The End of Dispensationalism
"Genesis’s Definition of Israel and The Presuppositional Error of Supersessionism" (Trinity Theological Journal, 42NS, 2021)
Dispensationalism says that there are two people of God: the natural, Israel, and the spiritual, the church. They inherited this assumption from the prior, widespread Christian belief called “supersessionism” which said also held that natural, ethnic Israel was the people of God, only now, after Christ, the church has inherited that status.
What if the basic assumption dispensationalism is based on is wrong?
Dispensationalism is a widespread view, responsible for the “pre-tribulation rapture” idea, held often by people who don’t know that they hold it, which hinders people’s ability to interpret the Bible accurately. It’s fundamental doctrine is that natural, ethnic Israel was the literal, primary people of God in the Old Testament. But here I show by careful examination of scripture, that that is not so.
Read the academic article here: "Genesis’s Definition of Israel and The Presuppositional Error of Supersessionism" (<click) or listen to the article narrated below, with illustrations.
Hello John,
Your view on Continuumism regarding Israel is very interesting. Although I believe that Acts 7:38 regarding Moses being with the "Assembly" (Ekklesia, literally "Church") in the wilderness, speaks to the idea of continuumism, I've never really seen in described so in depth.
I have a slightly different view regarding supercessionism however. In Philip Mauro's 'The Hope of Israel,' he contrasts the erronious dichotomy asserted by Dispensationalists, "Literal" vs "Spiritual" interpretation, with the dichotomy outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15; Earthly/Natural vs Heavenly/Spiritual, Both literal. Adam was the "earthly" man whereas Jesus was/is the "Heavenly" man. As we have born the likeness of the one, so we shall bear the image of the other.
With this in mind, we see that the OT fulfillments of God's plan were with an Earthly, National, Israel, in an earthly, natural Jerusalem, and earthly, natural promises of "Land, Seed and Blessing."
All of these things failed, including the earthly throne of David which was "cast to the groun" (Psalm 89)
But God left a "Remnant" of the earthly/natural Israel "after the flesh" (Isaiah 1:9, Romans 9:29) and it was on the foundation of this "Israel," along with the "Apostles, Prophets and Jesus Christ as the Chief cornerstone" that Jesus built the Gentile "Stones" (1 Peter 2:5) into His House, His one and only house (1 Timothy 3:15).
In brief, while you would say the church did not replace Israel because Israel was already the church, I would say that the Church was built ON the FOUNDATION of Israel. So in essence, a continuation of Israel! I may be making a distinction without a difference.
However, as Paul said "Not all who are Israel (earthly/natural) are Israel (Heavenly/Spiritual)"
Or I would say, not all Earthly Israel are TRUE Israel! So even if we say that the OT Israel was the Church, the OT Church was still an earthly/natural foreshadowing of the True Church, those who are the "Israel of God" (Jew and Gentile) and who "Have come" to the Heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)
I believe that Isaiah 49 tells us that only JESUS was/is the true Israel because He is referred to as "Israel" and in verse 6 it says:
"“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
I believe "Jacob" and "those of Israel I have kept" are referring to the remnant of the earthly/natural Israel (after the flesh) who will also be made the "Israel of God" by faith in Jesus. Also, the gentiles who will be among the "Israel of God" are in view here.
So in summary, the ONLY true Israel that ever was, is Jesus, the Israel of God, and those who were of faith in Him, both in the Old and New Testaments! Apart from faith, earthly/natural Israel were just like the any other gentile nation (Amos 9:7)
I don't know if this makes sense to you but I would be interested in your comments.