Dispensational Proof 14

14. Gospels and Acts

            Contrary to many Bible interpreters, the synoptic Gospels maintain God’s distinct plan for Israel. The synoptic Gospels are greatly misinterpreted by those who fail to see dispensational distinctiveness in God’s progressive revelation. Doctrines such as works salvation, amillennialism, loss of salvation are taught from the Gospels improperly. Jesus continues to speak to the nation of Israel prophetically as the Son of God. Israel rejects Jesus as their Messiah which results in the giving of the parabolic teachings of Christ. Matthew 24-25 is still a Jewish text with instructions for Israel in the last days and the great tribulation which includes the prophecies of Daniel particularly the “abomination of desolation” in Matthew 24:15. Mark and Luke speak of the second coming of Christ as well. God’s distinct revelation about the future of Israel is highlighted until after His resurrection when he gives direction to preach the gospel in all the earth. The Gospels provide not only the life of Christ but the transition material that brings us into a new dispensation. The dispensation of the church age is opened after the death, burial and resurrection, and ascension of Christ more specifically when the Holy Spirit empowered the believers on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The Apostles asked Jesus when the kingdom would come in Acts 1 which clearly shows they had the right expectation but were not permitted to know the time of the kingdom. A key term in the book of Acts that directs to the premillenial and literal fulfillment of Jewish expectation of a literal kingdom in the word or phrase “until” or “until the times” in Acts 3:21 (NKJV) “whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”