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CONTENTS
The meaning of a Covenant
A. Covenants in the Scripture
B. The Classical view
C. The Dispensationalist theory
Notes on Dispensationalism
The Gospels are the testamentary record of “word and deed” (Acts_1:1)
depositions and dispositions of Christ’s New Covenant which are elaborated upon
in the books of Acts, the Epistles and the Revelation. Old Testament Scriptures
record the Old Covenant provisions mediated by Moses in the Torah which are
elaborated upon in the Prophets and the Writings. Covenants are the solemn
agreements while Testaments are their authentic documents. So, covenants
and testaments in the Scriptures do not differ in purpose and meaning.
The Scriptures show that God Who created all humanity also calls them to loyally
worship Him and intimately commune with Him, not casually or arbitrarily but
according to His clearly commanded covenant terms. Divine Covenant is God’s
loving initiative to offer His blessed resources and redemptive grace as means
of bringing humanity into loyal stewardship and intimate communion
according to His commands and counsels. Those who answer this loving and
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redemptive call to loyal intimacy are admitted into peculiar relationship through
definite act of covenant faith and covenanting rite by which they subscribe to
the provisions and precepts of God’s COVENANT COMMANDS and God’s
covenant promises.
In the Scriptures, God reveals Himself as the only One Who is the sole Creator
Who owns all creation and Giver of all things and blessings found in creation:
both visible and invisible, spiritual and physical, temporal and eternal – whether
present, past and future. At creation, God beforehand entrusted innocent Adam
with regency over His wondrous creation and brought Him to dwelling in Eden
for covenant fellowship with Him subject to God’s stipulated command
(Gen_1:26-31; Gen_2:15-17).
The rebellious fall of Adam into sin and shame (Gen_3:1-12; Hos_6:7) evoked
God’s covenant justice on Adam, thus requiring provision for the restoration of
Adamic humanity from sin and judgment (Gen_3:13-24). Fortunately, God
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revealed that by His testamentary deposition and disposals, He has wisely and
mercifully provided for restoration of humanity into future Messianic Heritage if
we acknowledge such redemptive covenant in Christ (Rom_6:23). Through His
Covenant terms, God invites all humanity to receive divinely sworn and sealed
rights of eternal heritage and be entrusted with fruitful privileges of faithful
stewardship in every aspect of His rich resources (grace and blessings) as He has
commanded (Rom_6:20-22).
So in every divine covenant, God is the owner, testator, initiator, inviter, censor
and guarantor while we are His believers, invitees, beneficiaries, stewards, and
inheritors of the disposed resources. Every Divine Covenant of redemption
from sin is commanded and enacted with blood, sworn on loyal oath or faith, and
administered by a mediator (Exo_24:7-8; Heb_12:24). Since the beginning of
human history, individuals, nations and royalties have used similar covenant
principles in their compacts and contracts, treaties and testaments.
Not all covenants in the Scriptures were conditional and not all covenants were
sealed with blood. All divine covenants in the Scripture are unilaterally
stipulated to be believed as commandments by God, but are not mutually
negotiated to be agreed as contracts are often done by people. A covenant may
be:
1. MUTUALLY negotiated and CONTRACTED between two equals (also
agreement/consent e.g. Luk 22:15, Greek= suntheke) as with peace treaties for
civil alliances (Gen 21:28-32), compacts for social relationships (2Sam 5:1-5;
1Sam 20:16-18; 2Chr 23:3) and self-plighting troths for marriages).
Here, blood covenants are cut to bind the parties into a lifelong
brotherhood/friendship/partnership/union and carry the penalty of
condemnation and ostracism on the violator. (Gen_31:44-54; Joshua 9).
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covenant relationship with His Church as His bride not mutual but
redemptive (Eph 5:25).
The Scriptures make it clear that the first covenant of royalty over imperfect
heritage, with priesthood and sanctuary for ritual propitiation in Israeli Kingdom
is called the Old Covenant (2Co_3:14; Heb_8:13). The final covenant of royalty
over perfect heritage, with priesthood and sanctuary for spiritual salvation in
Christ’s Kingdom is called the New Covenant (Jer_31:31-32; Heb_9:6-15).
WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THE NEW COVENANT, EVERY OTHER
COVENANT FADES TO VANISH AWAY (Heb_8:13). No wonder the New
Covenant was, in apostolic times, known even among Jewish Christians as the
covenant which is “better” (Heb_7:22), “second” (Heb_8:7) and “new”
(Heb_9:15), “perfect and eternal” (Heb_5:6; Heb_9:11).
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The Old Covenant of natural Promised Land which was for Jacob’s
national Political Israel, partitioned and FAVOURED Israelites
APART FROM other nations, only stands temporally in this world; but
the New Covenant of messianic Heavenly Paradise which is for Jesus’
universal Commonwealth ‘Israel’, unpartitioned and SAVES
Christians FROM BOTH natural Israel and all natural nations,
endures eternally beyond this world. So Israel and her Old Covenant
is the SHADOW of that which the Church and her New Covenant is the
REALITY (Heb_8:5; Col_2:17). These two covenants should not be confused,
substituted or antagonised with each other.
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A. COVENANTS IN THE SCRIPTURE: God has progressively
built each covenant upon another in His redemptive reach toward humanity over
the ages from Eden to Calvary. God gave His divine promises of multiplication
and Canaanland inheritance to Abraham and his Seed for the purpose of bringing
His material blessing of national prosperity to NATURAL DESCENDANTS
of Abraham with which to bless many nations (Deut_28:9-12) and bring the
saving enlightening blessings (Gen_18:18; Gen_26:4; Act_3:25-26) of
Messianic salvation (Isa_42:6; Luk_2:30-32) for SPIRITUAL DISCIPLES of
Abraham in all nations. The knowledge of divine precepts (commandments,
counsels, ceremonies and cleansings) for successful temporal national heritage in
Canaanland were revealed on mount Sinai through the Law of Moses in the Old
Covenant (2Cor_3:14; Heb_8:13), while the gift of divine power to bless and
enlighten the whole world for accessing eternal messianic inheritance was
released on mount Calvary through the Grace of Christ in the New Covenant
(Act_3:25-26) (Heb_9:11-15).
There are other covenant promises God made without blood in the Old
Testament Scriptures – some of which were “conditional” (For Adam’s Edenic
dwelling, for Israel’s heritage of the Promised Land at Sinai under Moses) and
some “unconditional” (For Adam’s Regency on earth, for all humanity’s
protection against Flood through Noah, for Universal REDEMPTIVE
BLESSINGS through Abraham’s Seed, for Messianic RULE by the Seed from
Davidic Dynasty).
The following are the Divine Covenants which God made with humans in the
Scripture:
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knowledge when brought into the sacred Garden of Eden is likened to a covenant,
hence Adam’s disobedience to the commandment in eating of the tree of
knowledge in Eden was later compared to “transgression of the covenant” in
Hos_6:7. This was the basis for God’s commination penalizing Adam for eating
of the tree of knowledge. This is because God set agreement terms for Eden
dwelling and Adam consented just similar to a covenant, but later transgressed.
This fits into Conditional Covenant.
Subsequent to the Fall of Adam and Eve, God’s commination against the sin of
Adam and Eve paradoxically revealed the Unconditional Promise that Eve’s
MESSIANIC SEED shall inevitably bruise the head of the Serpent (Gen_3:15).
This seems to have made the Devil to frantically set out on destroying the
descendants of Eve, despite the exploits of Abel and Enosh. But God overruled in
the case of Enoch by taking him to heaven and in the case of Noah by saving him
from the Flood and guaranteeing his descendants from further flood.
Since the Fall in Eden, God has successively made what the Scripture clearly calls
“covenants” for redemptive relationship with subsequent generations
leading progressively (Gal_3:22-25) to the arrival of the Messianic Seed (Christ).
Old Covenant that enabled Israel against Enmity from national Princes for
possession of the Promised Land shall be upgraded to the New Covenant that
enables the Church against Iniquity from demonic principalities for possession
of the Heavenly Kingdom.
This national Levitical priesthood for temporal earthly sanctuary in the Old
Covenant shall be overtaken by universal Melchizedek Priesthood for eternal
heavenly sanctuary in the New Covenant.
6. Covenant with David (2Sam 7; 1Chron 17) for Israelite dynastic and
universal Messianic RULE – Unconditional Covenant (but admits on basis
of natural descent).
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Old Covenant David ruled Israel and the whole of Middle East (2Sam_8;
1Chron_18) from his temporal base in the Old Jerusalem. So his New Covenant
Messianic Seed, Who is Lord over David and Greater than David, will rule
Israel and the whole world from His eternal base in the New Jerusalem
(Rev_21).
While all the several preparatory covenants with Israel (collectively called “Old
Covenant” as one group in 2Co_3:14; Heb_8:13) promised temporal, natural
and national blessings, the consummating messianic (i.e. Christ’s) New
Covenant promises eternal, spiritual and universal blessings.
The Scripture shows that it is by His sovereign initiative, God authors explicit
terms of His REDEMPTIVE COVENANTS by which He reaches out to humans
for intimate COVENANT RELATIONSHIP as the means of revealing Himself
and dispensing the riches of His redemptive blessings (Eph_1:2-12).
Otherwise, worshipping God would be a fruitless guesswork – a mere uncertain
groping in the dark (Act_17:27). By means of God’s condescending through
His Covenants to call us to walk with Him through our loyal commitment
(i.e. faith and obedience), God graciously invites us to obtain His superlative
blessings which include:
- RESTORATION to life of fellowship with God as His people (All Covenants),
- ADOPTION to heritage of God’s Kingdom (Messianic/New Covenant) and
- ENDOWMENT with divine possessions of:
temporalities – protection & provision (All Covenants) , and
spiritualities – purity & power (New Covenant).
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2. Covenant of Grace with Christ (Second Adam) in time and in eternity i.e.
New or Gospel Covenant promise of eternal life based on Christ’s redemptive
unity with the Father and our faith in the Christ Redeemer. Rom_10:4;
Rom_5:15-21. Covenant of Grace bestows redemptive enablement to help
humanity live according to God’s pleasure.
This is based on the eternal covenant of redemption in Christ established in
the Godhead before the beginning of creation (Eph_1:3-6).
The Classical View reckon all Old Testament Covenants (with Adam after the Fall,
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Levites, and David) to belong to Covenants of Grace,
while the New Covenant is the apogee of Covenants of Grace because it offers
Eternal Life.
This classical federalist concept of the New Covenant for universal eternal
inclusion and unification in Christ (2Co_5:17-18; Eph_1:10-11) is unlike the
modern dispensationalist theory of multiple covenants of partition, duration,
fluctuation and exclusion.
Based on this twisted partitionist theory of dispensations for political rather than
sanctifying motives, disregarding Scriptural context, Dispensationalists see
covenants as merely political instruments with time limits which they call
“dispensations” not in the sense the Scriptures used the word dispensation to
mean stewardship. To fit this political partitionist hypothesis, Dispensationalists
speculate that the “rapture” and encouragement in 1Thes_4:15-18 belongs to the
Church “dispensation” but the “gathering” and admonition in 2Thes_2:15 does
not! To them the last trumpet “by the word of the Lord” in 1Thes_4:15-17 belongs
to the Church but the last trumpet spoken of by Christ our Lord in Mat_24:29-31;
Mar_13:24-27 does not! Surprisingly, they even exclude the Church from the
First Resurrection in Rev_20:1-6!
The most absurd fallacy (or is it blasphemy) of Dispensationalism is their
doctrine or theory of termination of Christ’s reign on earth in order to make
way for God to fulfil their unbiblically purported Christless promise to a
post-Christian political Israel! They do not even accept that Christ reigns
already (Mat_22:44; 1Co_15:25; Eph_1:22; Heb_10:12-13) but that He would
reign only when He reigns at last with glorified saints! The Scripture is
unanimous that Christ the Son of David shall never cease to reign from
heaven (Psa_89:35-37) over all creation by the Holy Spirit through His
Church (Eph_3:20-21) and shall come again to reign in glory with His Church
till the earth passes away (Isa_24:19-23 ; Heb_12:22; Rev_3:12; Rev_14:1)
and dwell forever in eternity.
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The Apostles unambiguously taught that the New Covenant gives way to none
other, rather all other Covenants give way for or find fulfilment in the
New Covenant (2Cor_1:18-22; Gal_3:15-29; Gal_4:1-7). The
Dispensationalists however are of the opinion that this New Covenant will “give
way” so that the temporal political State of Israel will realize its “covenant
dispensation” nationally in the absence of Christ and the Church! To support
this they pride in taking some preferred OT prophecies more “literally” than
Christ and the Apostles, while they figuratively allegorize plain NT prophecies
and intricately revise and distort plain NT teachings under the guise of “rightly
dividing” the Word better than Christ and the Apostles!
Harm should not be done to the truth of the Scriptures in order to protect
certain unnecessary theoretical fears about tribulation and unfounded motives
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about the nation of Israel. Before Christ comes, All spiritual Israel (out of the
Political Israel Rom_11:26) shall be saved, together with All spiritual Gentiles
(out of the Political Gentiles Rom_11:25): both of whom come by faith (AS ONE
BODY in Christ) into the One Messianic Commonwealth of the
Household or Sheepfold of God, and through the mission of the One
Apostolic Church (Act_15:16-17; Rom_11:11-33; Eph_2:17-21; Eph_3:4-6).
The Scriptures insist that ever before Christ comes to gather all His saints, the
Man of Sin (Antichrist) MUST COME FIRST (2Th_2:1-4) as determined by God
(Dan_7:24-25; Dan_11:36), but he will be destroyed when Christ second comes
(2Th_2:8) to raise, rapture and reign with His redeemed saints. We can only
hazard guesses, but only the Thessalonians knew the “restrainer” that will be
“taken out of the way” (2Th_2:5-7) which likely had to do with the Roman
Empire hence the encryption. What is clear from the passage is that possible
guesses for the restrainer could never include a lawless system or the
Church or the Holy Spirit. It will pay us better to take the Apostles at their
words if we truly believe the Scriptures, else you may find yourself among those
with strong delusion to believe lies unto their damnation (2Th_2:9-12).
To be sure, the rapture into the AIR is for the raised and changed saints to
“welcome” or “meet” (1Co_15:52; 1Th_4:17 and Mat_25:6 also see Act_28:15)
Christ our Bridegroom, at His glorious arrival to the earth. It is NOT rapture
for a part of a partitioned Church to “escape” from the Antichrist
and follow Christ back into HEAVEN, but for triumph with Christ at His
glorious COMING to earth to finally destroy the Antichrist and reign
over all the kingdoms of the earth (Dan_7:10-11; 2Th_2:8).
The BLESSED HOPE for this One Church of both Jews and Gentiles, as the
ONLY Bride of the Lamb, is the One heavenly, bridal Jerusalem without
structural Temple but with God and the Lamb dwelling in it both as it's
Tabernacle and it's glorious illumination (Rev_21:3, Rev_21:22-23). This
one Bride Church includes together ALL THE SAINTS EVER REDEEMED
SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, who are registered in the Lamb’s
Book of Life (Rev_21:27).
This One Celestial City is clearly described as having the 12 Tribes of Israel
as its pearl Gates (Rev_21:9-13, Rev_21:21), the 12 Apostles as its
precious-stone wall foundations (Rev_21:14-20), and all Nations and
their Kings as contributors to its glory and honour and beneficiaries of
its illumination (Rev_21:24-27), with NO walls of partition between any of these
(Eph_2:11-22; Eph_3:4-6; Gal_3:26-29). This agrees perfectly with the
indigenization of the Gentiles in the New Commonwealth of Israel
(Eze_47:22-23) with the New “Jehovah Shammah” Holy City (Isa_24:23;
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Isa_56:6-7; Jer_3:17; Eze_48:35) as the Prophets had consistently indicated
long time ago.
The first resurrection of the Just which will never occur until “IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE TRIBULATION”, will be glorious, rapturous and will usher in the
millennial subduing reign of Christ together with His raised Saints “ON THE
EARTH” (Mat_24:21-31; Luk_14:14; Rev_5:9-10; Rev_20:4-6). This millennial
reign shall be operated from the Saints’ Camp which is the Beloved City,
founded by God as the Saints’ capital territory (Rev_20:9; Heb_11:10).
Then comes the final, futile Magog rebellion against the Saints of the ruling
Camp City when all flesh shall be decimated (Rev_20:7-10).
Then shall all go to their final destinies of eternal bliss/rest and eternal
doom/torment (Dan_12:2; Joh_5:29; Rev_19:11-21, Rev_20:1-15, Rev_21:1-8).
This is the simple plain reading of the Prophetic and Apostolic Scripture without
any difficulty, theories, assumptions or clever casuistry. Why would any
true believer have difficulty agreeing with Christ and His Apostles?
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