What is "dispensationalism?"

[Work in Progress]

I am a covenant theologian as opposed to the dispensational framework.

Hey, me too Eric! Good to see you here. We are the minority. But, that's okay.

[Trust & Obey]

Im feeling very "uneducated" right now.....this stuff is going over my head.  I have been a Christian since the age of 15.....and Im 48 years old.  My father was a pastor, and I was raised in a Christian home. 

Here I am....looking very confused because I still dont understand dispensationalism.  I believe the rapture will take place before the tribulation....so does that make me a dispensationalist???  (Or does that really have anything to do with it?)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Most likely!

There are valid viewpoints to each of the opposing doctrines, which is why there is disagreement on them. It all comes down to your understanding of Scripture.

[mrs]

I am a covenant theologian as opposed to the dispensational framework.

Hey, me too Eric! Good to see you here. We are the minority. But, that's okay.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well I guess I'm a covenant theologian too, since I don't believe in dispensations.

[hopper]

Edited April 17, 2008 by hopper

[Levi501]

In hebrew we have what is called a 'Moedim'. These are the 'designated and appointed times' in which the Lord defined certain things to observe as they were shadows of things to come about. There was a set time for everything under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to discard, 7 a time to tear and a time to sew, a time to keep silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his efforts? 10 I have seen the task God has given humanity to keep us occupied.

11 He has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can't fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does.

Leviticus (Vayikra) 23:1-3

1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Tell the people of Isra'el: 'The designated times of ADONAI which you are to proclaim as holy convocations are my designated times.

Here we see the giving of the Moedim to the children of Israel in the wilderness. What follows is the definition of the feasts of God. All of which point and lead to the Messiah.

Matthew 8:29

They screamed, "What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

Gal 4:4

but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son.

The issue I see here is that one group of people want to define this from inside of time, while the other has been revealed a view from eternity. From the inside it appears as if things stop and start, are born and then die. But from eternity they all flow to the goal that was foreordained from the beginning.

To those inside, it is a 'dispensation of grace' upon the entire world. But others with a revelation of eternity see it as the coming of what was promised from the beginning.