Dispensational premillennialism is a theological framework for understanding the overall story of the Bible. It sees biblical history divided into different “dispensations” or periods of time in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different biblical covenants. Within this system, dispensational premillennialism holds to a futurist interpretation of biblical prophecy and sees a future restoration of ethnic Israel to the Promised Land. It also teaches that after the Rapture of the church, Christ will return to establish a literal 1,000 year millennial kingdom on earth centered in Jerusalem.
Some key aspects of dispensational premillennialism include:
- A literal interpretation of prophecy, especially regarding the future restoration of Israel.
- A distinction between Israel and the church as two separate people groups in God’s plans.
- The belief that God has related to human beings differently in different dispensations or eras of time.
- The understanding of a future 70th “week” of Daniel’s prophecy where the Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27).
- An emphasis on a Pretribulation Rapture of the church before a coming 7-year Tribulation period.
- The restore of ethnic Israel to the land and its prominence during the future millennium.
Some key figures in the history of dispensationalism include J.N. Darby, C.I. Scofield, Lewis Sperry Chafer, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, and Dallas Theological Seminary as an institution. Dispensationalism rose to popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through prophecy conferences and the Scofield Reference Bible.
A Basic Overview of Dispensational History
Dispensational premillennialism sees biblical history divided into distinct eras or “dispensations” defined by God’s particular dealings with human beings during specific time periods. In each dispensation, God reveals more of His truth and expects more responsibility from human beings based on progressive revelation. Disobedience brings judgment within each dispensation, ultimately showing human inability to manage affairs apart from God. The culmination of history comes with the millennial kingdom when Christ rules the earth directly.
Dispensationalists commonly recognize at least four dispensations:
- Innocence – Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before original sin (Genesis 1-3)
- Conscience – From the Fall to the Flood (Genesis 4-8 )
- Civil Government – After the Flood to Abraham and the nation of Israel (Genesis 9-11)
- Promise – Abraham to Moses and the giving of the Law (Genesis 12 – Exodus)
Later dispensations could include the Mosaic Law, the church age, the millennial kingdom, and possibly others. Not all dispensationalists agree on the exact number of eras. However, central to dispensationalism is the distinction between Israel and the church and God’s unique plans for each entity.
Israel and the Church as Distinct People Groups
One key aspect of traditional dispensationalism is a radical distinction between Israel and the church. Israel represents an earthly people called for an earthly purpose to receive earthly promises regarding the land. The church, on the other hand, is a spiritual body of Jewish and Gentile believers called for heavenly, spiritual purposes to receive spiritual blessings. God has an eternal plan for each entity that remains distinct within His program. He is not done with ethnic Israel and will fulfill His covenant promises to them – especiallyHis land promise – in the millennium.
Dispensationalists point to verses that distinguish between Israel and the church like Romans 9:4-5 and 11:1-2. Israel had earthly promises of land, earthly kings from the line of David, and an earthly temple. Believers in Christ have spiritual blessings focused on salvation and a heavenly inheritance. There are two peoples of God with two different destinies.
Futurist Interpretation of Prophecy
Another defining mark of dispensationalism is a futurist interpretation of prophecy. Many prophecies have a “not yet” aspect to their fulfillment. Old Testament promises regarding Israel’s restoration and cleansing have not yet taken place, so dispensationalists see a future time when God will fulfill these promises literally. Key events will include:
- The rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
- A coming 7 year tribulation period (Daniel 9:24-27)
- The revelation of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
- The second coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21)
- The millennium – a literal 1000 year kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6)
God will remove the church in the rapture, then restore Israel as the focus of His plan during the tribulation and millennium. Thus, many prophecies regarding Israel’s prominence, priesthood, kingship, and temple worship will occur during the millennium.
The Rapture of the Church
A key event within dispensationalism’s prophetic scenario is the pretribulational rapture of the church. Passages like 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 describe a future moment when God will resurrect dead believers and transform living believers to meet Christ in the air. Dispensationalists place this event before a coming 7 year tribulation period when many end times prophecies will occur. The rapture allows God to focus His earthly plan again on Israel apart from the church during the tribulation.
Dispensationalists see a “blessed hope” in the rapture as deliverance from future wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9). Verses that promise exemption from wrath (Revelation 3:10), a heavenly destination for the church (John 14:1-4), and distinction between those events and the second coming support a pretribulation rapture. Therefore, dispensationalists view the rapture as imminent – it could occur at any moment without preceding prophetic signs.
The Millennial Kingdom and Restoration of Israel
As another key element, dispensational premillennialism looks forward to Christ’s return to establish His 1000 year kingdom on earth (Revelation 20:1-6). Satan will be bound so he cannot deceive people (Revelation 20:1-3). Righteousness will flourish (Isaiah 11:3-5). There will be peace (Isaiah 2:4), joy (Isaiah 61:7), comfort (Isaiah 40:1-2), prosperity (Amos 9:13), health (Isaiah 35:5-6), and long life (Isaiah 65:20). Christ will rule from Jerusalem on David’s throne (Luke 1:32-33) along with His church (2 Timothy 2:12).
This earthly kingdom will start after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-30). Dispensationalists take this literal 1000 year period as the context for many unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies regarding Israel’s regathering, prominence, holiness, and blessings in the land (Ezekiel 37, Isaiah 60-62). The millennium finishes with Satan’s release and final rebellion before entering the eternal state (Revelation 20:7-15).
Some Distinctives of Dispensational Premillennialism
In summary, some key distinctives of dispensational premillennialism include:
- Recognizing different dispensations across biblical history
- Distinguishing Israel and the church as separate entities
- A futurist interpretation – seeing many prophecies as yet unfulfilled
- Teaching a pretribulation rapture of the church
- Expecting a future literal 1000 year kingdom on earth after Christ’s return
- Seeing the millennium as the context for fulfilling Old Testament promises to Israel
While certainly not the only Christian eschatological view, dispensational premillennialism strives to understand the progression of God’s plan across history leading up to Jesus’ return and a future restoration of Israel during the millennium. It provides a framework for understanding how God’s promises relate to biblical prophecy and world events – past, present, and future. Details vary between dispensationalists, but these core concepts characterize the system’s approach to biblical eschatology.
