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If you could do dispensationalism for dummies in about five sentences, it would be appreciated. This Catholic looks at the threads and instantly gets a head-ache.

For what it is worth FRiend, most of the Calvinists and other Traditional Reformed (Lutherans, Church of England derivatives, etc) get head aches as well.

In a nut shell...appropriate term for the subject of this discussion...Although John N.A.B. Darby is given credit for the first theological outlook that is recognisable as Dispensationalism, the school actually goes back to the movement of Edward Irving, and in particular, two female 'prophets' in his congregation in the 1830's. Those two Scottish females were named Mary Campbell, and Margaret MacDonald. (As a Scot, let me tell you that when you can get a MacDonald and a Campbell to agree on anything, beware of whatever 'it' happens to be.)

Some parts of it were derived from the theology of hymn writer Isaac Watts, though Watts' public theology did not remotely resemble anything recognisable as Modern Dispensationalism.

Along with Dispensationalism, Irving's congregation resembled much of the excesses that one sees in the Modern Charismatic movement. Irving also had difficulties with his Christological doctrines, and was taken to task by the Church of Scotland over those views.

It appears that bad ideas keep trying to gain a foothold in the church in every generation.

Or in the words of the 'Preacher' ...There is nothing new under the Sun...

Thank you for the response. It is very much appreciated.

I loved the little Scottish joke you dropped in. I have a head-ache already. Its not a theology I put much stock in, I am learning I don’t have to. Thanks again and God Bless.

You will also note that this odd teaching is most welcome and well-received among those who eschew the historic confessions and creeds of the Church.

The reason for this seems obvious. Men love the attention they get from formulating their own creeds with their own noxious doctrines with which they can fool the sheep under their care.

For 1830 years the Church knew nothing of these teachings on the second coming, or on the relationship between Israel and the Church. The early church fathers, and all the fathers for 2000 years, have been supersessionists, teaching that the universal Church is the expansion of the geographically limited entity known as Israel.

All the righteous are the true sons of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ. We are related to Abraham by the only genetic that matters, spiritual genetics. We are Spiritual Israel.