PMT 2014-038 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Populist dispensationalism is an immensely successful eschatological construct. Its purveyors have sold tens of millions of books to evangelical Christians. One of the key factors in its success is its naive commitment to an alleged “consistent literalism.”

Besides being naive, the dispensational claim to “consistent literalism” is frustrating due to its inconsistent employment — despite contrary claims. For instance, some dispensationalists do not understand certain Old Testament prophecies about David’s millennial reign literally. Older, but still popular dispensationalist, H. A. Ironside writes: “I do not understand this to mean that David himself will be raised and caused to dwell on the earth as king. . . . The implication is that He who was David’s Son, the Lord Christ Himself is to be the King.” [1] On what basis can a consistent literalist allow this view?

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Neither is it necessary that we understand literally Elijah’s coming prophesied in Malachi 4:5–6. Pentecost writes: “The prophecy is interpreted by the Lord as being fulfilled, not in literal Elijah, but in one who comes in Elijah’s spirit and power.” [2] Here he breaches two hermeneutic principles of his dispensationalism: He allows the New Testament (Lk 1:17) to interpret the Old Testament (Mal 4:5–6), and he drops his consistent literalism. This is convenient but illegitimate.

Walvoord hesitates, but declares: “It was clear that Elijah was a type of John and to some extent that John the Baptist fulfilled Elijah’s role. But, predictively, it is difficult to determine whether the future one will come in the spirit and power of Elijah or be Elijah himself.” [3] On their “consistent” literal hermeneutic, why should this be difficult? Does not Walvoord himself open this very book with these words: “Unmistakably, the evidence is overwhelming that God means exactly what He says as prophecy after prophecy has already been literally fulfilled.” [4] (Despite such a statement, he can explain Jos 11:11–23 thus: “Though the Lord was said to have fulfilled all His promises, as the Book of Judges makes clear, much of the territory had not yet been possessed”! [5])

I will continue this study in my next blog. Stay tuned.

Notes
1. Ironside, Expository Notes on Ezekiel the Prophet, 262, cited in J. D. Pentecost, Things to Come, 498–499. Cf. Ryrie, Basis of the Premillennial Faith, 88. Walvoord, Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, 60.
2. Pentecost, Things to Come, 311–313; cf. English, “The Two Witnesses,” 666
3. Walvoord, Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, 339–40.
4. Walvoord, Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, 7.
5. Walvoord, Prophecy Knowledge Handbook, 44.

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Tagged: dispensational hermeneutics, literalism