John MacArthur - Dispensationalism - Part 1 (Bible Q&A)

We actually should be glad Israel rejected the Messiah. Why? No one would be saved if they didn't. In God's sovereignty He made their free choice work in with His plan, not only to save the Jews, but also the Gentiles. This age is not a parenthesis in God's plan; it is His plan

The church age cannot end, because ever wonder how Jews in the tribulation can come to Christ? If they do, they will be grafted onto their own "olive tree" (Rem. 11). That olive tree today only consists of Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus. They are spiritual Israel, and are they not therefore the church? Indeed they are. Today the church is the believing branches of the tree, Jew and Gentile. So, how can they get grafted onto the tree in the tribulation, if the church is removed?????

There is no end to the church age. There is glory to God to be given in the church for all ages: "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21).

Good clip. I totally agree with Dr. MacArthur here. And I am blown away that so many believers that have a different view get upset about this. I read a comment below where the person said MacArthur seemed upset. Boy, listen to those that believe the opposite; they start calling people deceived and heretics. And when you read the scriptures for what they say in their context, you know God doesn't go back on His promises to Israel. He will save them according to Romans 11:25-27, as well as several OT passages. I've heard the argument that it can't be so because God is doing a plan "B." No, God has no plan "B." If he says He will restore Israel in many verses of the OT and it hasn't happened yet, it will because that's part of His sovereign plan. This is the reason Romans 11:20-21 warns the Gentiles in this church age not to be high-minded concerning this and in 11:25, not to be ignorant. We don't spiritualize OT verses to fit a fulfillment to the church; in this way it makes OT verses speaking particularly of Israel about the church. In this way, it makes the church Israel. I'm sure many wouldn't say this, but if God's promises are given to the church, this is the implication. Does this make Isarel special? Not at all; God elects anyone unto salvation because of His grace, mercy, love, and eternal purposes, not because we deserve it. And if there is a future remnant of Jews yet to be saved in Israel, I trust the Lord will do it.

Dispensational Truth: Below are eight opposing precepts that may lead one to believe there are contradictions in our Bible if unable to rightly divide scripture and see the message/gospel for the Jews (circumcised) and the message/gospel for the Gentiles (uncircumcised). The Bible clearly defines the Kingdom-Gospel preached by Jesus and the Twelve - and Paul's Gospel of grace which was hidden until after the Jews rejected John the Baptist, Jesus and Stephen. Three strikes you're out (temporarily) and a new gospel was delivered by the ascended Christ to the apostle Paul which was never seen by the prophets and was a mystery.
Lets compare the differences between the Gospel of the Kingdom which was rejected by the Jews and Paul's/ours Word of the Cross gospel message for today. God gathers Jewish members to the Kingdom (John 3:29) through the first gospel described below - and members (Jew or Gentile) to the Mystery ‘Body of Christ’ through Paul’s Gospel #2 below.
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Gospel #1: Kingdom Gospel preached by Jesus and the Twelve...

This is NOT our gospel for today. No person has been saved by the Gospel of the Kingdom for nearly 2000 years.
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Look at the opposing precepts and difference between these two Gospels below...

Gospel #1: Gospel of the Kingdom (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Acts 8:12). Gospel to the Circumcised. Galatians 2:7.

1. The good news that the ‘kingdom of heaven’ is ‘at hand’ (Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 10:7). i.e.,‘preaching the kingdom.’ Acts 20:25.
2. According to Prophecy; seen by the OT Prophets. Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1.
3. Obtain eternal life by keeping the commandments. Matt. 19:16-17.
4. Water baptism (during confession) for the ‘forgiveness of sins.’ Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38. (John’s Baptism; Acts 19:3; name of the Father; John 1:6, 33, Matt. 28:19.)
5. Baptism in the ‘name of the Lord Jesus’ (Acts 8:16, Acts 19:5), ‘name of the Son’ (Matt. 28:19 = my CF.com Baptisms Thread)
6. Receive the Spirit through the baptism in the ‘name of the Holy Spirit’ (Matt. 28:19) through the laying of hands (Acts 8:17, Acts 19:6).
7. Justified by ‘works and not by faith alone.’ James 2:20-24.
8. Kingdom disciples are under Mosaic Law (Matt. 5:18, James 2:10).
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Now... Gospel #2 - Paul's Gospel
This is our gospel for today that many believe is the ‘only’ gospel of the New Testament with inclusions from Gospel #1. This gospel message was revealed to Paul after Israel rejected their Kingdom which was truly "at hand" and their Prophet Jesus, through a revelation of the already murdered and ascended Jesus Christ. Note that Christ preached the ‘Gospel of God’ in Mark 1:14-15, which is Gospel #1 above to begin His ministry and 'before' He shed one drop of blood for anyone.
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Gospel #2: Paul’s “my gospel” (Romans 2:16, 16:25, etc.). Gospel to the Uncircumcised. Galatians 2:7.

1. The Gospel of the Grace of God Acts 20:24.
2. According to the revelation of the Mystery; NOT seen by the OT prophets. Romans 16:25.
3. Saved by God’s grace through faith APART from works. Ephesians 2:8-9.
4. Sins forgiven through the redemption IN Christ (Romans 3:24) and His shed blood (Ephesians 1:7).
5. Our ‘one baptism’ (Ephesians 4:5) is done by the ‘one Spirit’(Ephesians 4:4) into the ‘one body’ (1Cor. 12:13), which is into “Christ’s body.” 1Cor. 12:27.
6. We receive the Spirit when hearing (Romans 10:17*) and believing (Ephesians 1:13-14) Paul’s Gospel by hearing with faith. Galatians 3:2.
7. We are justified by faith apart from works. Romans 4:4-6.
8. We are under grace and NOT under law. Romans 6:14.


Satan has been deluding men (2Thes. 2:11) into mixing together the two Gospels of the New Testament, adding 'works' (James 2:20-24) to Paul's Gospel of the Grace of God' (#2) which makes 'void' (1Cor. 1:17) the power of the cross, distorting the 'wisdom given him' (Paul) to their own destruction.' 2Peter 3:14-16.

I agree and disagree on the basis of Gods word.

in the acts period the jew was first .but now we are all brought near throught the blood of christ .we must distinguish between prophecy and mystery .we are not isreal. but the body of christ .we are blessed with christ in heavenly places .compare to the meek shall inherit the earth , it is very different . may we deligently compare the things that differ aspecially in thw new testement .

Good Job Dr. MacArthur! Clear and precise teaching on the subject. Enjoyed it much.

Brad Magyar, sorry to see you deleted our truly enjoyable discussion!

UMm...you miss one point...before 200 years ago no body believed that what you teach as truth...the early Christians would laugh if they heard what dispensationalist teach today.....I dont doubt that you have good Christinan Heart..and I wont even say that you are 100% wrong about some of the things that you teach today...maybe some of the things you say will happen at the end of the end....BUT the tribulation started at the ascension of Christ...even the apostles are quoted ( in the Bible) as calling their fellow Christians..partners in the Tribulation...so the Tribulation began during the life of the apostles ...just saying..

take some advice. thanks. I will do that. blessings

If any Christians are interested about this subject, I recommend to read "the End times made simple" by Samuel Waldron

Every christian that believes in God of the Bible and Bible the way God gave it IS dispensationalist! only question is how much dispensationalist he/she is.

I have great respect for macarther but his doctrines are a mixed bag of truth and error, constantly contradicting it's self, mostly about end times, please read macarthers millennium manifesto, I pray that he realises what he is doing.
his remarks about a new isreal are not true of covenant theology and he does know that. we must not take a book like revelations and interpret it literally, it is clearly a symbolic book. and the isreal of God is his children, jew or gentile, one in christ jesus,

The problem with dispensationalism is that it makes Jesus Christ God's "Plan B". Jesus isn't an alternative plan! He is the plan from the beginning!

macarthur has to support dispensationalism becouse of dispensationalism heretical support for the modern state of israel. you cannot get books published or appear on "christian tv" unless you worship the modern state of israel. dispensationalism was created in 1830's england, it was nowhere in the church before then. there is only one people of God not two as dispensationalism teaches.

I can't wait for the rapture ! Thats when God removes all the nonbelievers and all that offends from earth . Its the wicked that are removed. Its so clear in scripture that there is no other conclusion that these preachers are willfully ignorant.

Just read the Bible folks.... all you Covenant Theology types will be apologizing to us on the way up as we meet the Lord in the air and will be eating spiritual humble pie.... Ha! seriously, we can't let our eschatologies and ecclesiologies divide us. It is literally the Gospel at stake, and the world is watching.... the GREATEST is LOVE. They will KNOW we are Christians by our love. So debate all you want, just keep it all in perspective. i love all you guys!!

I find it odd for someone to say, we believe this is literal and that is literal, and they spiritualize everything.... But then when it comes to what Jesus said, that this generation would not pass away until these things take place... "Well Jesus didn't mean that literally, He meant it spiritually." So which is it?

MacArthur is dead wrong here (as Dispensationalists often are) when he says that Covenant people believe that "the Church is the new Israel." That is just blatantly and 100% untrue, and he should know that, considering his level of scholarship and the company he keeps (Sproul, White, etc). We believe that "Israel" has ALWAYS referred to God's elect, the faithful ones throughout all time, and that the cross did not nullify a single promise made to Israel, but instead fulfilled them. The cross did not replace Israel, but instead ATONED for Israel, i.e. all of those who believe in Christ (or in OT times, the promises of God and the coming messiah as promised in Genesis 3)! I feel like you need to read massive portions of the Bible with blinders on to miss that... I mean, seriously. How do you read Hebrews as a dispensationalist?