Many evangelicals have been fully persuaded that the theology of Dispensationalism regarding Israel and the end times is valid and would be shocked to discover that it opposes fundamental truths of the New Covenant. It syncretistically combines old covenant theology with New Covenant truth, thus creating an alien hybrid that denies what Christ accomplished on our behalf and attempts to steal his preeminence and give it to Israel.

Error #1 – Dispensationalism erroneously makes modern Israel a (the?) major focus of the Bible and end times, rather than acknowledging that Jesus has the preeminence. 

Jesus is the theme or focus of the entire Bible. Everything in the Old Testament or old covenant pointed to him. All the promises of God and the previous covenants were fulfilled in him via the New Covenant.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isaiah 42:6–9 (NKJV)

It is impossible to properly understand the Old Covenant unless we interpret it through the lens of Christ and the New Covenant.

The following passages show this.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. John 5:39–40 (NKJV)

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25–27 (NKJV)

having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Ephesians 1:9–10 (NKJV)

By using the Old Covenant to interpret New Covenant scriptures, Dispensationalism resurrects that which God rendered obsolete (Hebrews 8:13) and turns proper Bible interpretation on its head. 

When John the Baptist introduced Christ to the world, he quietly faded away, as was proper. His job was done, and he willingly made room for the Messiah. He famously told his jealous disciples:

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 (NKJV)

That was Israel’s duty as well, something they refused to do. Instead they decided they did not want the Messiah to rule over them. They wanted to have the glory and preeminence for themselves.

But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? Luke 20:14–15 (NKJV)

Once the Messiah arrived, the promised seed of Abraham, the Jews’ and their nation’s purpose was fulfilled. Because they refused to step aside, but instead murdered the Messiah, God forcibly removed them and destroyed the sacrificial system in 70 AD.

They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. Matthew 21:41–43 (NKJV)

God’s plan was for there to be a spiritual fulfillment of Israel in the New Covenant. This new Israel, composed of both Jew and Gentile, will indeed factor mightily at the end of time.

It is a spiritual principle that God always moves from the natural to the spiritual fulfillment.

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 1 Corinthians 15:46 (NKJV) 

 

Error #2 – Dispensationalism opposes the New Covenant teaching that the true Israel is composed of all born-again people, both Jew and Gentile. In its place it falsely asserts that the genetic descendants of Abraham are those to whom God’s promises to Abraham were directed.

This error is related to the first in that it insists that the natural nation of Israel must continue and supplant the spiritual fulfillment.

Paul made it clear that those who are genetically descended from Abraham are not the true Israel, unless they also acknowledge Christ as Lord.

New Covenant Israel consists of all those, both Jew and Gentile, who have put their faith and allegiance in Christ.

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Romans 9:6–8 (NKJV)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28–29 (NKJV)

God does not recognize two Israels that comprise his elect. God’s elect are those he chose to be in Christ before the foundation of the world from both the Jews and the Gentiles.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3–6 (NKJV)

The elect who put their faith in Christ comprise the true New Covenant Israel. In fact, this is how it has always been. Only those of faith are the children of promise, going all the way back to Genesis. 

And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Romans 9:10–13 (NKJV)

To claim that the Jewish people of today are God’s elect based on genetics is to do away with the necessity of the new birth and say that there are others ways to God other than by faith in Jesus.

But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Romans 9:6–8 (NKJV) 

To claim that non-born-again people are God’s Israel is to deny Paul’s clear teaching, which is foundational to the New Covenant.

Paul taught that the promised “seed” was (is) Jesus Christ, not Abraham’s genetic descendants or the nation of Israel. 

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 (NKJV)

Dispensationalism misses one of the most important aspects of the New Covenant: all the blessings of God are found in Christ and are enjoyed by all those who put their faith in him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

To have Christ is to have the blessings of God. To reject Christ is to reject those blessings. The wrath of God rests on all who reject Christ, whether it be Jew or Gentile.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18 (NKJV)

To insist otherwise, that the blessings of Abraham rest on the Jewish people who have rejected Christ, is to oppose God’s Word and say that Christ’s sacrifice was not necessary. For this reason, Dispensationalism is no minor doctrinal controversy. It attacks core teachings of the New Covenant regarding Christ and his finished work.

 

Error #3 – Dispensationalism teaches that national Israel is destined to inherit the land promised to Abraham, nullifying Jesus’ teaching that the righteous (those born again and justified) will inherit the entire earth.

Genesis 15:18 promises that Abraham’s seed will inherit the land. That word seed is singular, which Paul has already shown is a reference to Christ.

Jesus owns the land; therefore, any attempt to possess the land without Christ’s permission is outright rebellion. The nation of Israel has never acknowledged that Jesus is Lord; therefore, they have no right to the land and presumptuously claim ownership.

New Covenant Israel is composed of born-again Jews and Gentiles who are part of God’s new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The New Covenant fulfillment of Israel transcends the Old Covenant nation, which was mostly composed of biological descendants of Abraham.

Whereas the Old Covenant focused on a small group of people called Israelites, the New Covenant reveals God’s plan was always to bring salvation to the entire world.

I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 (NKJV)

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (NASB95)

For God so loved the world [cosmos] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16–17 (NKJV)

Not only did God enlarge his people in the New Covenant from one nation to people from every nation and ethnic group, he also made the inheritance much grander.

New Covenant Israel will inherit the entire earth, not just a small area of land in Palestine.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth [Greek: "ge"]. Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world [Greek: "cosmos"] was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, Romans 4:13–14 (NKJV)

Matthew 5:5 uses the Greek word, “ge,” for the English word “earth.” “Ge” can mean both land and earth, but the world translated “world” in Romans 4:13 is the Greek word “cosmos,” the same word used in John 3:16, which signifies the entire earth.

The New Covenant reveals that God will destroy the present heavens and earth, replacing them with a new creation to match his recreated New Covenant people.

Old Covenant Israel cannot possibly inherit the glorious new heavens and earth because it is of the flesh. Only that which is born of the Spirit can inherit God’s kingdom.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV)

Dispensationalism’s focus on the present earthly kingdom of Israel ruled by a fleshly people is in error. 

National Israel is attempting presumptuously to take for itself the land of Palestine without ever acknowledging the “seed” to whom it was promised, our Lord Jesus.

 

Error #4 – Dispensationalism does not acknowledge God’s judgment of the Jews for their rejection of Christ and instead judges those who do not unconditionally support Israel and the Jewish people. 

The notion that God will judge all Gentiles, even Christians, who fail to support Israel is found in the Jewish Kabbalah.

I first heard of Rabbi Shapira in a video interview discussing his book. Many of his statements were deeply disturbing, such as the claim that when Yeshua returns He will destroy Edom; those Christians who are not aligned with the current state of Israel. I found this statement by Shapira to be completely unwarranted because the security of the believer in Jesus rests on the testimony of Christ and His atonement on the cross for sin, not on an individual’s political alignments in this world. (Loper, Deanne. Kabbalah Secrets Christians Need to Know: An In Depth Study of the Kosher Pig and the Gods of Jewish Mysticism (p. 8). Kindle Edition.)

God himself pronounced curses or judgments upon Israel for their disobedience in Deuteronomy 28.

But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: Deuteronomy 28:15 (NKJV)

Christ also spoke judgments over the nation of Israel for their rejection of him.

They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. Matthew 21:41–46 (NKJV)

Peter reaffirmed Moses’ warning to Israel in Deuteronomy 18 in his sermon in Acts Chapter 3.

For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Acts 3:22–26 (NKJV)

Israel’s rejection and murder of Christ brought God’s judgment upon them. Think about what a serious crime that was! The only escape is through repentance and faith in Christ, which God graciously offered them after the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38–39 (NKJV)

Except for the remnant who repented and confessed Jesus as Lord, the Jewish people and leadership still reject Christ and are still under God’s wrath as a result. This is also the case for all other people who reject the gospel.

To judge a person for failing to unconditionally support the nation of Israel or call the Jews God’s chosen people is using a non-biblical litmus test. God promised to bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed him because God was protecting the promised “seed” who would one day be born, our Lord Jesus.

The blessing and protection does not extend to any people who reject Christ.

God’s promise to work all things for good only extends to those who confess Christ.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:28–30 (NKJV)

In the New Covenant, the only thing that determines blessing or cursing is our relationship with Christ. 

Dispensationalism falsely teaches people to reject and judge a brother or sister in the Lord, for whom Christ died, based on whether that person unconditionally supports the actions of a secular nation and an unrepentant people.

To encourage modern Israel in their ongoing rebellion against Christ is a serious error on the part of God’s New Covenant people.

 

Error #5 – Dispensationalism tries to separate what God has united.

Lastly, Dispensationalism claims that God has a destiny for the Jews that is separate from the body of Christ, but the New Covenant says that God has removed all such distinctions between Jew and Gentile and made them into “one new man” in Christ.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:11–18 (NKJV)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NKJV) 

Dispensationalism, in this case, contradicts God’s Word and should be rejected.

Putting all five errors together, we see that Dispensationalism denies several fundamental aspects of Christ’s finished work.

It is a syncretistic heresy that attempts to reinstate obsolete parts of the Old Covenant, making it another brand of the Jewish legalism that plagued the church in Paul’s day. As such, it must be firmly rejected. We must contend for the truth of the New Covenant against all such falsehoods. 

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9 (NKJV)

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The video below is an excellent summation of many of the errors connected to Dispensationalism and Christian Zionism.