The DPM perception is built upon the hermeneutic that biblical history (revelation) should be divided into more or less seven individual dispensations. The majority of dispensationalists agree that a [color:red]
dispensation is a period of time during which man is <span style="background-color:yellow;">tested</span> in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.</font color=red> (New Scofield Bible, page 3). But, there is disagreement over exactly how many dispensations there really are: i.e. Dallas Theological Seminary officially holds to 3 (Law, Grace, & the Millennium, article 5), others hold four, some eight, however the basics are the same. Thus I ask, [color:blue]
is confusion and inconsistency error?</font color=blue><br><br>The Biblical position (A-Mil [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img]) affirms that since Adam fell short in the first test of obedience that no man can pass any test of obedience (he is fallen, he has a depraved nature, TULIP, pt 1: Total Depravity). Consequently, rather than saying, that in each dispensation man is being <span style="background-color:yellow;">
tested</span> (
we already recognize the end result is failure .. apart from the Divine intervention of grace) we believe, as Scripture teaches, to say that fallen man (post Gen 3) is shown throughout biblical history the way in which he can be delivered from sin & death through the power of God's grace.<br><br>Accordingly, when Adam fell short in the
Covenant of Works (Gen 3) straight away God comes with a guarantee of the Redeemer who Adam could find salvation through (Gen 3:15). Thus, the A-Mil position stresses that the promise of redemption through the seed of the woman as the [color:blue]
central theme</font color=blue> that is woven throughout biblical history & revelation (Gen-Rev) vs. the Dispy’s [color:blue]
central theme</font color=blue> of man’s <span style="background-color:yellow;">
testing</span>? [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/idea.gif" alt="idea" title="idea[/img]<br><br>Regardless of the diversity in administrations (O.T & N.T) there is only ever one
Covenant of Grace. The O.T is the dispensation of types & shadows and the N.T is it's fulfillment—although we still long for the full consummation. <br><br>The A-Mil position biblically presents a progressive revelation of God's unfolding plan of salvation. However, the DPM offers a somewhat discontinuous plan that bares no relation to other dispensations and favors [color:red]
disunity</font color=red> rather than [color:red]
unity</font color=blue>. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/drop.gif" alt="drop" title="drop[/img] This is evident in the that orthodox DPM have always held the clear cut distinction of Israel & the Church. DPM accepts as true that Israel & the Church must at all times be kept separate. They assert that God's redemptive plans for Israel are absolutely separate from the Church—in fact, many promises are yet unfulfilled (the Mil Kingdom). <br><br>The A-Mil position rejects this separate plan scenario. Look at what Paul states in:<br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]Galatians 6:15-16 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And [color:red]
as many as walk according to this rule</font color=red>, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon
[color:red]the Israel of God</font color=red>. </font color=blue></blockquote> Who follows the [color:blue]
rule</font color=blue>? Obviously, all those who are new creatures of Christ (Church), even the Gentiles. This would therefore have to include all regenerate believers, that is, regenerate Jews & Gentiles (note the wording circumcision and uncircumsion). Consequently, we see that Paul refers to the Church as [color:red]
the Israel of God</font color=red>. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/idea.gif" alt="idea" title="idea[/img]<br><br> Peter also associates Israel with the Church (fulfillment), when he is addressing the Church, which is dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocuia... et. al. (1 Pet 1:1), saying, [color:blue]
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.</font color=blue> (1 Pet 2:9).<br><br>Now we note that Peter uses specific terminology to describe the N.T Church that were also expressive of Israel in the O.T. For example: <br><br><ul>[color:red]Chosen Generation</font color=red> - applied to Israel in:[/LIST]<blockquote>[color:blue]Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, [color:red]
my chosen</font color=red>.</font color=blue></blockquote> <ul>[color:red]A Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation </font color=red> - applied to Israel in:[/LIST]<blockquote>[color:blue] Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a [color:red]
kingdom of priests, and an holy nation</font color=red>. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.</blockquote></font color=blue><ul>[color:red]A Peculiar People</font color=red> - (God's possession) applied to Israel in:[/LIST]<blockquote>[color:blue] Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then [color:red]
ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people</font color=red>: for all the earth is mine.</blockquote></font color=blue> Paul uses the expression [color:blue]
seed of Abraham</font color=blue> which in the O.T. meant not only the physical descendants of Abraham their father. Paul uses the term to include regenerate Gentiles in:<br><br><blockquote>[color:blue] Galatians 3:28-29 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. And if ye be Christ’s, then are [color:red]
ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise</font color=red>.</blockquote></font color=blue> Again, we note Paul states that those who are in Christ are [color:blue]
Abraham's seed</font color=blue>, not in the physical sense of course, but in the spiritual sense. As a result, we see further confirmation of the identification of the Church as the true Israel and the those who have been blessed with the [color:blue]
sure blessing of David.</font color=blue> <br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.</blockquote></font color=blue> Louis Berkhof also gives further examples (in his Systematic Theology, page 713):<br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof .<br><br>Acts 2:29-36 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.<br><br>Acts 15:14-18 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 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: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.; <br><br>Romans 9:25-26 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.<br><br>Hebrews 8:8-13 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 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: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.; <br><br>Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.<br><br>Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.</blockquote></font color=blue> There is no uncertainty concerning the link between the O.T Saints & the N.T Saints. The evidence is overwhelming!<br><br>The Church, is thought of by DPM, as a parenthesis in God's dealings with the nation Israel is erroneous. They claim no continuity. But, continuity can be seen in numerous ways in the biblical (A-Mil) position: [color:blue]
Qahal</font color=blue> is used to describe the congregation (assembly) of Israel in Exod 12:6; Num 14:5; Deut 5:22, Josh 8:35, et. al. It is enlightening to note that the LXX translates [color:blue]
qahal</font color=blue> (assembly) as [color:red]
ekklesia</font color=red> (church), so when the apostles use that same word for the Church it indicates some form of continuity between the people of God in the O.T & the N.T. <br><br>Similarly, the Apostles usage of the term [color:blue]
temple of God</font color=blue> to describe the Church in:<br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]Ephesians 2:21-22 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto [color:red]
an holy temple in the Lord</font color=red>: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.<br><br>1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are [color:red]
the temple of God</font color=red>, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile [color:red]
the temple of God</font color=red>, him shall God destroy; for [color:red]
the temple of God</font color=red> is holy, which [color:red]
temple ye are</font color=red>.</blockquote></font color=blue> This also shows the continuity from the O.T. where the [color:blue]
Temple</font color=blue> was the place that God dwelt in a special & particular way. The same can be said of the term [color:blue]
Jerusalem</font color=blue> when it refers to the Church:<br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, [color:red]
the heavenly Jerusalem</font color=red>, and to an innumerable company of angels,<br><br>Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, [color:red]
new Jerusalem</font color=red>, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.).</blockquote></font color=blue> Therefore the A-Mil position believes that God does [color:red]
not</font color=red> have a separate purpose for Israel over and against the N.T Church. Indeed it is quite explicit there is no dividing walls between Jew & Gentile. Christ has Jew & Gentile together and both to himself in the one body through His redemptive work at the Cross. Did Christ have two different blood types? Were the red corpuscles for the Church and the white for Israel? Did Christ have two different bodies, one to die for Israel and another for the Gentiles? Is Christ divided? NO! <br><br>Since the partition has been removed how can we imagine that it shall be erected again in a dispensation yet to come (Mil Kingdom)? <br><br><blockquote>[color:blue]Ephesians 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us</blockquote></font color=blue>
