Dr. Couch, I know you speak often of Progressive Dispensationalism. What is your main complaint?
Progressive Dispensationalism (PD) is not biblical! It was an attempt by
some academicians to hold hands with Covenant theology. In fact, the
“founders” of PD virtually admitted the same. They wanted to join the
“intellectual” guys, the Reformed crowd, or at least to be accepted by
them, so they came up with a compromised view. They say two things that
are not biblical:
- Christ is now seated on the throne of David “in heaven.”
They use Psalms 110:1-2 as proof which says: “The Lord says to my Lord:
‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy
feet.’ The Lord will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion, saying,
‘Rule in the midst of Thine enemies.’” Then they try to tie the
Melchizedekian order to the kingly Davidic covenant in verse 4. Wrong
again! The book of Hebrews ties the order of Melchizedek to the fact
that Christ is a priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek”
(Heb. 7:17), but then points to the fact that this order shows that
Christ is the giver of the New covenant (Heb. 7). The Davidic covenant
has to do with Christ’s future earthly rule and reign. Note “earthly”
not “heavenly.” He is not on the throne of David presently, as further
clarified in Revelation 3:21. There Christ differentiates between His
Father’s throne in heaven, and His earthly throne He will set up on
earth in the Millennium. This is further confirmed by the words of Jesus
in Matthew 25:31-on where He speaks in the future tense of His coming
to reign on His “glorious throne” on earth, in Jerusalem!
- Along with the allegorists and the amillennialists the PD guys try to say that Joel 2 was fulfilled in Acts 2:14-21. Peter does not say that. He does not use any word that indicates this quote is (a) an illustration, or (b) a fulfillment. He says “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel” (v. 16). With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost the New covenant was LAUNCHED, BEGUN but not fulfilled! It will be fulfilled by Israel at their conversion in the kingdom. However, the church presently does BENEFIT by the New covenant but does not fulfill it.
I understand that some of the PD fellows have changed
many of their views and gone back, to a degree, to biblical
dispensationalism! You cannot mix apples and oranges—Covenant theology
(which is allegorical and amillennial) and true biblical
dispensationalism!
I suggest you order the book Progresssive Dispensationalism by Dr. Ron Bigalke, published by University Press of America. I have
two chapters in that book: “The Relationship Between Covenants and
Dispensations” and “The Church Dispensation and the ‘Times of
Refreshing.’”
Thanks for asking,
Mal Couch, Ph.D., Th.D.
