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@CrowCross
For over a hundred years, the predominant interpretive method of the Bible has been Dispensational. From that came dispensational premillenialism---the idea of a seven year tribulation, followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ in Jerusalem. Prior to this tribulation, it is posited that the saints will be raptured from the Earth so they don't endure God's wrath. That of course presumes that the seven years is God's wrath. None of those things are supported by Scripture, but it is not my intent here to do an interpretation of all the scriptures involved. That would be prohibitive on a forum site.
The thrust of this OP is bring to the attention of pre-tribbers and Dispensationalists in general, that there is another interpretive method than the one being used, which interprets through dispensations in which God is said to be testing and judging people in different ways. And that is covenant used as the frame work upon which the house is built.
No doubt there are many who do not know there is another lens or who do but don't investigate it. It is a condition of being satisfied with what one has and assuming it is right, with no interest in finding out, or not knowing where to look.
I describe the two views as two lenses. A covenant lens and a dispensational lens. A lens is what we view something through. Now think how limited the photographs of a photographer would be if he only ever used one lens to take photos. He would be locked out of ever having photography as an art or profession. The same would be true of the use of lighting and aperture, if he never played with lighting, noticed it, and never changed the aperture which controls the amount of light coming through the lens.
So here are a couple of references to get the curious started. For learning covenant and how it plays out in the historical story of redemption (the Bible): Far As the Curse is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption by Michael D. Williams.
Having gotten the principles down as it walks through Scripture, one can them move on and see how it arrives at its Amillennial conclusions with A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times by Kim Riddlebarger.
Happy hunting!
For over a hundred years, the predominant interpretive method of the Bible has been Dispensational. From that came dispensational premillenialism---the idea of a seven year tribulation, followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ in Jerusalem. Prior to this tribulation, it is posited that the saints will be raptured from the Earth so they don't endure God's wrath. That of course presumes that the seven years is God's wrath. None of those things are supported by Scripture, but it is not my intent here to do an interpretation of all the scriptures involved. That would be prohibitive on a forum site.
The thrust of this OP is bring to the attention of pre-tribbers and Dispensationalists in general, that there is another interpretive method than the one being used, which interprets through dispensations in which God is said to be testing and judging people in different ways. And that is covenant used as the frame work upon which the house is built.
No doubt there are many who do not know there is another lens or who do but don't investigate it. It is a condition of being satisfied with what one has and assuming it is right, with no interest in finding out, or not knowing where to look.
I describe the two views as two lenses. A covenant lens and a dispensational lens. A lens is what we view something through. Now think how limited the photographs of a photographer would be if he only ever used one lens to take photos. He would be locked out of ever having photography as an art or profession. The same would be true of the use of lighting and aperture, if he never played with lighting, noticed it, and never changed the aperture which controls the amount of light coming through the lens.
So here are a couple of references to get the curious started. For learning covenant and how it plays out in the historical story of redemption (the Bible): Far As the Curse is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption by Michael D. Williams.
Having gotten the principles down as it walks through Scripture, one can them move on and see how it arrives at its Amillennial conclusions with A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times by Kim Riddlebarger.
Happy hunting!