PRETRIB: Examining the Foundations of Pretribulation Rapture Theology (a review)

Here's Shawn Willson's brief YouTube review of Alan Kurschner's book, PRETRIB: Examining the Foundations of Pretribulation Rapture Theology. While I haven't read the book, I intend to add a few comments about the essential observations from the review at a later time. I can already hear some of the objections.

Israel Politics and Dispensationalism

Yes, Israel Politics and Dispensationalism! Somehow politics always comes into this.

There are two main areas which get people worked up regarding dispensationalism. One is the pretribulational rapture and the other is Israel. And they often go hand in hand. If you don’t like the pretrib rapture you cite John Darby and the 19th century in order to invalidate it. If you don’t like the dispensationalist view of Israel you cite John Darby and the 19th century.

I’ll focus on the latter.

A friend recently sent me an article by Rod Dreher, a culturally conservative Christian columnist and writer. Dreher moved away from Catholicism and embraced the Eastern Orthodox faith.

I found a 2014 article in which he writes disapprovingly of Ted Cruz’s support of Israel. Dreher also claims to be pro-Israel and pro Christian. To his credit, he supports Israel’s right to exist and defend itself and says it’s not a matter of religion for him. He adds that, because of the savagery of the other states, it’s easy for a Westerner like himself to sympathize with Israel, even though it isn’t perfect.

So he claims to stand by Israel. Well, sort of….

Dreher also writes that, unlike Israel, Middle East Christians can’t defend themselves. Hence, that means making alliances with unsavory characters:

“People who have to be afraid at every moment for their lives don’t have the luxury of being morally selective in who their friends are.”

Elsewhere he observes that equating America with the new Israel in context to “jingoism” comes dangerously close to idolatry. He admits that Israel stands above its neighbors but doesn’t like it being used as a voting magnet thereby possibly offending ME Christians (e.g., Ted Cruz):

“…US Christians who come out of a dispensationalist theological tradition will never take a more nuanced view of Israel, because they believe that the establishment of the Jewish state is a prophetic precursor to the Second Coming of Christ. But there are many conservative Protestants who do not necessarily share that absolutist 19th-century theological view, and who simply do not know much of anything about Christianity in the Middle East.”...keep reading

DISPENSATIONALISM, ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH

The eighth annual Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics was held on the campus of Summit University on September 16 and 17, 2015.

10 Council members prepared papers, and 25 Council members gathered to discuss the topic, "Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church.” 49 non-council members observed the discussion. Participants came from across the country, some as far as California, Texas and South Carolina. Many current BBS students and alumni were part of the interactive event.

"The highlight for me was the Pastor’s Panel on Thursday night as we connected our dispensational theology to local church life and issues," notes Dr. Mike Stallard, Dean of Baptist Bible Seminary.

Representatives from Regular Baptist Press and Lampion Press were present, and they continue to work with the Council and its members on future publications.

Read the papers HERE

Has the Church Replaced Israel?