Progressive Dispensationalism

[sheina]

The Doctrine of Progressive Dispensationalism

By Todd Baker, Th.M.

Rev. Todd Baker is a Staff Theologian at Zola Levitt Ministries.

This article appeared originally in the May 2000 issue of the Levitt Letter.

We have received requests to define Progressive Dispensationalism, the doctrine we have criticized at such well-respected seminaries as Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary. Our staff theologian, Todd Baker, has expertly discussed the flaw in that doctrine in [the following article]. Todd has noted that the Progressive Dispensationalists purposely confuse the throne of God in heaven with the throne of David. God’s throne in heaven is obviously not an earthly place. We see it in Revelation, and it is spoken of elsewhere in Scripture. David’s throne was certainly earthly and will be in the Kingdom to come. By saying they are the same throne, the Progressive Dispensationalists effectively cut Israel out of the prophetic picture and accelerate a Kingdom event—Jesus literally sitting on the throne of David in Jerusalem—to the present day.

According to the Progressive Dispensationalists, Jesus is now sitting on the throne of David in heaven, and we are enjoying the beginning of the Kingdom at this point. It doesn’t take a deep theologian to see the flaw in this reasoning.

While the following article clarifies all of those issues with the relevant Scriptures, I am concerned mainly with the effort, however unconscious, to shut out Israel and the Chosen People from the Kingdom to come. This is a completely wasted exercise on the part of those who are, to say it kindly, not particularly preferential to those whom God loves, the Jews. For Moody Bible Institute, Dallas Seminary, and any number of other fine Bible schools who formerly supported Israel and praised the Chosen People to have turned to an error of this magnitude is shocking. The logical end of this doctrine, out-and-out Replacement Theology, would be the complete dispossession of those whom God chose and the Land He promised from Christian thinking. This simply must not happen.

— Zola

 

[Biblewriter]

"Progressive dispensationalism" is neither progressive nor dispensationalism.

 

[Danoh]

Although in error, so called "Progressive" Dispensationalism (PD) is no more than an attempt at "progressing" away from errors within Acts Two Dispensationalism (ATD) continually made obvious by those who subscribe to Reformed/Covenant/Replacement Theology (RCRT), errors which RCRT also fails to solve for.

Consider the following from the article the link posted above - " Clearly, in the book of Acts, the Jewish disciples, along with the Jewish Church of Jerusalem, were looking forward to a future, earthly, literal Davidic Messianic Kingdom in Israel to be ruled over by the Messiah Jesus. It was not spiritualized and transferred to heaven where Christ presently is, contrary to the belief of Progressive Dispensationalism."


Doesn't sound like the Body of Christ. Rather, the Messianic Judaism that is Acts 2. And yet, typical of ATD, its author completely ignores its very fact - that the Acts Two "Church" is Messianic - NOT the Body if Christ, thus, why, Acts 2 and 3 and 15 refer to the Lord's EVEN NOW YET FUTURE RETURN TO ISRAEL.

And yet, somehow ATD comes out of that with its notion of a Body of Christ and a Rapture for those MESSIANIC, LAW KEEPING Acts Two believers.

Having refused Acts 9 Dispensationalism's that "Church" which is His Body, and began with Paul, it stands to reason that PD would arise as what it is - a hopeless attempt to solve for the ATD illogic that RCR clearly sees even as it continues down its own blind alley.

Divide Scripture into Old, to be one day empowered at last by a New, presently on hold during this Mystery age, and all becomes clear, 2 Peter 3.

But RCRT and ATD having become the tradition they have long since been, there's not much hope for seeing the Mystery preached by that odd, new, completely unexpected Apostle - of the Gentiles - and with that, that Third "Church" of Scripture - the Body of Christ...