Dispensationalism
Summary: Learn about the meaning and history of dispensationalism.
 
 

In the 1500s, Jesuit priest Francisco Ribera wrote a commentary on the book of Revelation that explained prophecy through a futurist interpretation. The goal of Ribera’s book was to convince Protestants that the papal system is not the Antichrist.

Ribera succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. From his early work arose dispensationalist thinking, a method of Bible interpretation that is common to nearly every Protestant church today. As a result, few Protestant churches would criticize the Pope or agree that the papal system is the Biblical Antichrist.

Read about the spread of dispensationalism in the Protestant world.

What is Dispensationalism?
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions defines dispensationalism as a "Millennial scheme of biblical interpretation. It divides history into seven ‘dispensations’, in which God deals differently, and progressively, with humanity."i

Dispensationalists insist their interpretation is literal, supported by the history and grammar in Scripture. They come to Scripture expecting to see a secret rapture, a seven-year tribulation for the Jews, and a third coming of Christ to establish an earthly thousand-year reign from Jerusalem.

As James M. Efird observes, “If we come to the text already knowing what it is going to say, all we find is what we wish to find…thus the biblical texts are not allowed to speak as originally intended.”ii

This doctrine creates false hope of a second chance. How many poor souls will be unprepared when Christ returns because they are expecting a secret rapture as an early warning to get serious with God?

Dispensationalism is a dangerous corruption of Scripture. Here are some of the errors in the dispensational viewpoint:

The Spread of Dispensationalism
Four key men spread the doctrine of dispensationalism in 19th-century North America.
Post-Rapture Tribulation
Dispensationalism proposes that a secret rapture will occur before the time of tribulation on Earth.
The Separation of the Church and Israel
The Bible uses the words "Israel" and "kingdom" in both literal and symbolic senses. Dispensationalism only allows for literal understanding of these terms.
A Break in God's Plan
Is there a "Church Age" inserted into the middle of Daniel's 70-week prophecy?
The Dispensations
Dispensations, or time periods, are the basis of dispensational doctrine. Learn about several variations of dispensational theory.


If we wish to follow the One who is Truth, we should avoid dispensationalism and the confusion that comes with it.

By Keith King. Keith is a freelance writer from the Okanagan in BC, Canada. If you enjoyed this article, share it with a friend. To learn more, check out our media site—Amazing Discoveries™ TV—or visit our webstore. 


i John Bowker, “Dispensationalism,” The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1997). View this definition.

ii James M. Efird, Left Behind? What the Bible Really Says about the End Times (Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2006): 27. Preview this book online.

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