Dr. Stanford E. Murrell
1. According to the Scofield
Study Bible “A dispensation is a period of time during which man is
tested in respect to some specific revelation of the will of God” (note on
Genesis
2. With this definition
Christians are introduced to the concept there are “seven such dispensations
[which] are distinguished in the Scripture” (note on Genesis
3. The seven dispensations are
declared to be as follows:
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Dispensation of Innocence
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Dispensation of Conscience
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Dispensation of Human Government
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Dispensation of Promise
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Dispensation of Law
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Dispensation of Grace
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Dispensation of the Millennial
4. According to the Scofield
Study Bible each dispensation has “a character exclusively its own,”
being “wholly complete and sufficient in itself,” that it “is in no
wise exchangeable for the others, and cannot be commingled.”
5. Christians have a right to
be concerned with the pre-suppositional thinking of dispensationalist for the
following reasons.
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In the four passages in the Bible where the word “dispensation”
occurs time is not a factor. The word means literally “administration” or
“stewardship” and in context has reference to the gospel being
dispersed. Paul was entrusted with the gospel in order to dispense it to the
Gentiles.
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1 Corinthians
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Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he
might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth; even in him:
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Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
which is given me to youward.
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Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the
dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.
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The number seven is an arbitrary number. The Bible never
clearly distinguishes between the seven dispensations suggested. The very names
of the dispensations are also manufactured.
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Even if seven dispensations could be distinguished in Scripture
the dramatic distinctions alleged to exist are not found. For example, grace
was found under the Law and Law is found under Grace.
6. The practical implication of
dispensational thinking also becomes alarming.
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The System teaches the Sermon on the Mount is not binding on Christians
today. Dr.
Lewis Sperry Chafer held this position and wrote of it in his work, Systematic
Theology.
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The System contradicts the Scripture. The System says the age of
the Law lasted until the Day of Pentecost. The Bible says the Law and the
prophets were until John – not
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The System teaches the Exodus Generation made a “rash” choice when they
embraced the holy law given by God at
In contrast, Psalm 105
teaches the giving of the Law was in fulfillment of God’s covenant with
Abraham. Psalms 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word
which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with
Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a
law, and to
The reason God gave the Law
was because He loved His people and wanted them to observe His statutes and
keep His commandments. The Law proved people with an access to Him for worship
and for obtaining mercy and blessings. The Law gave the church of the Old
Testament a covenant to keep, a sanctuary, priesthood and acceptable
sacrifices including a sin offering.
The Law provided the means
for the people to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex. 19:4,5). The
law was holy, just and good. And because of that it is written upon the hearts
of all redeemed people.
·
2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the
epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit
of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the
heart. Hebrews 8:10 For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the
Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
7. The System exalts national
and racial
8. There is nothing in the New
Testament about the restoration of Jewry to all of its forfeited privileges
with a temple, priesthood and earthly monarch. These are assumptions of The System.
The only issue in the New Testament with respect to
9. Despite the sympathy of the
dispensationalist with Jewish Zionism Jesus repudiated the concept of an
earthly kingdom in which Jewish national privileges and prerogatives will be
restored. Attention is called to the seven parable of Matthew 13. Jesus clearly
shows there is no room for any millennium for the
10. Much confusion in prophetic
matters would be resolved if two simple rules of interpretation were to be
embraced. First, let the New Testament interpret the Old Testament.
Second, once the New Testament speaks, believe it.
11. In the New Testament,
there is a spiritual dimension that replaces much literalism. Jesus was
constantly preparing hearts to abolish the outward signs to make ready fro the
spiritual truths they signified.
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Example. In Luke 6:1 the disciples are found grinding the ears of corn in the
palms of their hands. They are hungry. The Lord of the Sabbath approves (Matt.
12:8) for He is the Bread of Life. What better day than the Sabbath to feed
upon Him who takes the symbol of the corn to prefigure His own redemptive
sacrifice say, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die….”
Later Jesus would use the far spreading cornfields to symbolize the spiritual
harvest of the souls of men. “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields: they
are white already to harvest.”
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Example. Did not David eat of the bread of the holy temple which was reserved
for the priests? Indeed he did. And now, here is One greater than the temple
and greater than David for in Him all become kings and priests who eat of His
body, drink of His blood and are redeemed by His sacrifice.
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Example. In the synagogue came a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1-5). That man
is
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Example. Every person can come by faith to
12. The spiritual dimension of
the message of Christ is also reflected in the parables. Matthew 13:9 “And
the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”
Jesus said He spoke in
parables because of “them” the impenitent and unbelieving Jews. “And
in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your
eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Matt
What did the “eyes”
of the blessed “see”? What did the “ears” of the blessed “hear”?
Was it the story of a physical millennial kingdom for
13. The mystery of the parable
of the Sower is the kingdom comes, secretly, silently and imperceptibly as the
gospel seed falls into receptive hearts of the repentant who look for mercy and
forgiveness. The gospel works as leaven work in the dough, as fish are caught
in the gospel net or as a grain of mustard seed producing something great from
something small.
The Jews of old, the
dispensationalist today along with the modern Zionist that expects the kingdom
to come in a showy manner will be disappointed. Jesus said, “My kingdom is
not of this world” (John
The only kingdom of heaven
that exists or shall exist is that which is announced in Matthew 13. There is
none other until this age end, the Last Judgment is over and there is a new heaven
and new earth.
·
Matthew
14. The concept of the end of
the world is repeated in the last of the seven parables in Matthew 13, the
parable of the gospel net let down into the sea, gathering fish “of every
kind,” good and bad, not to be sorted out till the net is full and brought
to the shore: “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels
shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt.
13:4-50). There is no room for a
millennium kingdom. The gospel net drags on in the sea of this world, without
change and without rest, till the Day of Judgment. There is nothing said about
a converted world or a golden age or a latter day glory. There is no Puritan
Hope of a Jewish solution to the problem of this world.
15. The tragedy of dispensational theology is that
it does not appreciate the greatness of the church.. It looks at the church and
sees only gloom and failure. This tragic view of the church is reflected in Dr.
Scofield’s comments on Matt 13:31-22.
· Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
Dr. Scofield states this
parable “prefigures the rapid but unsubstantial growth of the mystery form
of the kingdom from an insignificant beginning to a great place in the earth.
The figure of the fowls finding shelter in the branches is drawn from Daniel
4:20-22. How insecure was such a refuge, the context in Daniel shows.”
But what if Dr. Scofield is wrong? What if the figure of the tree whose branches provide shelter does not come from Daniel but from Ezekiel 17:22-24?
· Ezekiel 17:22-24 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: 23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
The tree of Ezekiel’s vision
is the tree of the New Covenant of grace. The tender young Twig cropped off
from the old cedar is Christ! He springs
in His humanity from the old stock of Israel’s tree, the covenant of the law.
From this new tree, Christ, the kingdom of grace springs up till its branches
spread throughout the entire world as they do today. The “birds of every
wing” which speak of individuals of every race and color find shelter in the
covenant of divine grace. Thus the church cannot fail for Christ cannot fail.
16. The correctness of appealing to Ezekiel’s
vision of the tree is found in Luke 23:27-31. On the way to the cross Jesus
quotes from Ezekiel 17: 24. Israel was the high tree brought low, and Christ
was the low tree exalted. Israel was the green tree dried up, and Christ was
the dry tree made to flourish.
17. When Robert McCheyne heard
of the death of Edward Irving he is reported to say, “A good man, but one
who did his Lord much harm.” Perhaps those are fitting words to Dr.
Scofield as well.
18. Another parable Dr. Scofield
is wrong on is found in Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them;
The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three
measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Says Dr. Scofield, “Leaven is the principle
of corruption…it is invariably used in a bad sense.”
The Bible says
otherwise. Leviticus 7:13 and 23:17 show that leaven was commanded by the Lord
to be used in two notable acts of worship. Leviticus 7 sets for the thanksgiving
offering. Leviticus 23 speaks of a type of worship, which prefigured the Day of
Pentecost. All the sacrifices of the Old Testament were meant to memorialize
Christ, not sin. The kingdom in the form of the church grows and has grown like
leaven in a lump and that is good, not evil.
The reference to “three
measures” is also significant for it could remind a person of Sarah, the
mother of us all, who took three measures of fine meal, kneaded it, and made a
cake upon the hearth for the heavenly guests she and Abraham received (Gen.
18:6). And that too was good!
19. Moving into other areas
there are many “doctrines” The System advocates without Scriptural
support. A partial list can be noted.
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The Jews will return to the land to rebuild the Temple.
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The bloody sacrifices are to be reinstated for a memorial
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There will be a seven-year tribulation period to complete the prophecy
made to Daniel (9:24-27).
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Before a great period of tribulation the church will be raptured.
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At the rapture the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth.
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Despite the removal of the church and the Holy Spirit a great revival
will break out and thousands will be converted in the days to follow
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The world will unite under an antichrist only to be betrayed by the
same.
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The antichrist will bring peace to the middle east and then break
covenant
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A great battle of Armageddon will come at the end of seven years. There
will be so much blood it will literally flow as high as the bridle of a horse.
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Following the battle of Armageddon Christ will return to reign on earth
a 1,000 years.
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During the millennial there will be bloody sacrifices and death though
death will after a prolonged life.
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National Israel will be exalted among the nations of the earth.
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The key to the future is Israel, not the church for the church is
doomed to failure and apostasy.
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Eve is a type of the church, thus the “proof” of the failure of
the church. Listed for Scriptural support are the following passages” John
3:28, 29; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-32 and Revelation 19:7,8. This is a common
technical of the dispensationalist. A statement is made and a barrage of
Scripture is cited as “proof.” But the problem is when one turns to the
Scriptures cited they have nothing to do with the statement proposed! It is not
right to allude to Scriptures, they must faithfully be exegeted.
20. Specific charges can be and
should be leveled against dispensationalism.
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The System known as Dispensationalism downgrades the church and her
role in the plan of God. On page 989 of one Scofield Reference Bible the comment is
made, “Especially is it necessary to exclude the notion – a legacy in
Protestant thought from post apostolic and Roman Catholic tradition – that the
Church is the true Israel, and that the Old Testament foreview of the kingdom
is fulfilled in the Church”.
According to dispensational
teaching the church is doomed for apostasy and failure despite the promise of
Christ to keep His own and to present the church as a bride without spot or
wrinkle. Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious
church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be
holy and without blemish.
A foundation of fundamental disrespect for the church is laid early in the Scofield Reference Bible by associating Eve and the Adamic nature with the church. On page 9 the footnote says, “The Adamic Covenant conditions the life of fallen man—conditions which must remain till, in the kingdom age, ‘the creation also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God’ (Rom. 8:21). Turing to Romans 8:21 it is creation not people that is view and certainly not the church.”
While it is true sin shall be present till the Second Advent even in the lives of the saints the larger point is that a case is being made against the church doing any good for soon another footnotes parallels the professing church to the negative history of Babel (p. 18). Nothing positive is said about the church being in Christ, the Last Adam 1 Cor 15:45 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” In the footnote on Isaiah 13:1 Dr. Scofield says that Babylon means confusion and is used symbolically to refer ahead to the church. On page 725 he refers to apostate Christianity, destroyed by the nations headed up under The Beast and False Prophet of Revelation 17:16.
In contrast Paul teaches the church is destined to
glorious victory. Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and
gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body,
the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
Jesus said not even the gates of hell can prevail
against the church. Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.
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The System known as Dispensationalism teaches God has two people, two
plans, two bodies; one called the church the other called Israel. There is a separate
destiny for each.
This is an amazing concept
in light of the clear teaching of the Scriptures that God has one people. The
church is the antitype known as the “Israel of God.” The elect number from
Israel plus the elect number of Gentiles constitute one and the same olive
tree. Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou,
being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of
the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much
more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own
olive tree?
The essential unity of the saints in the Old
Testament era with the saints of the New Testament era is made clear
in Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the
heathen [Gentiles] through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham,
saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith
are blessed with faithful Abraham.
In order to advocate the
fallacy God has two people a silly distinction is made on page 922 of a Scofield
Reference Bible advocating God has a wife (national Israel) and a bride
(the church) – as of a bride is not a wife!
The Scriptural
response is found in the following passages.
·
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond
nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise.
·
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For
he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall
of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the
law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in
one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
·
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in
the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons
of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the
Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and
partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
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The System known as Dispensationalism teaches that God made promises to
national Israel that have not been kept and that await future fulfillment.
Dr. Scofield teaches that
God has future plans to regather national Israel to Palestine in order to
rebuild the Temple and reinstate the Old Testament economy including bloody
sacrifices. To support such teachings Dr. Scofield appeals to the Feast of
Trumpets. On page 157 in the second footnote he states, “The feast of
Trumpets, vs. 23-25. This feast is a prophetical type and refers to the future
regathering of long-dispersed Israel.” The footnote goes on to declare that trumpets
are always symbols of testimony and that they are connected with the
regathering and repentance of Israel after the church, or Pentecostal period is
ended. This conclusion is based on the following words.
·
Leviticus 23:23-25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto
the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the
month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy
convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an
offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Notice that nothing is said in the passage that is remotely close to what Dr. Scofield has advocated. Once more there is an allusion to Holy Scripture that does not support the presuppositional thinking dogmatically contended for.
Recognizing the Bible
prophetically records two regatherings of Israel to Palestine (see notes on
page 25 of Scofield Reference Bible), Dr. Scofield goes on to say there will be
a third regathering and as “proof” he appeals to Leviticus 23:23-24!
The Scriptural
response to belief in a third regathering of Israel to the land is silence
since there are no passages that mention this. On page 25 Dr. Scofield lists a
number of scriptures purporting to prove a third regathering but each passage
in context refers either to the first or second regathering already fulfilled.
Not to be denied Dr.
Scofield insists that the land promised to Abraham was never his or his descendants
therefore, since God must keep His word the day shall yet come when Israel
shall have all the land promised to Abraham. Hence, a third regathering is a
logical deduction.
The problem with this
“logical” deduction is that the Bible says the land promised to Abraham has
been fulfilled. Consider the following passages.
·
Deuteronomy 1:8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and
possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.
·
Deuteronomy 6:23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring
us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
· Joshua
1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do,
and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
·
Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the
LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel
according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
·
Joshua 21:43-45 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he
sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto
their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the
LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 There failed not ought of
any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to
pass.
·
Nehemiah 9:23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of
heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised
to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
In the Scofield Reference
Bible there are no footnotes devoted to any of these passages.
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The System known as Dispensationalism mishandles key passages of
Scriptures.
Example. Acts 15:16 After this I will
return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and
I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
One of the most important
passages for The System known as Dispensationalism is Acts 15:16 (see p.
1169 of a Scofield Reference Bible).
According to Dr. Scofield, after the time James was speaking God
promises to return and rebuild the tabernacle of David.
However in context this is
what is being said. James is quoting Amos 9:11 so the words are those of a
prophet not the words of James. The words “after this” refers to a time
following the message of Amos, not to a time subsequent to James. There is
more. James argues in context that the prophecy of Amos was fulfilled when the
Gentile household of Cornelius was added to the church. If it is objected that
this is a “spiritualization” of an Old Testament Scripture the
blame must rest with James, and God the Holy the Spirit.
Example. On page 105, note 2 Dr.
Scofield says, “The parable of the wheat and tares is not a description of
the world.” Matthew 13:38 says, “The field is the world.” In
other words The System says one thing and Jesus said something else.
Example. On page 1036 of a Scofield
Reference Bible, note 1 The System gives a threefold division identifying
sheep, goats and brethren where by the judgment of Matthew is to be
distinguished from the judgment of the great white throne of Revelation 20. Says
Dr. Scofield, “These ‘brethren’ are the Jewish Remnant who will have
preached the Gospel of the kingdom to all nations during the tribulation.”
The Scriptural response
is found in Matthew 12:48. But he answered and said unto him that told him,
Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand
toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For
whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my
brother, and sister, and mother.
According to Jesus His ‘brethren’
has reference to anyone who does His will. So says also Hebrews 2:11 where
Christians are referred to as “my brethren” not just the Jews remnant
who preach the gospel during a certain period.
·
Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified
are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren [Christians], in the midst of
the church will I sing praise unto thee.
According to Revelation
20:11-12 there are only two groups to be judged, not three.
·
Revelation 20:11-14 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on
it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no
place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the
lake of fire. This is the second death.
Example. Dr. Scofield
teaches that Elijah the prophet is still to come for prophecy has not been
fulfilled. Says Dr. Scofield, “Christ confirms the specific and still unfilled
prophecy of Mal. 4:5,6: ‘Elias shall truly first come and restore all things.’”
Dr. Scofield goes on to speak of “that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah.”
In contrast to Dr. Scofield
are the words of Jesus. Mark 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed
come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of
him.
The boldness of Dr. Scofield
to challenge and contradict Jesus and the foolishness of people to accept The
System that is so plainly contrary to sound doctrine can only be attributed to
a judicial judgment on individuals in the church. 2 Thess 2:11 And for this
cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Example. Dr. Scofield says that the
prophecy of Zechariah 12:10 refers to a time following the tribulation when
national Israel will accept Christ. This is still in the future.
The Scriptures say
explicitly that this prophecy was fulfilled when the spear pierced the side of
Jesus on the cross at Calvary.
·
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall
look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is
in bitterness for his firstborn.
·
John 19:34-37 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side,
and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare
record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye
might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be
fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture
saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
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The System known as Dispensationalism affirms what it denies and denies
what it affirms. Specifically, Dr. Scofield lays himself open to the charge that he has
more than one plan of salvation in his system.
On page 1115, note 2, these
words appear: “As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and
resurrection of Christ (Rom. 3:24-26; 4:24,25). The point of testing is no
longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or
rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation….” And on page
1011, note 2 Dr. Scofield speaks on this same subject. “The new message of
Jesus. The rejected King now turns from the rejecting nation and offers, not
the kingdom, but rest and service to such in the nation as are conscious of
need. It is a pivotal point in the ministry of Jesus.”
Note the words of Dr.
Scofield: “no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation.” What other conclusion can be drawn except that
Dr. Scofield believed people in the Old Testament were saved by works and not
by grace through faith alone?
Conclusion.
In May, 1944 a report was
adopted by the Southern Presbyterian Church in the United States. Part of the report
said this:
“It
is the unanimous opinion of your Committee that Dispensationalism is out of
accord with the system of doctrines set forth in the Confession of Faith, not
primarily or simply in the field of eschatology, but because it attacks the very
heart of the theology of our Church. Dispensationalism rejects the doctrine
that God has, since the Fall, but one plan of salvation for all mankind and
affirms that God has been through the ages administering various and diverse
plans of salvation for various groups….”
This is a
serious charge but it does seem to be supported from the Scofield Reference
Bible.
It is my desire, not to discredit an individual but to challenge unscriptural teachings. This is not always pleasant but it is a Royal Command.
Jude 3
“Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you
of the common salvation, it
was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered
unto the saints.”
~*~