March 12, 2017 Eschatology SS Lesson 2 THE HERMENEUTICS OF ESCHATOLOGY Hermeneutics is the science or art of understanding. It deals with the principles by which we interpret the Bible. DISPENSATIONAL APPROACH TO INTERPRETATION (10 principles) a) Dispensational interpretation treats future prophecy with the same method of interpretation as all of the rest of Scripture. Dispensational hermeneutics seeks to consistently apply to all Scripture the same normal, literal and plain method of interpretation. b) Literal interpretation seeks to determine the historical/grammatical meaning of the words of Scripture. The question asked is: What did the original author (human and divine) mean by this word in its time period and use in this context of the Bible? c) If past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal way we ought to assume that future prophecies will also be fulfilled literally rather than theologically, or figuratively. d) If prophecies are conditional they may not be fulfilled due to failure to meet the conditions, but if God promises something unconditionally, He will certainly bring it to pass. e) Prophecies can have a double reference or partial fulfillment. A prophecy that is only partially fulfilled must not be dismissed as entirely fullfilled. f) The presence of figures, symbols and types in prophecy does not eliminate or preclude literal fulfillment. Apocalyptic literature such as Daniel and Revelation contains special figures and symbols but there is a literal/historical meaning behind the symbol. Figures of speech convey a literal ideal or truth. If the context demands it interpret symbols figuratively. Israel always means Israel and never means the church. The idea that the church replaces Israel is a form of spiritualized, allegorical or theological interpretation. Figurative interpretation does not pertain to the spiritual or mystical sense of Scripture, but to the literal sense. 1 g) If the plain sense makes sense, seek no other sense. h) The same system of hermeneutics should be applied consistently to all of Scripture the historical, grammatical inductive method. 1 Thomas Ice, Dispensational Hermeneutics a chapter in Issues in Dispensationalism, Wesley R. Willis and John R. Master; Gen. Eds. (Chicago: Moody Press 1994) 32.
i) New truths revealed may clarify but cannot change older revealed truths. (This principle is disputed by those in the Covenant system who believe the NT clarifies in such a way as to change the literal meaning of the OT). j) Scripture contains types: A type is a person, place, object, ceremony, or event which is intended to illustrate or foreshadow a future, greater reality. PERSON: David is a type of Christ in his 1 st and 2 nd comings. He was first anointed King by God yet rejected for a time until finally being received by Israel and enthroned as King. OBJECT: The Tabernacle and later the Temple in its ceremonies and sacrifices are a type and foreshadowing of the Messiah s sacrifice on Calvary s cross. EVENT: The event of the deliverance from Egypt is a type of the redemption of sinners from sin through the death (blood) of the Messiah. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY LITERAL INTERPRETATION? 1. The meaning of a text is expressed in the meaning of the words used within their historical and grammatical context. 2. Understand words in their primary, matter-of-fact sense unless the context dictates otherwise. Isaiah 9:6-7 Literal interpretation gives to every word the same meaning it would have in normal usage, whether employed in writing, speaking or thinking. 2 Literal interpretation does not rule out figures of speech. The existence of any meaning for a figure of speech depends on the reality of the literal meaning of the terms involved. Literal interpretation does not deny that prophecy contains either figurative language or great spiritual truths. It means that the prophecies are to normally interpreted as other utterances are interpreted. (Craven and Lange as cited in Dispensationalism Today 87) 2 Bernard Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation (Boston: Wilde, 1956) 89-92.
March 12, 2017 Eschatology SS Lesson 2 HOW DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT USE THE OLD TESTAMENT? This is the critical issue. Covenant or Amillennial theologians justify their theological interpretation of future prophecy on the basis of the NT use of the OT in passages quoted by the Apostles in the Gospels, Acts, Galatians, & Hebrews. Covenant theologians insist that the NT must be allowed to interpret the OT. The conclusive revelation of the NT authoritatively interprets the OT. The NT gives a theological basis for changing the original meaning of the OT, approving of spiritualization or a theological interpretation. Dispensationalists insist that it is not necessary to spiritualize the OT in order to explain NT use of the OT. Arnold Fruchtenbaum identifies four ways the NT may fulfill the OT without abandoning literal interpretation. 1. A literal prediction may be literally fulfilled Micah 5:2 and Matt 2:5-6 The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem and so he was. 2. A literal statement may be typically fulfilled Hos 11:1 and Mt 2:15 God called his son Israel out of Egypt in the exodus as a type of the Messiah, God s Son, who also came up out of Egypt. (Principle: The experiences of the nation are typical of the experiences of the Messiah.) 3. A literal statement may be applied Jer 31:15 and Matt 2:17-18 Jeremiah predicted the weeping mothers of the captivity in 586 BC under the figure of Rachel weeping for her lost son Joseph. Matthew cites the analogy of events around Bethlehem as mothers wept for their lost children because of Herod s slaughter of the infants. 4. OT prophets may be summarized Mt 2:23 Nazarene No single OT quote refers to the Messiah as Nazarene. Nazarenes were a people despised and rejected because their lineage in Israel was historically suspect. Luke 18:31-33 describes Jesus this way.
HOW THE THREE SYSTEMS USE THE OT IN THE NT Text Covenant Amillennial Progressive Dispensational Dispensational Joel 2 Acts 2 Amos 9 Acts 15 Pentecost fulfills Joel s prophecy- the last days are here. The church fulfills the Millennial promises to Israel thus inheriting them and eliminating a Millennial Kingdom The rebuilt house or tent of David is the church which God is using to preach to the Gentiles. The tabernacle of David has been rebuilt and restored in the passion-ascension of Jesus the Messiah. Amos 9 is fulfilled in the Church and has no other fulfillment. Pentecost inaugurates the Messianic Age with the church, yet a future fulfillment awaits the consummation in the Millennial kingdom at Christ s return The tabernacle of David has been rebuilt and restored in the passion-ascension of Jesus the Messiah. Amos 9 has begun to be fulfilled in the Church but awaits final fulfillment in the earthly kingdom. Pentecost fulfilled what Joel described, --but not all was fulfilled because complete fulfillment depended on the contingency of Israel s repentance. The Kingdom is postponed until Israel repents. Acts 3:19-21 The promises of the prophets are not cancelled but postponed The tabernacle of David is not now rebuilt but will be rebuilt after Jesus returns at the 2 nd Advent. James did not say present Gentile salvation fulfilled Amos 9, but that the prophets (pl) agreed with it. The throne of David is never connected to the throne of God in Scripture. Ps 110 Acts 2 The reign of the Davidic King predicted in Ps 110 has begun with Christ s ascension to God s right hand- he rules over the church now from the heavenly Zion. Already The reign of the Davidic King predicted in Ps 110 has begun with Christ s ascension to God s right hand- but he will reign on earth as well at the 2 nd Advent. The Kingdom has both come and is coming. Already Not Yet Although Jesus is exalted to God s right hand now it is only until the Father establishes his reign on David s throne in the future at His 2 nd Advent. Not Yet
March 12, 2017 Eschatology SS Lesson 2 Appendix ILLUSTRATION OF THE TWO HERMENEUTICS APPLIED TO A TEXT How does Micah 3:9-12 compare to Micah 4:1-8? Interpreting Micah 3:9-12 When did Micah prophesy? Isaiah and Micah about 715 BC in the reign of Hezekiah How does one normally interpret Zion Literally being plowed as a field and Jerusalem becoming a heap of ruins? Did this historically and literally Yes. Between 586 and 539 BC happen? When? How did the contemporaries of (See Jeremiah 26:18-19) They Jeremiah interpret Micah s prophecy interpreted Micah predicting the around 600 BC? destruction of the Temple and the city of How then would we expect to interpret Micah 4:1-8? Jerusalem. We would expect a similar literal interpretation How does a non-dispensationalist interpret these prophecies? We find a theological interpretation of this Millennial passage Conflicting interpretations of Micah 4:1-3 Figurative Interpretation Literal - Normal Interpretation This text relates to the present day church This text relates to a future Millennium Mt Zion is the church established by Christ Mt Zion will become the political capital of in the last days (Jesus ministry) earth and physical changes in geography The church will be highly advanced and will lift up Jerusalem in elevation. become eminent and conspicuous There will be a great inflow of enthusiastic converts to the church The nations of earth will physically come to Jerusalem to learn God s Word. The Temple is a spiritual Temple of the church the house of the God of Jacob The gospel will begin in Jerusalem and spread to all the world God s convicting power will accompany the spread of the gospel All the world will be converted to the gospel thus bringing international peace There will be a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem The LORD will personally reside at Jerusalem and The Law of the King will be enforced worldwide He will personally render decisions between disputing nations Jesus as King will enforce international disarmament between nations ending war
Matthew Henry gives the typical Covenant-Amillennial view of Micah 4: (an example of spiritualization or theological interpretation) That there shall be a church for God set up in the world, after the defection and destruction of the Jewish church, the last days; is, in the days of the Messiah. The mountain of the house of the Lord = a church shall be set up in the world, to which the Lord will be daily adding such as shall be saved. That this church shall be firmly founded and well-built: It shall be established in the top of the mountains; Christ himself will build it upon a rock; it shall be an impregnable fort upon an immovable foundation, so that the gates of hell shall neither overthrow the one nor undermine the other (Mt. 16:18 That it shall be highly advanced, and become eminent and conspicuous: It shall be exalted above the hills, observed with wonder for its growing greatness from small beginnings. The kingdom of Christ shall shine with greater lustre than ever any of the kingdoms of the earth did. It shall be as a city on a hill, which cannot be hid, Mt. 5:14. That there shall be a great inflow of converts to the church and succession of converts in it. People shall flow unto it as the waters of a river are continually flowing; there shall be a constant stream of believers flowing in from all parts into the church, as the people of the Jews flowed into the temple, while it was standing, to worship there. In gospel-times many nations shall flow into the church. they shall excite and encourage one another, and shall say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord now raised among us, even to the house of the God of Jacob, the spiritual temple which we need not travel far to, for it is brought to our doors and set up in the midst of us. A new revelation shall be published to the world (the gospel) on which the church shall be founded, and by which multitudes shall be brought into it: For the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. The gospel is here called the word of the Lord, The gospel went forth from Jerusalem, from Zion, It was in Jerusalem that Christ preached and wrought miracles; there he died, rose again, and ascended; there the Spirit was poured out; and those that were to preach repentance and remission of sins to all nations were ordered to begin at Jerusalem, so that thence flowed the streams that were to water the desert world. That a convincing power should go along with the gospel of Christ, in all places where it should be preached (v. 3): He shall judge among many people. Messiah as Judge = conviction of sin by the gospel message. Christ judges and conquerors by the gospel during this present age. The effects of the gospel is to bring peace to those converted by it. The kingdom of the Messiah is set up by the gospel: They shall beat their swords into plough-shares; (Tit. 3:2, 3). This is interpreted as of individuals converted by the gospel. It is presumed that as the gospel conquers the world international peace will result.