Archive for February, 2010

New Covenant Categories

Council on Dispensational HermeneuticsI have been mulling over the various viewpoints of the new covenant within dispensationalism since the discussion of that topic at last September’s Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics. In a previous post, I had suggested three viewpoints. I left out the viewpoint of two new covenants (one for Israel and a separate one for the Church) since no one at the Council voiced that opinion. However, if I were to include that view within the various options, I came up with this outline as one of many possible outlines for discussing the options:

Dispensational Views on the Interpretation of the New Covenant

1. The Church has no relationship to Israel’s new covenant
(1a) Only one new covenant for Israel which is to be ratified and begin fulfillment at the start of the millennium
(1b) Two new covenants — the Church has its own covenant without having a relationship to Israel’s covenant.

2. The Church has a relationship to Israel’s new covenant
(2a) Indirect — not as legal participants but receiving blessings due to union with Christ
(2b) Direct — as legal participants in the new covenant promised to Israel as God expands his promise

I would not mind some feedback on this outline. Also, I would like to know if there are any dispensational scholars who hold to two new covenants.

Barndollar Lectures

I am delighted to announce that my good friend Dr. Tommy Ice, Director of the Pre-Trib Research Center and Study Group, will be the speaker for the Barndollar Lectures on September 20-23, 2010. The topic for the series of lectures will be “The History of the Doctrine of the Rapture.” Dr. Ice has done quite a bit of work in this area and will present formal papers for the lectures.