It is no wonder that the dispensationalist, pre-millennialist position has acquired much favor and acceptance in the church today, regardless of its accuracy in interpretation of scripture. It is my opinion that one must understand why it has its acceptance in such wide-spread Christianity if, as it is the case of this line of study, the bulk of the interpretational facts prove to be so unaligned with scripture. If one believes Revelation and much of End Times to be fulfilled, what then is the reason for such wide-spread adoption of the current scheme of interpretation.
Popularity does not indicate correctness, obviously, but neither does obscurity. Yet, what the dispensationalist perspective provides is a “readiness”.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Mark 13:37
Setting aside the most extreme (and heretical) forms of Preterism, which would counter that all scripture was fully fulfilled in total, Jesus’ instructions to everyone was to be watchful. The current wide-spread adoption of the current dispensationalist perspective is reflective of several aspects which can be considered.
First, as above, the command from Jesus is to be watchful. If certain forms of Preterism, Partial or full, were widely adopted, the command towards watchfulness would be minimized. A certain unknowning about the times, seasons, and events in the world keeps people looking for the dangers coming.
Second, the current state of the body is one in which most true, current prophetic revelation is overlooked. Revelation said that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 19:10)–the church ought to be a revelatory people, who receives truths and direction, always in line with the Word, on a continual, ongoing basis. Because much of the current church will not hear the voice of prophecy, they do have a voice they will often hear, the scriptures. Even as God can speak out of fulfilled prophecies elsewhere in the Scripture, He is more than capable of speaking present-day truths to people whose faith will only allow them to receive revelation directly from the text. While Scripture says that those who are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God, the faith of some will only allow God to speak in certain ways. In other factions of the body, certain individuals have greatly erred and have brought reproach upon the true prophetic voice of the church, and caused great confusion and resistance to What the Spirit is saying to the church. God is willing to work with anyone at whatever level of faith they have, although it is always better to speak “face-to-face”, and not with parables.
Third, in light of the two above points, there is great trouble coming upon the Earth soon, as all current prophetic voices attest to. We cry out for mercy, but the trials soon to come upon America and the world will be much. The dispensationalist perspective, in a way that some people otherwise might not be able to receive, prepares them for the coming trials. What is coming will of course catch many off guard, but, without any paradigm for what is coming, even if it is not a completely right paradigm, many could lose their footing and stumble needlessly. Of course, right understanding with right prophetic preparation is always better, but in light of many end times paradigms that are taught, it is at least the popular dispensationalist one that is preparing people for certain things that are coming, are grossly evil, and Christians must be made aware of. Whether or not this coming dread is the seals, trumpets, and bowls of Revelation is almost a secondary matter, at that point, as to whether the people are made ready for the disaster that is coming. Any “end times”, or other teaching, that does not fundamentally teach people right living, a right heart in Christ, and to be prepared, ready, and watching, is not of God, regardless of how many facts are lined up in the text. Demon possessed leaders, anti-christs, of all generations have come and gone without being the presumed one of Revelation, yet they still came, still destroyed much good, and, had the church been more prepared, could have been overcome sooner. The question is not whether more “anti-christs” will come, or whether there will be tribulation, because, both scripture and history make it clear they will, if some are allowed to be spoken to concerning the need for preparation, then it is better that they are prepared.
So, we have the conflict of the end of the age that is coming, as well as the conflict in every generation of those who would bear witness to Jesus. As we keep the main thing as the main thing, and everything else in its proper place and proportion, we can be equipped and prepared for every good work, even in the midst of great trouble and tribulation. While it is important to rightly understand and divide the Word, even on the subject of the End Times, we must never allow our understanding of an issue be a point that makes another be injured. While that which is truth must come to the surface, let us never separate the factually correct information from the right heart and right spirit, brought about by right teaching, in light of the full counsel of Scripture.
Let us always be watchful, always be expecting, always be hopeful and full of faith when He comes, regardless of doctrinal position.