One Shepherd, One Fold
The rise of dispensationalism was instrumental in the development of the pre-tribulation rapture theory. While the divisions may be useful for reference, they can have a detrimental effect on understanding. They have in some cases become a tool to promote a theory.
The most pronounced division, and the most significant one, is the one recorded on our calendar, the division between BC and AD. Even before Man sinned God had a plan of redemption. God’s relationship with man focuses at this point is history. God planned in great detail the monumental event of Christ’s life and death here on earth. Through his chosen nation of Israel he prepared the world for his plan of deliverance from the sentence of death that sin brought.
Having accomplished the work of redemption for mankind on the cross, Christ commissioned His Church to declare this gospel to all nations, that through repentance we might receive forgiveness for sin and redemption from the penalty of death. When the Church has accomplished her task the end will come (Matt. 24:14). At that time Christ will return for the redemption of those who believe and the destruction of those who would not. The return of Christ is planned just as precisely and detailed as his first coming. In like manner of His first coming he has furnished us with the needed information to prepare for and recognize the events surrounding Christ’s glorious appearing and our gathering unto Him.
So if what I have said is true, why was there so much confusion and so little understanding at Christ’s first coming? And why is there so much conflict over the understanding of the events surrounding His second coming?
Much of the problem at Christ’s first coming had to do with the spiritual condition of the people. Those that were looking for the consolation of Israel did recognize Him, even as a baby. Anna, Simeon, Elisabeth, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and even the Wise Men, recognized Him as the Messiah. I think that there is also another significant reason why we don’t understand the details. It seems to me that many prophesies were designed to be recognized at their fulfillment, not prior to it. It isn’t that they are cloaked, for they are in quite plain language. But neither are they always what we would expect if we had planned the event.
For example: “”therefore the lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel.” (Isa 7:14 NAS95)
Notice how very clear and straight-forward this statement is, and it is exactly what happened. But because it is not a natural occurrence we may wonder if it really means what it says. Can a virgin conceive? The same thing is true with the following verse.
“rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, your king is coming to you; he is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zec 9:9 NAS95)
This was even more recognizable for those who were celebrating the Feasts of the Lord and were rehearsing His appointed times. Yet most of His chosen people did not recognize Him as their Messiah even to this day. Again we must recognize that because of their spiritual condition their eyes were blinded to the obvious.
The scholars of Jesus day were schooled in the scripture just like our scholars today. The record shows that they were not ignorant of what the Scriptures declared. When Herod asked them where the Messiah would be born, they had the right answer, in Bethlehem of Judea.
It is always easier looking back, but what about the prophesies for the future? Can we expect to understand what we’ll see and when to look for their fulfillment?
If we read Jesus answer to His disciple’s questions in Matthew 24, and we continue reading the parables following, it becomes obvious that our Lord wanted us to be aware of what was going to happen and recognize it when it came. The record in Matthew, Mark, and Luke are pretty straight forward but not with a lot of detail. Although there is enough detail that Jesus could say; when you see these things come to pass, look up, your redemption draweth nigh.
But we want to know more, right? And there are more details forth coming in Corinthians, Galatians, and Thessalonians. And of course there are the Old Testament prophesies and the Book of Revelations that spreads out these events for us in greater detail. We are told that these events are coming on the World like a thief in the night, yet we are instructed that if we watch it will not overtake us as a thief.
We have enough information and the right information and it is laid out for us in plain language in Matthew 24. You may not understand everything you read in the Book of Revelation. But it wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t important. I don’t think it is necessary that we understand everything in it right now. It is more important that I know what it says then to understand what it means. Because as history has shown us, God’s people will have understanding when the time comes. I believe when those seemingly obscured events are taking place they will appear to us as plain as day. With understanding comes peace. Our faith need not falter when events seem out of control, for we will be witnessing what God has revealed in His Word.
I have confidence in God’s Word as a guide. I can’t say the same for the theologians and scholars of our day. I don’t think that they are doing any better than the theologians of Jesus day.
I have shown you the clear reading of scripture that places the rapture of the saints at the triumphal return of Jesus Christ. In forty years I have not found one person who could show me in the Scripture even one verse that hinted at a pre-trib rapture. It becomes obvious that theologians have arrived at their conclusion via assumption, supposition, and logical deduction. But what do they do with those scriptures that seem to so clearly place the rapture after the time of great tribulation? That is where dispensationalism comes in handy. For according to the dispensationist God deals differently with the people on earth during different dispensations.
For instance: Since the giving of the Law God dealt with Israel by the book. Although we have moved on to another dispensation (the Church Age), God will continue to deal with Israel as a nation as He did in the previous dispensation. Those Jews that become Christians though are freed from the law and fall under the grace granted to the Church. In creating a situation where there are Old Testament Saints and New Testament Saints, the theologian is free to argue which scriptures apply to one group or the other. I know that this sound silly, but that is what they do.
So when we read in Matthew that God sends his angels to gather the elect from the four winds, it is of course those Jewish Saints. Obviously it can’t be Christians because it is after the great tribulation. Does this make sense to you? It gets even more confusing if they apply their logic further in the text, because then you enter into scriptures that are used in application to the Church.
I had a pastor tell me that if you consider the context of Matthew 24, Jesus was talking to Jews. So his instructions were for the Jewish people that were left behind after the tribulation. Of course they were Jews. All the early Churches first leaders were Jews. But they were also the foundation stones of the Church. They were the leaders and teachers that established doctrine in the Church. Can you begin to see the problems you run into when you start with an idea and try to fit the Bible into it? Sound doctrine starts with what God said.
And what did God say about the way in which he would distinguish his workings with Jews and gentiles?
“14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know my own and my own know me, 15 even as the father knows me and I know the father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.” (Joh 10:14-16 NAS95)
One shepherd and one fold. I think we just wiped out some dispensations. For in Christ all things come together. Jesus did not come to start another religion. He is the Messiah. Christianity is the fulfillment of Judaism. Whether a person looked forward in faith BC, or looks back in faith AD, it is the blood of Christ that saves us. By faith through grace we all find salvation in Christ, from Adam until the last convert in the tribulation. One shepherd, one fold. Isn’t this what Paul teaches us in Romans.
“26 for you are all sons of god through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Ga 3:26-29 NAS95)
If we can accept this truth prophesy immediately become a lot less complicated. “but the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.” (Ga 4:26 NAS95)