The Dispensational View of the Davidic Kingdom - The Master's ...

216 The Master's Seminary Journalthe view that the church in its present form is unrelated to and distinctfrom the Davidic kingdom.This essay argues that the rejection, postponement, and entirelyfuture fulfillment of the Davidic kingdom is and has been aconsistently held view within "normative" dispensationalism. 7 Itfurther argues that this position serves as a distinguishing feature ofdispensationalism, differentiating it from non-dispensational theology.The progressives reject this position and consequently at least blur thedistinction between dispensational and non-dispensational views. 8The first section of this essay will examine the rejected/postponedDavidic kingdom view throughout the history of dispensationalism,beginning with the work of John Nelson Darby. This section will alsoexamine how non-dispensationalists note this concept withindispensationalism. The second section will assess the currentlandscape, giving attention to the rejected/postponed Davidickingdom view in PD. Next will follow a look at the ramifications ofthe current discussion for normative dispensationalism. However, inorder to interact with the claims of Blaising concerning whether thedispensational tradition of the kingdom has changed, a discussion ofthe meanings of "development" and "change" is in order.Kingdom Distinctions in Normative DispensationalismCharles C. Ryrie has argued for the need to distinguish betweenthe concepts of development and change, and this is especially true interms of examining the history of doctrines and doctrinal systems. Hesums up his discussion by noting, " (1) development and change arenot synonymous but have different meanings; and (2) in order todecide whether something is developing or changing one must7The term "normative" follows Larry Crutchfield, The Origins of Dispensationalism:The Darby Factor (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1992) 23-42. It includesthe entire dispensational tradition (classic and revised), excluding the progressives.8Cf. "The essence of dispensationalism, then, is the distinction between Israel andthe Church," Charles C. Ryrie, Dispensationalism Today (Chicago: Moody, 1965) 47; cf.idem, Dispensationalism (Chicago: Moody, 1995) 41.