JP

I’m in a similar position (historic premill.) - I respect Dr. MacArthur for his preaching and his pastoral work all over the world (in fact I studied at the Masters Academy International), but I’m completely opposed to his dispensational view on eschatology. It’s amazing for a man of his format that he could make those statements in such an uninformed way.

However - you will also find a very thoughtful response to Dr. MacArthurs opening sermon on Kim Riddlebargers Blog:

http://kimriddlebarger.squarespace.com/a-reply-to-john-macarthur/

- and also a very good discussion of the subject in the archive of the ‘Narrow Mind’ Radio Show - You will find it in two parts (mp3 files) on the related blog (Archives March 2007):

http://tnma.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html

- there you find it under the heading: “Why Every Self Respecting Calvinist Should Know the Difference Between Israel after the Flesh and The Israel after the Promise”

Your servant,

dirk

Thanks for the links. I am familiar with both the Riddlebarger posts and the Narrow Mind programs, and they are very good.

Just to be clear though, neither Waldron, Riddlebarger, or Gene Cook hold to the historic Premill position. Personally, I see that once the dispensational glasses come off, non-millennialism is the only consistent place to go, even though there are a few Godly men down through the years who disagree.

SDG,
Nathan

Personally, I’d have to say that Ephesians 2 did it for me. That and Acts chapter 15, Romans 2, and Romans 9. It’s just crystal clear to me that a Jew, even in the Old Testament, was never simply an ethnic race, but were God’s chosen people. This correlation can only make sense when you understand the New Testament’s teaching on predestination and election.

But there was a process for anyone in the Old Testament to become a ‘Jew’. And this was by circumcision. All one had to do, to be a part of the promises and the Covenant people, was be circumcised and agree to follow the commandments. So, when dispensationals today teach that the Jewish race is in itself what God blessed and promised things to, it simply shows (in my opinion) a misguided understanding on the Old Testament at a very foundational level.

Also, in the past year has Dr. MacArthur altered his stance on this question?

Thank you.

I believe the posts were taken down –though I’m not sure why. I actually saved all of the posts linked to in this post, but I did not save the comments to them. Email me offline at nathan at shepherdtheflock.com, and I’ll try to help you get caught up.

And as far as I know, MacArthur has not altered his position. It will be interesting to see if he responds to Waldron’s book, however.