In John 6, Jesus repeatedly promises to raise believers “on the last day” (John 6:39-40, 44, 54). This phrase is significant, particularly because it seems to tie the resurrection of believers directly to a singular climactic event—the “last day.”
This passage fits neatly into a framework where the “last day” is understood as the day of Christ’s return, encompassing the resurrection of the righteous and the final judgment.
However, for a Dispensationalist, interpreting this passage within their theological commitments can be challenging. Dispensationalism typically teaches a pretribulational rapture, where believers are secretly taken to heaven before a seven-year Great Tribulation. This is followed by Christ’s return to establish a literal 1,000-year earthly kingdom, after which the final resurrection and judgment occur.
Here’s how a Dispensationalist might interpret John 6 in light of their eschatology:
The “Last Day” is Not Necessarily a Single Calendar Day
Dispensationalists often argue that “the last day” refers to a broader eschatological period rather than a literal 24-hour day. They might say that this period includes various stages of resurrection and judgment, spanning from the rapture to the final judgment after the millennium.
The Resurrection in John 6 Refers to the Righteous at the Time of the Rapture
In this interpretation, the “last day” for the Church-age believers would be the moment of the rapture, when they are raised from the dead to meet Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This resurrection is distinct from the resurrection of tribulation saints and Old Testament believers, which they place at the end of the Great Tribulation, and from the resurrection of the wicked, which they place after the millennium.
A Distinction Between Groups of Believers
Dispensationalists distinguish between different groups of believers based on their dispensational timeline. They would argue that the promise in John 6 is specifically addressed to Church-age believers, not to saints from other dispensations, such as Old Testament believers or tribulation saints. Each group is believed to experience resurrection at different points in the eschatological timeline.
Harmonizing with the Millennium
Since Dispensationalists hold that the millennium is a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth, they would not interpret the “last day” in John 6 as referring to the end of all things but rather to the culmination of God’s plan for a specific group of believers within the Church age.
Tensions in the Interpretation
This interpretation, however, introduces some difficulties:
- The plain reading of “the last day” suggests a singular, definitive conclusion to history rather than a protracted series of events spread over 1,007+ years.
- It fragments the unity of the resurrection, which is more naturally understood in John 6 as a singular event for all believers, rather than one divided by dispensational categories.
For a Dispensationalist, the “last day” must be interpreted in a way that accommodates their theological framework, often requiring distinctions that are not immediately apparent in the text. This contrasts with a simpler eschatological understanding that sees the “last day” as the final day of history when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead, raise all believers, and usher in the new heavens and new earth.
We would respond to the Dispensational interpretation of the “last day” in John 6 by emphasizing the unity of Scripture, the simplicity of Christ’s promise, and the cohesive eschatological timeline revealed in the Bible.
The “Last Day” as the Final Culmination of History
The “last day” in John 6 is referring to the singular, climactic event of Christ’s second coming. This includes the resurrection of believers, the final judgment, and the consummation of God’s kingdom.
The plain and natural reading of Jesus’ words supports this view. John 6 doesn’t present a complex eschatological timeline but a simple promise that all who believe in Christ will be raised together on the “last day.”
In contrast, the Dispensational interpretation fragments the “last day” into multiple events spanning over 1,007+ years, requiring theological distinctions (e.g., Church-age believers, tribulation saints, etc.) not explicitly found in the text.
Are such divisions justified in Scripture?
The Unity of the Resurrection
John 6 consistently ties the resurrection of believers to a single event—the “last day.” Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:23-24 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 also aligns with this, presenting the resurrection as a unified event at Christ’s return.
Introducing multiple resurrections across various dispensations unnecessarily complicates the biblical narrative and contradicts its coherence.
Passages like Daniel 12:2, John 5:28-29, and Revelation 20:11-15 describe a general resurrection and judgment at the end of history. These passages reinforce the idea of a single resurrection event rather than the multiple stages proposed by Dispensationalism.
Covenant Theology and the One People of God
Covenant theology emphasizes the unity of God’s redemptive plan across history, with one people of God composed of both Old and New Testament saints. The promise of resurrection and eternal life is for all believers, regardless of their place in redemptive history. In John 6, Jesus doesn’t limit His promise to “Church-age believers.” Instead, He declares that all who believe in Him will be raised on the last day.
The Dispensational framework, with its sharp distinction between Israel and the Church, fragments God’s people and complicates the interpretation of promises like those in John 6.
This division undermines the covenantal unity revealed in Scripture (e.g., Galatians 3:28-29, Ephesians 2:14-16).
Christ’s Fulfillment of All Things
Reformed theology holds that Christ is the fulfillment of all the promises and types in Scripture (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The “last day” resurrection spoken of in John 6 is the fulfillment of the eschatological hope for both Old Testament and New Testament believers.
The notion of separate resurrections for different groups diminishes the centrality of Christ’s work in bringing about the ultimate redemption and renewal of all things.
The Simplicity and Clarity of Christ’s Promise
Jesus’ promise in John 6 is pastorally significant. It offers assurance to believers that they will be raised on the “last day.”
Introducing a complex, multi-stage eschatology can obscure the clarity and simplicity of this hope.
The simpler interpretation—a single resurrection on the last day—is more faithful to the text and avoids unnecessary theological complications (Occam’s razor).
Conclusion
We do well to recognize the unity of God’s redemptive plan, the singular nature of the resurrection, and the simplicity of Jesus’ promise.
The Dispensational framework imposes artificial distinctions and timelines on the text, which are inconsistent with the overall teaching of Scripture.
The amillennialist view, grounded in covenant theology, sees the “last day” as the glorious culmination of history when Christ raises all believers, judges the world, and ushers in the eternal state.
Leave a comment