Forsaken Promises

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What does the future hold? What will happen at the end of the age? Will the church be raptured up into Heaven or will the church remain on Earth? Are the Jews still God’s chosen people? Has the church replaced Israel? These and other questions have been asked since Jesus left Earth and ascended into Heaven. Since that day Christians have been looking and longing with eager anticipation for the return of Christ. The study of the return of Christ, or last things, is known as Eschatology, and within Eschatology there are several schools of thought concerning the Church and Israel. These schools of thought are known as Covenant and Dispensational Theology. Two similar schools of thought within Dispensational theology are known as Classical and Progressive Dispensationalism. An argument will be made that, the church is not a new work of God rather a continuation of the divine channel of salvation. Classical and Progressive Dispensationalism will be compared and contrasted addressing their varying viewpoints concerning their understanding of mystery, the kingdom, and the future of the church and ethnic Israel.

Definitions:

Two similar schools of thought within Dispensational theology are known as Classical and Progressive Dispensationalism. Classical and Progressive Dispensationalists believe that there is a distinction between the Church and Israel; however, they disagree on the relationship between the two during the millennial reign of Christ. Classical Dispensationalist views the church as a mystery and they argue the Church is completely and permanently distinct from Israel referring to the Church as a parenthesis in God’s earthly program for Israel. Poythress writes, “Classical Dispensationalist believes during the millennial ...

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