Questions about dispensationalsim

[RogueScholar]

I have some basic questions about dispensationalism. If you do not hold to dispensational beliefs DO NOT POST A RESPONSE.

1) Do all dispensationalist believe in a Pre-tribulation rapture? If not, is their any specific people or authors that adhere to that thinking??
2) How were people justified before the age of grace?
3) Were all believers of all ages aware of the future messiah?
4) Did believers of all ages know exactly what the purpose of the messiah was?

 

[heritage36]

Hey,
I am a strong dispensational believer myself, so I will give these a stab and hopefully you find my answers helpful. I can tell you most certainly that not all dispensationalists believe in the rapture, in fact, I strongly do not believe in such a thing happening myself, because it would disrupt what I think the Bible shows to be the dispensational flow of future times. I am skeptical of anything in Scripture that would seem to be a very significant future event and is only really described in one area of scripture. I think moreso that the passage in 1 thess 4 that most people use to support the rapture is probably more misunderstood than that the rapture is a biblical fact. How people were justified before grace and Christ is a somewhat tough question, but mostly it seems to have just hinged on faith in God. I don't think all believers in the past were always aware of the messiahs coming. I think most Jews were, but that would have been after OT times once many of the OT books were written so that could be read about. Non-Jews probably did not have a clue at that time, other than proselytes and a few exceptions, because they did not follow Jewish beliefs. I don't really think anyone knew what the purpose of the messiah was other than what was told in OT scriptures. I doubt anyone knew he would wipe away the sins of the world and begin a whole new system of salvation really, changing many things otherwise also. Even many Jews believed he was coming to save them from Roman oppression, which obviously was not the case. Hope this helps, if you need me to explain any of this further I would be happy to either on here or by PM.

 

[RogueScholar]

Would it be accurate to say that salvation wasn't always by faith alone? For instance what would have happened to Noah if he didn't build an ark or in Abel never brought a sacrifice?

 

[heritage36]

At that time it was definitely through faith, when someone had an opportunity to follow direction from God, that was their chance to prove themselves to God and achieve salvation. If they had denied God there, perhaps he would have gave them another chance, but if not, then they likely would have failed in their opportunity. After Jesus' sacrifice, that changed obviously.

 

[RogueScholar]

It seems alot of people think that salvation was only received by believing in what the messiah would do. I really don't see how that is possible. Wasn't their a passage that said that if christs atonement was known, Satan never would opposed him and had him crucified:

 

[heritage36]

I don't believe there is such a passage, and understanding the Messiah's future role does not seem like it was necessary for salvation, because very few had access to the then very expensive scriptures that would possibly shed light on that.

 

[LamorakDesGalis]

I am a dispensationalist, so I'm eligible to reply...

1) Do all dispensationalist believe in a Pre-tribulation rapture? If not, is their any specific people or authors that adhere to that thinking??

The majority of dispensationists hold to a pre-tribulation rapture, but not all do. Some such as Robert Gundry hold to a post tribulation rapture. Gleason Archer holds to a mid tribulation view. A small minority hold to other variations, such as Rosenthal's Pre-wrath rapture.

2) How were people justified before the age of grace?

All the redeemed are justified by grace through faith. The "age of grace" is a descriptive term for the present dispensation. The term "age of grace" does not mean that grace was not present in other dispensations

3) Were all believers of all ages aware of the future messiah?

Perhaps vaguely aware, but that awareness did not include all the details and how it was worked out. The New Testament shows that Jesus' disciples had difficulties putting it all together even after Jesus died, and they had the entirety of OT prophecy and Jesus Himself with them. The person and mission of the Messiah was progressively revealed over time. Genesis 3:15 spoke of a future offspring who would crush the serpent, but the specific person (Jesus) and the specific act (sacrifice on the cross) was not revealed at that time. Later revelation told the specific descent (Judah, Davidic line) and place of birth (Bethlehem), etc.

4) Did believers of all ages know exactly what the purpose of the messiah was?

No, I don't think so. I think the reply above covers some reasons why.

Dispensationalists hold that salvation is by grace through faith. As Ryrie once said, for all ages, the requirement for salvation is faith. The basis for salvation is the death of Christ. The object of faith is God, while the content of faith changes in the various dispensations.

LDG

 

[crossnote]

Also it seems that faith thru the ages, in conrast to law, attaches itself to a promise, that when believed it is counted as righteousness by God to the believer.