All #ourCOG News 5.0
Fulfillment Theology Versus Dispensational Truth Shows The Critical Difference Between Spiritualizing Israel And Rightly Dividing Scripture
Fulfillment theology is the belief that the promises, prophecies, covenants, and kingdom expectations in the Old Testament are “fulfilled” in Jesus Christ and, often, in the Church. In simple terms, it teaches that many things God promised to Israel are now spiritually fulfilled in Christ and the Church, rather than requiring a future, literal fulfillment for national Israel. But the danger is that Fulfillment Theology can become a softer, more polished version of Replacement Theology. It may avoid saying “the Church replaced Israel,” but it still spiritualizes Israel’s land, kingdom, throne, and national restoration promises into the Church. That is absolutely not what the Bible teaches.
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32,33 (KJB)
God promised Israel a land, a kingdom, a throne, and national restoration. Fulfillment theology may say those promises are fulfilled spiritually in Christ and His people today. But the Bible says those promises still await literal fulfillment for Israel in the future kingdom. Fulfillment theology says that Israel’s promises are fulfilled in Christ and the Church. Dispensational theology says that Christ fulfills prophecy, but God’s literal promises to Israel remain intact and will be fulfilled in Israel, while the Church has its own distinct heavenly calling in this present dispensation. We see these things when we follows Paul’s command in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJB) to ‘rightly divide’ the scriptures. If you don’t have a King James Bible, then it doesn’t say that in your bible because the Greek and Hebrew ‘scholars” removed it so you wouldn’t know to do it. This is why we stick with the God-honored King James Authorzied Version Holy Bible.
The Main Biblical Differences Between Fulfillment Theology And Dispensational Theology
“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJB)
The Bible recognizes three distinct classes of people in God’s dealings: the Jews, the Gentiles, and the church of God. Fulfillment theology tends to merge those distinctions by teaching that Israel’s promises are fulfilled spiritually in Christ and the Church. Dispensational theology rightly divides the word of truth and keeps God’s promises to Israel, the Church, and the nations in their proper biblical places. These three groups are not the same, they never were the same, and they will never be the same.
I. The Difference In How Each System Views Israel
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25 (KJB)
“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” Romans 11:26 (KJB)
“For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:27 (KJB)
“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.” Romans 11:28 (KJB)
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29 (KJB)
Fulfillment theology says Israel’s promises are fulfilled in Christ and applied spiritually to the Church. Dispensational theology says Israel is presently blinded in part, but not permanently cast away. God still has a future national restoration for Israel because “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” But Israel’s unbelief did not cancel God’s covenant promises. God’s dealings with Israel are paused during this present dispensation, not abolished. The Church has not replaced Israel.
Do not become “wise in your own conceits” by spiritualizing away what God clearly and plainly promised to Israel.
II. The Difference In How Each System Views The Church
“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,” Ephesians 3:1 (KJB)
“If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:” Ephesians 3:2 (KJB)
“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” Ephesians 3:3,4 (KJB)
“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” Ephesians 3:5 (KJB)
“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:” Ephesians 3:6 (KJB)
Fulfillment theology often views the Church as the continuation or fulfillment of Israel. Dispensational theology teaches that the Church is a mystery body revealed through Paul, made up of saved Jews and Gentiles in one body during “the dispensation of the grace of God.” The Church was not the subject of Old Testament prophecy in the same way Israel’s kingdom promises were. It was a mystery “not made known” in other ages. The Church is not Israel improved, Israel expanded, Israel spiritualized or Israel completed. The Church is the body of Christ, disctinct and seperate from the Jews and the nation of Israel.
III. The Difference In How Each System Views The Kingdom
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6 (KJB)
“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:7 (KJB)
Fulfillment theology often says the kingdom promises are fulfilled spiritually now through Christ’s reign in the Church. Dispensational theology says the kingdom will be literally restored to Israel in God’s appointed time. Notice carefully: the Lord Jesus did not rebuke the apostles for expecting the kingdom to be restored to Israel. He corrected their timing, not their expectation.
“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matthew 21:43 (KJB)
The kingdom of Heaven is a literal, visible, Jewish, Davidic, and earthly kingdom. Christ will reign, Israel will be restored, and the promises of God will be fulfilled exactly as spoken. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, given to the Gentile Church, and you must be born again to enter into it.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (KJB)
IV. The Difference In How Each System Handles Prophecy
“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32 (KJB)
Fulfillment theology often uses a spiritualizing method: land becomes heaven, Israel becomes the Church, David’s throne becomes Christ’s present spiritual rule, and national promises become general Christian blessings.
Dispensational theology uses a literal, grammatical, historical reading unless the Bible itself indicates otherwise. Israel means Israel. Jerusalem means Jerusalem. David’s throne means David’s throne. The Church means the Church.
Remember to always ask this one key question when reading prophecy: To whom is God speaking? Is He speaking to Israel? The nations? The Church? Tribulation saints? The apostles? Paul? The answer matters. If you miss who God is speaking to, you will invariably arrive at the wrong conclusion.
V. The Clear Difference In Their End Result
Fulfillment Theology Produces:
- A merged people of God, where Israel’s national future is minimized or spiritualized.
- A present spiritual kingdom emphasis, often at the expense of a future literal kingdom.
- A tendency to make the Church the heir of Israel’s covenants.
- A prophetic system where many plain promises lose their literal force.
Dispensational Theology Produces:
- A clear distinction between Israel, the Gentiles, and the Church.
- A future restoration of Israel.
- A literal Second Coming and earthly kingdom.
- A proper understanding of Paul’s gospel, Paul’s apostleship, and the mystery of the body of Christ.A Bible that remains clear when rightly divided.
The issue is not whether Christ fulfills Scripture. He absolutely does. The question is whether Christ’s fulfillment cancels, transfers, or spiritualizes God’s literal promises to Israel. Dispensational theology says no. Christ is Israel’s Messiah, the Saviour of the Church, and the coming King over all the earth. Fulfillment theology often compresses those truths into one spiritualized program. Right division lets every truth stand in its own place.
Hold the line where the Bible holds it: Israel is Israel, the Church is the Church, and the Kingdom is the Kingdom. When those distinctions are lost, prophecy collapses into confusion. When they are kept, the Bible opens up exactly as God wrote it. We invite to join our online Radio Bible Studies every Sunday Night from 7:00 – 9:00 PM EST.
Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church
- HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page
When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.
But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)
“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB
The post How Roman Catholic Fulfillment Theology Replaces Israel’s Literal Prophetic Future With A Spiritualized ‘Church System’ That The Bible Never Teaches appeared first on Now The End Begins.
Comments