I was recently asked to explain my definition of a dispensationalist. Though my explanation may not be in agreement with some, I think it is generally the accepted definition. A dispensationalist is one who adheres to a system of eschatology that is not only premillennial, but follows a system of beliefs, that teach the existence of several dispensations (usually seven), or time period, where God deals with people in a different manner in each. This is normally a doctrine that follows the teachings of J.N. Darby and C. I. Scofild. It is Zionist in nature, claiming that the modern state of Israel has some Biblical significance, and that today’s “Jews” are God’s chosen people. Those who are in tune with the Bible as well as the history of today’s “Jews,” know that neither is true. Most of today’s evangelists are dispensationalists. It is by far the most popular school of eschatology in America today. In this system, all of Revelation is considered to be future, as well as many other eschatological passages in the NT, such as Matthew 24. They also look at many OT prophecies as yet unfulfilled. They take figurative language as literal, building a system that is more suitable science fiction than biblical doctrine. It is very interesting to note that this is the youngest of all eschatological schools of thought. Scofield published his Reference Bible in the early 1900s. In 1925, the Dallas Theological Seminary was the only seminary in America that was teaching this stuff.
Now it has spread like gangrene to all corners of America and beyond. The Ashkenazi Jews have capitalized on this, using it to their own advantage, furthering their strangle hold on America as well as other parts of the world. Americans love sensationalism and that is exactly what this kind of teaching provides. The “Left Behind” series has shown this by its monster sales. I am sure there are some who will read this in strong disagreement. But the truth is, we all have our choice – we can follow God’s words, or we can follow the concoctions of mankind. Sometimes the truth hurts, but the truth still remains the truth. We must keep the Bible within its context. The dispensationalist, reads the Bible in a presumed context, and cannot see past it. Most are not even originally willing to try. In this case, reading the Bible in its originally intended context is impossible, rendering an understanding that cannot possibly be correct. I picked up a phrase from the above mentioned book by C. E. Chandler, “A Biblical passage can never mean what it never meant.” Please read that again. What a powerful statement! I don’t care how many misconstrued ways we may think of to interpret a given passage, it was only meant by the writer to be taken in ONE WAY. That is the way he meant it and that cannot be changed. We must be truthful in our quest.