Dispensationalism

Not that i do or do not agree with the system of dispensationalism, this is only a book review of what Charles Ryrie has stated or believes.
In reading this book and writing this paper, I really do not know what to exactly say or get across. So I figured I would go over and hit some of the main issues that were talked about by Dr. Ryrie and show you that I read the book, and understood it the best that I could. I will be briefly going over some of the main views and beliefs of dispensationalism, and explaining the views that Dr. Ryrie takes in his book. Ryrie defines a dispensation as “a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God’s purpose”. Ryrie clearly gives the definition of his view on dispensationalism and take on scripture in the word. In a dispensation God places people under a stewardship, people invariably failing the test, with a judgment and change. Dr. Ryrie clarifies many of the misunderstandings that opponents of premillennialism and dispensationalism have tried to show. So through out the book I found two main factors I believed that different dispensationalist from others. The first factor is a simple realization that there are differences in Scripture. The biggest difference is between the Old Testament and the New Testament, but there are also other differences. We read of a future Millennial kingdom in which Christ will reign on earth. Surely, things will be different during the Millennium. So the first issue that led to Dispensational thought is the realization that at different periods, God has dealt with man in different ways. Then is the second reason we are different I think from all other interpretations. Is because the reason that led to the progress of dispensational thought was a couple of verses in Ephesians, (Eph.1:9+10).
Dispensationalism forms a solid ground to how many Christians read and understand the Bible. One of the first points I seen reading the book was Ryrie clearly delineates dispensationalism keeps Israel and the church distinct which is the most basic fact of it today. Secondly, that the distinction between Israel and the church is a system of hermeneutics that is literal interpretation. Also something we teach here at BBC. One thing that Dr. Ryrie points out is that dispensationalism does not spiritualize or allegorize the text. Lastly the third main point seem to be a conception of the purpose of God as His own glory, rather than only one purpose and that being on salvation. Along with those issues there are a lot more that I had read about. One area I noticed was that Dr. Ryrie was worried about others thinking that God saved different ways in different times. Dispensationalism does not carry with it the idea of different ways of salvation. Dispensationalism has to do with God’s testing, not God’s redeeming. Dr. Ryrie pointed out a verse John 14:6, where Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”, which goes to show that salvation comes always through the complete work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Some of the beliefs derived from these principles or main points I have went over are six to seven main issues that was talked about in Dr. Ryrie’s book. So instead of talking at ends of all them, I’ll list them and give a brief description on each of the points he had talked about.
1. The Old Testament prophecies of the restoration of Israel to the land in the end time will be literally fulfilled.
2. The millennial kingdom will be literally fulfilled at Christ’s return after which Christ will reign on the earth for 1000 years.
3. The 70 weeks of Daniel refers to a period of 490 years and apply only to Israel. The first 69 weeks have been fulfilled historically, ending at the first coming of Christ. When the Jews rejected the Messiah, the 70 weeks were suspended and the Church age began. The Last or 70th week of Daniel, which is the last seven years, has yet to be fulfilled. This last week will immediately follow the second coming of Christ.
4. The book of Revelation after chapters one through five is a prophecy concerning some events that will happen during the last seven years before the 70th week. This 70th week is called the tribulation period. The last half of this week which is the last 3 and half years is the Great Tribulation spoken of in Dan. 9. This tribulation period is a time when God will pour out his wrath on a sinful world.
5. The coming of Christ will occur in two stages. The first stage will occur at the start of the seventh week. This will be Christ’s return for His saints to “rapture” his church. All of the Christians will be resurrected and taken to heaven and in which God has prepared for us. The church will not be here during the tribulation period because God has ended the Church age and resumed dealing with Israel. The second stage is Christ’s second coming at the end of the 7 year tribulation period with His saints to begin the millennial Kingdom age.
6. After the rapture and during the tribulation period we will see a return of the fourth worldly kingdom spoken of in Daniel. This fourth kingdom was the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire will be restored in time for the tribulation and will consist of a confederation of 10 kings or kingdoms headed by the little horn of Daniel also known as the son of perdition. The falling away is the rapture that which restrains is the Holy Spirit whose taking away implies the absence of the church from the earth. The son of perdition who is the Anti-Christ; makes all who live on the earth that time being receives the mark of the beast.
7. So through out all these points time shows any where from five to seven dispensations. One definition of dispensation is a period of time during which a man is tested in respect of obedience to some revelation of the will of God.
These dispensations are:
Innocence Creation – Sin
Conscience Sin – Flood
Human Flood – Abraham
Promise Abraham – Moses
Law Moses – Jesus
Grace Church
Kingdom Millennium
A new period or dispensation starts when God begins a change in the ordinances valid up to that time. For example a number of ordinances are brought into the period at the time of Noah. At the coming of Christ many of the Mosiac Laws are canceled. The purpose of God in each dispensation is to have His own glory shown.
Also, in my reading I saw practical ways I could use dispensationlism to better myself in ministry and in my very own life:
Dispensationalism protects us from wrong or bad doctrine that is corrupt and could hurt our practice of the word.
Our understanding of dispensationalism helps us out with our church practice and ministry that we carry out in church today.
We as dispensationalists understand the distinction between the church and Israel. And were we fit into it and how we fit into it and when we fit into it.
We are saved from the problems of trying to hold fast to the Old Testament promises for ourselves or to assume that if we are faithful to God, He will give us what we want.
If we follow Covenant Theology, and believe that the church has replaced Israel, one is free to show the respect to a Jews or persecute a Jews as one wants to. Although we the dispensationalist sees that God was working with the Jews, is now working with the church, and will one day again work with the Jews again.
Lastly our worship is likely to be very different if we assume God’s highest purpose is to save us, rather than realizing like a dispensationalist does, that God’s highest purpose is to Glorify Himself. (you talked about this in class on Dec.1st)
I have seen how dispensationalism has come to be discovered and through noticeable differences in how God dealt with man. I have seen the 3 distinctions of dispensationalism. From different reasons on why we dispensationlist are different then covenant, to the different dispensations God has spent with man in order to Glorify Himself in and through people like me. Seeing how and when Christians get a solid foundation down to our theology and doctrine using it better helps me and helps me in ministry. More I have read and take classes is the more that I realize that its not about programs and ministries that will work but in the end but it is who are to live out the word correctly with our house, family, and church. And in that do what all I can to glorify Him everyday, and see and know that it is not about Gentiles or the Jews, but Him the lord, our creator and judge, Lord Jesus Christ.