Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
Progressive Dispensationalism is an attack on the very fundamentals and the foundation of Traditional Dispensationalism. Those in the Progressive dispensationalist community argue that the kingdom age is upon us now.
Progressive Dispensationalist Dr. Darrell L. Bock, Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, writes that "it is clear that with Jesus' presence, and especially his Resurrection-Ascension, comes the beginning of Jesus' kingdom rule" (Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church, ed. Blaising & Bock [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992], 65).
This teaching is false and it is a simple thing to prove that it is false. The Lord Jesus made it plain that the kingdom would not even be near until He returns to the earth:
"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand" (lk.21:27-31).
The overall scheme of Progressive Dispensationalism is entirely dependent on the idea that the kingdom is here already. However, with these words of the Lord Jesus in view their whole teaching comes tumbling down like a child's house of cards.
Progressive Dispensationalist Dr. Darrell L. Bock, Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, writes that "it is clear that with Jesus' presence, and especially his Resurrection-Ascension, comes the beginning of Jesus' kingdom rule" (Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church, ed. Blaising & Bock [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992], 65).
This teaching is false and it is a simple thing to prove that it is false. The Lord Jesus made it plain that the kingdom would not even be near until He returns to the earth:
"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand" (lk.21:27-31).
The overall scheme of Progressive Dispensationalism is entirely dependent on the idea that the kingdom is here already. However, with these words of the Lord Jesus in view their whole teaching comes tumbling down like a child's house of cards.