Replacement Theology vs. Dispensationalism

What is the difference between Replacement Theology and Dispensationalism?
A. Before I talk about the differences, let’s look at some of the similarities. Both are hermeneutical systems developed to understand the Scriptures and both developed to help “explain away” Israel in some form or another. The newly formed Christian Church had trouble dealing with the fact that many prophecies involved Israel and the Lord’s blessings. That certainly could not be the case. After all, Israel rejected the Messiah didn’t she? How could the Christian Church appropriate the blessing given to Israel? This problem was solved when the theologians and church fathers formed the doctrine of Replacement Theology which simply said the Church is the New Israel and they replaced the unbelieving “old” Israel. Presto! Problem solved. The promises of the New Covenant are fulfilled in the Church.

But, just like Bullwinkle used to try to “pull a rabbit out of a hat” and got something else, so to this doctrine could not be defended when one studied the Hebrew, the context and the literal interpretation of the Scriptures. Yeshua talked about the future salvation of Israel, so did Paul. Daniel understood Jeremiah’s book literally. The allegorical interpretation that physical Israel really means “spiritual” Israel just didn’t hold up. Some people left this type of interpretation behind and tried to solve the age old question of how could the Church apply Scriptures to themselves if they were given to Israel historically? The answer was “dispensationalism” which said that God had a plan for the ages. He works with different groups at different times, according to what age they are in.

He would work with one group, then move on with another, then go back to the first group again. So, Israel could receive the blessing during the “old covenant” then another age comes along called “the church age” and he works with another group called Gentiles in the church. We have all seen the timelines with this on them. When the church age ends, then God goes back to work with Israel again. This differentiation between the two groups helped explain how each should relate to the Torah. Since the Torah was given to Israel it applied until God was done dealing with them. Once He stopped, the Torah stopped. In the future, God will again be dealing with Israel again so the Torah is active again. In short, the Torah applies to Israel. Since God is dealing with the Gentile church now, the Torah does not apply, and so on.

Replacement Theology replaces Israel with the Gentile Church, Dispensationalism just “puts a hold” on Israel while God does something else with someone else. Jews are made into Christians and the Torah does not apply in this “dispensation”. Of course, both of these models are false and cannot be supported by Scripture. The first century Apostles and teachers all appealed to the Torah for living and practice. They were told to follow the Torah and to use their example. Yeshua said He did not come to replace the Torah, but to give it meaning by obeying it, which also means to fulfill. He said that those who departed from the Torah would have no place in Him. John said that if you say you know God but fail to keep the commandments, you are a liar and the truth is not in you. The false teaching of the pre-Adamic world comes right out of dispensationalism.

This theory says that before Genesis 1, there was another world and it fell. God “recreated” the heavens and the earth starting in Genesis 1.1. I asked a famous dipensationalist that if what he said was true, then sin and death existed before Adam even though the Scriptures say they didn’t, and they entered the world through Adam. He simply explained it away by saying “That was a different dispensation.” So in comclusion both of these systems are not Biblical and if one follows them in thought or interpretive practice, the Scriptures will be a very confusing book for you. I hope this helps.