Yes sir, I am a proponent of Dispensationalism. I seek to interpret the scripture as literally as possible unless they specifically say not to. I hold the position that salvation has always been by faith, but it is manifested differently between Old and New Testaments (Gen. 15:6; Hab. 2:4; Rom. 4:1-5; John 3:16).
As one who believes in dispensationalism I accept God’s covenants as vital parts of dispensational activity, but the primary unit of division is the dispensation (i.e., period of time). There are promises to Israel that are yet to be fulfilled. Israel will be completely restored and be prominent in the world as it carries out God’s promises. The Church does not replace Israel. The Church did not exist in O.T. times. Premillennial is held by all dispensationalists. Pre-tribulation rapture is held by almost all dispensationalists that I am aware of.
All Scripture is profitable however some things are for some people and not all things are for all people. It is always profitable to know who something is written to, why it was written.
I would however say the God has given the Jews a lot of favor and blessings even after that have turned from Him time and time again.
Remember Hebrews 1:1
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world"
Correct, there is no second chance after death and Romans 11 says that God is NOT finished with His people the Jews.
Appreciate that. I also believe in the historical grammatical method of interpretation and take the scripture literal unless context dictate otherwise. However, Dispensationlist seem to subscribe a bit to a higher critical method of interpretation in which the burden of the interpretation is given to the reader.
With that said, I believe I take a more simpler approach to scripture ever keeping in mind that God never changes and therefore is not arbitrary in his decisions. The method is outlined below. Food for thought. God Bless.
HOW TO STUDY SCRIPTURE
1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible. Matthew 5:18
2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study. 2 Timothy 3:15,16,17
3. Nothing revealed in the Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering. Deuteronomy
29:29; Matthew 10:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Philippians 3:15; Isaiah 14:11; Matthew 21:22; John 14:13, 14;
15:7; James 1:5, 6; 1 John 5:13, 14, 15.
4.
To understand doctrine, bring all the Scriptures together on the subject you wish to know; then let every word
have its proper influence, and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in an error.
Isaiah 28:7-29; 35:8; Proverbs 19:27; Luke 24:27,44,45; Romans 16:26; James 5:19; 2 Pet. 1:19,20
5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound it to me,
and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be
thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, not the Bible. Psalms 19:7-11; 119:97-
105; Matthew 23:8-10; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; Ezekiel 34:18,19; Luke 11:52; Malachi 2:7,8
6. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables, and in this way the same things are
often times revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures and parables. If you wish to
understand them, you must combine them all in one. Psalms 89:19; Hosea 12:10; Habakkuk 2:2; Acts 2:17;
1 Corinthians 10:6; Hebrews 9:9, 24; Psalms 78:2; Matthew 8:13, 34; Genesis 41:1-32; Daniel 2; 7; 8; Acts
10:9-16
7. Visions are always mentioned as such. 2 Corinthians 12:1
8. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy to represent future things, times
and events; such as mountains, meaning governments; beasts, meaning kingdoms, waters, meaning people,
lamps, meaning Word of God, day, meaning year. Daniel 2:35,44; 7:8,17; Revelation 17:1,15; Psalms
119:105; Ezekiel 4:6
9. Parables are used as comparison to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures,
by the subject and Bible. Mark 4:13
10. Figures sometimes have two or more different significations; as day is used in a figurative sense to represent
three different periods of time.
• Indefinite.
• Definite, a day for a year.
• Day for a thousand years.
If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not.
Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ezekiel 4:6; 2 Peter 3:8
11. How to know when a word is used figuratively: If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to
the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally; if not, figuratively. Revelation 12:1,2;17:3-7
12. To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it
explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further; if not, look again.
13. To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfillment of a prophecy: If you find every word of
the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the
true event. But if one word lacks a fulfillment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future
development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true, believing children of
God may never be ashamed. Psalms 21:5; Isaiah 14:17-19; 1 Peter 2:6; Revelation 17:17; Acts 3:18
14. The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if
tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation,
friends, home, comforts and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of Gods
word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking
in our hearts. We must believe that God will never forfeit His word. And we can have confidence that He that
takes notice of the sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our head, will guard the translation of His own word,
and throw a barrier around it, and prevent those who sincerely trust in God, and put implicit confidence in His
word, from erring far from the truth, though they may not understand Hebrew or Greek