Dispensationalists often assert that a literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies is a hermeneutical principle derived from the Bible itself. However, the idea that one must interpret Old Testament prophecies literally is not explicitly commanded in Scripture.
Instead, dispensationalists typically point to certain passages as evidence of the validity of their approach to interpreting prophecy.
Below are a few common arguments they make, followed by a critique from a Reformed theological perspective.
Dispensationalist Arguments for Literal Interpretation
God’s Faithfulness to His Promises
Dispensationalists argue that God’s promises to Israel in the Old Testament must be fulfilled literally because God is faithful and unchanging. They might point to passages like:
Genesis 12:1-3 (the Abrahamic covenant): God’s promises of land, descendants, and blessing are seen as requiring literal fulfillment.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 (the new covenant): Dispensationalists argue that these promises specifically to Israel necessitate a literal future for ethnic Israel.
Examples of Prophecies Fulfilled Literally
Dispensationalists point to prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled literally in the New Testament as a precedent for interpreting other prophecies literally:
Micah 5:2: The prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem was fulfilled literally in Jesus Christ (Matthew 2:5-6).
Zechariah 9:9: The prophecy of the Messiah entering Jerusalem on a donkey was fulfilled literally (Matthew 21:5).
Revelation as a Guide to Prophecy
Dispensationalists often appeal to the book of Revelation, which they interpret as a roadmap for future events. They argue that the detailed descriptions in Revelation necessitate a literal approach to Old Testament prophecies connected to those events.
Reformed Critique of Literal Hermeneutics
From a Reformed theological perspective, the Bible does not explicitly teach that all prophecy must be interpreted literally. Instead, the New Testament frequently interprets Old Testament prophecies typologically or spiritually, demonstrating that Christ and His Church are the ultimate fulfillment of these promises. Examples include:
The Abrahamic Covenant Fulfilled in Christ
Galatians 3:16: Paul explicitly states that the promise to Abraham and his “offspring” refers to Christ, not merely to ethnic Israel.
Hebrews 11:10, 16: The patriarchs were looking forward to a heavenly country, not merely an earthly land.
Davidic Promises Fulfilled in Christ
Acts 2:29-36: Peter declares that the promise of an eternal throne to David is fulfilled in the resurrection and ascension of Christ.
New Covenant Fulfilled in the Church
Hebrews 8:6-13: The author of Hebrews interprets the new covenant as already being inaugurated in Christ and applied to the Church.
Typological Fulfillment of Prophecies
Many Old Testament prophecies use symbolic language to point to greater spiritual realities. For example:
Ezekiel 37:24-28: The prophecy of David as shepherd and king is fulfilled in Christ, the Good Shepherd and eternal King.
Amos 9:11-12: James interprets this prophecy about the restoration of David’s tent as fulfilled in the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Church (Acts 15:16-17).
Conclusion
While dispensationalists find support for their hermeneutical approach in the fulfillment of certain prophecies and their understanding of God’s promises, the Bible itself does not mandate a strictly literal interpretation of Old Testament prophecies.
The New Testament demonstrates a Christ-centered, typological approach, showing that many Old Testament promises and prophecies are fulfilled in Christ and His Church.
This Christocentric interpretation aligns with the Reformed emphasis on seeing all Scripture as culminating in Jesus Christ, who is the “Yes and Amen” of all God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).
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