Dispensationalism and C. I.

Scofield
The Scriptures verses the System

Dr. Stanford E. Murrell

1. According to the Scofield Study Bible “A dispensation is a period of time during

which man is tested in respect to some specific revelation of the will of God” (note on
Genesis 1:28).

2. With this definition Christians are introduced to the concept there are “seven such
dispensations [which] are distinguished in the Scripture” (note on Genesis 1:28).

3. The seven dispensations are declared to be as follows:

Dispensation of Innocence
Dispensation of Conscience
Dispensation of Human Government
Dispensation of Promise
Dispensation of Law
Dispensation of Grace
Dispensation of the Millennial

4. According to the Scofield Study Bible each dispensation has “a character exclusively
its own,” being “wholly complete and sufficient in itself,” that it “is in no wise
exchangeable for the others, and cannot be commingled.”

5. Christians have a right to be concerned with the pre-suppositional thinking of

dispensationalist for the following reasons.

In the four passages in the Bible where the word “dispensation” occurs time
is not a factor. The word means literally “administration” or “stewardship” and
in context has reference to the gospel being dispersed. Paul was entrusted with the
gospel in order to dispense it to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against
my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth; even in him:

Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is
given me to youward.
 Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of
God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.

The number seven is an arbitrary number. The Bible never clearly

distinguishes between the seven dispensations suggested. The very names of the
dispensations are also manufactured.

Even if seven dispensations could be distinguished in Scripture the dramatic

distinctions alleged to exist are not found. For example, grace was found under
the Law and Law is found under Grace.

6. The practical implication of dispensational thinking also becomes alarming.

The System teaches the Sermon on the Mount is not binding on Christians
today. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer held this position and wrote of it in his work,
Systematic Theology.

The System contradicts the Scripture. The System says the age of the Law
lasted until the Day of Pentecost. The Bible says the Law and the prophets were
until John – not Calvary. Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

The System teaches the Exodus Generation made a “rash” choice when they
embraced the holy law given by God at Mount Sinai. “It is exceedingly
important to observe….that the Law was not imposed until it had been proposed
and voluntarily accepted (Note on Ex. 19:3). “At Sinai they (Israel) exchanged
Grace for Law. They rashly accepted the Law” (Note on Gen. 12:7).

In contrast, Psalm 105 teaches the giving of the Law was in fulfillment of God’s
covenant with Abraham. Psalms 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant for
ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant
he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto
Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.”

The reason God gave the Law was because He loved His people and wanted them
to observe His statutes and keep His commandments. The Law proved people
with an access to Him for worship and for obtaining mercy and blessings. The
Law gave the church of the Old Testament a covenant to keep, a sanctuary,
priesthood and acceptable sacrifices including a sin offering.
 The Law provided the means for the people to be a kingdom of priests and a holy
nation (Ex. 19:4,5). The law was holy, just and good. And because of that it is
written upon the hearts of all redeemed people.


2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living
God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those
days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their
hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

7. The System exalts national and racial Israel without taken into consideration the
spiritual dimension that all, Jew or Gentile, who have the faith of Abraham are
counted his seed. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7).

8. There is nothing in the New Testament about the restoration of Jewry to all of its
forfeited privileges with a temple, priesthood and earthly monarch. These are
assumptions of The System. The only issue in the New Testament with respect to
Israel is, “What do you think of Christ?”

9. Despite the sympathy of the dispensationalist with Jewish Zionism Jesus repudiated
the concept of an earthly kingdom in which Jewish national privileges and
prerogatives will be restored. Attention is called to the seven parable of Matthew 13.
Jesus clearly shows there is no room for any millennium for the Kingdom of Grace
which He established will continue unchanged until the end of the world at which
time the tares will be separated from the wheat and the bad fish from the good.

10. Much confusion in prophetic matters would be resolved if two simple rules of
interpretation were to be embraced. First, let the New Testament interpret the Old
Testament. Second, once the New Testament speaks, believe it.

11. In the New Testament, there is a spiritual dimension that replaces much literalism.
Jesus was constantly preparing hearts to abolish the outward signs to make ready fro
the spiritual truths they signified.

Example. In Luke 6:1 the disciples are found grinding the ears of corn in the
palms of their hands. They are hungry. The Lord of the Sabbath approves (Matt.
12:8) for He is the Bread of Life. What better day than the Sabbath to feed upon
Him who takes the symbol of the corn to prefigure His own redemptive sacrifice
say, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die….” Later Jesus would
use the far spreading cornfields to symbolize the spiritual harvest of the souls of
men. “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields: they are white already to harvest.”
 Example. Did not David eat of the bread of the holy temple which was reserved
for the priests? Indeed he did. And now, here is One greater than the temple and
greater than David for in Him all become kings and priests who eat of His body,
drink of His blood and are redeemed by His sacrifice.

Example. In the synagogue came a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1-5). That
man is Israel. The synagogue could do nothing for him. A withered hand is the
symbol of lost dignity and inheritance. The healing of the man’s hand shows the
nature of the Messiah’s kingdom. Christ has come to make people whole and
restore them to the right hand of favor of God, especially on the Sabbath, the day
of worship.

Example. Every person can come by faith to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God
(Heb. 12:22). Let the dispensationalist and the Jewish Zionist be incensed the
sacred precinct of their literalism is invaded, so be it as long as the soul can find
rest in His city where “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee
an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory” (Isa. 60:19).

12. The spiritual dimension of the message of Christ is also reflected in the parables.
Matthew 13:9 “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto
them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

Jesus said He spoke in parables because of “them” the impenitent and unbelieving
Jews. “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye
shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I
should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they
hear” (Matt 13:14-16).

What did the “eyes” of the blessed “see”? What did the “ears” of the blessed
“hear”? Was it the story of a physical millennial kingdom for Israel and their national
exaltation as racial people among the nations of the earth? No! That which the
righteous and the blessed desired to see was that which the Lord was now revealing to
the apostles and the apostles in turn declared to the world as recorded in the New
Testament. What was being revealed was the Messianic kingdom for which good
hearts had waited 4,000 years. What the righteous of old longed to see was the
coming of the promised Seed of the Woman who by the Cross-was bruised by the
Serpent and by the Cross crushed the Serpent’s head by overcoming sin, death and
the grave! Spiritual eyes “see” spiritual truth. Spiritual hearts love spiritual truth.
Spiritual minds understand spiritual matters.
13. The mystery of the parable of the Sower is the kingdom comes, secretly, silently and
imperceptibly as the gospel seed falls into receptive hearts of the repentant who look
for mercy and forgiveness. The gospel works as leaven work in the dough, as fish are
caught in the gospel net or as a grain of mustard seed producing something great from
something small.

The Jews of old, the dispensationalist today along with the modern Zionist that
expects the kingdom to come in a showy manner will be disappointed. Jesus said,
“My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:26). The King has come to His kingdom
holding no weapon and wielding no outward scepter but appearing in deep humility
to tell His subject of free grace and mercy. The spiritual nature of the Kingdom
confused the Jews many years ago and it continues to confound those today who walk
by sight and not by faith.

The only kingdom of heaven that exists or shall exist is that which is announced in
Matthew 13. There is none other until this age end, the Last Judgment is over and
there is a new heaven and new earth.


Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of
the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered
and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man
shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that
offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire:
there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine
forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him
hear.

14. The concept of the end of the world is repeated in the last of the seven parables in
Matthew 13, the parable of the gospel net let down into the sea, gathering fish “of
every kind,” good and bad, not to be sorted out till the net is full and brought to the
shore: “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth and sever
the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall
be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:4-50). There is no room for a
millennium kingdom. The gospel net drags on in the sea of this world, without change
and without rest, till the Day of Judgment. There is nothing said about a converted
world or a golden age or a latter day glory. There is no Puritan Hope of a Jewish
solution to the problem of this world.

15. The tragedy of dispensational theology is that it does not appreciate the greatness of
the church.. It looks at the church and sees only gloom and failure. This tragic view of
the church is reflected in Dr. Scofield’s comments on Matt 13:31-22.
 
Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom
of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his
field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the
greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and
lodge in the branches thereof.

Dr. Scofield states this parable “prefigures the rapid but unsubstantial growth of the
mystery form of the kingdom from an insignificant beginning to a great place in the
earth. The figure of the fowls finding shelter in the branches is drawn from Daniel
4:20-22. How insecure was such a refuge, the context in Daniel shows.”

But what if Dr. Scofield is wrong? What if the figure of the tree whose branches
provide shelter does not come from Daniel but from Ezekiel 17:22-24?


Ezekiel 17:22-24 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch
of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a
tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: 23 In the
mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and
bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing;
in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. 24 And all the trees of the
field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted
the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish:
I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have
dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have
spoken and have done it.

The tree of Ezekiel’s vision is the tree of the New Covenant of grace. The tender
young Twig cropped off from the old cedar is Christ! He springs in His humanity
from the old stock of Israel’s tree, the covenant of the law. From this new tree, Christ,
the kingdom of grace springs up till its branches spread throughout the entire world as
they do today. The “birds of every wing” which speak of individuals of every race
and color find shelter in the covenant of divine grace. Thus the church cannot fail for
Christ cannot fail.

16. The correctness of appealing to Ezekiel’s vision of the tree is found in Luke 23:27-
31. On the way to the cross Jesus quotes from Ezekiel 17: 24. Israel was the high tree
brought low, and Christ was the low tree exalted. Israel was the green tree dried up,
and Christ was the dry tree made to flourish.

17. When Robert McCheyne heard of the death of Edward Irving he is reported to say,
“A good man, but one who did his Lord much harm.” Perhaps those are fitting words
to Dr. Scofield as well.
18. Another parable Dr. Scofield is wrong on is found in Matthew 13:33 Another parable
spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took,
and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Says Dr. Scofield,
“Leaven is the principle of corruption…it is invariably used in a bad sense.”

The Bible says otherwise. Leviticus 7:13 and 23:17 show that leaven was commanded
by the Lord to be used in two notable acts of worship. Leviticus 7 sets for the
thanksgiving offering. Leviticus 23 speaks of a type of worship, which prefigured the
Day of Pentecost. All the sacrifices of the Old Testament were meant to memorialize
Christ, not sin. The kingdom in the form of the church grows and has grown like
leaven in a lump and that is good, not evil.

The reference to “three measures” is also significant for it could remind a person of
Sarah, the mother of us all, who took three measures of fine meal, kneaded it, and
made a cake upon the hearth for the heavenly guests she and Abraham received (Gen.
18:6). And that too was good!

19. Moving into other areas there are many “doctrines” The System advocates without
Scriptural support. A partial list can be noted.

The Jews will return to the land to rebuild the Temple.

The bloody sacrifices are to be reinstated for a memorial
There will be a seven-year tribulation period to complete the prophecy made to
Daniel (9:24-27).
Before a great period of tribulation the church will be raptured.
At the rapture the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth.
Despite the removal of the church and the Holy Spirit a great revival will break
out and thousands will be converted in the days to follow
The world will unite under an antichrist only to be betrayed by the same.
The antichrist will bring peace to the middle east and then break covenant
A great battle of Armageddon will come at the end of seven years. There will be
so much blood it will literally flow as high as the bridle of a horse.
Following the battle of Armageddon Christ will return to reign on earth a 1,000
years.
During the millennial there will be bloody sacrifices and death though death will
after a prolonged life.
National Israel will be exalted among the nations of the earth.
The key to the future is Israel, not the church for the church is doomed to failure
and apostasy.
Eve is a type of the church, thus the “proof” of the failure of the church. Listed
for Scriptural support are the following passages” John 3:28, 29; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph.
5:25-32 and Revelation 19:7,8. This is a common technical of the
dispensationalist. A statement is made and a barrage of Scripture is cited as
“proof.” But the problem is when one turns to the Scriptures cited they have
nothing to do with the statement proposed! It is not right to allude to Scriptures,
they must faithfully be exegeted.
20. Specific charges can be and should be leveled against dispensationalism.

The System known as Dispensationalism downgrades the church and her

role in the plan of God. On page 989 of one Scofield Reference Bible the
comment is made, “Especially is it necessary to exclude the notion – a legacy in
Protestant thought from post apostolic and Roman Catholic tradition – that the
Church is the true Israel, and that the Old Testament foreview of the kingdom is
fulfilled in the Church”.

According to dispensational teaching the church is doomed for apostasy and

failure despite the promise of Christ to keep His own and to present the church as
a bride without spot or wrinkle. Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that
it should be holy and without blemish.

A foundation of fundamental disrespect for the church is laid early in the Scofield
Reference Bible by associating Eve and the Adamic nature with the church. On
page 9 the footnote says, “The Adamic Covenant conditions the life of fallen
man—conditions which must remain till, in the kingdom age, ‘the creation also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the
sons of God’ (Rom. 8:21). Turing to Romans 8:21 it is creation not people that is
view and certainly not the church.”

While it is true sin shall be present till the Second Advent even in the lives of the
saints the larger point is that a case is being made against the church doing any
good for soon another footnotes parallels the professing church to the negative
history of Babel (p. 18). Nothing positive is said about the church being in Christ,
the Last Adam 1 Cor 15:45 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a
living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” In the footnote on
Isaiah 13:1 Dr. Scofield says that Babylon means confusion and is used
symbolically to refer ahead to the church. On page 725 he refers to apostate
Christianity, destroyed by the nations headed up under The Beast and False
Prophet of Revelation 17:16.

In contrast Paul teaches the church is destined to glorious victory. Ephesians 1:22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things
to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

Jesus said not even the gates of hell can prevail against the church. Matthew
16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The System known as Dispensationalism teaches God has two people, two
plans, two bodies; one called the church the other called Israel. There is a
separate destiny for each.

This is an amazing concept in light of the clear teaching of the Scriptures that God
has one people. The church is the antitype known as the “Israel of God.” The elect
number from Israel plus the elect number of Gentiles constitute one and the same
olive tree. Romans 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou,
being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of
the root and fatness of the olive tree; Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of
the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a
good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be
graffed into their own olive tree?

The essential unity of the saints in the Old Testament era with the saints of the
New Testament era is made clear in Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which
are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the heathen [Gentiles] through faith, preached before the
gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they
which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

In order to advocate the fallacy God has two people a silly distinction is made on
page 922 of a Scofield Reference Bible advocating God has a wife (national
Israel) and a bride (the church) – as of a bride is not a wife!

The Scriptural response is found in the following passages.


Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be
Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and
hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished
in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;
for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he
might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby:


Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the
mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of
men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of
his promise in Christ by the gospel:
The System known as Dispensationalism teaches that God made promises to
national Israel that have not been kept and that await future fulfillment.

Dr. Scofield teaches that God has future plans to regather national Israel to
Palestine in order to rebuild the Temple and reinstate the Old Testament economy
including bloody sacrifices. To support such teachings Dr. Scofield appeals to the
Feast of Trumpets. On page 157 in the second footnote he states, “The feast of
Trumpets, vs. 23-25. This feast is a prophetical type and refers to the future
regathering of long-dispersed Israel.” The footnote goes on to declare that
trumpets are always symbols of testimony and that they are connected with the
regathering and repentance of Israel after the church, or Pentecostal period is
ended. This conclusion is based on the following words.


Leviticus 23:23-25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the
children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall
ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25 Ye
shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto
the LORD.

Notice that nothing is said in the passage that is remotely close to what Dr.
Scofield has advocated. Once more there is an allusion to Holy Scripture that does
not support the presuppositional thinking dogmatically contended for.

Recognizing the Bible prophetically records two regatherings of Israel to

Palestine (see notes on page 25 of Scofield Reference Bible), Dr. Scofield goes on
to say there will be a third regathering and as “proof” he appeals to Leviticus
23:23-24!

The Scriptural response to belief in a third regathering of Israel to the land is

silence since there are no passages that mention this. On page 25 Dr. Scofield lists
a number of scriptures purporting to prove a third regathering but each passage in
context refers either to the first or second regathering already fulfilled.

Not to be denied Dr. Scofield insists that the land promised to Abraham was never
his or his descendants therefore, since God must keep His word the day shall yet
come when Israel shall have all the land promised to Abraham. Hence, a third
regathering is a logical deduction.

The problem with this “logical” deduction is that the Bible says the land promised
to Abraham has been fulfilled. Consider the following passages.


Deuteronomy 1:8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess
the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

Deuteronomy 6:23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us
in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
 
Joshua 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us
we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.


Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD
said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according
to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.


Joshua 21:43-45 And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware
to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44 And the
LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their
fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD
delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 There failed not ought of any
good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to
pass.


Nehemiah 9:23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven,
and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to
their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

In the Scofield Reference Bible there are no footnotes devoted to any of these
passages.

The System known as Dispensationalism mishandles key passages of

Scriptures.

Example. Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle
of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will
set it up:

One of the most important passages for The System known as Dispensationalism
is Acts 15:16 (see p. 1169 of a Scofield Reference Bible). According to Dr.
Scofield, after the time James was speaking God promises to return and rebuild
the tabernacle of David.

However in context this is what is being said. James is quoting Amos 9:11 so the
words are those of a prophet not the words of James. The words “after this”
refers to a time following the message of Amos, not to a time subsequent to
James. There is more. James argues in context that the prophecy of Amos was
fulfilled when the Gentile household of Cornelius was added to the church. If it is
objected that this is a “spiritualization” of an Old Testament Scripture the blame
must rest with James, and God the Holy the Spirit.

Example. On page 105, note 2 Dr. Scofield says, “The parable of the wheat and
tares is not a description of the world.” Matthew 13:38 says, “The field is the
world.” In other words The System says one thing and Jesus said something else.
 Example. On page 1036 of a Scofield Reference Bible, note 1 The System gives a
threefold division identifying sheep, goats and brethren where by the judgment of
Matthew is to be distinguished from the judgment of the great white throne of
Revelation 20. Says Dr. Scofield, “These ‘brethren’ are the Jewish Remnant who
will have preached the Gospel of the kingdom to all nations during the
tribulation.”

The Scriptural response is found in Matthew 12:48. But he answered and said
unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? 49 And he
stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my
brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the
same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

According to Jesus His ‘brethren’ has reference to anyone who does His will. So
says also Hebrews 2:11 where Christians are referred to as “my brethren” not just
the Jews remnant who preach the gospel during a certain period.


Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of
one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will
declare thy name unto my brethren [Christians], in the midst of the church will I
sing praise unto thee.

According to Revelation 20:11-12 there are only two groups to be judged, not
three.


Revelation 20:11-14 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according
to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.

Example. Dr. Scofield teaches that Elijah the prophet is still to come for prophecy has
not been fulfilled. Says Dr. Scofield, “Christ confirms the specific and still unfilled
prophecy of Mal. 4:5,6: ‘Elias shall truly first come and restore all things.’” Dr.
Scofield goes on to speak of “that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah.”

In contrast to Dr. Scofield are the words of Jesus. Mark 9:13 But I say unto you, That
Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is
written of him.
The boldness of Dr. Scofield to challenge and contradict Jesus and the foolishness of
people to accept The System that is so plainly contrary to sound doctrine can only be
attributed to a judicial judgment on individuals in the church. 2 Thess 2:11 And for
this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Example. Dr. Scofield says that the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10 refers to a time
following the tribulation when national Israel will accept Christ. This is still in the
future.

The Scriptures say explicitly that this prophecy was fulfilled when the spear pierced
the side of Jesus on the cross at Calvary.


Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall
look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in
bitterness for his firstborn.


John 19:34-37 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith
came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his
record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For
these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall
not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him
whom they pierced.

The System known as Dispensationalism affirms what it denies and denies

what it affirms. Specifically, Dr. Scofield lays himself open to the charge that he
has more than one plan of salvation in his system.

On page 1115, note 2, these words appear: “As a dispensation, grace begins with
the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 3:24-26; 4:24,25). The point of testing
is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or
rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation….” And on page 1011,
note 2 Dr. Scofield speaks on this same subject. “The new message of Jesus. The
rejected King now turns from the rejecting nation and offers, not the kingdom, but
rest and service to such in the nation as are conscious of need. It is a pivotal point
in the ministry of Jesus.”

Note the words of Dr. Scofield: “no longer legal obedience as the condition of
salvation.” What other conclusion can be drawn except that Dr. Scofield believed
people in the Old Testament were saved by works and not by grace through faith
alone?
Conclusion.
In May, 1944 a report was adopted by the Southern Presbyterian Church in the
United States. Part of the report said this:

“It is the unanimous opinion of your Committee that Dispensationalism is out of

accord with the system of doctrines set forth in the Confession of Faith, not primarily or
simply in the field of eschatology, but because it attacks the very heart of the theology of
our Church. Dispensationalism rejects the doctrine that God has, since the Fall, but one
plan of salvation for all mankind and affirms that God has been through the ages
administering various and diverse plans of salvation for various groups….”

This is a serious charge but it does seem to be supported from the Scofield
Reference Bible.

It is my desire, not to discredit an individual but to challenge unscriptural

teachings. This is not always pleasant but it is a Royal Command.

Jude 3

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you

of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.”

~*~