(01-19-2022 09:26 AM)Crayton Wrote:  This was a good, concise video and honestly clearer than other descriptions I've heard.

I probably favor Covenant Theology due to the unity of God's people (being largely synonymous with BOTH Israel and the Church, or at least the believing remnant/core of each). I do respect Dispensationalism because it was developed out of careful attention to scripture. The literalism sometimes goes too far, but that is in every way preferable to the alternative. There can also be excesses in modern politics (perhaps the "hyper" version) when Christians un-critically support the modern state of Israel.

That is the most common and basic misunderstanding of all concerning this issue and its illustrates the point that most people who reject it do not yet understand what and why they reject it. They end up rejecting it on a false premise and misunderstanding.

Basic dispensatinalism recognizes that both Jew and Gentile WHO ACCEPT CHRIST are one body, not two separate groups. There is no separation at all between them, they are all one group and all God's people.

But that is the very reason people will reject it, they think we are saying the complete opposite of that. No, that is not what is being said at all.

When we talk about the differences between the Church and Israel and God's fulfillment of his promises to Israel in prophecy we are not talking about events that happen in the church age. We are talking about events that happen AFTER the church age ends and in the Kingdom age (millennial reign).

None of this applies to people (Jew or Gentile) in Christ living in the church age. We are one body in Christ and that is our ETERNAL state in New Jerusalem in Heaven. This applies to people mostly not yet born who will be living in the Millennial Kingdom on earth following the return of Christ.

The church age is not the eternal state, it has a very definitive end point in the Bible. And many events follow it according to scripture. The latter half of Revelation is one obvious example but there are countless entire chapters on this in the Old Testament. Modern Israel had to be regathered and reborn as nation to set the table for what God and Jesus told us would happen to them in the great tribulation. Both Jesus and the OT prophets made clear that Israel would be back in the land and a nation again (still in sin, still separated from Christ and the Father) when the tribulation and the antichrists kingdom come about. Its these final horrific events and last war on the Holy Land that will finally bring them to accept Jesus and come under the New Covenant. As Christ said, its going to be the worst time that ever was and ever will be again though.



Its also a misunderstanding about the support for modern Israel. It has nothing to do with being critical or not being critical of modern Israel. Modern Israel is not saved, they have rejected Christ and rejected God and are in fact extremely wicked in His eyes. They cannot save themselves by rebuilding a temple and getting back to sacrifices under the OT law (through the NT clearly says they will try in the tribulation). Their one and only path to redemption is through Jesus Christ alone.

But scripture says that God will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse them, and though they are enemies of the Gospel they are still beloved for the Fathers sake.


Maybe that will begin to help clarify some of this. Its ALWAYS the same basic misunderstandings that divide some people on this. When people begin to understand what is being said on this and then go back to fact check it in scripture, they tend to get in line with it very quickly because its undeniable in scripture. To deny it means you have to basically tear entire sections out of your bible and flush then down the drain because they are meaningless and massively contradictory. This perfectly clarifies and brings to life all those sections of the Bible people tend to avoid at all costs and never open and read.