Dispensationalism

Have we not therefore, good reason to fear disastrous consequences from the fact that the teachers of the new dispensationalism say the Jewish rabbis were right in their interpretation of the prophecies, that the kingdom foretold by the prophets is an earthly kingdom of Jewish character, and that in fact Christ’s mission at that very time was to restore again the earthly Kingdom to Israel? And why then did He not do it?

Source: wiktionary

In considering dispensationalism, it is important to know exactly what we are talking about. The Dispensationalists themselves define a dispensation as a period of time, a concept found nowhere in the Scriptures. One of the earliest American writers on dispensationalism, after Darby, Miller, and their immediate associates, was a Landmark Baptist leader in Arkansas and Texas, Dr. J. R. Graves. In the year 1883 he published a book entitled The Work of Christ Consummated in Seven Dispensations.[…] By far the most influential work on dispensationalism in modern times is the Scofield Reference Bible, published early in the present century.

Source: wiktionary

The most notable contribution was Ryrie’s description of the sine qua non of dispensationalism— one that I memorized on more than one occasion for Dr. John Cawood while a student at Philadelphia College of Bible. Ryrie’s sine qua non of dispensationalism is threefold. 1. Dispensationalism keeps Israel and the Church distinct. 2. The distinction between Israel and the Church emerges from a hermeneutical system that is usually called literal interpretation, namely the employment of a normal or plain interpretation. 3. Dispensationalism understands that the basic purpose of God in all of His dealings with people is to bring glory to Himself through salvation and other purposes.

Source: wiktionary

Dispensationalism offers believers a road map to deal with uncertainty in the world at large. "When somebody says there's a pattern here, and let me tell you what the pattern means, this is what gets a lot of people's attention," said Mr. Weber, the church historian. At this point, dispensationalism's tenets have become so popular that many evangelicals who are in denominations or churches that might not necessarily adhere to dispensationalism have, nevertheless, adopted bits and pieces of it.

Source: wiktionary