Dispensational Theology (A Brief History)

Dispensational Theology (A Brief History)
By Michael Houke.

Foundations of Dispensationalism

Ancient Developments

1. Justin Martyr: AD 110-165 
Held the essence of dispensationalism in his recognition of differing economics in the O.T.

2. Irenaus: AD 130-200
Refers to four principal covenants given to the human race, particulary drawing a distinction between three covenants of the O.T. and the Gospels. This distinction is typical dispensationalism.

3. Clement: AD 150-220 
Identified four dispensations: Adamic, Nohaic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic. 

4. Augustine: AD 354-430
Recognized that worshipers approach God in a different manner in different ages.

Modern Developments:

5. Pierre Poiret 1646-1719
Presented a seven-fold Dispensational scheme as follows:
1. Infancy- to deluge
2. Childhood- to Moses
3. Adolesence- to the prophets
4. Youth- to the coming of christ
5. Manhood- early part of Christianity
6. Old Age- latter part of Chritianity
7. Renovation of all things- the millennium
Thus he recognizes differing dispensations culminating in a literal thousand year period. 
Jonathan Edwards: 1646-1719
Published 2 vol. - entitled "A Complete History or Survey of All the Dispensations"
He outlines dispensations as follows:
1. Innocency
2. Sin and Misery
3. Reconciliation
a. Patriarchal economy
1. Adamical
2. Noahical
3. Abrahamic
b. Mosaical economy
c. Gentile Economy
d. Christian Economy
1. Infancy
2. childhood
3. manhood
4. old age.

Isaac Watts 1674-1748
Recognized the dispensations as conditional ages wherin God had certain expectations of men and made conditional promises and prohibitions to them. Watts outline:

1. Dispensation of Innocency
2. Adamic Dispensation
3. Noahic Dispensation
4. Abrahamic Dispensation
5. Mosaic Dispensation
6. Christian Dispensation

Others who espoused Dispensationalism in Modern Times.

John Nelson Darby: 1800-1882
C.I. Schofield: !843- 1921.

Recent Times:

Thomas Ice
Ron Rhodes
Norman Geisler
John MacArthur
Charles Ryrie
John Walvoord
John Ankerberg
William Lane Craig
Dave Hunt
Randall Price
Charles Stanley
Paul Salus
Mark Hitchcock
Renald Showers
Robert L. Thomas
David Reagen
Terry James
Dwight Pentecost
Lewis Sperry Chafer
Tim LaHaye
Edward Hinson
Davis Jeremiah
Adrian Rogers
Paul Benware
Hal Lindsey
Grant Jeffrey
T.A. McMahon
Joel Rosenberg
And Many others.

Dispensational theology teaches that there are two distinct peoples of God: Israel and the church. Dispensationalists believe that salvation has always been by faith in God in the Old Testament and specifically in God the Son in the New Testament. Dispensationalists hold that the church has not replaced Israel in God’s program and the Old Testament promises to Israel have not been transferred to the church. They believe that the promises God made to Israel (for land, many descendants, and blessings) in the Old Testament will be ultimately fulfilled in the 1000-year period spoken of in Revelation chapter 20. Dispensationalists believe that just as God is in this age focusing His attention on the church, He will again in the future focus His attention on Israel (Romans 9-11).

Using this system as a basis, dispensationalists understand the Bible to be organized into seven dispensations: Innocence), conscience, human government, promise, law, grace, and the millennial kingdom. Again, these dispensations are not paths to salvation, but manners in which God relates to man. Dispensationalism, as a system, results in a premillennial interpretation of Christ’s second coming and usually a pre-tribulational interpretation of the rapture. To summarize, dispensationalism is a theological system that emphasizes the literal interpretation of Bible prophecy, recognizes a clear distinction between Israel and the church, and organizes the Bible into the different dispensations it presents.

Sources used:

1. Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie
2. Dispensationalism Today: By Charles Ryrie
3. The Basis For the Premillenial Faith: Charles Ryrie
4. The Moody Hand book of Theology: by Paul Enns
5. Concise Bible Doctrines: by Elmer Towns
6. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: by David W. Bercot
7. The Popular Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics: Edward Caner and Ed Hinson
8. Systematic Theology: by Norman Geisler.

God Bless every Saint, past present and future!

Glory Be to The Lord !!!!

WHAT IS PREDESTINATION ? By Fred Trokie

WHAT IS PREDESTINATION ? By Fred Trokie 

One of the major reasons we cannot lose our salvation is due to predestination.

Romans 8:28-29 says:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

What's does it mean predestined? 

Many people get predestination mixed up with election or being chosen. They say "I was predestined to salvation", but that's not true, we were chosen to salvation (Ephesians 1:4). 

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

So what is predestination then? The Greek word for Predestination Proorizo (Strongs 4309) is the word that we get our English word "horizon" from. So what is a horizon? Well if you have ever been out to sea, the horizon is the point in which you can't see beyond. You can have the most expensive and powerful binoculars made, and you still won't be able to see beyond the horizon. Therefore the horizon is actually a border in which you can never go beyond. So predestination (Proorizo) means that God has placed a spiritual border around us. 

Lets use an analogy of a playpen. You place a baby in a playpen, and that child is safe and secure within it's borders. The child can play in the it, sleep in it, eat in it, cry in it, or even laugh in it. As long as the child remains in the playpen, he is safe. That's what God has done for us, He has put a border around us, and he allows us to go just so far within the border, but not beyond. 

Within this spiritual border, God conforms us to Christ likeness. Because we can never go beyond this border that God has provided, we can never be lost. We can never lose our salvation or decide to give it back to God. Within this border God is working everything together for good, both good things and even the bad things. 

And that is God’s purpose for us. To say we can lose our salvation is to say that we have the power and control to derail God’s purpose in our lives if we so chose to do so, and that could never happen.

It make my heart rejoice to know that God is sovereign and in complete control of our salvation. I concur with the Apostle Paul when he says:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). 

God Bless - Fred


Glory Be to The Lord !!!!

Our motive means a lot for it has to come out of a sincere Heart !!!

Our motive means a lot for it has to come out of a sincere Heart !!! 

So many times we hear the people say Jesus came to this world and died for you to have a nice life, you you to enjoy the riches of this life, for you to have a nice big house , for you to have a nice big car...and on and on.... 

So often they forget to tell  that JESUS CHRIST came into this world and died for your sins for to give you EVERLASTING LIFE.

Our Approach to HIS Divine MAJESTY should not come just out of an Worldy Motive !!! 

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus came to give us EVERLASTING Life :)

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

So that we need not hunger shall never thirst :) 

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life. 

Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.   

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.  

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

We shall not want :)

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

For we abide in HIM :)

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

For it was HIS Assignment :)

Joh 12:50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak

For HIS LOVE is the Greatest of All :)

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

Eternal Life is with HIM :)

Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

2Ti 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

1Jn5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 

God wants to Gift us :)

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 

1Jn 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

So our motive should not be just Carnal /Worldly($) :

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

Hold on to eternal life :)

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

For our motive in Christ :)

Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

For this is our Hope :)

Tit 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

 Tit 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This Life shall the Church Give to this World:)

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

We need to Honor HIS GIFT to understand and know the experience what paul is saying :)

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

For the Lord will apper Soon :)

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

So how shall be our approach to our needs :) 

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

1Tim 6:17Put your hope in God who richly provides us with everything.

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

For He (Christ Jesus) not came to give us a good life ,prosperity,a big house a big car material possessions, He came to accomplished something BIGGER THAN THAT beyond our wildest imagination to give HIS life for us , for us to have hold of HIS ETERNAL LIFE   

Rest are just blessings when we obey and hear HIS Voice in this Life 

Just ask HIM to be Glorified in OUR Trials in Christ Jesus, Yoked with HIM !!! Amen

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Glory be to the Lord !!!

Paul on false teachers

Paul on false teachers : By -Michael Houke


“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2Co 11:13 ESV)

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Eph 5:11 ESV)

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” (2Th 3:6 ESV)

“If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.” (2Th 3:14 ESV)

“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” (1Ti 1:3-4 ESV)

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” (1Ti 6:3-5 ESV)

“But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” (2Ti 2:16-18 ESV)

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2Ti 3:1-5 ESV)


“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2Ti 4:2 ESV)

“Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.” (2Ti 4:14 ESV)

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are in subordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” (Tit 1:9-13 ESV)

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Tit 2:1 ESV)

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.” (Tit 3:10 ESV)

Love heals the one's times never heal...

LOVE

1Co 13:4  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 

1Co 13:5  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 

1Co 13:6  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 

1Co 13:7  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

1Co 13:8  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 

1Co 13:9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 

1Co 13:10  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 

1Co 13:13  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

God is Love

1Jn 4:8  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

Some times we are filled with bitterness, as we Love people from the depths of our hearts and the same Love they do not value:(

This feeling of rejection makes one feel not important, unworthy, unwanted or sometimes incomplete lacking all that is not able to be accepted.

We being mere humans sometimes hold their lack of acceptance against them, open the door for the evil one to manipulate our thoughts and feelings, we hear voices which want to judge the ones who reject us,or to make them feel the pain we go through or to do something which will hurt them for ever.

O' we all desire that our True Love be understood and embraced... by the people who we love, our parents, friends, our soul-mate, our loved ones...

Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ/ Yeshua the Messiah who gave us the eyes to see how Love perfect being rejected oversees the people and their flaws which cannot accept and embrace our True Love,  

So Saith The Lord being rejected and set hanging on the Cross(Tree)

Luk 23:34  And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. 

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Amen.

Yes the Lord's Love is incomparable with our emotion of Love-

Joh 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

So many embrace His Love out of Love for His Love...

1Jn 4:19  We love because he first loved us. 

Yet so many still do not understand how much He Loves... Yet says the Lord

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

So many spend their lifttimes to live for ever, in search of eternal Life, do so many things just to live for ever... Can any body hear? dose somebody needs to see and hear? Love is the answer- love is all you need...

1Jn 4:16  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

Thus Saith the Lord for us all:

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

Joh 3:4  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 

Joh 3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 

Joh 3:9  Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 

Joh 3:10  Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 

Joh 3:11  Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 

Joh 3:12  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 

Joh 3:13  No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 

Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 

Joh 3:15  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 

Joh 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Joh 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Joh 3:18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

Joh 3:19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 

Joh 3:20  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 

Joh 3:21  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." 

Thank you Jesus for you are the way, the truth and Life.

Survivors in Life of Rejection Hope for time to heal, sad so many times, time dose not heal, but the truth is that Love heals and the Love of the Lord Heals...

Shall we not embrace HIS true Love in Jesus Name, cos He loves us uncontitionally...

Deu 6:5  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

Yes Beloved, you are precious in HIS eyes, for His word says...

Joh 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Rejoice for you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free in Jesus Name!! Amen!!

Joh 8:32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

And we need and seek the answer asking Lord what have I done wrong?

Forgive people, its not that we have something lacking in us or in our Love that they don't hold us near, there is nothing wrong in us or wrong in our love, forgive them that they don't understand what they are going to miss not being with us, may be someday they will understand, forgive them in Jesus Name Amen!!!

Cry out to the Lord- "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." in Jesus Name Amen!!

Let the perfect Love of the Lord hold you for HIS Love never fails and Lord Jesus is Faithful!!! Amen!!!

Rejoice for you Love - for all whoom you love...its the best thing one can ever do for any one is to LOVE for GREATEST IS LOVE !!!


And its faith and Hope never dies in Jesus Name !!! Amen!!

Wait on to the Lord for the word of the Lord says-

Jer 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Glory be to Jesus!!!