Ideas have consequences, but it’s usually much easier tosee the consequences of someone else’s wrong-headedthinking than our own. While it is comparatively easyfor Christians to identify myths and superstitions inworld religions, when preposterous ideas invade Christen-dom we often fail to recognize their pernicious implications.

The harmonious relationship between the nation of Is-rael and evangelical Christians remains one of the mostbewildering of all religious mysteries. Israelis obviouslywelcome evangelical, political and economic support forIsrael. Yet Israelis remain both puzzledand offended by the fact that the samepeople who relentlessly support themare convicted that the people of God ofthe Old Testament are going to hell foreternity.

These same Christians who pourmoney into Israel and unequivocallysupport Zionism are absolutely confidentthat the Holy Land will soon turn into abloodbath, with rivers of blood flowingto the depth of a horse’s bridle in one valley (the result ofa literal reading of Revelation 14:20). Playing an endlessgame of retrofitting newspaper headlines into Scripture,evangelical and fundamentalist Christians have no ques-tion that apocalyptic carnage will happen before the Sec-ond Coming. Ideas have consequences, and religiousconvictions have practical implications; in this case it logi-cally follows that anyone who accepts such presupposi-tions must build and support the nation of Israel today sothat it can be destroyed tomorrow.

How could Christians, who take their name andtheological convictions from the life and teachings ofJesus Christ, have such rabid views of the fate of theJews? How can Christians embrace a message that isessentially anti-Christian, a message that can over-whelm and even contradict the fundamental virtuesof the teachings of Jesus, all the while becoming apassionate force for war and bloodshed, all in thename of Christ?

There is no doubt that unending group tours arriv-ing in Israel, filling buses that wind their waythroughout Israel, create a bonanza for the Israelieconomy.

It makes sense that the Jewish economy welcomestourist dollars/pounds/Euros. But it is a mystery whyJews continue to roll out the welcome mat for suchtourists when one considers what the average Chris-tian on those buses believes.

Evangelical Christian tours make their way toMegiddo so that Christians may view a valley theyare persuaded will one day soon host the war to endall wars, dwarfing the horror of the Holocaust. Onecontemporary advocate of dispensationalism is quot-ed as saying that Armageddon would be “the motherof all Holocausts.” Most of those same not so acci-dental tourists firmly believe that Jews will suffer eter-nal torture in hell. These are friends of Israel?

Many evangelical Christians offer unquestioningsupport of the nation of Israel, even at the expense ofPalestinian Christians who share this land of theBible with Jews. Based on Old Testament passages,

fundamentalist Christians presume, along with conserva-tive Israelis, that Israel has a divine right to all the landfrom Egypt to Iraq.

RP017 PLUGGING HEADLINES INTO THE BIBLE PAGE 1

b y G r e g A l b r e c h t

These same Christians who pourmoney into Israel and unequivocally

support Zionism are absolutelyconfident that the Holy Land will soon

turn into a bloodbath.... Playing anendless game of retrofitting

newspaper headlines into Scripture....

The primary rationale for the con-tradictory beliefs that Christians holdabout their faith and about Israel isfound in a particular methodologythat holds sway over conservativeevangelical Christians—a methodolo-gy that causes them to understandbiblical prophecy in one, and onlyone, way.

Defects and Deceptions of Dispensationalism Dispensationalism—A method ofbiblical interpretation that divideshistory into different periods (dis-pensations), insists on an overlyliteral method of reading the Bible,and a belief that Jesus’ SecondComing will occur before his1,000-year millennial rule. Manydispensationalists believe thatJesus will return after 6,000 yearsof human history, assuming thateach day of creation equates to1,000 years. The presumption isthat six days (6,000 years) ofmankind’s “week” is followed bythe seventh day, a 1,000 year rest,the rule of Christ. Classic dispen-sationalism includes a “fear fac-tor”—the big stick motivationaltool of an any-moment Rapture,whisking true believers away fromother, not so favored, mortals.

I grew up in a prophecy-saturated religious culture. I livedin constant apprehension andfear of an impending doomsday.The “end times” biblical interpre-tation I was taught exercised incredible power over me—influ-encing my view of the future,as well as my geo-political per-spectives.

I was into my fourth decadeon planet earth before I started toquestion my prophetic presupposi-tions. After all, they came directlyfrom the Bible—they were the literalWord of God, why should I questionthem? I discovered that what I hadbeen taught about eschatology (thestudy of last things) came directlyfrom a interpretative method of understanding the Bible called dis-pensationalism.

It was a dark journey, but I finallyhad to admit that what I had accept-ed without question was fatallyflawed. I discovered that this method-ology that had so ordered my life andcontributed to my values and beliefsoriginally came from the United

Kingdom, specifically through thewritings and teachings of John Nel-son Darby (1800-1882).

By the 1870’s, Darby’s teachings be-came known as “dispensationalism,”and as the 19th century came to aclose, prophecy conferences became afeature of Protestant fundamentalist

churches in North America. Cyrus In-gerson (C.I.) Scofield (1843-1921)emerged as a leading advocate andspokesman for dispensationalism,eventually publishing his Scofield Ref-erence Bible in 1909. Scofield’s Biblewas what we would today call a studyBible—a Bible that featured a runningdispensational commentary printedalongside biblical passages. At times itwas hard to distinguish the notesfrom the text, so that many who usedthis Bible, throughout the 20th cen-tury, accepted dispensationalism asHoly Writ.

The practical implications of dis-pensationalism in the Christian worldview includes the idea that Jesus can-

not and will not return to our worldunless and until certain events occur.Dispensationalism is not only popu-lar within fundamentalist and evan-gelical Christian churches that believein historic Christian doctrine, but en-joys a strong following within cultsthat consider themselves Christian.

While there are many ver-sions of dispensationalism, the most popular view offerscommon denominators foundelsewhere. Dispensationalism ignores sound, tried and testedprinciples of understanding theBible (see for example, How toRead the Bible for All Its Worth,by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, Zondervan Publishing). Dispensationalism is based onoverly literal interpretations ofprophetic passages, which mayat times involve some twistingand manipulating to make pas-sages fit its conclusions. Suchbiblical gerrymandering pro-duces a prophetic “outline” or“timetable.” Tim LaHaye’s LeftBehind series, admitted to befiction by its co-authors, illus-trates this cobbled-togetherend-time scenario. Here is aone-size-fits-all dispensationalsummary of what will happen“at the end.”

1. Jesus will return to Rapturemillions of Christians, who willsuddenly disappear from thisearth. They will be saved fromthe physical suffering others willendure in the Great Tribulation.This, for dispensationalists, isthe “first” Second Coming.

2. Led by the Antichrist whobears the apocalyptic number of

666 (Revelation 13:18) and his false-prophet sidekick—a political and reli-gious combination gains worldwidepower. The exact identity of this com-bination morphs as our own historyunfolds, with each new political reali-ty reported in daily newspapers saidto then be clearly identified in “Bibleprophecy.”

3. The Antichrist terrorizes theworld, causing the world to worshipSatan and bear his mark of 666 ontheir hands or forehead (Revelation13:16-17).

4. The Antichrist moves toJerusalem, having previously resided(at least in most versions of classicdispensationalism) in Rome. Dispen-

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John Nelson Darby, (1800 - 1882) anAnglo-Irish evangelist, considered

the father of Dispensationalism.Beliefs about the re-establishment

of the Kingdom of Israel putdispensationalists at the forefront

of Christian Zionism.

sationalism is a fringe ProtestantChristian innovation that identifiesthe Antichrist as having connectionsand affiliations with Rome. The An-tichrist either builds a temple or appropriates one that has been re-cently constructed, and at that timeall hell breaks loose. Natural disasters,like those metaphorically described inRevelation, abound.

5. As human history comes to aclose, one last huge battle takes placein the valley of Armageddon with twovast coalitions of forces facing eachother (Revelation 16:14,16).

6. Jesus returns (this is the “sec-ond” Second Coming!) with his Rap-tured, safe-and-sound saints, defeatsthe armies of the earth gathered inArmageddon, and the thousand-yearutopia begins.

The fruits of dispensationalismstrongly suggest that it is at best afringe teaching. Many evangelicalChristians would be surprised, per-haps even disappointed, to discoverthat Christianity existed for some1,800 years before dispensationalismcame on the scene. Further, the cen-tral features of dispensationalism areembraced by many authoritarian andcharismatic cultic groups and leadersfor it offers many opportunities tomanipulate and control.

20th Century Dispensationalism—A Dizzying DazeDispensationalism and the 20th cen-tury? A tragic tale of flawed andbogus predictions, all based on the

same broken-beyond-repair dispensa-tional presuppositions. The predic-tions of evangelist after evangelistfailed, with perhaps the best knownin the latter half of the century beingHal Lindsey of several decades ago(The Late Great Planet Earth) and thecontemporary writings of Tim La-Haye, with his Left Behind series.

Seemingly learning from the mis-takes of his dispensational forefa-thers, but still riding the cash cow offortune-telling-in-the-name-of-Jesus,LaHaye distanced himself by writingfictional horror stories of what wouldhappen to those who were not Rap-tured (another dispensational cre-ative innovation).

But many of LaHaye’s readers arenot adequately prepared to discrimi-nate between fiction and non-fiction,with many swallow-ing LaHaye’s fictionas gospel truth.

LaHaye will proveto be yet another ina long line of “end-times” preachersand authors whocompletely misfired on their predic-tions. Here are just a few highly pub-licized predictions, and whileredactions and explanations by thosewho continue to support these per-sonalities and movements rise almostto the depth of a horse’s bridle them-selves, original source documents forthese embarrassing gaffes are general-ly available.

The following are but a few of the

failed prophecies that can be tracedto some version of dispensational-ism:

• William Miller, one of manyinvolved in “millennial fever” inthe 19th century—a rash of datesetting for the Second Coming—predicted that Jesus would return in1843.

• When Jesus failed to respond toMiller’s pronouncement, Miller set

a new date, 1844. When Jesus againdid not come, this event becameknown as the “Great Disappoint-ment” and is generally credited withthe eventual birth of the Adventistmovement.

• Ellen G. White, founder of theSeventh Day Adventists, made manypredictions about the “advent”—allfailed. The most specific predictionshe is said to have made about theSecond Coming was her interpreta-tion of a vision she claimed to havehad. She told a 1856 conference thatsome present would be alive “at thecoming of Jesus.”

• The Jehovah’s Witnesses arrivedat 1914 for the Second Coming, froma dispensationally inspired study ofthe book of Daniel. When 1914passed, the prediction was changed—

with 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941,1975 and 1994 being other dates thatfailed.

• Herbert W. Armstrong predictedthe Second Coming to occur in 1975.Throughout his ministry he and hisministers, as printed 30-60 years agoin The Plain Truth magazine by itsoriginal publisher, consistentlywarned that Jesus may come in a “fewshort years.”

RP017 PLUGGING HEADLINES INTO THE BIBLE PAGE 3

Israelis remain both puzzledand offended by the fact

that the same people whorelentlessly support them

are convicted that thepeople of God of the

Old Testament are going to hell for eternity.

Many evangelical Christians would be surprised,perhaps even disappointed, to discover that

Christianity existed for some 1,800 years before dispensationalism came on the scene.

• Appeals to fleshly interests, of as-suring that one’s personal interestsand family will be saved from physi-cal tribulations to be suffered by lessfortunate non-believers (and believ-ers) who do not believe cryptic dispensational prophetic insights.

• Is dishonest and dysfunctional,as the same mistakes continue to beperpetuated and taught to each newgeneration of dispensational believ-ers.

• Teaches, without qualification ordisclaimer, that Christian believerswill be Raptured before the world atlarge goes to “hell in a handbasket.”The tribulation and coming horrificsufferings are primarily describedfrom a North American and Europeanperspective. Thus, dispensationalismholds out a carrot of promise thatNorth American and European Chris-tians will not have to suffer the bibli-cal tribulation, but will instead bewhisked away from the trouble othersendure. This blatantly manipulativefear religion ignores biblical teachingabout redemptive suffering, thatChristians are called to pick up theirown cross and follow the Lord.

• Promotes a nationalistic, egocen-tric view of the Bible, for 21st centuryNorth American Christian dispensa-tional teaching fails to acknowledgethe tribulations that much of theworld suffered in the 20th century.The implicit idea in such teaching isthat the biblical tribulation doesn’thappen until North American and Eu-ropean Christians are affected. ❑

Adapted—originally printed in the July/August 2006issue of Plain Truth.

• In 1948 the state of Israel wasfounded, encouraging dispensational-ists around the world to predict thatthis was surely the “beginning of theend.” Once again ignoring sound,tested methods of biblical interpreta-tion, many dispensationalists decidedthat the generation Jesus had referenceto in Matthew 24:34 started in 1948.

• In 1967 the Israeli army capturedall of Jerusalem, leading many to be-lieve that the Rapture would comequickly—it didn’t, and it’s a goodthing for those who published andwrote the Left Behind series—a gener-ation later there was still money to bemade in the business of predictingthe end.

• In 1978 Chuck Smith, Pastor ofCalvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Cali-fornia, predicted that the Rapturewould happen in 1981. In his bookThe Last Days are Here Again (BakerBooks) Richard Kyle quotes Smith, inhis 1978 book Future Survival: “…theLord is coming for his church beforethe end of 1981.”

• Pat Robertson predicted that theworld would end in 1982.

• Hal Lindsey predicted that theRapture would occur in 1988.

• In 1988 Edgar Whienaut sold 4million copies of 88 Reasons Why theRapture will Occur in 1988.

Suffice it to say, the above are only

a few of the dispensationally-inspiredfailures. This list does not includemany of the contemporary sensation-alists now making headlines withtheir outrageous claims, not to men-tion the money they attract fromthose who come to believe such prog-nostications.

The Consequences of DispensationalismThere are practical implications andconsequences of all belief, and dis-pensationalism is a prime example.For example, several years ago manywere convinced that the year 2000would witness a worldwide computerdriven meltdown that might verywell lead to the extinction of human-ity from planet earth.

Y2K was our generation’s “Great

Disappointment” (theoriginal “Great Disap-pointment” describingthe aftermath of WilliamMiller’s failed prophecyof the Second Coming).Preached dogmaticallyand convin-cingly frommany respected churchand electronic pulpits,Y2K spiritually consumedthe energy and attentionof many within Christen-dom. Instead of a hightech meltdown, faith was undermined. Rabidteachings about Y2K motivated many to sellproperties, move to ruralcommunities, dig wellsand buy freeze-dried foodin order to survive the coming catas-trophe. Ideas have consequences.

The non-event of Y2K was manipu-lative hype that ultimately causedmany to lose faith (see “Y2K—HighTech Apocalypse” The Plain Truth,May-June 1999). Having believedmany of the same tenets and princi-ples that led to failed predictions,and having once taught them andpreached them myself, I came to thehumiliating conclusion that dispen-sationalism had led me and count-less mil lions of others down a

theological gar-den path.

M y r e s e a rc hand studies even-tually drove meto publish a booktitled RevelationRevolution—but

my interest in millennial madness,prediction-addiction and propheticfrenzy continues, as I believe it isimperative for Christians to be madeaware of the harm that can comefrom dispensationalism.

Among its chief flaws, dispensa-tionalism:

• Places an inordinate emphasis onfuture events, and at the very leastdistracts from the central message ofthe Gospel

• Is addictive. It can turn its follow-ers into prophecy addicts, always look-ing for the next “high” given to themby esoteric speculation and predictions.

• Can cause people of faith to losefaith, and place blame for failed pre-dictions with God rather than theflawed human methodology.

PAGE 4 PTM RESOURCE

Having believed many of the same tenets... I came to the humiliating conclusion that

dispensationalism had led me and countlessmillions of others down a theological garden path.

Many evangelicalChristians offerunquestioning

support of the nationof Israel, even at the

expense of PalestinianChristians who share this land

of the Bible with Jews.

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