved studying and discussing eschatology. The previous 44 years of my life, however, I cared nothing about it. I believed certain things that I had heard taught by certain pastors over the years; elements that I figured were true because they came from the lips of other believers. But truthfully, I did not “care” about details. I can honestly say that I was a staunch “Pan-millennialist…”

It will all “pan out” in the end.

Well, my focus changed when I was in college to get my Pastoral Degree. Eschatology is required to learn in any degree-seeking institution for deeper ministry studies. But it’s generally biased toward a particular leaning, based on the professor, or the institution. Not unlike our public universities today, when it comes to liberal rhetoric. Bias runs amok. Well, in this instance, it does the same.

Now, I had already lived a lifetime before being called into ministry. So, as I was learning from a focused institution, I certainly went through the motions. But I was at a place in my life where certain topics would pique my interest more than others. And I was beyond blessed to have a professor that taught Eschatology from a very biblical viewpoint, not a liberal bias. And, in hindsight, this was paramount because he taught Biblical Theology. This is entirely based on what the Bible says, rather than just deducing from what someone regurgitated with no real biblical foundation. Trust me when I say – this happens often. Anyway, this professor challenged all his students about their position on understanding the end times. And it set me on a course of study that I could never picture myself venturing into. And what I would go on to learn over the next eight years of my life – and even beyond as I continue to keep myself fresh with it – is an understanding that I could only give God glory for revealing it to me. And this level of peace with what He showed me, is only from He who also saved me.

What’s all the fuss about this Eschatology?

When we talk about end times (the eschaton), the point of argumentation is how Christ will return and the prophecies that are interpreted to explain what all occurs around His return (aka: the second advent). Before we discuss the interpretive argumentation, you must understand that this topic is more important to you than you realize. Where are you going when you die? Is Jesus returning? These questions are found IN THE STUDY OF Eschatology. So see, you DO have an interest!

Since we know that Jesus is returning, as it is an “Essential Doctrine,” the question is then asked, “How will it happen?” That’s a fair question and it deserves an answer. And hence, we have people over the better part of 2,000 years, ask and answer, discuss and debate, this topic.

Now, there are three primary understandings, or interpretations that have arisen from one particular passage of Scripture that has caused all of this hubbub. A fourth one surfaced about 175 years ago, and it was born out of, or extended from, one of the initial three interpretations. Again, these three (plus the fourth), do believe that Christ will return. That’s an essential doctrine. The argument is over how it occurs. And the “how it happens,” is not essential. But as you will see, some of this is so cloudy by one particular interpretive group, that you can see it affect more than you would have ever believed.

These three main interpretations of “how the end will occur,” are respectively each called: Premillennialsim, Postmillennialsim, and Amillennialism. If you are keeping track, all three of these contain the same word, “millennial.” This references a “millennia,” or “1,000 years.” And this is because this period of time is referenced once… yes, once… in the 20th chapter of Revelation.

The fourth interpretation, Dispensationalism, comes from the lineage of the “Premillennial” camp. Again, all are based on the interpreted placement of the 1,000-year period that is discussed in Revelation 20. Again… ONCE! Here’s the passage:

Revelation 20:1-6 - Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Why would one passage of Scripture cause so much fuss? That – my friends - is an excellent question. And I intend on answering that for you. As best as I can. So, here we go.

This 1,000 Years…

Let’s back up a chapter to #19 of Revelation first. Here, we discover the Lord returning to crush all unrighteousness. He defeats His enemy. The entire chapter shows us that Jesus returns as King, and the end is described on the pages of Scripture. There is a finality to this chapter.

But then, there is this chapter that follows that somehow causes much, much deliberation. And not just deliberation, but argument. And it has even split churches. So, it’s far more than a disagreement. Let me explore the reason why these interpretations came about and what they mean. And especially, why in the world do we not see #19 as a conclusion?

Well, here’s where the “millennial” groups come in.

The Postmillennialists believe that most of humanity will become believers and then Christ returns. It’s what most critics call, “optimistic eschatology.” I can’t entirely disagree with them if we see this as a “rear-view” statement, because I can believe there were more Bible believing Christians per capita in the past, then there are now. So, although I do not presently hold this view, I respect this view.

The Premillennialists believe that the Lord will return “before” the 1,000 years. They believe this solely on reading Revelation 20 from a chronological standpoint, and not a figurative or allegorical one. Premil’s believe that Jesus will literally reign for 1,000 years on earth upon His return. I used to believe this, but eventually changed my understanding, if you will. This hasn’t always been the reigning view, but held by many noteworthy theologians and preachers over the years.

And then there is the Amillennial perspective. This interpretation believes that the 1,000-year reign, is a symbolic number for the entire time between Christ’s first and second coming. So basically, we are in the millennium now. The “A” doesn’t negate the millennium, it just refers to those who hold this view as “not a literal 1,000 years.” But the Amillennialists believe that the entire time between Christ’s first and second coming is summarized with the reference in #20 of “1,000.”

All three of these views are debatable, and acceptable. They really are. I once held the Premil view, and now I am firmly an Amil. But I have friends in both the Post and Pre camps. I have fun and spirited conversations with them, and sometimes we end our talks flustered. We can literally agree to disagree. And this is possible because? We all agree that the return of Christ is imminent. A debate of a non-essential doctrine, because we agree on the essential doctrine. In fact, when one holds firmly to an interpretation based on what they read in the text, I believe it is wonderful! I can argue with anyone as to why I believe I am correct with my held interpretation, but it’s because I stand firmly on this mantra: I could be wrong. And that, my friends, is a lesson that many of people are just unwilling to admit.

“In essentials UNITY, in non-essentials LIBERTY, and in all things CHARITY.” This statement is a wonderful way to view the disagreement between Christians. Learn it, adopt it and live it!

Now this 1,000-year period was always a sticking point whenever I heard discussions on the topic of end times. And what finally led me to really question as to why I held to a literal 1,000 years was this: the number always represented “many,” or “a lot,” with no specificity. Did Samson kill 1,000 men or was it 987, or 1,012? I’m not going to question that he killed a lot, but would we even question it if the author rounded the number to mean a lot? Not in the least. Because 1,000 always represents a great number of its component. So, why would we take this moment, in the final book of the Bible, to literalize it?

Much like the rest of the Book of Revelation, there is a common theme throughout, and it is known as recapitulation. The Apostle John, recaps things that he “saw and heard.” Not in chronological order, but in how he shared things. This can be much like different vantage points, or even instant replay. When we watch a football game, for instance, we will see a spectacular play of a wide receiver catching a pass as he goes out of bounds. What happens next? We see 3 or more replays - from different camera angles - of the exact same play. We want to know if the receiver had control of the ball, both feet inbound, possession, etc. And the only way to fully know if this occurred is by seeing the same thing from different vantage points.

Now, use this analogy when you read Revelation, and it begins to come together more. It begins to not seem like a fairy tale or a mind trip from the Apostle John, but a beautiful vision of the existence of mankind and the changes that we will face both now and in the future.

What is interesting about this begins with chapter 19. You see, chapter 19 is very explicit in detailing our Lord’s return and the decimation of everything that doesn’t belong to Him. And as I have studied this book (and even taught through its entirety in 2023, which took me 6 months), it doesn’t take long to understand that there are literal points and themes, painted within a framework of allegory. Much like the Song of Solomon. In fact, if we were to take Song of Solomon and paint a woman from the description we are given, we would have a very ugly woman. But instead, we see the hyperbole and allegory with which Solomon wrote the account. And it’s actually beautiful. Revelation is very similar to this. There are points of him being direct, and there are points of allegory. It’s not a matter of our “picking and choosing,” but seeing the truth in what God gives to us. Think of the book like a painted picture: if it is a piece of art, it is subjective to the critic; but if it is considered a rendering from the greatest artist ever, than we find it majestic and beautiful… and should admire it with such an awe.

Yes, the book that you avoid reading because you cannot wrap your mind around; the book that you read it in a chronological fashion, which just lends to you trying to figure out where we are in the story line. And that approach, my friend, will remove you from seeing the beauty of the book. Because allegory, much like the Song of Solomon, is what paints the picture within its framework, so that we can see the big picture and not focal points that can derail the overall story.

Back to the three main viewpoints of Eschatology.

How Jesus returns is not essential, but the fact that He promises to return, certainly is. And this is where the question will surface for most: Well then, why does this discussion even matter?

I will answer that by stating something obvious and paramount: How you approach reading the Word of God, matters. If you read it with an open mind and understanding of the context of each book, then you will not read it with a presupposition, a pre-conceived notion. Meaning, you will read it with an open heart of allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you. Coupled with solid biblical exegesis (proper method of interpretation), you can learn what God is saying because you’re letting the interpretation come from following context and the Holy Spirit; as opposed to force it with a set of goggles that tell you, “Oh, I need to read ‘to look’ for these things…” I pray that resonates.

Dispensationalism – What is it?

The interpretation of Eschatology that I am calling into question, is called Dispensational Premillennialism. Yeah, I know… big word. However, you probably have heard and even believe many insights that this interpretation has offered, and didn’t even realize it. And undoubtedly, didn’t even think to question them. That is how sneaky it is. And although it was born out of the Premil interpretation – it has beyond problematic beginnings. So, allow me to give you some history to this... because while it remains an area of non-essential doctrine, it is essential that you understand how it affects you.

Dispensationalism is a popular and widespread interpretation about the end of all things. It originated in the nineteenth century in the teaching of a man named John Nelson Darby and was popularized in the United States through the Bible Conference movement. This movement took off around the late 19th century, into the turn of the 20th century. Dispensationalism’s growth was spurred on even more through the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible, which was published in 1909. This was the first study bible that hit the printing press in mass form, and it contributed to the spread of Dispensationalism because it included study notes written from this interpretational perspective. Adding in the founding of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924 by Lewis Sperry Chafer (who bought fully into this interpretation), provided the most recognized American academic institution for the training of pastors and missionaries in the dispensationalist tradition. No other method of interpretation of the end times were taught through these avenues, and so anyone who attended the university or read the Scofield bible, were not privy to any other method of interpretation.

It's literally indoctrination without prejudice or investigation.

Dispensationalism introduced the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. According to this doctrine, this present church age will end when believers are suddenly “removed” from life on this earth, and this event will be followed by a 3 ½ or 7-year period of tribulation for those left behind. It varies depending upon whom you ask. Anyway, Dispy’s (which I will affectionately reference them from time to time), believe this has to happen in order for unbelieving Jews around the world, will come to Christ. Once the church is removed, they will return with Christ, after either 3 ½ years of 7 years of Hell on earth, and He will conquer His enemies… and then set up His “not-so permanent” Kingdom in Jerusalem. (This is why so many Dispy’s believe we have to build a brand-new temple in Jerusalem, because Jesus has to have some place to reign on this physical earth). Dispensationalists are thus also premillennialists (before the 1,000 years). And they are all about building a new, third temple.

A litany of issues. So, I shall do my best to capture and enforce what Paul stated against heresy in his second letter to the church in Corinth…

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…

I shall do my utmost for His Highest on this one…

Problem #1: Secret rapture of the Church (not the one on the Last Day)

It is so clear in the teaching of Scripture that we will be “Raptured” or “Caught up” to the Lord in the air. Don’t think for a moment that I don’t believe this will occur, because it’s absolutely found on the pages of Scripture. However, I do believe that it is quite clear that it happens on the “Last Day.” Let’s look at the words of our Savior to gain clarity…

Matthew 24:31 - And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

So now, we must examine where this “rapture” thing even occurs in the Word. Because it does. Paul goes into explicit detail in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica. But there is so much more about it, we must examine the fullness of this passage. Let me set this up a little bit, so that you can appreciate the purpose of this moment.

Paul is encouraging people to live a life for Christ. And he knows, as we all do, that patient endurance during suffering is a common practice for anyone, let alone Christians. But AS Christians, we are being exhorted by Paul to not forget the “big picture.” That we are living and are enduring for something much greater than just this life. We have a hope in what’s to come. Not just when we die (if Christ has not yet returned), but especially those left in the “last days.” Because after all, we understand that life as a believer, as a follower of Christ, is going to get very scary near the end. So, Paul is just doing his best to encourage. Read the full chapter. But for sake of the argument of this problem, I’m going to focus on just a few verses.

*Note: Reminder that those who are “asleep” or have “fallen asleep,” are those who have died in Christ, and await the “Last Day,” for the General Resurrection of all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life; or, all those who are part of God’s elect.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Verses 13 & 14: 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

First, let us focus on the Hope in Christ. When a believer dies, we believe their soul goes to be with the Lord. And so, they are waiting (just as every believer is waiting and hoping with promise from God), for the Last Day when everyone in Christ gets their resurrected bodies. Their eternal, resurrected bodies. And we hold to this, based on what we believe is the overarching and very clear view of ALL Scripture. This is the essential doctrine of the 2nd advent. The return of Christ.

Verse 15: For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

The Lord gave Paul this word, just as all Scripture is breathed out by God. But pay close attention to this verse, that anyone who is left at the coming of the Lord, WILL NOT precede those who died before the last ones on earth. This is huge. There is nothing here that can be misconstrued as a formidable argument FOR a secret removal of the church.

Verse 16: 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

The return of our Lord is going to be the greatest event witnessed by any human being – living or dead. Since there will be a resurrection of all dead humans since the first one created by God until the return, we will be standing shoulder to shoulder with every person. Now, reminder here, that this verse ends with a repeat about the dead being raised before the living. It adds a punctuation mark to what was already stated. And then, those who are alive at the time of the return, will be raised as well. We are told elsewhere in Scripture that the angels will be quite active on this last day, as they are dispatched by the Lord to retrieve the elect.

Matthew 24:31 – “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Again we see the moment in the future when the return of our Lord will be loud, proud and sociably unacceptable. It will be something that will be heard by every human alive. In fact, the sound will awaken the dead from the grave. And this point of emphasis in 1st Thessalonians, corroborated by Jesus in Matthew 24, should leave us in a state of unwavering question about the proclamation of the Lord upon His return.

Nowhere… is this return silent nor secret. Nowhere.

As per the “rapture” being silent…

Verse 17: “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”

We will always be with our Lord, because after this “rapture” on the Last Day, we will always be with our Lord. There will be no second chances. There will be no post-return tribulation. There is NOTHING in Scripture that indicates anything different. Anything that goes against what the Lord has said, is what we call a presupposition. It is supposed. Sort of like the Big Band, or creation BY Evolution. Anyone who reads Genesis knows how the Lord created all things. There is no “evolving” from fish, monkeys or amoeba. We are “created” beings, and made in the image of our God. We are the pinnacle of Creation. But the argument FOR evolution is a presupposition from a starting point of “there is no God.”

And finally, I want to point out the final verse again from 1st Thessalonians…

Verse 18: “Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Satan loves to disguise himself and I believe he did this very think with moving Darby to make up an unrelated translation or interpretation of a text that had been left undisturbed for almost 1,900 years until he got ahold of it. And this is why we must study the Word of God and the originations of Theology.

Problem #2: If the Church Was Secretly Raptured, Who Would Witness to those Left Behind?

So, let’s suppose for a moment that the church was secretly raptured. Because there’s a problem for those who are left behind. People would somehow come to faithful repentance on their own. According to some Dispensationalists, only Jews will come to repentant faith during this time. How in the world will they know the truth about Christ the Messiah?

Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

For anyone to have the ability to be given the opportunity of salvation, they must hear the preached Good News. This is why Jesus asked us to “Go therefore into the World…” To negate the ability to have the preached word means?? No one will have the opportunity to reach salvation. And whether Jew and or Gentile, who is going to share the gospel with them? People don’t “save” themselves. There is nothing in Scripture that will allow Problem #2 to be reconciled. None. Not in the New Covenant in Christ. This is why we church today. We are evangelizing and disciple making. It takes believers to teach others the ways of the Lord. Always has… always will.

Oh, and if you were thinking that somehow those left in a future, unchristianized period of tribulation would somehow figure this out on their own… let’s go to the next problem.

Problem #3 – Where is the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation?

Many Dispensationalists believe that the Holy Spirit will not be present during this Great Tribulation. Salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit of God. So, if He is gone, then who will bring anyone to faithful repentance? Well, we must first remember that work of the Holy Spirit of God, and not ignore what the Word says about it.

John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Acts 2:38 - And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This notion of “self-finding Jesus” and “disciple making oneself” that would clearly come from this interpretation, has so many flaws it’s almost unbearable. It slaps our Lord in the face when we really think about it. Because, after all, His closest friends, the disciples, each lost their lives in their quest to spread the gospel. The only one not martyred was John, and it wasn’t like they didn’t try. He was set in a vat of boiling oil… and survived.

And then he had prison to look forward to.

Problem #4: We Will Escape Tribulation

This is a point of contention for so many who were indoctrinated with this Dispensationalism. Anyone who sat under a teacher that held to this interpretation had to hear it time, times and a half time. Or in other words, over and over again. This interpretation of the Premil view took out the parts of suffering from the Word of God and cast this shadow upon the church in a relentless dispelling of Biblical truth. To believe in one minute that we would not have to suffer for the sake of righteousness, is the biggest deception Satan has ever pulled on the church. Because it made us lazy.

I’m going to share some Scripture here. Please read through each and every one of them and notice the person saying it. If it’s in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, it’s Jesus. If it is anywhere else… well, it’s still from Jesus. Don’t forget that He is the author and perfector of our faith. All Scripture is breathed by God, and since Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit are one with God… then you can see who inspired the human authors to write it.

John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 24:21 – “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”

Daniel 12:1 – “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.”

Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Acts 14:22 – “Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Over and over again, we are encouraged to stay strong during tribulations in our life. This includes the time of the end, where Saints will only have to endure for a little while. In fact, Jesus promises that the time will be cut short for the sake of His elect.

Praise be to God for that promise.

Problem #5: Darby was Inspired by the Mormon Cult

Joseph Smith was the founder of the cult of Mormonism, or more identified as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And within his heretical teachings, was the foundation of “dispensations.” It is widely rumored that Smith and Darby met, and that Darby enjoyed breaking down the Bible through timelines known as “dispensations.” Notice here that in the name of Smith’s cult, is a focus on eschatology. Latter-Day Saints. This isn’t an article about Smith, although there could be one done in the future. But the point of bringing it up is this. Smith formed this structure called “Dispensations,” which were marks of time that he imposed on the Scripture in an effort to glorify himself as the new prophet of God.

Darby was enamored with this model, but he definitely concluded that Smith wasn’t anything like Jesus, and the other teachings of the man probably freaked him out a bit. Or a lot. We don’t know for sure. Can’t ask Darby since he’s dead. I digress. But clearly Darby loved the Dispensation model, or he wouldn’t have mirrored it with his own model. Looking eerily similar to Smith’s.

The moral is here… how are we even entertaining ANYTHING that was inspired by a cult? A well-known cult at that? It’s mind boggling to think that we just don’t teach people the simple understanding of the origin of Dispensationalism in order to allow them to ask and answer this question.

Problem #6: Two Separate People

Dispensationalism is best known for its teaching of the distinction between Israel and the church. Every other distinctively dispensationalist doctrine rests on this idea. What this distinction means for dispensationalists is that there are two peoples of God. Israel is one of these and consists of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The church is the other, and it consists of all those and only those (whether Jew or gentile) who are saved between the Day of Pentecost and the rapture. Again, part of the reason for the pre-tribulation rapture is to remove the church from earth so that God can begin dealing with national Israel again.

Dispensationalism differs from what is known as Covenant Theology in several ways, but the most significant is this idea of two peoples of God. Covenant theology affirms that there is one people of God and thus continuity between the people of God in the Old Testament and the people of God in the New Testament. Covenant theology is not, as some dispensationalists assert, “replacement theology,” because in covenant theology, the church is not technically replacing Israel. The church is the organic continuation of the Old Testament people of God. Therefore, the church is now also “Israel.” The oneness of the people of God is evident by an examination of several New Testament texts.

On a personal note here, I adhere, unwaveringly, to Covenant Theology. Again, not because I was taught Covenant Theology initially, but more because I had become disenchanted with not being able to rectify Dispensationalism with my studies. Hence, finding that I wasn’t the only one, and found that those who were struggling like I did, were members of the biblical theological “other people” group known as Covenant Theologians. Okay, moving on to the problems with the separate people thing…

Consider first the olive tree analogy in Romans 11. In this passage, Paul (a Jew), is addressing gentile believers and urging them not to be arrogant toward Jewish believers. This, I might add, comes on the heels of his own explanation of the fact that we are one church. That’s right, Jews in the Old Testament who followed the Abrahamic Covenant (the old covenant), and those who are brought into the Christ Covenant (the new covenant), of both Jew and Gentile. For better understanding, read Romans chapters 8 and 9.

Anyhow, Paul uses the illustration to explain that we are all now, one good olive tree. The branches of the old tree (unbelieving Jews), were broken off this olive tree and gentile “wild shoots” were grafted into it. The one olive tree represents the people of God that has long existed. Unbelieving Jewish branches (Pharisees) have been broken off this tree by God, leaving only believing branches (Jesus’ Apostles). Gentiles (or non-Jews), who repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, have been grafted into this one tree so that it now consists of believing Jews and gentiles. This tree is the church. If Paul were illustrating the dispensationalist doctrine, we would have numerous gentile trees and one Jewish tree (Israel). God would then plant a new tree (the church). He would take believing Jews from the Israel tree and believing gentiles from the gentile trees and graft them into this one new tree. Paul says nothing like this. The one tree that existed in the Old Testament continues, but now God has removed unbelieving Jews and grafted believing gentiles into it.

Again… One Tree!

In this light, consider what Paul says to gentile believers in Ephesians 2:11–22. In verse 12, Paul first tells these gentile believers what they used to be: “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” If that is what they once were, the implication is that the opposite of each is true of these gentile believers now. They are now part of the commonwealth of Israel and partakers of the covenants precisely because they have been grafted into the one tree representing the one people of God. But there’s more than implication. Paul goes on to say explicitly in verses 19 and following that these gentiles are: “no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

If we remove the “two separate people” model from this Dispensational theology, then we find a house of cards. Meaning, once you remove one card, it all falls down on itself. Because all sound theology must be built on solid, fundamental teachings from the gospel. If we are circumventing any portion of Scripture, then we have to wonder what the motive was in the beginning. And, since Darby died over a hundred years ago, we can never know where he was coming up with this stuff. Or, can we?

Dispensationalists have a difficult time grasping the concept of two separate people, because of their idea that the seed of Abraham is only the physical offspring of Abraham. Again, Paul begs to differ. In Galatians 3:16, he explains that “the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring.” He then explicitly identifies the offspring as Jesus Christ. But note what he then adds a few sentences later in verse 29: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Paul defines Abraham’s seed in terms of Jesus Christ. Christ is a literal physical descendant of Abraham. However, because believers, whether Jew or gentile, are united to Christ, we too are Abraham’s offspring if we belong to Christ.

Does Paul continue to use the terms Israel, church, and gentile in the New Testament? Of course. But not in the way that these terms are used by dispensationalists. Paul continues to speak of ethnic Jews and ethnic gentiles, both inside and outside the church. But he does not do so in a way that results in two peoples of God. There is one tree in the Old Testament that consists primarily of ethnic Jews, although some gentiles (e.g., Ruth) are brought in. This is the one tree that exists when Christ comes. He doesn’t chop it down, and He doesn’t plant a new tree. He prunes the unbelieving Jewish branches off, leaving only the believing Jewish branches. He then begins to graft believing gentiles into this one tree. This tree with ingrafted gentile branches does not “replace” the old tree. These gentiles are now part of the old tree by faith in Jesus Christ.

If the biblical teaching regarding the one people of God is allowed to stand, all of the distinctive dispensationalist doctrines that rest on the doctrine of two peoples of God are left without any foundation.

Problem #7 – The Purpose of the Literal 1,000-year Millennial reign.

Allow me to summarize the heretical dispensationalism, by loftily shooting cannonballs into the framework of this false ship at sea.

While I do not believe that the 1,000-year period is not literal, but a figurative picture of the entire time between Christ’s first and second advent, I can agree to disagree with the Premil model. However, I believe when Christ returns, it will be on the “Last Day.” The end of all things. There is no need for Jesus to set up shop in Jerusalem for a period, especially allowing there to be another upheaval at the end of that time. I firmly believe that the Apostle John is painting a picture of the way the world will completely turn against Christ, worldwide. This will be one swift hatred against Yeshuah before He returns. When we read chapters 19 and 20 with this in scope, it just paints a different and much less complicated picture than one that has to jump through hoops to exegete.

And one more note about this, there is a passage that really hinders the ability to live for 1,000 years on this earth the way that it is…

Matthew 22:23-32 - 23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.” 29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”

The resurrection unto life has to be in the eternal kingdom, not an earthly one. And how are we going to live as humans for 1,000 years if we cannot procreate?

………. Waiting……..

Problem #8: The Upheaval at the End of the 1,000 Years.

There is another glaring problem with the notion of the literal 1,000 years that I cannot shed. And it really dawned on me as I was investigation the Premil position one day. And I definitely want to preface this posed issue by making a proclamation: I can live with someone holding the Premil view. Although I do not, I can listen to people argue it and I can realize that it’s not the hill for me to die on. Accepting Dispensationalism is. But with it, comes this issue that I want to address.

If we do not see John doing anything but recapitulating the return of Christ in chapter 20 of Revelation, then we can rationally settle on the notion that he is just going into more detail about the church age and the end of the age. And I don’t think it’s difficult to arrive at such a conclusion when we consider the graphic depiction of humanity and especially the enemies of God, at the end of chapter 19. Let’s view a couple of highlights of that again before I explain my point about the 1,000-year issue.

Revelation 19:11-16 - Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

This lays out a definitive return of our Lord. This is the imagery that John is given, as the Revelation of our Lord. He returns with a vast angel army and there is no doubt as to who He is as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Now, let’s look at the conclusion of this chapter…

Revelation 19:19-21 - 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.

I could show these three verses to any unbeliever, and they would draw an immediate conclusion, that this was the conclusion of the Bible. They wouldn’t be able to consider differently, because there is nothing but finality to these three verses. All that we even need to consider to know about the enemy at the end of time, is found right here in this chapter.

Now. Here is the interesting part. And here is where you must use what is called “Biblical Hermeneutics” in order to understand what you are reading. The word means, “The study of interpretation, and the theory and methodology behind it.” And it’s a word that is not only used in Theology, but Philosophy, Social Science, Humanities, Medicine and many other topics. It refers to the “method” in which you think of something.

If you were to apply this to making dinner, you could easily figure out that a basic meal could take 30 to 40 minutes to prep and cook. But a person who had never cooked in their life, would take tons of time longer. And almost guaranteed, the inability to copy what you might already know as a seasoned cook with years of experience.

This application can be tagged on to proper hermeneutics in Theology. If you aren’t used to applying a Christ-centered methodology (due to either lack of reading the scripture or just lack of every pursuing an area of theology altogether), then you’re going to be as lost as the worst cook in America being asked to make fresh Chicken Parm and Alfredo Linguini.

Biblical Hermeneutics tells us that if something has already occurred, then any retelling of the same story doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen again… but that it’s a focus on said story, or maybe a different take on the same story. Just like I shared before about recapitulation and the whole football replay analogy.

Keep this in mind as we discuss chapter 20.

Chapter 20:2-3 - And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Question, why would an angel be binding Satan, and throwing him into a pit, if he was already cast into it in the first place? He wouldn’t. Unless, it’s a recapitulation of the exact same story that took place in chapter 19. And that’s exactly what we have here.

So, in buttoning up this point of contention… when you read 19 and then 20, read it with this and you will not struggle with the interpretation that says that the 1,000-years is a metaphor for the entire time between the two advents of Christ. We are now almost 2,000 years removed from the ascension of our Savior. And in due time, He will return for the Last Day.

Since Jesus already said that the time near the end would be a time of great tribulation for the elect of God (both Jew and Gentile), then we can rationally consider the upheaval of evil near the end of the “1,000-year binding of Satan – where he is bound from deceiving the nations,” he is subsequently released for a “little while” to go back to?? You guessed it, deception. And THEN, the Lord will return.

Look at the landscape of the church today, and tell me we do not have horrible doctrine running rampant along with great deception. Not just evil… but deception. The evil that is the great upheaval against the Saints in the final days is yet to happen. This would clearly summarize the meaning of chapter 20 as a “peek more behind the curtain” than is found in chapter 19.

John understood this. So should we.

Problem #9: A Third Temple

While I do not hold to the literal 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ, I definitely do not agree with what the Dispensationalists believe is the purpose for the 1,000 years… it’s because they want a third temple.

Whenever you hear someone clammoring for this third temple, they have to use Old Testament Scripture to explain the need… ignoring the fact that most of the passages they use were discussing the call to build the second temple, otherwise known as Herod’s Temple. Other passages refer to the first temple, known as Solomon’s temple. Either way, there is no call for the building of a third found in the New Testament. And since the NT is written for those of us who come to faith in Christ in this new covenant, don’t you think there would be mention and a distinct call to do so within the pages?

Instead, we have Jesus saying things like,

Matthew 23:38 – “See, your house is left to you desolate. ‘You’re house I leave to you desolate.’”

Or,

John 2:19 - Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Oh wait, or this one…

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

Or my favorite…

Acts 17:24 – “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man…”

I think you get the picture here. Jesus replaces the temple building, and we are now His temple representation after His ascension. And this does not mean we forsake the gathering of the elect in assembly, as we do today with the New Testament Church. I am simply making the point that we do not need an actual, Old Testament temple.

In fact, I vehemently disagree so much with the Dispensationalists view on a third temple built in Israel, that I wrote a more in-depth article about it some time back. Please see my article about this topic (posted link at the bottom of this article).

A building of a third temple will be an abomination unto Christ. He is the temple, and the church is His bride. A new temple with reinstituted sacrifices, undermines the once-for-all sacrifice that Christ made for the atonement of sins.

Could you even imagine the thought of Jesus sitting in the Temple and people are sacrificing animals unto Him? This is utter blasphemy. Temple sacrifices are unnecessary and will utterly raise a smoke that will be a stench into the nostrils of God.

Summarization

Look, Darby had it wrong. And he sold a bill of goods to people who were not reading the Word.

Charles Hadon Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers to have ever lived, was a contemporary of Darby’s. Spurgeon himself was a Premillennialist. However, he saw many issues with Darby’s model. And I will close with one of the best quotes regarding Darby’s teaching, from Spurgeon himself. It is in regard to the “two separate people” model.

“Distinctions have been drawn by certain exceedingly wise men (measured by their own estimate of themselves), between the people of God who lived before the coming of Christ and those who lived afterwards. We have even heard it asserted that those who lived before the coming of Christ do not belong to the Church of God! We never know what we shall hear next, and perhaps it is a mercy that these absurdities are revealed one at a time in order that we may be able to endure their stupidity without dying of amazement! ...” – CH Spurgeon.

To repeat, the fact that Darby’s Dispensational timeline model was adapted from a Cult founder, should cause concern for anyone who adopts it as biblical. Joseph Smith was a delusional heretic. For Darby to take anything away from that man’s teaching, no matter what you liked about it, is just a basis for a false foundation.

I believe these conversations should be had. I believe that people can be wrong about a non-essential and still be in Gloryland. But I yearn to get as much right about the gospel as I can… and it starts by sniffing out false doctrine. Not only is Dispensationalism false… it’s heretical. It leads to so many problems with our ability to read the Word of God without a shadow of presupposition, that it makes for taking in the Word as food, problematic at times.

I pray this gave you either a lot more questions, or some assistance in seeing a deeper look into the doctrine of eschatology.

Blessings my friend. Thank you for reading this extensive article, as it only took me about a year to complete it. But anything worth working on this hard in my spare time (which is limited), is worth it if I can get one person to question what they have believed… if it leads them to a closer relationship with Christ Jesus.

Sincerely,

Pastor Patrick D. Garlock