DISPENSATIONALISM

This is a system of dividing history into seven dispensations, each corresponding to one of the days of the creation week. The theory was popularized by C.I. Scofield in his Reference Bible (1909). These dispensations are alleged to be: Innocence, Conscience, Human Government, Promise, Law, Grace, and Kingdom. Supposedly we are living in the Grace dispensation now, and the Kingdom period will commence when Christ returns to earth to set up his millennial kingdom. This entire theory is a fabrication that contradicts the Scriptures in numerous places. Some elements of this theory, along with Scripture references that refute them, are: (a) Christ came to re-establish David's kingdom but suprisingly was rejected by the Jews (Psa. 118:22; Isa. 53:1ff). (b) As a result of the Jewish rejection, the kingdom was postponed (Mk. 9:1; Mt. 16:19; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:6, 9). (c) The church -- set up in place of the postponed kingdom -- was but an afterthought in the mind of God (Eph. 3:10-11). (d) Certain "signs" point to the imminent return of Christ (Mt. 24:34-36; Mt. 25:5). (e) Christ comes to earth three times: the first coming in the incarnation; the second coming at the "rapture;" the third coming to begin his "millennial reign" (Heb. 9:28). (f) The Lord's return to earth will begin his reign (Lk. 19:15; 1 Cor. 15:24-25). The dispensational doctrine must be rejected.