There
are some complexities to be discovered in this consideration, but a good place
to begin is with the footnotes in the Scofield Reference Bible (1967 revision)
which appear below the text of II Samuel 7:8-17. In this portion they have set apart and proclaimed
it to be the Davidic Covenant. The notes
read in part: the Davidic Covenant, upon which the future kingdom of Christ,
“of the seed o David according to the flesh” (Rom.1:3) was to be founded, provided for David (1) the promise of
posterity to the Davidic house; (2) a throne symbolic of royal authority; (3) a
kingdom to rule on the earth; and
(4) a certainty of fulfillment, for the promise to David “shall be established forever.” Dispensationalists would proclaim
then that David is to sit upon a throne and reign over the earth “forever”
after the millennial kingdom is established of the seed of David “according to
the flesh.” So when you examine their theology closely they contend that Christ
will reign from geographical Jerusalem after his return so apparently he will
need to share the throne with David as a kind of co-regency. Where can we find even one Scripture that
will support this heresy?
When
you read the text of the so-called Davidic Covenant it leads you to some very
different conclusions. In verse twelve of the text we read: “And when thy days be fulfilled and thou
shall sleep with thy fathers. I will set
up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of tine own body, and I
will establish his kingdom.” The notes would lead us to believe
that the kingdom is to be provided for David.
Is it not clear that what is in view is not David but a seed from his
posterity? That seed is obviously Christ. So the kingdom which is in view is
first that of Christ. The genealogy found in Matthew, chapter 1 verifies that
Christ is the seed of David “according to the flesh” genealogically. Nowhere in
the text does it say that the kingdom is to be established is on this earth so
number (3) above is a false statement. The reference in verse twelve states: “I will establish his kingdom” that is
to say it is Christ’s kingdom to be established not David’s kingdom. So what
becomes clear is that the footnotes totally contradict the content of the text
of what they call the Davidic Covenant.
This is typical of their wresting of Scripture.
Tracing
this kingdom concept forward into the gospels we find that here is an
endorsement of two kingdoms in footnotes under Matthew 3:2, i.e. John the
Baptist’s proclamation that “the kingdom
of heaven is at hand.” I won’t quote thenote for it is a nonsensical attempt to designate two
kingdoms. One being the “kingdom of
heaven” and the other mentioned elsewhere “the kingdom of God”.
This effort to produce two kingdoms is an ongoing persistent
deception to establish an earthly kingdom for Israel or Jewry. At John 18:36
Jesus declares to Pilate: “My kingdom is
not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world then my servants would
fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not
from hence.” The Scofield note on page 1153—1967 revision is typical in its
denial of the clear testimony of Christ and also the Scriptures at large. It
states in response so the clear statement of Jesus: “The verse has erroneously
been taken to mean that Christ was disavowing that his kingdom would be
established on earth. Apart from the incompatibility of such a view with the
clear testimony of Scripture it conflicts with the remainder of the verse.” We
will investigate further the clear testimony
of Scripture.
If it were possible that we could find any
evidence whatsoever that there are two kingdoms of God, i.e. one on the earth
for Israel and one in heaven for the Church; it would be clearly revealed in
the Book of Revelation. Dispensationalism
is very weak in the interpretation of Revelation for their major premise of
interpretation is that from chapter four through chapter nineteen its content
is an explanation of the tribulation period. The scope of the coverage goes far
beyond just the tribulation and includes the heavenly kingdom, the resurrection,
and the Day of the Lamb’s Wrath bringing destruction to this present
earth. There is this general ignorance
of the subject matter including their own used to an advantage because the content
of the book is not widely understood. This is also true of Daniel’s prophetic
revelations. While there is not one verse in the Revelation to support an
earthly kingdom after the tribulation and the Day of the Lord it is to be
expected that they will deny this truth. At the bottom of page 1363 -1967 revision the
Scofield notes declare that Rev. 11:15 where it states that the kingdoms of
this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ is “the
beginning of Christ’s reign on earth.”
The dishonesty is blatant as an examination of the passage says nothing
about Christ reigning on this earth.
An
earthly kingdom reign of Christ or David or the Jews or anyone else is quite
impossible for in the Day of the Lord immediately following the resurrection this
present earth is to be totally destroyed.
It is to be replaced as part of God making “all things new “by creating a
heavenly Jerusalem (not one on this earth).
Peter declares at II Peter 3 beginning at verse seven:
“But the heavens and the earth which are
now, by the same word are kept n store, reserved unto fire against the day of
judgement and perdition of ungodly men.” Then following the text down to
verse ten: “But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night in the havens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Revelation
21:1 following the white throne judgement states: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth are passed away, and there was no more sea.” Two clear
testimonies from Scripture declare this present earth is to be destroyed in the
day of God’s judgment. So it is impossible
that there can exist on this earth a kingdom of any description including one
ruled over by the earthly state of Israel.
David Lance
Dean To gain a comprehensive understanding
Of this issue and many others visit my website: authordavidlancedean.com
See my book These Prophets and the Revelation
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