Chuck Smith did not predict the return of Jesus in 1988. I’ve read the statement and background, and it’s merely a continuing disinformation campaign.
You asked my opinion, so I gave it.
Would you prefer I state my opinions with words that mask that fact????
Dallas and Grace. What’s hard to understand about that?
He most certainly did. "Since a generation of judgment is forty years and the Tribulation period lasts seven years, I believe the Lord could come back for His Church any time before the Tribulation starts, which would mean any time before 1981. (1948 + 40 – 7 = 1981)." And, "I’m convinced that the Lord is coming for his church before the end of 1981." Rapture in 1981 followed seven years later by Christ’s return in 1988. It was the same tune sung my Hal Lindsey and Edgar ("88 Reasons") Whisenant. While he may have used guarded terms in an attempt to deflect future criticism, the faithful knew exactly what he meant.
Dallas and Grace. What’s hard to understand about that?
But Dallas and Grace are not the dispensational institutions they were one or two decades ago. In fact, many dispensationalists that judge "the norm" by the likes of Lewis Chafer, Charles Ryrie, and John Walvoord believe that both Dallas and Grace have sold out to covenant theology in some very important areas.
How is it that the dispensationalism of modern Dallas and Grace are almost unrecognizable wrt to the classic dispensationalism of earlier generations? From what I know of the Calvary Chapel types, they would butt heads with the modern scholars at DTS. What is it about the teaching at modern Dallas or Grace that we should regard it as "the norm"?
BTW, I’m not trying to put you on the spot. I just appreciate your responsiveness.
While I appreciate your candor, I was not looking for an opinion. I was looking for an objective response to the question of who speaks for dispensationalism, that is, who defines "the norm".