INTRODUCTION

COVENANTAL ESCHATOLOGY REVEALED

THE study of eschatology is essential in each and every Christian's life for their own spiritual growth and development to become complete.  But the eschatology that I am talking about here is the eschatology of this dispensation of grace.  What I mean by the eschatology of this dispensation, is for us to understand that this dispensation of grace is the eschatological fulfillment of God's master plan.  We must be able to see the invisible elect priests of God, which make up the true congregation that is always hidden in God, as the eschatological fulfillment of the true Israel of God. We now understand this as the hidden/ or invisible Israel of God.

This is the basic reasoning behind this title COVENANTAL ESCHATOLOGY REVEALED.  It is when we recognize the dispensational changes that now manifest the complex identification of God's people, that we can begin to recognize the eschatological fulfillment of God's covenants with father Abraham.  Understanding that the Abrahamic Covenant is the indispensable eschatology for this dispensation, because this dispensation is in fact the consummation of God's original promise to father Abraham.

It must also be clarified here, that the understandings which are being offered within this study, are generally given in the perspective of the invisible elect; the true Congregation of God; the royal priesthood; the hidden Israel of God.      

The differing views in eschatology that are presently being publicized throughout the Christian Church, creates a very difficult and confusing environment for understanding the complex identity of God's people within this present dispensation.  These problems exist primarily because these learned eschatological views that are zealously believed by their individual advocates, have never been thoroughly studied and proved by these same proponents.  All that these advocates are really doing is repeating and defending what they have heard and learned.  Neither one of these two popular views, not the Premillennial view nor the Postmillennial view, can stand up under the scrutiny of all of the Scriptures.  Although the A-millennial view, because of its simplicity, seems to come out on the high ground, this view is also deficient in some of the more critical areas of Eschatology.

Then from these systematic studies in Chapters I through X, it is reasonable to conclude that a person's eschatological understanding has a considerable amount of influence upon their theological understanding.  Making then, one’s eschatological proof along with one’s eschatological Scripture compatibility imperative for achieving any correct theological understanding.  Consequently, there is really only one legitimate source where we can go to prove our understanding, and that source is the Holy Bible itself.  It is because of these difficult problems in eschatology, that we present this entire study for consideration and debate.  I would also put an open challenge to all who read these notes, to Scripturally disprove any one of these conclusive findings. 

But to be even more specific, these systematic studies, which are being presented here in Chapters I through X, are independent studies that were undertaken because of the confusion surrounding the Church in these the latter days.  The same confusion that presently exists within the various denominations of the whole visible Church.

Even at the very beginning, it was because I could not understand the reasoning behind the many separations within the visible Church that I first asked God about this matter of divisions: Divisions that are, in my opinion, totally contradictory to His Word.  And secondly, because of the wide variance that exists within these present day eschatological understandings, I also asked God which eschatology was correct?  The answer that God seemed to impress upon me, was, “you tell Me!”  It is with considerable trepidation that I tell you these things: That this study was accomplished in its entirety under the direction and guidance of our Heavenly Father.  Each and every day that I come to God, I ask Him to reveal His truths to me.  Not my truths, but His truths.

This study commenced in earnest in the early eighties and continues to this very day.  It would seem even now, in retrospect, that all I ever really did throughout these years of study was take notes.  The only things that I could ever claim to know for certain, are those things that I have been given to understand from God's Holy Word.                                     

For additional clarification, I have listed the basic source materials that were available for these systematic studies—Chapters I through X.  I used the Holy Bible (ASV 1901, [RASV 1901 for these study notes], KJV, NKJV, KJII interlinear, Ref. NASV, NIV, LB, and MLB); Strong's exhaustive concordance (KJV); Vine's Expository Dictionary; Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (KJV); and Webster's New World Dictionary.

Since this study was undertaken because of the denominational confusion that exists within today’s Church, it was necessary that this study be accomplished outside the denominational influences that one would find within the Christian educational system.  It was in 1984 that God gave me the opportunity to search His Word and work through these studies to find His truths.  God had me in a place that was about as near to isolation as one can get in a civilized society.  This isolated study lasted for more than eight years if my recollection still serves me correctly.  I did not, I repeat, "DID NOT" read a single bible commentary before I had finished these conclusive studies. These conclusions were reached only through God's personal guidance as I read His Word again and again—and again and again.  I also believe that the use of the many various translations of the bible has nullified the observations that one might find within the translations themselves.

As an added comment, I would like to say that this study was accomplished under the strongest protest on my part.  I would tell you straight out—that from the very beginning, I could see absolutely no real benefit in studying eschatology: It is most divisive within Christ's Church.  The only thing that causes me to continue on in this seemingly hopeless quest, is the knowledge that God is in charge in all of these matters.  All that He wills will be accomplished. 

Then looking ahead, the following lists the reference materials used in the Eschatology Overview:

C.I. Scofield - Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth.

John F. Wolvoord - the Rapture Question.

J.Dwight Pentecost - Things To Come—A Study In Biblical Eschatology.

Gary DeMar - The Reduction of Christianity—A Biblical Response to D. Hunt.

Charles Hodge - Systematic Theology vol.i, ii, and iii.

Charles Hodge - Epistle To The Romans.

James Buswell - Systematic Theology vol.i and ii.

Louis Berkhof - Systematic Theology

Louis Berkhof - Manual of Christian Doctrine.

John Calvin - New Testament Commentaries.

Marcellus Kik - An Eschatology of Victory.

William Hendriksen - More Than Conquerors.

William Hendriksen - New Testament Commentary—ROMANS.

G.I. Williamson - Westminster Confession of Faith.

Herman Ridderbos - Paul—An Outline of His Theology.

David E. Holwerda - Jesus and Israel—One Covenant or two?

Millard J. Erickson - Contemporary Options in Eschatology.

To more precisely define this study, chapters I through X are systematic studies in theology that establish and support many of the eschatological conclusions reached in the ESCAHTOLOGY section.  And this study would generally support the overall understandings of the A-millennial view with the incorporation of some understandings taken from the Classical Premillennial view—showing the Old Testament predictions with their New Testament fulfillments.