Hermeneutical Presuppositions: Dispensational Operating Assumptions

In this article I will attempt to lay out several, but surely not all, of the operating assumptions through which Dispensationalism views the scriptures. As far as I can tell, this set of presuppositions and their implications are dependent one upon another in a hierarchal fashion as presented below.

Dispensational Hermeneutical Presuppositions

I. A "literalistic" Assumption.

• The primary guiding principle in Dispensational Theology is the view that states that, unless otherwise expressly told differently within the immediate context of a passage, the grammatical/historical understanding of a prophesy/promise given, is its only possible fulfillment; the object of promise and the object of fulfillment are always the same.
• Israel/Church Distinction--Spiritual Israel and the Church are now and always viewed as two separate peoples of God.
• The promises God made to Abraham and subsequently to ethnic Israel, are only ever meant to be fulfilled by ethnic, believing Israel in some future age and can never be applied to believers saved in the "Church Age".
• Millennial Israel and their future activity are the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies.
• Semiti-centric Eschatology--God's primary purpose in redemptive history is the salvation of His chosen people, Israel. And this people is the ethnic Jewish people He has sustained throughout the history of the world.
• Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven Contrast
• Two eternally distinct peoples of God--His earthly people, Israel, and His heavenly people, the Church.
• Jesus will be made King in the Millennium--Jesus has not yet assumed His Kingly office or duties.
  
• The Church is unknown prior to Pentecost--The concept of "Church" as a people is a mystery not spoken of prophetically at all in the Old testament.
  
• The Church Age is parenthetical to God's dealings with ethnic Israel--The "Church Age" is a result of Israel's rejection of Christ's offer of the Kingdom, now.
• Paul's Primary Apostolic Purpose--was to teach the "new age" of believer his distinction in redemptive history from the previous, old age believer, and the future Jewish believer