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by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Th.D., Director, NiceneCouncil.com
Though dispensationalism appears to be more interested in the Great Tribulation than in the Milllenial Reign of Christ (judging from the number of books on these topics and their multi-million sales), this really might be a good strategy for dispensationalists. For once someone looks into the Millennium proposed by the system, so many red flags start popping out all over that one would think you were at a University of Alabama football game at home.
One of the more bizzare elements of the Millennium is that for 1000 years resurrected saints will dwell among unresurrected sinners and saints. And to top it all off: at the end of the thousand years the unresurrected sinners will rebel against the 1000 year old, never-dying resurrected saints.
Another strange factor of the dispensationalist Millennium -- the one we will be focusing on -- is the inherent racism controlling it. Despite the fact that the new covenant established by Christ made Jew and Gentile equal in God's eyes (Gal 3:28; Col 3:11), the most glorious era of history will remove that equality. What is more, it will place the saved, living Gentile nations on the lowest level of the Millennium where they will be the servants of the Jews.
In the following quotes we find evidence of this racial inequality, of this elevation of the Jew, and the denigration of the Gentile.
"God has two distinct purposes — one for Israel and one for the Church."1
"Israel, regathered and turned to the Lord in salvation, will be exalted, blessed, and favored through this period."2
"The Gentiles will be Israel’s servants during that age. . . . The nations which usurped authority over Israel in past ages find that downtrodden people exalted and themselves in subjection in their kingdom. And these are not unsaved Gentiles: The Gentiles that are in the millennium will have experienced conversion prior to admission."3
"The redeemed living nation of Israel, regenerated and regathered to the land will be head over all the nations of the earth. . . . So he exalts them above the Gentile nations. . . . On the lowest level there are the saved, living, Gentile nations."4
"God will keep his original promises to the fathers and will one day convert and place Israel as the head of the nations."5
"Israel will be a glorious nation, protected from her enemies, exalted above the Gentiles. . . . In contrast to the present church age in which Jew and Gentile are on an equal plane of privilege, the millennium is clearly a period of time in which Israel is in prominence and blessing. . . . Israel as a nation will be exalted."6
"In the millennium Israel as a nation will rule over the Gentiles."7
"The whole point of this passage [Ro 11] revolves around Israel’s being restored to a position of preeminence as a believing nation."8
"The biblical teaching [is] that the coming millennial kingdom will have its headquarters in Jerusalem with the Messiah ruling the world from the throne of David and with national Israel restored to its place of supremacy over the nations."9
The ACLU will have their hands full if this proposal sticks. No! I take that back. Since those on the lowest level are the saved, living Gentile nations, this may work just fine for that august union. This effectively puts Christians beneath Jews.
Footnotes:
1. Ryrie, Dispensationalism, 85.
2. Ryrie, Basis of the Premillennial Faith, 149.
3. Pentecost, Things to Come, 508.
4. Hoyt, "Dispensational Premillennialism," in Clouse, Meaning of the Millennium, 81.
5. House and Ice, Dominion Theology, 175.
6. Walvoord, Millennial Kingdom, 136, 302–303.
7. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, "Israelology, Doctrine of," Popular Encyclopeida of Bible Prophecy, 201.
8. Lindsey, Road to Holocaust, 176.
9. Hunt, Whatever Happened to Heaven?, 246.
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6 comments:
I would not call the privilege of leading the other nations "racism".
Luke and Gina:
Thanks for interacting.
The principle undergirding the dispensational position is inherently racist: It is not "a nation" ruling other nations as a "privilege." Rather it is racial Jews brought to dominance so that "on the lowest level are the saved, living Gentile nations." It is Jew v. Gentile. Despite Paul's declaration that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek.
Thanks for responding. I can see your point and I think that many of those statements by the millenialists go too far, although I still believe in a literal millenium. Thanks again.
"The Gentiles will be Israel’s servants during that age. . . . The nations which usurped authority over Israel in past ages find that downtrodden people exalted and themselves in subjection in their kingdom. And these are not unsaved Gentiles: The Gentiles that are in the millennium will have experienced conversion prior to admission."3
"The redeemed living nation of Israel, regenerated and regathered to the land will be head over all the nations of the earth. . . . So he exalts them above the Gentile nations. . . . On the lowest level there are the saved, living, Gentile nations."4
How can these statements be true if what is stated in Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29 are true? I, as a saved Gentile, am more of a true Jew than most of the physical descendants of Abraham can or ever will be. How can I (a true Jew) rule over myself (a true Gentile)?
Also, if I, a saved Gentile, have to be subservient to the physical descendants of Abraham (even though they might be saved) doesn’t this put me in a position of having to serve some sort of penance for real or perceived abuse that someone else may have brought upon the physical nation of Israel at some time in the past? I thought I would only be judged, and Christ would only have to pay for MY sins. How could Christ pay for someone else sins by atoning for mine? If Christ did in fact pay for all my sins, why should I have to pay for some sins which I have never done?
Also, wasn’t most , if not all, of what the physical nation of Israel suffered because of THEIR disobedience for which God justly punished them? Why should I have to serve them when they brought God’s wrath (through the use of Gentile armies) upon themselves?
I’m so confused!!
Len
One other quick thought. If the Jews are rewarded with superiority over the Gentiles for their having suffered at the hands of the Gentiles, doesn't this put God in the position of rewarding sinfulness since the Jews brought the suffering on themselves because of their own sins?
Now I'm even more confused!!
Len
As a Dispensationalist I can tell you that the ACLU will definitely not be in the Millennium.
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