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SEVEN DEADLY DANGERS INHERENT IN PREMILLENIAL-DISPENSATIONALISM |
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Some time ago a lady, a former associate of the church, asked me why I reject the doctrines of premillennial-dispensationalism. Doctrines that, as a young (14 years of age) and impressionable Christian I had been taught and accepted as being true. I was told to reject all other views, as they were erroneous. Yet, despite this indoctrination, and the fact that for a while I taught them, even to the extent of showing, .as a form of outreach the film “Thief in the Night,” there was always in the back of the mind a deep rooted doubt as to the biblical authenticity of this doctrine. It was however, a long and often painful path to the Truth.
It was only when I started to study God’s Word correctly, without a doctrinal bias, that I came to understand the truth and realise the dangers that are inherent in this doctrine. Dangers, I hear you say, what possible dangers can there be in this popular and seemingly harmless doctrine? It is true, premillennial-dispensationalism is very popular, it is, however, untrue to describe it as harmless.
Jude tells us that we are to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude v3. He also warns about the “certain men that crept in unawares,” v4. premillennial-dispensationalism, is not the faith once delivered unto the saints, it is a man made doctrine, part of which is just over 400 years old, the second part under 200 years old, and was invented and delivered by certain men with the objective of deceiving the Lords people.
Ever since that lady asked the question, I have been seriously exercised by her plight, and the plight of millions like her, who are adherents to this false and inherently dangerous doctrine. As a Pastor, I would be very negligent, if I did not speak out and warn of these dangers. Silence on these things would make me as guilty as those who preach this doctrine. It is, therefore, from a pastoral perspective and out of deep concern for the welfare of the Lord’s people, that I write this article.
Whilst there are many dangers associated with this doctrine, not least amongst them its divisiveness, in its rabid division of Church and Israel, which has lead to many of the political problems faced in the Middle East today, to the subversion of Scripture, in order to try and prove their point. Let me mention just seven deadly dangers..
Danger One, Speculation: There is an inherent speculative character about this doctrine, as premillennial-dispensationalism is not based on a sound method of interpretation of God's Word, being reliant upon a manmade system that is imposed upon it, rather than allowing the internal and divinely incorporated system to interpret it, that is to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Failure to understand the Bible according to its internal method of interpretation, opens it up to the vagaries of human imagination.
The speculative aspect of these doctrines is seen in the fanciful explanation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” This verse has given rise to Rapture speculation, with aircraft crashing, because their Christian pilots have suddenly being taken away, trains and cars without drivers, resulting in mayhem, yet there is no such indication of this in the Bible. Another highly speculative idea is that the “New Jerusalem” is hovering like a giant space craft, above earth ready to descend. Neither is there a time indicator as to the Lord’s return, yet many speculate on it, either privately, or as recent events have shown, publically.
Danger Two, Sabotage: premillennial-dispensationalism rejects the Sovereignty of God, as it teaches that the rejection of the Messiah by the Jews was unexpected not being part of God’s original plan. It is taught that the prophets predicted the re-establishment of David’s earthly kingdom, and that Christ intended to bring this about.
However, because the Jews rejected Him, they effectively sabotaged God’s purposes, the result being Christ postponing the establishment of His kingdom until the Jews are ready for Him, and He will then return and set up His Kingdom, this interpretation makes Him subservient to man.
Is it really possible that a few miserable men in Jerusalem could sabotage the eternal plan of Almighty God? Is it possible that these men, with their measly power, schemes and ambitions, were more powerful and influential than the combined power of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, along with the Heavenly host? Is it possible that God, who is all-seeing, all-knowing, did not see or know what the Jews were going to do? The real danger is to make Almighty God into a god of man’s imagination, a god that can be manipulated by man!
Danger Three, Stop-gap remedy: As a result of the Jews sabotage, premillennial-dispensationalism holds that Christ had to set up a temporary, stop-gap, measure until He could come back and establish His kingdom. This temporary measure is said to be the church, an institution that was born on the day of Pentecost. The implication of this stop-gap theory is that the church and the cross were hardly, if at all, foreseen in the Old Testament. If the Jews had not rejected Christ then He would have instituted a Jewish earthly kingdom and there would have been no cross, no salvation for the world and no church. The advocates of this doctrine rarely if ever preach on the Sovereignty of God, for to do so would be a denial of all they teach and believe .
Danger Four, Second rate: premillennial-dispensationalism makes Christ, at best, a second rate prophet, and, at worse, a deceiver, liar, a false Prophet and false Messiah, One who could never become our Saviour as by His actions He would Himself be a sinner, as He would have been a false witness. As we know the Bible says; “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” Exodus 20:16. Furthermore it makes His teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, otherwise called the “Kingdom of God,” shambolic, making Him a false prophet. In Matthew 3:2, Jesus taught that “Kingdom of God was at hand,” also in Matthew 10:7 He commanded the disciples to go and preach that “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” but He failed to deliver according to premillennial-dispensationalism.
Therefore, according to His own Word He is a false prophet the Bible says that “when a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD if the thing follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath NOT spoken, but the prophet hath spoken presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” Deuteronomy18:22. Did the Lord Jesus speak presumptuously, was He confused, had He mistaken Gods plan, was He preaching a false message, was He a sham, and was His Kingdom theology a sham?
This makes the gospel a second rate message and the church a second rate institution, both of which have no more value than any other religion. Danger Five, Security: This has serious implications for every believer, as it impacts on a believer’s security, in that, if Christ was mistaken about His mission, if He was unable to keep His Word, if mere men were able to sabotage His mission, what confidence can we have in Him in respect of our salvation and eternal security? This doctrine makes Christ impotent. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. If God changed His plan when Christ was here on earth, because man forced Him to do so, even if we accept Christ, what stops Him changing His plan today in respect of our salvation? How can we get a good nights sleep?
How can we know “peace with God” if the Lords integrity is in any doubt, He said “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” John 14:27 how can we be sure of this, if He has already failed?
So the question is, is your God, your Saviour, a failure? This is a very serious question, and is asked out of deep concern for the spiritual and eternal well being of your soul.
Danger Six, Shabbiness: This doctrine, degrades the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It degrades the Father because He did not see all of this coming. It degrades the Son because He failed at His mission. It degrades the Holy Spirit because He came at the wrong time, Joel 2 says, that He was to come in the last days. It degrades Peter because in Act 2:17 he openly proclaimed that Joel was being fulfilled right there on the Day of Pentecost.
It is shabby, because it resorts to and practices the dubious art of blackmail, teaching directly or by implication, that unless Christians support the Nation of Israel and the Jews, they are cursed, this is based on Genesis 12:3. The truth is the Bible says, “Kiss the Son,” Psalm 2, not “kiss Israel.”
Danger Seven, Salvation: There are those, even in well known semi-reformed and even Reformed churches, who claim that this is not a salvation issue, that the doctrine of premillennial-dispensationalism, does not impact salvation. Such souls stand in very grave danger as the God who they trust, and the Christ they claim as Saviour, are not All Powerful or All Mighty, as they cannot accomplish what they set out to do. Furthermore, their promises cannot be trusted, because they are able to be thwarted by the schemes of cunning men, thus making their claim of salvation questionable and very insecure.
In addition to this by following this doctrine to its ultimate conclusion, the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has been removed and replaced by anti-Christ and in so doing replace Christ Himself. Why do I say this? Because this is what the advocates of this doctrine teach, as they designate the wonderful work of Christ, as given in the prophecy of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Daniel chapter 9, to the anti-Christ. The following is a quotation of their belief in respect of v27 of Daniel 9
“We learn from Daniel Chapter 9 that the antichrist will stop the sacrifices that will be offered again during the tribulation exactly mid-way or three and one-half years into the tribulation. "And he (antichrist) shall confirm the covenant any (peace treaty with Israel and Arab nations) for one week (week of years or seven years): and in the midst of the week (half way through the seven year week) he (the antichrist) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease (he will stop the sacrifices which are resumed), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate,” Daniel 9:27." To ascribe the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the anti-Christ, surely impacts salvation, as the doctrine is pointing to salvation in the wrong person, and furthermore, is this not a great blasphemy, “turning the truth of God into a lie”
The God we know, and love, the Saviour we love, and seek to serve, is Almighty, All knowing, All Powerful and His Word is True and Amen, and is in perfect control of all things. No mere man, no matter how clever and cunning they may be cannot surprise Him, or cause Him to fail. His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted Isaiah 46:11 “yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it,” nothing takes Him by surprise.
Peter J Gadsden
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