GENTILE CHRISTIANS IN ISRAEL’S MILLENNIUM

By Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry Jr

A distinctive feature of dispensationalism is that the millennial kingdom is fundamentally Jewish in character, even to the point of rebuilding the temple, setting up David’s tabernacle, re-instituting the Jewish sacrificial system, and exalting the Jews over elect Gentiles. As a result, the millennium reduces Gentile Christianity to the lowest social level. Note the following quotes from noted dispensationalists:

Ice writes: “This is the point: once Israel is restored to the place of blessing and the tabernacle of David is rebuilt, then will follow the third phase in the plan of God. That period will be the time of the millennium, when the nations will indeed by converted and ruled over by Christ.”1

Whitcomb states that: “Isaiah foresaw not only God’s New Covenant with Israel but also a Temple in the holy land (2:2–3; 60:13). Animal sacrifices would be offered on its altar by Egyptians (19:21) and Arabians (60:7), through priests and Levites (66:21).”2

Dispensationalism surprisingly emphasizes the following distinctions between Jew and Gentile in the millennium:

“God has two distinct purposes — one for Israel and one for the Church.”3

“Israel, regathered and turned to the Lord in salvation, will be exalted, blessed, and favored through this period.”4

“The Gentiles will be Israel’s servants during that age. . . . The nations which usurped authority over Israel in past ages find that downtrodden people exalted and themselves in subjection in their kingdom. And these are not unsaved Gentiles: The Gentiles that are in the millennium will have experienced conversion prior to admission.”5

“The redeemed living nation of Israel, regenerated and regathered to the land will be head over all the nations of the earth. . . . So he exalts them above the Gentile nations. . . . On the lowest level there are the saved, living, Gentile nations.”6

“God will keep his original promises to the fathers and will one day convert and place Israel as the head of the nations.”7
“Israel will be a glorious nation, protected from her enemies, exalted above the Gentiles. . . . In contrast to the present church age in which Jew and Gentile are on an equal plane of privilege, the millennium is clearly a period of time in which Israel is in prominence and blessing. . . . Israel as a nation will be exalted.”8

“In the millennium Israel as a nation will rule over the Gentiles.”9

“The whole point of this passage [Ro 11] revolves around Israel’s being restored to a position of preeminence as a believing nation.”10

“The biblical teaching [is] that the coming millennial kingdom will have its headquarters in Jerusalem with the Messiah ruling the world from the throne of David and with national Israel restored to  its place of supremacy over the nations.”11

Without being too theological in my response, I would just say, “Ouch!.”

Notes

1. Wayne House and Thomas Ice, Dominion Theology, 169.
2. John C. Whitcomb, “Millennial Sacrifices,” in Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, 226.
3. Charles Ryrie, Dispensationalism, 85.
4. Ryrie, Basis of the Premillennial Faith, 149.
5. J. D. Pentecost, Things to Come, 508.
6. Herman Hoyt, “Dispensational Premillennialism,” in Clouse, Meaning of the Millennium, 81.
7. House and Ice, Dominion Theology, 175.
8. John Walvoord, Millennial Kingdom, 136, 302–303.
9. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, “Israelology, Doctrine of,” PEBP, 201.
10. Hal Lindsey, Road to Holocaust, 176. He also notes that “Israel’s Restoration Will be National and Eternal” (p. 97; emph. mine).
11. Dave Hunt, Whatever Happened to Heaven?, 246. Despite his theology, I understand that Hunt is a fine accountant.