Dispensationalism is definitely in decline. I have written two major articles[i] probing the causes of that issue, and—though I take no delight in that conclusion—it is certainly one that deserves our attention.

The history of dispensationalism’s downturn is well known. But, for those who may not be aware, let me rehearse a few general facts. There was a time, before the so-called Reformed Resurgence,[ii] when dispensationalism carried the day in evangelicalism on the popular level and, to a large extent, on the academic level.

When I interviewed Dr. Thomas Ice for the first time back in 1997, he summed it up like this: “We were so big we couldn’t get any bigger.”[iii]

Consider the fact that many of the largest and most prestigious evangelical seminaries in the country were thoroughly committed to dispensationalism—and their professors were producing books through mainstream evangelical publishers that taught and explained dispensational theology. Not only that, but these schools also provided many of the faculty members for other schools, and they, in turn, trained thousands more students in the tenets of dispensational theology—using their old professors’ textbooks.

Our minds, of course, immediately run to Dallas Theological Seminary. Names like Chafer, Walvoord, Pentecost, Ryrie, Toussaint, Lightner, and Zuck form a dispensational ring of honor in our memories.

But Dallas was not the only significant dispensational seminary. My mentor, Dr. John Whitcomb, taught for nearly four decades at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind. It was not at all unusual for men to earn their master’s degree at one of these institutions, then do their doctoral studies at the other. In fact, Dr. Whitcomb loved sharing a humorous little verse that was appreciated in Winona Lake—even if not so much in North Texas or Greater Los Angeles. It went like this: “And now abide these three—Dallas, Talbot, and Grace. But the greatest of these is Grace.”

Dispensational teaching also filled the airwaves since the early days of Christian broadcasting through programs such as Back to the Bible, Radio Bible Class, Thru the Bible, and a host of others—including those presented by the pioneers of the sermon-based teaching format, featuring the voices of Bruce Dunn, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, and more.

Then, lying on the coffee tables of Christian homes, there was even more dispensational Bible teaching in the form of popular Christian magazines. They included The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry’s own Israel My Glory—which turned 80 years old this past year—along with others like Confident Living, Gospel Herald and The Sunday School Times, and Moody Monthly. Christians of every kind of denomination and church background were also getting a regular intake of dispensationalism—whether they realized it or not—as they ingested Our Daily Bread.

So, what happened? There are myriad answers to that question. Many of the popular-level outreaches that I’ve listed above continued on, but their influence was muted to some extent by the growing Reformed outlets, which would eventually flip the script and bring amillennialism, postmillennialism, preterism, and covenant theology, in general, into a place of unforeseen prominence—even in formerly dispensational circles.

Another major issue, which was developing during the time that I was in Bible college, was the launch of progressive dispensationalism. This new teaching almost immediately spread like wildfire through academic institutions previously known for their commitment to dispensational theology.

Amidst the newfound allure of Reformed theology, the dispensational fire inside many of my generation and those younger began to go out. Some were taught poorly or never grounded at all in dispensational thinking. I’m convinced that many threw the baby right out with the bathwater, attaching dispensationalism in their own minds to issues like legalism or even allegorical interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures—oddly enough, things diametrically opposed to dispensational orthodoxy.

Then, some of those who’ve remained in our camp have gone to seed, especially regarding prophetic truth, and moved into dispensational sensationalism—a term I’ve recently come across. Denying Scriptural sufficiency, their focus has shifted to UFOs and other oddities, real or imagined.

So, we know the how and the why of dispensationalism’s decline—and I’ve also written at length on why I believe this is so damaging and dangerous for the church at large.[iv]

Yet, dispensationalism is far from dead and gone. So, the pressing need now is for us to focus on what we, as dispensationalists, can, should, and must do as we move ahead.

And I’ll turn toward those matters in the next installment.

***

Paul J. Scharf (M.A., M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Seminary) is a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, based in Columbus, WI, and serving in the Midwest. For more information on his ministry, visit sermonaudio.com/pscharf or foi.org/scharf, or email pscharf@foi.org.

[i] See Paul Scharf; “Facing Replacement Theology;” Israel My Glory; January/February 2023; https://israelmyglory.org/article/facing-replacement-theology/; Internet; accessed 11 May 2023; and Paul J. Scharf, “Young, Restless, Fundamentalist: Is There Still a Future for Israel?” Baptist Bulletin Vol. 85, No. 6.

(Nov./Dec. 2019): 17-20.

[ii] The phrase is part of the title of a book by Brad Vermurlen, Reformed Resurgence: The New Calvinist Movement and the Battle Over American Evangelicalism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2020).

[iii] Personal conversation, Feb. 21, 1997.

[iv] See Paul Scharf; “The Danger of Replacing Israel” (three-part blog series); The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry; Part 1—Sept. 24, 2021; foi.org/2021/09/24/the-danger-of-replacing-israel-part-1; Internet; accessed 11 May 2023.

(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)

Recent uncovering of activities such as the Act Blue controversy is a good thing. There are many other similar, ongoing citizen-initiated measures that are attempting to rein in the current epidemic of criminal and/or erratic behavior.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/catherinesalgado/2023/03/29/james-okeefe-uncovers-possible-lucrative-money-laundering-scheme-for-dems-n1682689

Much in the way of evil is being exposed.

But despite these activities, frenetic, insane and evil behavior is increasing exponentially.

Evil is now being openly practiced and is actually honored and celebrated.

As I watch this unfold, the contrast between efforts to plug the holes in America’s sinking ship (and the rest of the world where liberty still matters) becomes so obvious that the time of the Rapture of the Church (True Church) seems so much closer than ever (in terms of immediacy).

I say this because it appears to me that there are a few behavioral characteristics that are repetitively popping up like marker buoys in a carnal channel.

There are literally hundreds of examples of this evil behavior every day, not the least of which is blatant, intentional and vicious lying and distortion of the truth. Facts are brushed aside, and truth is being discarded as though there were no such thing.

Activity that was once hidden is now openly practiced, proclaimed, “justified,” and reported on (which only creates an incentive for more).

Vile acts are presented as newsworthy, and standards of conduct drown in a sea of sin.

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).

It is so blatant that it is, at the least, staggering, sad and sorrowful to witness.

“My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed” (Psalm 119:136).

There are many cases where people (primarily on conservative blogs or websites) are quoted as “slamming,” “blasting,” “accusing,” or “calling out” some of this behavior.

If these attempts to expose this behavior are accurate and truthful, there is nothing wrong with them doing so, but that seems to be all that it ends up being.

The behavior is pointed out, but the abusers are seldom, if ever, held accountable.

There are a few people in positions of governance in federal, state and local levels that are trying to maintain the rule of law that once existed and is critical to this nation’s continued survival as a constitutional republic, but “lawlessness,” as God’s Word defines it, will be the rule at the end of the age.

I believe there is little doubt that we have arrived at that time.

The liars, truth-twisters, and purveyors of these evil practices DO NOT CARE that they have been, or are being, exposed.

Why is this? There are really three base reasons, in my opinion:

• They are never ultimately held to account for their actions. They have no more sense of right and wrong at their core (rejection of God).
• They are certain that they cannot be stopped.

They are a fulfillment of end of days prophecies in the Word of God that they so ignore and hate, and most do not even realize it.

The balance of them claim to believe IN God, but they do not believe God or His Word.

His Word foretells a time that is not quite here yet but rapidly approaching when unrestrained lawlessness will be permitted by the Lord.

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

Why is this referred to as a “mystery”?

I believe that, in part, it is indeed a mystery to understand why when the end result of lawlessness, even in normal, secular human activity, is so obviously terrible that one wonders how anyone can ignore it.

When “He who now restrains” is “taken out of the way” by the Lord, then that terrible reality will be unleashed in its full fury. I believe that God has begun this process already.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20).

“Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32). Emphasis added by me.

The most misquoted verse in God’s Word becomes apparent in our present-day reality when it is read and understood in its proper context.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Most often, we hear people misquote scripture, saying, “Money is the root of all evil.”

Not so. Money is simply a medium of exchange. It is inanimate and unable to act outside of human desire and direction.

It is the love of money that causes the evil and the result of it, whether it is using it for nefarious purposes, hoarding it for its own sake, or simply irresponsible handling of it.

It is like d-Con for humans.

We hear and see people blame “capitalism” for the world’s ills when, in truth, it is an excellent method of regulating commerce and inspiring and motivating invention and creativity. It is only when capitalism and money become the be-all/end-all that it is turned to evil.

In identical fashion, firearms are blamed for crime and death. Guns are also inanimate and unable to accomplish anything, either good or bad, outside of human direction.

Humans perpetrate evil and bear full and individual responsibility when they act outside of God’s Laws, and acting outside of God’s Laws is evil. He declares it to be so.

“Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God” (1 John 3:4).

Now to the crux of this article: The core problem.

Every single problem plaguing the world today is a result of purposely ignoring and rejecting the God of the Bible.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3a). Emphasis added by me.

The Son of God, His Living Word, is doubted, rejected, scorned, ridiculed and hated by the vast majority of the world’s population today.

Fulfilled Bible prophecy is the undisputable proof of the reality of God as He has revealed to man, yet man denies and rejects that clear proof.

Highly “educated” people place more credibility in the authenticity of early manuscripts of Homer (Iliad/Odyssey), of which only a limited few exist compared to the many thousands of existing manuscripts of God’s Word.

Well, there is no accountability to Homer, but there is to God. And that makes all the difference.

God, by His own authority, chose to grant free will to humankind along with the consequences of individual decisions to accept or reject Him.

The world today, both in terms of human conduct and the state of nature, is undeniably being given over by God to chaos, disaster and destruction.

Mankind has decided to openly defy God despite His provision, love and care.

The Sovereign Lord, in His open letter to mankind, foretold how the result of this rebellion and continual rejection would end.

“While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

He has also, in His Grace and Mercy, prepared a future for those who will repent, humble themselves before Him and trust in Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior.

The special message I promised you:

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.

It requires that you come before God on His terms.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

• Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
• Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
• That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
• To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
• Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
• To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

• No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
• No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
• Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com