ABSTRACT: PROGRESSIVE DISPENSATIONALISM AND THE DISTINCTIONS OF EARLY DISPENSATIONALISTS: Early dispensationalism was highly successful in withstanding the attacks of its enemies over the last two centuries. Recently, however, it has been facing attacks unlike any experienced before; attacks especially dangerous because they are coming from within the dispensational camp itself. Those on the offense today claim to have the best interests of dispensationalism at heart, yet at the same time they strike hammer blows against the very foundation on which it rests. Known as progressive dispensationalists, this group insists that they are nothing more than the next progressive stage in the gradual development of dispensational theology. To prove this assertion, they find within the teachings of some recent dispensationalists the ‘missing links’ they need to prove their assertions. This paper will attempt to identify the fundamental and foundational elements of dispensational theology (the real sine qua non of dispensationalism, if you will), show how early dispensationalists embraced them, note the changes more recent dispensationalists have made to them and, lastly, determine the validity of what progressive dispensationalists are proposing today. In light of the goal of continuing to reach the multitudes throughout the world with an accessible Bible that reveals an accessible God, what we are at risk of loosing is priceless.
God's Invitation To You
A RESPONSE TO PROGRESSIVE DISPENSATIONALISM
THIS TERM PAPER WAS WRITTEN FOR A MASTER'S LEVEL COURSE IN BIBLIOLOGY. IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF PAULINE DISPENSATION- ALISM. MANY HAVE FOUND IT HELPFUL.
