40RecommendedResourcesforUnderstandingDispensationalism

ByMichaelJ.Vlach,Ph.D.

SometimesIamaskedaboutwhichbooksandarticleshaveinfluencedmethemostinregardtomy
understandingofDispensationalism.MyfirstansweristheBible,butafterthatIhavedecidedtolist
thoseworksthathavehelpedmethemostinregardtosuchtopicsasHermeneutics,Law,Kingdom,
PeopleofGod,andotherissues.Ilist40suchworks(includingtwoofmyown)thathavereallyhelped
myunderstandingofGodsWordonimportanttheologicalissues.Therearemanymorebooks,articles,
andcommentariesthathavehelpedmebutIconsiderthese40belowtobethebestofthebest.For
themostpart,theseresourceslistedarepositivepresentationsofbiblicalissues.Ihavepurposelynot
includedcommentariesorworksthatarerefutationsofcertainviewssuchasCovenantTheology,
Amillennialism,Postmillennialism,Preterism,ReplacementTheology,etc.Thatisaprojectforanother
day.Instead,theseworksarepositivepresentationsofbiblicalissuesfromadispensationalperspective.
IdothisbecausethestrengthofDispensationalismisinitspositivepresentationandexplanationof
biblicalissuesandthatiswhatIwanttofocusonhere.
Ihopethefollowingthreecategoriesofreaderswilllearnthefollowingfromthislist:
Dispensationalists:IfyouaredispensationalistIhopeyouwillbeencouragedfromthefollowingworks
thatofferascholarlybutreadablepresentationofkeybeliefsassociatedwithdispensationaltheology.I
thinkyourbeliefswillbereaffirmedandyouwillappreciateevenmorethatDispensationalismreally
offersacredibleandbiblicalapproachtounderstandingGodspurposes,muchmorethanother
alternativesystemsoftheologythataddresseschatologyandecclesiology.
OpponentsofDispensationalism:IfyouarecommittedtothebeliefthatDispensationalismiswrongor
dangerous,Iaskthatyouseriouslyconsidertheseworksinyourdiscussionsregarding
Dispensationalism.Whilewedispensationalistsoftenembracesomeormuchofwhatearlier
dispensationalistsofthelate19thandearly20thcenturieswrote,muchhasbeenwritteninthelast25
yearsfromadispensationalperspectivethatshouldalsobetakenintoconsideration.Itisfairgameto
talkaboutDarby,Scofield,Chafer,etcbutifyoudonotalsotalkaboutSaucy,Feinberg,Turner,
Blaising,andBockandothersyouarenotbeingfairinyourpresentations.Infact,youloseourhearing
whentheonlydiscussionofDispensationalismofferedisinregardtopre1950writings.
Theundecidedandthoseinthemiddle:Ihopeyouwouldconsiderreadingseveraloftheseworkslisted
belowtogetafairunderstandingofwhatdispensationalistsbelieve.Keepinmindthatmostcriticsof
Dispensationalismarenotinteractingseriouslywiththeseworks,butthatdoesnotmeanyouhaveto
followthesameerror.Wearenotclaimingtobeperfectinourtheology,butIthinkyouwillfindan
honestattempttobebiblicalandtomakemodificationswhenneeded.

BigPicturePresentationsofDispensationalism
TheCaseforProgressiveDispensationalism:TheInterfaceBetweenDispensational&NonDispensational
TheologybyRobertL.Saucy(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1993).(NOTE:Simplythebestbookon
ecclesiology/eschatologyIhaveeverread.Saucyinteractsoftenwithnondispensationalistsonkey
issues.IfIcouldonlyrecommendonebookonecclesiology/eschatologythiswouldbeit.)
SystemsofDiscontinuity,byJohnS.FeinberginContinuityandDiscontinuity:Perspectivesonthe
RelationshipBetweentheOldandNewTestaments,ed.JohnS.Feinberg(Wheaton,IL:Crossway,1988),
6386.(NOTE:ThebestarticleexplainingtheessenceofDispensationalisminprint.)
Premillennialism,byCraigA.BlaisinginThreeViewsontheMillenniumandBeyond,ed.DarrellL.Bock
(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1999),157227.(NOTE:AcapabledefenseofPremillennialismandhow
PremillennialismismostconsistentwithaNewCreationModelofeternity.)
Dispensationalism:EssentialBeliefsandCommonMythsbyMichaelJ.Vlach(LosAngeles:Theological
StudiesPress,2008).(NOTE:Thisbookismyattempttosummarizethemainissuesthatareattheheart
ofDispensationalism.Italsoaddressesmanymythsaboutdispensationaltheology.)
ProgressiveDispensationalismbyCraigA.BlaisingandDarrellL.Bock(GrandRapids:Baker,1993).
(NOTE:TheinclusionofthisbookisnotablanketrecommendationofBlaisingandBocksversionof
ProgressiveDispensationalism,butthereismuchhelpfulhistoricalandtheologicalinformationinit.)
ContinuityandDiscontinuity:PerspectivesontheRelationshipBetweentheOldandNewTestaments,ed.
JohnS.Feinberg(Wheaton,IL:Crossway,1988).(NOTE:ImentiontheJohnFeinbergarticleinthisbook
above,butthewholebookisexcellentmatchingdispensationalistsanddiscontinuitytheologiansagainst
covenanttheologiansonthekeyissuesofLaw,Kingdom,PeopleofGod,Hermeneutics,andSalvation.In
myview,thedispensationalists/discontinuitytheologiansscoreadecisivevictorypresentingamuch
betterperspectiveonthekeyintertestamentalissuesintheBible.
HermeneuticsofDispensationalism
HermeneuticsofDiscontinuity,byPaulD.FeinberginContinuityandDiscontinuity:Perspectivesonthe
RelationshipBetweentheOldandNewTestaments,ed.JohnS.Feinberg(Wheaton,IL:Crossway,1988),
109128.(NOTE:Averycapableexplanationofdispensationalhermeneutics.Feinbergaddresses
difficultpassagessuchasActs2/Joel2andActs15/Amos9.)
BiblicalMeaningofFulfillment,byCharlesH.DyerinIssuesinDispensationalism,eds.WesleyR.
WillisandJohnR.Master(Chicago:Moody,1994),5174.(Averyhelpfuldiscussionofthemeaningof
fulfillterminologyinMatthew.)
DispensationalHermeneutics,byThomasIceinIssuesinDispensationalism,eds.WesleyR.Willisand
JohnR.Master(Chicago:Moody,1994).
IntertestamentalTheologicalIssues(Law,Kingdom,PeopleofGod,etc.)

TheLawofMosesorTheLawofChrist,byDouglasJ.MooinContinuityandDiscontinuity:Perspectives
ontheRelationshipBetweentheOldandNewTestaments,ed.JohnS.Feinberg(Wheaton,IL:Crossway,
1988),(NOTE:IamnotclaimingthatMooisadispensationalistbuthepresentsadiscontinuityviewof
theMosaicLaw/LawofChristissuethatmanydispensationalistsshareanddoessoinacompellingway.)
TheBiblicalMethodofSalvation:ACaseforDiscontinuity,byAllenP.RossinContinuityand
Discontinuity:PerspectivesontheRelationshipBetweentheOldandNewTestaments,ed.JohnS.
Feinberg(Wheaton,IL:Crossway,1988),161180.
IsraelandtheChurch:ACaseforDiscontinuity,byRobertL.SaucyinContinuityandDiscontinuity:
PerspectivesontheRelationshipBetweentheOldandNewTestaments,ed.JohnS.Feinberg(Wheaton,
IL:Crossway,1988),239262.
TheGreatnessoftheKingdom:AnInductiveStudyoftheKingdomofGodbyAlvaJ.McClain(Winona
Lake,IN:BMHBooks,1959).(NOTE:SimplythebestworkontheKingdom.McClainavoidssimplistic
definitionsoftheKingdomandworksthereaderthroughtheKingdomprogramfromGenesis1through
Revelation22.)
TheKingdomandMatthewsGospel,byStanleyD.ToussaintinEssaysinHonorofJ.DwightPentecost,
eds.StanleyD.ToussaintandCharlesH.Dyer(Chicago:Moody,1986),1934.
TheNewCovenantandthePeople(s)ofGod,byBruceA.WareinDispensationalism,Israelandthe
Church:TheSearchforDefinition,eds.CraigA.BlaisingandDarrellBock(GrandRapids:Zondervan,
1992),6897.(NOTE:AgreatexplanationofhowtheNewCovenantappliestotheChurchnowbutwill
befulfilledwithIsraelinthefuture.)
TheNewManofEphesians2,byCarlB.Hoch,Jr.inDispensationalism,IsraelandtheChurch:The
SearchforDefinition,eds.CraigA.BlaisingandDarrellBock(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1992),98126.
(NOTE:AverysignificantarticlethatshowshowspiritualunitybetweenJewsandGentilesdoesnotrule
outafutureforethnicIsraelinthefuture.HochshowshowEph2:1122harmonizeswithdispensational
theology.)
TheChurchastheMysteryofGod,byRobertL.SaucyinDispensationalism,IsraelandtheChurch:The
SearchforDefinition,eds.CraigA.BlaisingandDarrellBock(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1992),127155.
TheNewJerusaleminRevelation21:122:5:ConsummationofaBiblicalContinuum,byDavidL.
TurnerinDispensationalism,IsraelandtheChurch:TheSearchforDefinition,eds.CraigA.Blaisingand
DarrellBock(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1992),264292.(NOTE:Animportantarticlethatshowsthat
theremaybemorecontinuitybetweentheMillenniumandtheEternalStatethanmanythink.)
IsraelandtheChurch,byArnoldG.FruchtenbauminIssuesinDispensationalism,eds.WesleyR.Willis
andJohnR.Master(Chicago:Moody,1994),113132.(NOTE:Asurveyofkeytextsshowingthe
distinctionbetweenIsraelandtheChurch.)

PaulandtheIsraelofGod:AnExegeticalandEschatologicalCaseStudy,byS.LewisJohnson,Jr.in
TheMastersSeminaryJournal,20:1(Spring2009):4155.(NOTE:JohnsondismantlestheideathatGal
6:16identifiestheChurchasIsrael.)
TheSignificanceoftheSynCompoundsforJewGentileRelationshipsintheBodyofChrist,byCarlB.
Hoch,Jr.inJournaloftheEvangelicalSociety25:2(1982):175183.
TheContingencyoftheComingoftheKingdom,byStanleyD.ToussaintinIntegrityofHeart,
SkillfulnessofHands,eds.CharlesH.DyerandRoyB.Zuck(GrandRapids:Baker,1994),222237.
Revelation20andtheMillennialDebatebyMatthewWaymeyer(TheWoodlands,TX:KressChristian
Publications,2004).
BibleBooks
EvidencefromIsaiah,byJohnH.SailhamerinTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACaseforPremillennial
Interpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,1997),79102.
EvidencefromJeremiah,byWalterC.KaiserinTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACasefor
PremillennialInterpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,
1997),103118.
EvidencefromEzekiel,byMarkF.RookerinTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACaseforPremillennial
Interpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,1997),119134.
EvidencefromJoelandAmos,byHomerHeater,Jr.inTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACasefor
PremillennialInterpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,
1997),147164.
EvidencefromMatthew,byDavidK.LoweryinTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACasefor
PremillennialInterpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,
1997),
EvidencefromRomans911,byS.LewisJohnson,Jr.inTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACasefor
PremillennialInterpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,
1997),199224.
Evidencefrom1Corinthians15,byD.EdmondHiebertinTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACasefor
PremillennialInterpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,
1997),225234.(NOTE:Hiebertshowshow1Cor15leavesroomforamillennialkingdom.).
EvidencefromRevelation,byHaroldW.HoehnerinTheComingMillennialKingdom:ACasefor
PremillennialInterpretation,eds.DonaldK.Campbell&JeffreyL.Townsend(GrandRapids:Kregel,
1997),235262.
FutureofIsrael

TheDispersionandRestorationofIsraeltotheLand,byJohnA.JelinekinIsrael,theLandandthe
People:AnEvangelicalAffirmationofGodsPromises,ed.WayneH.House(GrandRapids:Kregel,1998),
231260.
TheLandofIsraelandtheFutureReturn(Zechariah10:612),byWalterC.Kaiser,Jr.inIsrael,the
LandandthePeople:AnEvangelicalAffirmationofGodsPromises,ed.WayneH.House(GrandRapids:
Kregel,1998),209230.
Israelology:TheMissingLinkinSystematicTheologybyArnoldG.Fruchtenbaum(Tustin,CA:Ariel,
1994).(NOTE:ThebestbookinprintonIsraelspast,present,andfuture.)
TheChurchasaReplacementofIsrael:AnAnalysisofSupersessionismbyMichaelJ.Vlach(Frankfurt:
PeterLang,2009).(NOTE:WhilethisbookisacritiqueofReplacementTheologyitoffersmuchinregard
tothefuturesalvationandrestorationofthenationIsrael)
Rapture/Tribulation
ArguingfortheRapture:WhoMustProveWhatandHow?byJohnS.FeinberginWhentheTrumpet
Sounds(Eugene,OR:HarvestHouse,1995),187210.(NOTE:Thisisnotyouraveragearticleonthe
Rapture.FeinbergexcelsonthepropermethodologicalapproachtotheRaptureissueandtough
theologicalissuesingeneral.)
AretheChurchandtheRaptureinMatthew24?byStanleyD.ToussaintinWhentheTrumpetSounds
(Eugene,OR:HarvestHouse,1995),235250.
TheOlivetDiscourse,byThomasIceinTheEndTimesControversy:TheSecondComingUnderAttack,
eds.TimLaHayeandThomasIce(Eugene,OR:HarvestHouse,2003),151200.
The70WeeksofDaniel,byThomasIceinTheEndTimesControversy:TheSecondComingUnder
Attack,eds.TimLaHayeandThomasIce(Eugene,OR:HarvestHouse,2003),307354.
TheLittleApocalypseofZechariah,byArnoldG.FruchtenbauminTheEndTimesControversy:The
SecondComingUnderAttack,eds.TimLaHayeandThomasIce(Eugene,OR:HarvestHouse,2003),251
282.
TheCaseforthePretribulationRapturePosition,byPaulD.FeinberginThreeViewsontheRapture,
ed.StanleyN.Gundry(GrandRapids:Zondervan,1984),4586.

Anycommentsorquestions?ContactMichaelVlachatTStudPress@aol.com.