IntroductionTheologian Vern S. Poythress wrote: “Theological systems, whether dispensationalist, covenantal, Calvinist, Arminian, or even modernist, have a profound influence on the way we are approaching a given [biblical text]”. There is no part of Scripture that is more influenced by the dispensationalist theological system than that of biblical prophecy, particularly in the area of God's plan of redemption for mankind. The purpose of this essay is to establish that an adequate understanding of biblical eschatology can best be achieved through a dispensational theological perspective. Covenantalism To gain a clearer understanding of the principles of dispensational eschatology, it is necessary to investigate the main non-dispensational perspective, covenantalism. In discussing the fundamental differences between dispensational and non-dispensational eschatological systems, Dr. Dan Mitchell suggests that the primary contrast lies in the hermeneutic methodologies each advocates. Covenantalism views prophetic revelation deductively, first regarding the fulfillment of the prophecy and then retroactively constructing how the prophecy was fulfilled. Specifically, the eschatological covenant interprets Old Testament prophecies through the lens of a Christocentric New Testament perspective that dictates that all prophecies are fulfilled in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the church. This forced hermeneutic perspective requires a great deal of allegorization of the prophecies to maintain any semblance of cohesion. Dwight Pentecost described this overly allegorized method as “the interpretation of a literary text which regards the literal sense as a vehicle for a secondary, more spiritual, and deeper sense.” The... center of the card... sought to redeem, both Jews and Gentiles. Conclusion It would be naïve at best and blasphemous at worst to claim that any theological construct could fully capture the full purpose and workings of God, especially regarding his redemptive plan for humanity. Clearly there is a flawless eschatological construct. However, the further we move away from the plain meaning of the Scriptures, the more errors accumulate. Since no human being can know God's purposes without divine revelation, it is essential to focus all efforts on understanding God's Word, the Bible. By letting the Bible speak for itself and thus constructing a theological framework according to it, the risk of misinterpretations can be reduced. Likewise, Progressive Dispensationalism is not without flaws and imperfections, but allows the Scriptures to speak for themselves..
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