This is an excerpt of Scripture and Prophesy – Understanding, Error, and Its Effect on the Church

As our approach to interpreting Scripture is foundational (see Basics of Biblical Interpretation), so too is how we understand God’s Dispensations and Covenants. As with the consequences of a literal vs allegorical approach to prophetic Scripture arrives at very different conclusions, so too are Dispensations and Covenants a great rudder to the eschatological ship.

The word Dispensation is used in the New Testament (Luke 16:1–4; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2, 9; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4) and coveys the picture of responsibilities delegated to a steward by the owner (God), with positive and negative consequences following the execution of the owner’s expectations. Ryrie explains a Dispensation is “a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God’s purpose.” Charles C. Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago: Moody, 1995), 28

Dispensations

Dispensations stand individually yet are continuations of the prior stated purposes of God, the Salvation of Mankind and all Creation. They can have features overlapping prior Dispensations because the Word of God always stands in continuity and He will not rescind or change. Some examples of earlier Dispensational statements continuing on would include not to again destroy the Earth by flood, the continuation of His expectations related through Mosaic Law to the Church (though Christians will not be condemned by the Law, we would still be expected to live as that Law is written on soft hearts), and the blessings and curses for those relating to treatment of Israel. Not one jot or tittle will pass away from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matt 5:17-18)

As with Prophetic Scripture, a framework to interpret Dispensations are necessary. Efforts to interpret and understand God’s Words to us is a sincere work, yet not a science. God has offered insight and understanding to those who will seek Him, and He encourages it. We are to seek Him (Psa 34:8); To obey in repentance through understanding (Rom 8:29); To be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2); To avoid foolishness (Psa 92:4-6); And to receive the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things (are) so (Acts 17:10-11).

Three foundational objectives are employed in any understanding of Dispensations from God:

1. God’s Glory in history is His primary goal
2. A literal reading of the text as with all Scripture
3. A clear distinction and preservation of the separate entities of Israel and the Church.

The 3rd point is the hill on which Literalists and Spiritualizers choose to die. This is explained later below (See Origins of Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, and Replacement (of Israel) Theology). For the Covenants to read naturally and in the order God gave them, it is impossible to exclude or replace Israel as a central aspect in Jesus’ Revelation to John without spiritualizing and changing the clear and literal meanings. The ramifications to the rest of our understanding are significant.

Dispensations are summary names or categories given by theologians to the resultant changes following a Covenant. For example, following God’s Covenant with Noah after the Ark landed when the waters of the flood receded (The Noahic Covenant, Gen 9:11-16) the Dispensation including Human government is commonly called Post-Diluvian. While a Covenant was spoken by God at a particular time, Dispensations are periods of time that follow. They are continuations following but not negating prior Dispensations, and they can also carry specific aspects of the priors. They are alluded to but not named in Scripture, and are a tool for understanding the Works of God. Theologians generally agree on the number but the names and level of detail can vary. The illustration below divides the Dispensations between the Covenants.

Summary of the Major Dispensations

1. Edenic (Gen 1:28-30) (From Man’s creation to the Fall)
   1 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that creeps on the earth.” 29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given to you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has the fruit of the tree yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that creeps on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.

The Dispensation of “Innocence”: God initially instructed Adam and Eve of their dominion and its use

2. Ante-Diluvian (Gen 6:11-22) (From Ejection from Eden to the Flood)
   6 11 Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
   12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.
   13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.
   14 Make for yourself an Ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and you shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
   15 Now this is how you shall make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
   16 You shall make a window for the ark, and complete it to one cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
   17 As for Me, behold I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall breathe its last.
   18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.
   19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.
   20 Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.
   21 As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.”
   22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

The Dispensation of “Conscience”: Following the Fall and consciousness of good and evil, God gave the Adamic Covenant (Gen 3:15), and Adam’s descendants multiplied both in number and of the evil of their hearts. Even fallen angels laid with the sons of Men (Gen 4:1-6) producing the giant Nephilim. God decided to destroy them all except 8, and instructed Noah to build the Ark

3. Post-Diluvian (Gen 11:1-9) (From Post-Flood to the Calling of Abram)
   11 1 Now the whole earth had the same language and the same words.
   2 And it happened as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
   3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and they had tar for mortar.
   4 And they said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
   5 Then Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
   6 And Yahweh said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they have begun to do. So now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.
   7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s language.”
   8 So Yahweh scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.
   9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of the whole earth; and from there Yahweh scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

The Dispensation of “Human Government”: Following the Flood, God gave The Noahic Covenant, (Gen 9:11-16). The dispersion at Babel would soon follow, sending government and language across the world

4. Patriarchal (From the calling of Abram to the Exodus)
   15 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
   14 But I will also judge the nation to whom they are enslaved, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.
   15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.

The Dispensation of “The Family”: Following the dispersion at Babel God gave The Abrahamic Covenant, (Gen 12:1-3, Gen 15:4-7, 12-16, 17-21). God called out Abram and over 430 years eventually swelled the host of Israel while in captivity in Egypt, then delivered them through Moses in the Exodus.

5. Legal (Gen 19:3-6) (From the Exodus to the Tearing of the Temple Veil, resuming at Christ’s Millennial Reign)
   19 3 Now Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:
   4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
   5 So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
   6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”

The Dispensation of “The Law”: After Moses led Israel in the Exodus from captivity in Egypt, God gave the Law in The Mosaic Covenant, (Exod 19:5-6, 24:1-8, 30:1-10). Following Mankind’s demonstrated failure to self-govern, God would next would introduce Israel to life under Him and His Theocratic rule through Moses, including the Ten Commandments, the Tabernacle and its accessories, Priests and Sacrifices. This was active through the coming of Christ until the tearing of the curtain in the Temple (Matt 27:50-51) and will resume at Christ’s Millennial Reign (Deut 30-1-10)

6. Ecclesiastical (2 Sam 7:16-17, Luke 1:30-33) (From Christ’s Birth to His Second Coming)
   7 16 And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’”
   17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

1 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.”

The Dispensation of “Grace”: The Conception of Christ enacted The Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:8-17) with the arrival of the promised One to sit on David’s Throne. In the hours before His Sacrifice, Jesus announced The New Covenant (Luke 22:20). This marks the beginning of His Church for Jew and Gentile prior to the Jewish Dispersion after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, through the current regathering to National Israel, until the Church is taken in the Rapture. His New Covenant of Grace will continue to be available through the Tribulation to all until death or His Return (Zech 14:1-4)

7. Messianic (Psalms 2:9-12, Isa 2:2-4, Jer 30:7; Dan 9:24; Zech 8:3-8, Zech 14:16-17, Micah 4:1-7, Hag 2:8-9, Matt 24:45-47, Rev 20:1-3, Rev 20:4-5) (Prophesized, 1000 years + unknown months)
   Dan 9 24 “Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies.

Part of the Prophesy to Daniel 9 of the ‘Seventy Weeks’, the 70th is still to come. The subject of Jesus’ Revelation to John, Daniel was told all prophesies will be concluded with the finish of His Work in history. This time is also known as the Tribulation and the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)

Rev 20 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their witness of Jesus and because of the word of God, and who also had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.

The Dispensation of “The Millennium”: With Christ’s Return and the binding of Satan, The Everlasting Covenant the 1000-year Reign begins, concluding Revelation with the loosing of Satan, Armageddon (Rev 20:7-10), and the Great White Throne Judgement unto the Lake of Fire (Isa 66:23-24, Dan 12:2, Dan 7:9-14, Mal 3:5-6, Matt 13:41, Matt 13:42, Matt 24:48-51, Matt 25:31-46, Rom 14:10, 1 Cor 6:3, Rev 20:11-15).

8. Fullness of Times (2 Pet 3:11-13) (The New Heavens and the New Earth)
   3 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
   12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
   13 But according to His promise we are looking for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, in which righteousness dwells.

The Dispensation of “The Fullness of Times”: With the full host of all of Christ’s enemies dispatched eternally to the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:11-15), The Davidic Covenant and The New Covenant begin the march to completion with the Creation’s destruction by fire. With Earth’s and the Heavens renovation complete, God brings down the New Jerusalem, the Holy City (Rev 21:10-14), where God Himself will reside with the Saints. (Isa 65:17-25)

Covenants

Covenants concerning God are of first-order importance because a covenants rests in the character of the participant as long as they live. Covenants are an enduring commitment that participants commit to do or not do. They are eternal so as to be absolutely binding, unalterable, and are non-transferrable. Only a new or additional addendum covenant can add to the former.

15 Brothers, I speak in human terms: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ.
17 And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise.
18 For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise. (Gal 3:15-18)

A covenant is superior to a contract as the latter can be broken, and even the terms of an agreed or forced exit might be outlined in the contract. Contracts are agreements between participating entities with specific terms of performance but tend to be inflexible to terms relating to intent or ‘spirit’ of the agreement because these are not easily measurable. They are not designed to operate on ambiguity but are instead rigid, seeking to quantify narrowly specific actions and outcomes.

Covenants contain much of the same performance expectations but also employ the character and intent of the participants – they are intentionally more flexible to deal with deviations or infractions while still expecting the stated outcome. A marriage covenant is a good example. Any married person knows the failures they’ve experienced, but recovery and realignment are still possible. Even in the event of infidelity, forgiveness of a repentant partner can right the course without shattering the covenant. We see proof of this in God through Moses granting a certificate of divorce as a mercy for the offended spouse. Jesus specifies that it is “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives”. (Matt 19:8)

Covenants between two parties are most common, yet obligation of the second party is not necessary if the covenantor is willing to assume all of the performance responsibilities for both parties involved. In most cases this would be ill advised because of the exhaustive responsibilities of the covenantor despite any positive or negative response from the covenantee. The single covenantor would need considerable patience and resource to see the agreement not fail. This is exactly what God chose to do in His unilateral covenants towards Mankind through Israel.

Because a covenant expects performance relying on character, any covenant relying on Man’s fidelity would fail. Of the seven major covenants – the Adamic (Gen 3:15), Noahic (Gen 9:11-16), Abrahamic (Gen 12:1-3, Gen 15:4-7, 12-16, 17-21), Mosaic (Exod 19:5-6, 30:1-10), Davidic (2 Sam 7:8-17), New (Luke 22:20) and Everlasting (Gen 17:7-8) – only the Mosaic is a bilateral covenant requiring Israel’s obedience (resulting in blessing) else disobedience (resulting in punishment). The rest of the major covenants are cumulative advancements upon the prior, ultimately bringing about the redemption of Mankind through Christ from the otherwise irreconcilable result of sin. These same covenants, because fallen Mankind is unable to perfectly and perpetually fulfill the necessary terms thus keeping the covenant in place, were intentionally unilateral and wholly reliant upon God to uphold.

Illustration of the Covenants and Dispensations

Summary of the Major Covenants

1. Adamic (Gen 3:15)
   3 15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

God indicates Eve’s offspring Jesus will come to defeat Satan

2. Noahic (Gen 9:11-16)
   9 11 Indeed I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, and there shall never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
   12 Then God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am giving to be between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations;
   13 I put My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.
   14 And it will be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,
   15 and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.
   16 So the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

After giving instructions concerning procreation, meat for food, and capital punishment, God covenants with Noah and all the Earth’s inhabitants never to destroy it again by flood

3. Abrahamic (Gen 12:1-3, Gen 15:4-7, 12-16, 17-21)
   12 1 And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go forth from your land, and from your kin and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you;
   2 And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
   3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

God initially pronounces His intent to bless and protect a Nation through Abram

15 4 Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”
5 And He brought him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.”
6 Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness.
7 And He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.”

God pronounces the vastness of the Nation and announces the Land promise

15 12 Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14 But I will also judge the nation to whom they are enslaved, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.
15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”

God foretells the Egyptian captivity during a pause as the Amorites accrue the sin in preparation for the taking of the land

15 17 Now it happened that the sun had set, and it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.
18 On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your seed I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite
20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim
21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

Abram arranged the birds and animal pieces as instructed (vs 8-10), and God alone consecrated to covenant as Abram slept (v12)

4. Mosaic (Exod 19:5-6, 24:1-8, 30:1-10)
   19 5 So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
   6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
   7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him.
   8 And all the people answered together and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh.
   9 Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.

Following their liberation from Egypt, God declares His covenant with Israel who would be required to comply by Works of obedience. The Ten Commandments would next be delivered, followed by the Mosaic Law

24 1 Then He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you all shall worship at a distance.
2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to Yahweh, but they shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”
3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of Yahweh and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which Yahweh has spoken we will do!”
4 And Moses wrote down all the words of Yahweh. Then he arose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to Yahweh.
6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7 Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”
8 So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has cut with you in accordance with all these words.”

30 1 “So it will be, when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you cause these things to return to your heart in all the nations where Yahweh your God has banished you,
2 and you return to Yahweh your God and listen to His voice with all your heart and soul according to all that I am commanding you today, you and your sons,
3 then Yahweh your God will return you from captivity and return His compassion on you, and He will gather you again from all the peoples where Yahweh your God has scattered you.
4 If those of you who are banished are at the ends of the sky, from there Yahweh your God will gather you, and from there He will take you back.
5 And Yahweh your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.

An addition to the beginning stated in Exod 19:5-6, God vows to regather the diaspora back to their land, now known as national Israel

30 6 “Moreover Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
7 And Yahweh your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
8 And you shall return and listen to the voice of Yahweh, and you shall do all His commandments which I am commanding you today.

God continues, referring to the Salvation of Israel during the course of Daniel’s 70th week (Rev 7:4-8)

9 Then Yahweh your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for Yahweh will return to rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers,
10 when you listen to the voice of Yahweh your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, when you return to Yahweh your God with all your heart and soul.

God says He will conclude with the prospering of Israel under the Stone Kingdom (Dan 2:44-45), the 1000-year Millennial Kingdom of Christ (Rev 20:1-6)

5. Davidic (2 Sam 7:8-17)
   7 8 So now, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.
   9 And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.
   10 And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again; and the unrighteous will not afflict them any more as formerly,
   11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also declares to you that Yahweh will make a house for you.
   12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will come forth from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.
   13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
   14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will reprove him with the rod of men and the strikes from the sons of men,
   15 but My lovingkindness shall not be removed from him, as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
   16 And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

God promises peace in David’s kingdom for the rest of his life and that his son Solomon would build the Temple desired by David. God also covenants to establish David’s throne by bringing the Messiah through David’s line, establishing His Throne for perpetuity. Also see Psa 110:1-7

6. New (Luke 22:20)
   22 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.
   18 For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
   19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
   20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

Jesus announces the New Covenant we enjoy today, the essential advancement of God’s promises to Save Mankind, as well as the precursor to the fulfillment of His promise of the woman’s seed Who will defeat Satan

7. Everlasting (Gen 17:7-8)
   17 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you.
   8 And I will give to you and to your seed after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

A capstone covenant to Israel through Abram assuring the perpetual possession of the land under the everlasting possession of God

The unilateral covenants of God are the means made necessary by God to rescue the people He would choose (the predestined saints) for Jesus, through the people He would choose (Israel) to bring forth His Messiah. Per Jesus: “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22)

One’s understanding of covenants with God has far-reaching ramifications. A view that His redemptive covenants are bilateral places performance responsibilities upon fallen Man who cannot possibly deliver and who will have the authority to fall out of the agreement. Instead, a recognition of God’s redemptive covenants as His sole work necessary to rescue otherwise irredeemable sinners must acknowledge these are His unilateral responsibility alone. Sinners cannot be a failing party to the requirements of the covenants and still be beneficiaries of His Grace. God is not asking; He is Sovereignly saving rebellious sinners who have no means to save themselves. A bilateral covenant with sinners would not be able to result in Salvation. Only a unilateral covenant upheld by God to the benefit of sinners could succeed. And all of this is part of His larger intent in addressing the Church, Gentiles, Creation, and obedient as well as disobedient angels.

Therefore, if God’s Salvific covenants are unilateral, and if God can and will hold true to the stated terms and goals of the covenants, we must agree that the covenants will succeed per His intentions. This then dismisses the false doctrine that with Israel’s failure to embrace the Messiah but instead murder Him nullified the unilateral covenants, and that God would sever the covenants and reassign the Church as the recipients of the promises intended for Israel. Not only does this doctrine attempt to invalidate God’s salvation of Mankind through the Jewish Messiah, but it would conveniently benefit the increasingly Gentile Church. And most egregiously, this doctrine seeks to displace the Jews as the people central to God’s Kingdom, replacing them with the “New Israel”, the Church.

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Our last discussion considered an overview of the course-changing forces effecting each Church age represented in Larkin’s chart ‘The Messages to the Seven Churches Compared with Church History’.

Beginning at Pentecost in Jerusalem following Jesus’ Ascent, the Church of Christ grew and spread outward to surrounding areas.  Even in the Apostles’ Acts 2 Church movement, by Chapter 6, growth and organization issues had to be addressed resulting in the selection of seven men to provide for those of the Church in need.

Jesus is clearly addressing the seven distinct Churches in Rev 2:1 – 3:22. Additionally, our study is considering a comparative and possibly prophetic parallel to the Church Ages as well.  Larkin proposes the seven Churches, as presented in order, also correlate to the nature of the Church Militant through history.  Jesus addressed each Church with various Salutations, Commendations and Promises, while each might receive a Complaint, Counsel, Warning or Praise.  These messages to each Church seem to show a high correlation to their respective historic periods. Larkin observes that each successive age retains the errors of the previous, the Church accumulating further degradation until arriving at an ineffective centrist state in that of Laodicea which fails to truly offend or to rescue as does the real Gospel.

Ephesus – (The Backslidden Church, AD 70-170, Apostolic Age) Pressures on the young Church to retain religious works from Her Jewish roots, such as circumcision, ceremony and law.

 

Smyrna – (Persecuted, 170-312, Judaizers) Infiltration of Jewish false teachings, Jewish priestly hierarchy, extreme pressure to recant Christ or die through the 10 Roman persecutions.

 

Pergamos (Greek)/Pergamum (Latin) – (Licentious, 312-606, Constantine) The voluntary loss of independence of the Church as She donned the yoke of the State under Constantine through greed and bribery; The melding of pagan beliefs into the doctrines and traditions of the Church; Adoption of a Satanic priesthood rooted in Babylon’s worship, including the inherited title of ‘Pontifex Maximus’ beginning with Nimrod, given to the Caesars, and ultimately passed to the head of the Roman Catholic Church who is still known today as ‘Pontiff’.  Perhaps the beginning of the most severe departure point of the Church from Christ’s teachings and intent, the loss of the Church’s independence to Man’s and the World’s System bringing terrible consequences.  This cemented the creation and embrace of Post-Millennial and Amillenial doctrines promoting God’s abandonment of His Covenants with the Jews and their replacement by the Church.

 

Thyatira – (Lax, 606-1050?, Boniface III, 1050-1280?, Gregory VII, 1280-1520, Boniface VIII) The majority of the practicing Roman Catholic Church during the Dark Ages.  As Pergamos was a horrible genesis of a Man/State/Satan Church, the practices and doctrines that followed were breathtaking, including: Baptismal Regeneration, Justification by Works, Image Worship, Celibacy, Mariolatry (the worship of Mary), Confessionals, Purgatory, Transubstantiation (of the Lord’s Supper), Indulgences and Penance. 

 

Sardis – (Dead, 1520-1750, Reformation & Westphalia) Between the decline of Roman Catholic Papacy and the rise of the Reformation movement, the preparatory actions of men such as Wycliffe, Huss and Luther led to the deadly and dark Thirty Years’ War, leading to the Peace of Westphalia.  The protestants of the Catholic Church would emerge with a Gospel, though not perfect, sufficient to ignite the spread of Christianity across the rest of the world.  Also see When Jesus Freed His Church of the Pope: The Evolution of the Church (1450-1648) – Gutenberg’s Press, Luther’s 95 Theses, The Reformation, The Peace at Augsburg, The Thirty Years’ War, and The Peace of Westphalia

 

Philadelphia – (Favored, 1750-1900, Evangelistic & Missionary) Perhaps another golden Age of the Church, the Gospel was loosed and the World evangelized.  However, difficulty also arose with competing doctrines and leaders.  Patently false Churches also emerged in the vacuum such as Mormonism (1830) and Christian Science (1866), promoting a gospel contrary and wicked.  Baptist, Calvinist/Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran and Anglican were the primary denominations, with evangelists like John and Charles Wesley, George Whitfield, Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, even Billy Graham driving the movement.

 

Laodicea – (Lukewarm, 1900 to Present, Wretched and Pitiable) Prosperity and success often threaten focus and devotion, and the Church is not exempt.  Jesus tells this Church She is lukewarm, deceived – “…you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked. (Rev 3:17) This Church type has settled into a comfortable centrist posture, preaching a Gospel that doesn’t offend yet doesn’t rescue.

 

Through all of this, as well as through the Age before the Church, Jesus maintains His Remnant.  Despite all of the offsetting pressures a faithful outlier always exists, seeking to shed any teachings that detract from His Faith.  A horrifying prospect, how many will be counted as the foolish virgins (Matt 25:1-13) or those pleading “Lord, Lord!” (Matt 7:21-23)?

 

Though Man and the Enemy work to pollute the Truth and misdirect the Church, Jesus, the Author and Protector of our faith, continues to Save those sheep given to Him by Father, promising no one will snatch them out of His Hand – If we would only hear, believe and obey.

 

“²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

 

 

This Post is the central source of all materials we’re considering and it will grow as we expand details of our curriculum. Click on the links below for each part’s details.

Our travels have brought us to a study of prophetic Scripture, beginning with Dr. Paul Benware’s Understanding End Times Prophesy: A Comprehensive Approach. As new students of the topic we appreciated Dr. Benware’s approach because he didn’t begin by promoting the Millennial order of End Times he concludes are true to the Word, but allowed for an honest investigation to the other major lines of thought. This is not to say he or we believe the theologies that don’t agree with a plain reading of Scripture are correct, but they are considered through their conclusions to weigh their possible validity. Benware does conclude on the Apostolic view of reading Scripture literally (more on that topic below), irrevocable and unilateral Covenants to the Jews, the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church, Daniel’s 70th Week of the Tribulation, Christ’s Second Advent beginning His 1000 year Millennial Reign, the White Throne Judgment of those not His and their removal to the Lake of Fire, and the destruction of Creation with the replacement with the New Jerusalem. Benware’s book is but a subset of his large body of knowledge, but is a terrific introduction to the topic.

A couple years later we became aware of the extensive works of Pastor Clarence Larkin, a Baptist active during the turn of the 20th century whose writings and illustrated works influenced countless Pastors. Larkin was a contemporary of Moody, who promoted Larkin’s works through the Moody Bible Institute. We’re finding his work to be very extensive and thorough, as he being a trained mechanical Draftsman before coming to Jesus, producing an extensive set of illustrations to help students understand many important details of Scripture. Larkin’s book, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture shows the understanding of a classically educated theologian and brings incredible new perspective to contemporary Christians. Larkin wasn’t a magical source of hidden Bible truths, but was a Bible student, Pastor and Teacher who’s depth of Scriptural awareness was expressed through his writings and beautiful illustrations. His work is foundational to teachers today, with the interesting perspective of a Pre-National Israel – which per Scripture proved accurate up to this time. He was aware of the Zionist Movement taking shape about 40 years prior but it wouldn’t materialize for another 30 years.

Resource Links

• BOOKS
• Benware: Understanding End Times Prophesy: A Comprehensive Approach
• Benware: A Quick Reference Guide to End Times Prophecy
• Larkin: The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture
• Wilmington Alliterated Outline of the Bible
• VIDEO
• The Thirty Years’ War and the Peace of Westphalia – Following Luther’s 97 Theses on October 31, 1517 an unstoppable series of events would result in not only the Reformation, but also the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), ending with Peace at Westphalia of October 1648.
• RESOURCES
• Larkin Revelation Table of Contents – Larkin’s summary outline of all passages of Revelation, from his book.
• Clarence Larkin – The Perspective of Prophecy, with Notes – The downloads at the bottom of the post are his illustration explaining the Book of Revelation, and our current Excel lookup table placing the Scripture within a corresponding event column.
• Clarence Larkin Illustrations – Here are downloadable links of many of Larkin’s extensive library of excellent illustrations. His Estate offers all 178.
• Benware – Summarized Chapters, Interpreting Bible Prophesy – an abbreviated selection of Benware’s Understanding End Times Prophesy: A Comprehensive Approach. It has been excerpted as a summary review for those who’ve studied the whole chapters. Footnote numbers remain. To see references, refer to the original book.
• Benware:  An Overview of Future Events – Benware’s summary of the next and imminent events we wait for. A table of relevant Scripture aligned with the timeline is included at the end.
• Benware – The Distinction Between the Events of the Rapture and the Second Coming – The next time Jesus returns for the Church is a very different event than when He appears back to the people of Earth.
• Benware – Views Concerning The End Times – A comparison of End Times Theologies
• Benware – A Comparison of Contracts and Covenants – The differences between a contract and a covenant are vitally important; See why.
• How Jesus Broke His Church Free of the Pope: The Evolution of the Church (1450-1648) – Gutenberg’s Press, Luther’s 95 Theses, The Reformation, The Peace at Augsburg, The Thirty Years’ War, and The Peace of Westphalia – This brief survey of the highpoints leaves an impression of great sin, great reformative devotion, and God’s much greater devotion to seeing His plans to the End.
• Is the Bible you have today an exact copy of the original writings? – Is the Bible you have today an exact copy of the original writings?  Perhaps a good answer is while not a flawless reproduction, it is by God’s Volition, sufficient towards Salvation and edification.
• An Overview of the Historic Seven Church Periods – Jesus clearly addresses the seven distinct Churches in Rev 2:1 – 3:22. Additionally, our study is considering a comparative and possibly prophetic parallel to the Church Ages as well.
• Scripture and Prophesy – Understanding, Error, and Its Effect on the Church – This manuscript is a Biblical Apologetic to the Church, Her leaders and Her disciples.
• The Dispensations of God’s Covenants – As with the consequences of a literal vs allegorical approach to prophetic Scripture arrives at very different conclusions, so too are Dispensations and Covenants a great rudder to the eschatological ship.

While studying Clarence Larkin’s illustration – The Messages to the Seven Churches Compared with Church History – I noticed a milestone referencing the Peace at Westphalia.  Not sure I had ever heard of this before, I dug deeper to discover an amazing part of God’s governance over humanity and Christ over His Church.

Download image

Jump to: WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY

This is a very abbreviated overview, not so much concerned with the sea of historic details, but more a look at some of the incredible ministrations of God towards His Goal of cultivating true worshippers to be gathered in the End Times.  Please do not read this as a recount of history, but rather a high-level view (of a small portion) of the huge machinations of God.  A brief survey of the highpoints leaves an impression of great sin, great reformative devotion, and God’s much greater devotion to seeing His plans to the End.

24 He (Jesus) put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Matthew 13:24-30

This chart of Larkin (one of almost 80) is his observation of the transformation of the Church while among other faiths from Pentecost through the Rapture.  It shows the combinations, divisions and diversions affecting the true followers of Jesus’ Word as the Church grew.  To just say this part of history brackets important developments in the Church would be an understatement.

STRAINS AGAINST THE FETTERS

This period ushered incredible change at the end of the Dark Ages and the Medieval Church, beginning at A.D. 1450 in Mainz, Germany then expanding throughout the European Holy Roman Empire (HRE) and the Thirty Years’ War, to The Peace of Westphalia (1648).  I’ve read that the generational memory of these events was so significant that following WWII, Germans polled as to what they considered was the most significant event in their country’s history still named the Thirty Years’ War.

There are volumes of details of this period chronicled by scores of academics and historians.  The motives and actions of hundreds of Rulers and influencers, the millions of impacted people, and the reshaping of the Church and Imperial nation states is staggering.  Our summary discussion will be on the bigger consequences to the shaping of Christ’s Church and the amazing evidence, once again, of God’s Sovereign governance.

The ongoing chain of events in the faith of men begins much earlier than 1450 in Mainz.  In fact, while this brief study will center mainly on 1450-1648, the seeds of resistance to the heresies and corruption of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) are seen beginning in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) as early as 863, contributing to the split of the Papal and Greek Churches in 1054.

The rise of the Papacy beginning in 606 led to the swell of religious corruptions emerging through the Dark Ages, including Baptismal Regeneration, Justification by Works, Image Worship, Celibacy, Mariolatry (Mary-worship), Confessional, Purgatory, Transubstantiation (Transformation of Christ’s Body and Blood, the Lord’s Supper), Indulgences, and Penance.  The beginning, growth and impact of these issues will be examined in another post.

Governance of the European Continent had progressed (in detail I’m not qualified to thoroughly explain) to a collection of 300 Imperial Estates of differing importance and independence under the influence of the HRE Emperor.  The predominant Catholic faith guided the collective understanding of governmental authority and social rules.  Protest(ants) to the RCE’s malevolent practices would increasingly upset the balance of authority and control.

It was first the Catholic clergy in Bohemia who sought to reform the Church of its corruption and abuses.  Medieval Bohemia was evangelized by Saint Cyril and brother Methodius (863) of the Eastern Orthodox Church (EOC).  Supporters of reform would be branded heretics by the HRE as they battled over the basis of truth.  As is always throughout all history under God, the conflict of God’s Truth and all competitors would shape the course of humanity.

RCC scripture was held in Latin, but native tongue translations put the Word directly to those who would seek God’s direction, instead of through jealous and vested Catholic clergy seeking to protect themselves and the theology of the HRE. (The root of corruption of the organized Catholic church will be discussed in another post.)  Wycliff’s English translation (1400) greatly proliferated through the use of Gutenberg’s moveable type printing press, beginning 1450.

Reformers who held to the Scripture – challenging the authority of ‘truth’ used as the basis of HRE and Imperial State power – were heroes suppressed, persecuted or hunted down by the HRE as heretics, the more notable being Jan Huss (Bohemia, burnt at the stake 1415) and a year later Jerome of Prague (Huss supporter, burnt at the stake 1416).  The pressures of reform again grew with Luther’s declaration of his 95 Theses (Germany, 1517).

The reformation efforts of Bohemia (Hussites) and Germany (Lutherans) grew and Imperial States across the HRE faced growing challenge to its authority, both in the public and from its Protestant rulers.  Many Churches independent of the RCC emerged, denying the authority of the Pope.  Rulers who agreed adopted Protestantism and established Churches in their realms.  I’ve read many accounts and opinions of this period and agree with those who see this movement as an essential and necessary (and wonderful) drive back to a Holy Spirit-directed understanding and adherence to the Scripture, which precipitated a major political/authority readjustment of the western world.  The Pope and the HRE faced a growing Protestant rebellion, and they intended to kill it and its supporters.

Before the swell of reform, the Continent’s rulers and ruled had a more homogenous view of authority.  The RCC’s teachings were the basis of societal and personal order, reflected in the political structure.  The RCC cemented its control in the papal bull Unam Sanctam, issued by Pope Boniface VIII in 1302 requiring full submission by rulers and the ruled to the authority of the Pope, lest they would lose their Salvation.  Those challenging the RCC as the arbiter of a truth that was contrary to the native language Scripture introduced a natural resistance to the often hypocritical rulers of the HRE.  We read that the typical person of this time saw the Catholic truth as necessary and singular with no allowances for competing Truth.  The RCC had built a theological construct of a cradle-to-grave reliance on the church for Salvation under the threat of dismissal and Damnation.  The belief was that to entertain a faith other than that of the RCC only invited Satan’s deception and personal/societal destruction.

This was contrasted to the zealous commitment of Believers who knew the Scriptures first hand from the reading or the preaching of their native language Bibles.  The Truth they embraced stood in clear opposition of all points heretical held by the RCC and used as governance by the HRE.

In kingdoms prior, the faith of the ruler was the faith of the people.  But the rift developed as either a ruler or his subjects became enlightened to the Truth, fraying HRE homogeny.  The growth of Truth increasingly became a wedge of conscious obedience to God that defied the norms of the past thousand years.  The flashpoint of the Bohemian Rebellion illustrated the impassioned beliefs, and what was at stake.

MILESTONES

The Bohemian Reformation (1380-1436) saw Catholic clergy and theologians promoting reform in the RCC.  They didn’t seek a break with the church until Hus was martyred for heresy in 1415.

(1419) Bohemia (1^st Defenstration):  Bohemia had a history of resistance for the sake of Truth, mixed with political and tangible demands.  The Latin root term Defenstration translates to “the act of throwing someone out of a window”.  The first major incident among many, the 1^st Defenstration of Prague (1419) saw Hussites throw 7 city council members out a window onto the spears of the mob below, marking the beginning of the 20-year Hussite war.  Beginning in Bohemia, the pressure of religious freedom and political equality between ruler and subject spread across the continent.  Many more important details are available in numerous excellent studies.

(1450) Gutenberg (Moveable Type Printing Press):  Johannes Gutenberg is credited with inventing the moveable metal type printing press, a process using individual cast metal blocks with a raised reverse image of a letter on its end.  Letters cast on to the pieces of type were arranged and bound in a flat rack, coated with ink and pressed against a sheet of paper.  The process was consistent and faster than traditional hand or woodblock type reproduction.  Remarkably, the first of Gutenberg’s business exploits was the printing of Indulgences to sell to the RCC.  Indulgences were writs sold to RCC believers to shorten the time loved ones would spend in Purgatory.  Mass production brought more money to the RCC, ultimately inciting Luther and the launch of the Protestant Reformation.

(1517) Luther (95 Theses, Wittenberg, Germany):  Martin Luther, an Augustinian Catholic monk, was increasingly agitated with the policies and practices of the RCC.  Not initially seeking to challenge the church’s authority, Luther sought academic discussion on the topics.  His Latin 97 Theses, (first known as ‘Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences’) nailed to the front door of Wittenberg church, would be translated into German by his friends and disseminated via printing press.  Intended as a scholarly list of ‘talking points’, the document would be the catalyst to ignite the larger Reformation.  Interestingly, close friend and co-reformer Philip Melanchthon (l. 1497-1560) was an essential associate of Luther who contributed very greatly to the intellectual and theological clarity and proofs of Luther’s thoughts.  Melanchthon would author the affirmations of the Lutheran Church in the Augsburg Confession and presented it at the Diet of Augsburg (1530) in hope of reconciling Lutheran and Catholic disparities.

(1523) (Ana)Baptists (Rebaptizers) (Three founders of the Swiss Brethren – George Blaurock , Conrad Grebel and Felix Manz):  The three were vilified for performing adult believer Baptisms, a direct affront to the theology of Catholics and reformers Luther and Huldrych Zwingly.  The overarching directives of this reforming movement hinged upon religious freedom, individual conscience, close adherence to the Scriptures, congregationally governed Churches free from higher organizational control, Believer’s Baptism, and personal devotion to obeying God per Scripture.  The movement would progress through England (1612) and on to become a named faith in the New World (1638).  All of its Biblical Tenants defied the RCC model of control via Salvation through adherence.  The 1525 Canton of Zurich outlawed adult Baptism and made it a capital offense in 1526.  Refusing to desist, Blaurock was beaten and exiled, Grebel died of plague during travel seeking to rally support, and Manz was arrested and executed a heretic.

(1536) Calvin, (Institutes of the Christian Religion, France):  John Calvin was a French RCC priest who broke away and became a Protestant Pastor and theologian among the other great reformers.  Calvin understood the contributions of these men and sought to bring their collective thoughts together under his Biblical read of theology, resulting in his work the Institutes of the Christian Religion.  Calvin’s core essentials boiled down to total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints – or the ‘5 Points of Calvinism’ (TULIP).  The theology of the Reformed Church held many other Biblical insistences as did other Protestants, but TULIP was a defining position of God’s total Sovereignty in all things concerning Salvation.  Protestants who concurred and embraced Calvin’s teachings came to be referred to as Calvinists.  The Calvinists in England opposed the Anglican church, becoming known as the Separatists who would go on to found the Plymouth Colony (1621).  Calvinism became the predominant theology of New England.

(1555) The Peace of Augsburg (a.k.a. The Augsburg Settlement):  In 1531, Protestant rulers formed the Schmalkaldic League to advance Protestantism in Germany.  HRE Emperor Charles V (Grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain – sponsors of Columbus) was unable to negotiate them out of their faith, and even after the League’s sound military defeat at the Battle of Millberg (1547), Charles concluded Protestantism had expanded too far to be contained.  This led to an armistice and then to the Augsburg Settlement, an agreement to accept the coexistence of Protestant and Catholic faiths in Germany.  The agreement employed the maxim of ‘cuius regio, eius religio’ (whose realm, their religion), where those ruled must adopt the faith of the ruler, else they must migrate to a Protestant domain.  This would prove to be inadequate in the long term, as the yet-emerging group called Calvinists – as well as Anabaptists – who would grow from minorities into majorities were not part of the agreement.  Knights of the realms were exempt from religious uniformity and could practice the faith they chose, further opening the way to religious division.

(1618) Bohemia (2^nd Defenstration)

The 2^nd Defenstration of Prague (1618) came to a head as RCC officials under Ferdinand II – the HRE and now also King of Bohemia – ordered Protestants in Bohemia to cease building chapels on land the officials insisted belonged to the RCC, but the Protestants said belonged to the King of their choice, Frederick V.  Disputes over ownership of non-taxable RCC property moving into the hands of Protestants was a major issue of power and commerce for the RCC.  Reminiscent of the 1^st Defenstration 200 years earlier (1419), two RCC officials and their secretary were thrown from a second story window but survived, precipitating the start of the 30 Years’ War. 

(1618-1648) The Thirty Years’ War: The too-short-sighted Agreement of Augsburg was embraced by then HRE Charles V to ensure peace long enough for his son to ascend to King of Spain and his nephew to Emperor of the HRE.  The reality was a growing and uncontrollable (by men) rush to Scriptural Truth and away from the RCC.  Despite the intent of ‘cuius regio, eius religio’ (whose realm, their religion), it proved opposite the remedy and instead forced irreconcilable ideological conflict.

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53

Jesus’ view encompasses growing division across the time of Men, culminating in the Time at the End when that division is complete and those determined to Salvation are gleaned.  The breaking point once again showed itself in Bohemia as the RCC and Protestant worldviews clashed.  Worldviews are driven by the ‘heart’, and the ‘heart is informed by what is embraced as the Truth.   Conflict of Truth vs. ‘truth’ is inevitable.

Protestantism had grown to include not only the Lutherans who intended peace at Augsburg, but now Calvinists and others who read Scripture as a challenge to the HRE’s corrupt rule.  The Thirty Years’ War progressively erupted across the continent as HRE-aligned military clashed with Protestant forces.  The war finally devolved into roaming armies pillaging and destroying whole villages and the inhabitants.  Losses to the population, each family reliant on labor of its members to survive, caused famine and pestilence resulting in an estimated 8 million immediate deaths and a total believed to be 20 million.  It would take several generations to recover.  In contrast, the loss of life in WWII was 3% of global population (80 million), where this war took an estimated 20 million of 78 million (26%).

Constant political maneuvering to gain or maintain powers was well underway before the 1^st Defenstration.  The inability to control religious differences would facilitate a political/militant divide that Jesus described.  Sadly, by 1648 with much of the Germanic territories destroyed, the thirst for conflict waned as people were simply tired of fighting.  However, little question of one’s religious beliefs and alignment remained. The result was the dividing clarity Jesus spoke about.

The Westphalia agreement consisted of two treaties – one between the HRE and France and its allies (Treaty of Münster), the other with the HRE and Sweden and its allies (Treaty of Osnabrück).  Power was stripped from Ferdinand III (King of Hungary and HRE) (See 2^nd Defenstration) and returned to the Imperial States.  The rulers could again choose among Catholic, Lutheran and Calvin faiths (cuius regio, eius religio), yet subjects weren’t required to follow the ruler’s faith and could choose among the same.  All Church (ecclesiastical) properties were to be restored to their ownership state, retroactive to Jan 1, 1624.  France and Sweden were charged as ‘Guarantors of the Imperial Constitution’, responsible for holding all parties accountable and defending the Constitution.  The agreement didn’t end all hostilities but did end the Thirty Years’ War while providing a compromise that allowed a larger religious freedom to continue without RCC persecution.

Pope Innocent X summed up his assessment of the agreement responsible for the breaking of the fetters, writing that the treaty was “null, void, invalid, iniquitous, unjust, damnable, reprobate, inane, empty of meaning and effect for all time”. Or, sour grapes.

(1735-1743) The First Great Awakening (Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield):  These events made many ways for expansion of the Church.  The First Great Awakening (New England) is recognized as a significant movement of the Holy Spirit, once again growing and threshing the Church.  Expressing Reformed Church Calvinism, Edwards’ and Whitfield’s preaching encompassed TULIP, challenging (offending) those who couldn’t find agreement with Romans 8:28-30 and other supporting Scripture.

The Enemy wasted little time stoking Man’s sin, seeing Nathaniel Taylor and Charles Finney raising up a theology promoting that Man had a will free of God’s Sovereignty, and so played an essential part in his Salvation.  This would expand on to the creation of ‘voluntary societies’ intent on Christianizing America.  While efforts like these have undoubtedly continued to bring good to society, it also promoted the wrong belief and expectation of the Church ushering in Christ’s Kingdom.

WHY THIS MATTERS TODAY

We can all imagine an example of someone we trust providing comfort in a trial.  No one wants a first year heart surgeon when the Department head is available.  Most anyone in a raging storm at sea would prefer a Coast Guard cutter to a row boat.  Young surgeons and row boat captains are easy to appreciate if no risk is present.  But what if the stakes are high?

Our contemporary American society hasn’t been without its collective and personal tragedies.  But we haven’t experienced a Thirty Years’ War, either.

Consider our experienced surgeon and captain again.  An enthusiast of medicine or seafaring would welcome the details of their accomplishments, sharing in the victories of their careers, admiring the rewards of their hard work.  As enthusiasts, we would admire who they are and what they’ve done.  We would also find comfort in them if we had a need of their expertise.

Conversely, a person who has no knowledge of nor shows any interest in medicine or seafaring could be expected to have little appreciation or real comfort.

Now, enter Jesus.  We should always ask ourselves – am I the enthusiast or the disinterested?  Perhaps all of us are the disinterested to some degree, as His Character and place in Creation over us is far more than any enthusiast can comprehend.  But since we live on a sliding scale of capacity to understand, the measure isn’t against each other but within that capacity we’ve each been given to cultivate.   I’ve read of surely-seeming Heaven-bound Believers who would smile and confess “I know Jesus loves me and forgives me.”  OK, done.  I’ve read of historic Church fathers who struggled in their assurance as they discovered more and more what worms we are yet what a Savior He Is.  But, it’s surely safe to say that none of us has exhausted our capacity to know, admire and revere our Lord.  And we would grow that comfort in learning about His abilities, exploits and intentions.

This picture above of the Church under His care is a sliver of His activity.  History is rife with examples of what God has done to promote the Church and preserve the Saints.  More incredible, this period looks to agree with His prophetic Revelation to John as He spoke of the periods of Thyatira (lax) and Sardis (dead) Churches.  Not only do we get to see the wake of His work, but He told us beforehand about the Boat He’s driving.

I’ve heard it preached that weak theology makes for a weak church (corporate).  Why?  Because of a contemporary failure to seek to understand Scripture, and here the Prophetic Scripture. We cannot hope to understand, admire and revere the One we look to appear, the One we would trust and find comfort in, if we won’t try to understand what He’s told us.  Our lack of hardship is not an excuse, it’s a reprieve.  Observe any maturing follower of Jesus during crisis and you’ll likely see ‘a peace that exceeds all understanding’ (Phil 4:7).  This is the person who knows the Surgeon and the Captain, knows the past accomplishments He foretold, who has been under His care before and will find assurance the next time.  He is looking to understand prophetic Scripture to see what He’s done and to know what He’s said lays ahead. He is growing in his capacity to understand Him and revere Him, to find peace in Him.

BACK TO TOP

 

Following Luther’s 97 Theses on October 31, 1517 an unstoppable series of events would result in not only the Reformation, but also the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), ending with Peace at Westphalia of October 1648.

Two learned commentators on the topic bring slightly different yet important views of this watershed event.

Political ramifications underscored by the religious forces: The 30 Years’ War (1618-48) and the Second Defenestration of Prague – Professor Peter Wilson

Religious transformations driving the political reshuffling of Europe under the Holy Roman Empire: The Thirty Years’ War – Apostolic Majesty

The download link below is for Larkin’s summary outline of all passages of Revelation, from his book, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture

The download at the bottom of this post is one of Pastor Larkin’s illustrations explaining what each Prophet was shown, and the other is our current Excel lookup table placing the Scripture within a corresponding event column.

Below are download links for of a majority of Larkin’s extensive library of excellent illustrations I’m aware of. Number prefixes are added for reference.

The differences between a contract and a covenant are vitally important; See why below.

The next time Jesus returns for the Church is a very different event than when He appears back to the people of Earth.

The download is an abbreviated selection of Benware’s Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach. It has been excerpted as a summary review for those who’ve studied the whole chapters. Footnote numbers remain. To see references, refer to the original book, Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach.

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Note: As a student of the Bible I’ve read Benware’s work on prophetic and End Time Scripture, and agree the far majority of his conclusions are as God’s Word teaches. I believe he is correct and his thoughts should be studied under the truth of Scripture. Following is a summary of the next and imminent events we wait for. A table of relevant Scripture aligned with the timeline is included at the end.

Revelation 22:20

[20] He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

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Benware: Understanding End Times Prophecy – Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN: An Overview of Future Events

A person’s first flight in an airplane is always a memorable one. After getting past the fear, he or she is always impressed with the view. The world takes on a brand-new look from several thousand feet up, and the relationship between buildings, trees, roads, and rivers takes on new meaning.

Likewise, in the military, reconnaissance missions are flown over enemy lines to obtain information on the strength, position, and movement of enemy forces. Those flights provide the “big picture,” giving a perspective that would not be possible from the ground. As we turn our attention to many of the details of future events, it is helpful to first get the big picture.

Without an overview clearly in mind, it is possible to get lost in all the details. This quick “flyover,” which is from the perspective of pretribulational premillennialism, will highlight the relationships between seven key prophetic events. These will be detailed in parts three and four.

1. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

The first event in the sequence of upcoming end-times events is the rapture of the church out of this world. The Lord Jesus will return from heaven and will suddenly and supernaturally remove the church (1 Thess. 4:13–18).

Jesus will not return all the way to the earth as He will at the second coming but, rather, will meet believers in the air. Christians who are alive at this time will be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus and will at that moment receive their glorified bodies. Those Christians who have died since the church began at Pentecost will also be involved in the rapture, having their physical bodies raised from the dead.

These Christians have been with the Lord since their death, but only now do they receive their resurrected, glorified bodies (1 Cor. 15:51–53). This will be part of the “first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5–6). All Christians who are part of the church, the bride of Christ, will be taken by the Lord to heaven and will be with Him there (John 14:1–3).

2. THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

Immediately following the rapture of the church, the judgment seat of Christ will take place in heaven. All those who are involved in the rapture (church saints) will also be involved in this event (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11–4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10).

This will be a time when the Lord Jesus evaluates the works of those who are His people. The issue at the judgment seat is not the salvation of the individual, since that matter has already been settled. The issue at the judgment seat of Christ is the works of Christians. If the works done during their life are good and acceptable to Christ, they will receive reward. If their works are considered worthless, there will be a loss of reward, but not the loss of salvation. A variety of rewards will be given, and they apparently have some impact on life and responsibility during the final kingdom of God. Following the judgment seat of Christ and before His second coming to the earth, the marriage of the Lamb (Christ) will take place (Rev. 19:9). This event eternally unites the newly rewarded church with the Lord Jesus.

3. THE SEVEN-YEAR TRIBULATION (THE SEVENTIETH WEEK OF DANIEL)

After the church is removed from the earth at the rapture, the world will experience a period of time commonly called the tribulation. There could well be a short period of time between the rapture and the actual beginning of the tribulation during which some necessary alignments and developments take place. Based on Daniel 9:24–27, this period begins when the man known as the Antichrist signs a treaty with the nation of Israel.

The Antichrist will seem at first to be the protector of Israel, but he will turn out to be the great persecutor of Israel. The seven-year Tribulation is divided into two distinct parts of three and a half years each. These two parts have significant events and judgments.

There are two primary purposes for the tribulation. The first and great purpose of God is to save the nation of Israel (and many Gentiles as well) and bring them under the new covenant, which is the covenant of salvation. To bring Israel to the point where they will respond in a positive way to God’s gracious offer of salvation, God will employ many miracles. He will also allow intense persecution to come upon Israel, which will cause Israel and others to come to faith in Christ. It will be a time of unprecedented salvation, and it is likely that no other seven-year period in human history will rival the great numbers of people who are redeemed (Rev. 7:9–17).

The second purpose of the tribulation is to judge wicked people and nations. The unrighteous have willfully and arrogantly refused to live in obedience to the Creator. And while God is slow to anger and full of mercy and grace (Ex. 34:6–7), eventually unrepentant sinful people and wicked angels must be dealt with. As a result, the tribulation will be an unprecedented time of trouble and judgment on this earth (Revelation 6–18; Matt. 24:4–28). In three series of judgments, close to 80 percent of the world’s population will perish, and life on this planet will be chaotic. The Lord Jesus noted that if God had not limited the length of the tribulation no human being would make it through that time alive (Matt. 24:22).

The tribulation will also be a time of unique activity for Satan as well. Using the Antichrist, Satan will attempt to destroy God’s people, thwart God’s purposes, and cause all on the earth to worship him. His hatred for God will be focused on the people of God and will be seen in his aggressive attempt to put all of God’s people to death. Satan will successfully deceive many on the earth through his use of amazing and powerful signs and wonders. Multitudes will follow him (Matt. 24:21–24; 2 Thess. 2:1–12; Rev. 13:1–18). But all this will be to no avail. When the time is right, the Lord Jesus will return to the earth and seize control over this planet once and for all.

4. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST TO THE EARTH

The terrible time of tribulation will come to an end when the Lord Jesus comes in power and glory from heaven to the earth. This coming will be a universal revelation as both those saved (during the time of tribulation) and unsaved witness this event.

Many will respond with sorrow as they realize that their judgment is at hand. Others will rejoice because they understand that His coming will bring to an end the kingdoms of mankind and will inaugurate the millennial kingdom of the Messiah. Five important events occur in connection with the second coming of the Lord Jesus. They are, in order:

1. The judgment of the living Gentiles.

Although literally billions of people perish during the tribulation, millions are still alive at the end, and it is necessary for them to be judged to determine whether they can enter the millennial kingdom.

The first group to be so evaluated is the Gentiles. In what is commonly called the “sheep and the goats judgment” (Matt. 25:31–46), saved Gentiles (the sheep) are allowed into Messiah’s kingdom, whereas the unsaved (the goats) are not allowed entrance but, rather, are cast into hell.

2. The judgment of Israel (cf. the parable of the ten virgins in Matt. 25:1–11).

This also is a judgment to determine which Israelites will enter into Messiah’s kingdom. Saved Israelites (the wise) are allowed in, whereas unsaved Israelites (the foolish) are refused entrance into the kingdom of Messiah.

3. The resurrection and rewarding of Old Testament saints and the saints who perished in the tribulation (Rev. 20:4–6; Dan. 12:2, 13; Rev. 6:9).

It is at the second coming that these people are given their resurrected bodies and are rewarded according to the works that they have done.

4. The binding of Satan (Rev. 20:1–3).

When the Lord Jesus returns, He will have Satan cast into the Abyss, where he will be completely restricted. He will not be able to exercise any influence during the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on this earth. When the Scriptures speak of the binding of Satan, this includes the host of demons that do his bidding.

5. The actual establishing of the messianic kingdom.

Daniel 12 suggests that there will be a seventy-five-day period between  the second coming and the beginning of the messianic kingdom. It may be that during these weeks the administration of the kingdom is established and the borders of the nations are defined.

5. THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST

Once all the enemies of Christ are removed and all necessary resurrections and judgments take place, the wonderful period of the millennium will begin. The great unconditional covenants given centuries earlier will now be fulfilled. Every promise made by God will be accomplished, and Israel in particular and Gentiles in general will enjoy the blessings of Christ’s rule.

The millennial kingdom will be characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy. All people everywhere will worship the Lord Jesus, who will be present in His glory. The curse that was placed on the creation at the fall of mankind will be removed, causing the desert and all of the earth to bloom and become fertile. Because of this, mankind will experience an unprecedented prosperity that will reach to every individual. Apparently very long life spans will characterize the kingdom. This, coupled with the absence of disease, will cause the population of the earth to increase rapidly.

Also, the removal of the curse will immediately affect the animal kingdom. Animals will once again universally be vegetarians. No longer will lions eat lambs; rather, they will nap together in peace and harmony. When the messianic kingdom begins, only believers will inhabit the kingdom, and they will gladly worship the King.

But even though all are believers at the beginning, the kingdom will be made up of people with two different types of bodies: resurrected bodies and mortal bodies. Those with resurrected bodies received them either at the time of the rapture (church-age saints) or at the second coming (Old Testament and tribulation saints). The other group is made up of those who made it alive through the tribulation and as believers entered the messianic kingdom. However, their bodies were not changed, and thus they will marry and reproduce.

As the kingdom period proceeds, the children born into the millennium, like children in every other age, must come to the place where they personally respond to the Lord. In this environment of truth and righteousness, most will probably become believers and follow Him, but others will not. Only a few will actually be outwardly rebellious and receive the Lord’s rod of iron (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:4); most will worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the millennial kingdom will have more and more unbelievers as time goes on. It is these unbelievers that Satan, when he is released from the Abyss for a short time at the end of the Millennium, will find willing to rebel against the rule of King Jesus (Rev. 20:7–10).

6. THE JUDGMENTS OF THE END TIMES

After the messianic/millennial kingdom is over and before the final eternal kingdom of God begins, three judgments will take place (Rev. 20:7–15;1 Cor. 6:3).

First is the final judgment of Satan and the fallen angels. They will be cast into the lake of fire, and there they will spend eternity. Second, unbelievers will be judged at the great white throne judgment.

All unbelievers from every age will be resurrected at this time and forced to face their Creator God. Because of their sinful actions, their unbelief, and their refusal to receive His gift of eternal life, they will be cast forever into the same lake of fire as Satan (Rev. 20:12–15).

The third judgment will be that of the heavens and the earth. The present heavens and earth have been contaminated by sin and by the presence of wicked beings, and this necessitates their cleansing. The judgment of fire will completely destroy the old heavens and earth and prepare the way for the creation of a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:7–10). One other event might occur at this time as well. If some believers die during the millennium (the Scriptures do not specifically address this issue), it is logical that they be resurrected in preparation for the eternal state.

7. THE ETERNAL STATE (THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD)

It was God’s purpose from the very beginning to rule over and fellowship with people and with angels. His rulership was challenged, and His fellowship was marred by the entrance of sin and rebellion. But with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross to pay for sin and satisfy the wrath of God, fellowship was once again a reality. And with the defeat of the usurper Satan and the collapse of all the kingdoms of mankind, the Lord Jesus is King of Kings and the kingdom is now delivered over to the Father. In the eternal kingdom of God, there will be a fullness of joy, full and unhindered fellowship, and meaningful living on a new earth (Rev. 21:1–22:5). This will forever be the experience of those who are the children of God.

An summary excerpt from Dr. Paul Benware’s Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach

VIEWS CONCERNING THE END TIMES

CATEGORY ONE: Second Coming of Christ

AMILLENNIALISM: Single event; no distinction between Rapture and Second Coming; introduces eternal state

POSTMILLENNIALISM: Single event; no distinction between Rapture and Second Coming; Christ returns after millennium.

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: Rapture and Second Coming simultaneous; Christ returns to reign on earth.

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: Second Coming in two phases; Rapture for church; Second Coming to earth seven years later.

CATEGORY TWO: Resurrection

AMILLENNIALISM: General resurrection of believers and unbelievers at second coming of Christ.

POSTMILLENNIALISM: General resurrection of believers and unbelievers at second coming of Christ.

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: Resurrection of believers at beginning of millennium; resurrection of unbelievers at end of millennium.

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: Distinction in resurrections: • Church at Rapture • Old Testament/tribulation saints at Second Coming • Unbelievers at end of millennium

CATEGORY THREE: Judgments

AMILLENNIALISM: General judgment of all people.

POSTMILLENNIALISM: General judgment of all people.

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: Judgment at Second Coming; judgment at end of tribulation.

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: Distinction in judgment: • Believers’ work at Rapture • Jews/Gentiles at end of tribulation • Unbelievers at end of millennium

CATEGORY FOUR: Tribulation

AMILLENNIALISM: Tribulation is experienced in this present age.

POSTMILLENNIALISM: Tribulation is experienced in this present age.

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: Postrib view: church goes through the future tribulation.

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: Pretrib view: church is raptured prior to tribulation.

CATEGORY FIVE: Millennium

AMILLENNIALISM: No literal millennium on earth after Second Coming; kingdom present in church age.

POSTMILLENNIALISM: Present age blends into millennium because of progress of gospel.

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: Millennium is both present and future. Christ is reigning in heaven; millennium not necessarily 1,000 yrs.

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: At Second Coming, Christ inaugurates literal 1,000-year millennium on earth.

CATEGORY SIX: Israel and the Church

AMILLENNIALISM: Church is the new Israel, no distinction between Israel and church.

POSTMILLENNIALISM: Church is the new Israel; no distinction between Israel and church.

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: Some distinction between Israel and church; future for Israel, but church is spiritual Israel.

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: Complete distinction between Israel and church; distinct program for each.

CATEGORY SEVEN: Adherents

AMILLENNIALISM: L. Berkhof, O. T. Allis, G. C. Berkhouwer

POSTMILLENNIALISM: Charles Hodge, B. B. Warfield, W. G. T. Shedd, A. H. Strong

HISTORIC PREMILLENNIALISM: G. E. Ladd, A. Reese, M. J. Erickson

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIALISM: L. S. Chafer, J. D. Pentecost, C. C. Ryrie, J. F. Walvoord

Understanding End Times Prophecy – Paul Benware

Chapter Two, Part One – Contracts and Covenants

Why engage in contracts and covenants?

To frame the outcome & behavior of participants with freedom in will and action.  Man’s personal autonomy is the only thing in God’s Creation allowed to oppose Him.  While still under His Sovereignty, Man, as an aspect of His Image, is allowed autonomy.  This allows for our meritorious judgement for our obedience to His expectations and commands.

How is behavior/performance/outcome ensured between sovereign individuals?

All human individuals, within the scope of their mental capacity, are generally free to do as they choose.  The governance over one’s actions can be imposed upon oneself, by another individual, by governance, or by God (and ‘natural’ circumstance).  A total lack of any sort of governance would result in chaos.  However, the universal awareness of God, and more so an awareness of His Word and expectations – including an understanding of reward and loss – offers the beginnings toward self-governance in agreement with our perfect and wise Creator.  The levels of governance over our behavior, from lesser to best, are: Governance – An outside force that gives us no choice but to comply; Another individual – A robber with a weapon, a peer with a request, a loved one with a need, a stranger with an plea; Oneself – acting on conscience or disposition; Holy Spirit – Of those in Christ, possessed by the Spirit of God, Who if allowed offers God’s guidance and attributes.  The overlay of His attributes governs the Saved to reply as He would.

Why are controlling agreements needed?

The governance by the indwelling Spirit of God is the closest to being in concert with Him, and as He is Perfect, is the best avenue towards ensuring a good outcome between autonomous individuals.  However, the surrender of our autonomy to another, or to God, goes against our fallen nature.  Therefore, we employ agreements – Contracts and Covenants – to assist in our governance in order to assure an outcome.

Some contrasts between contracts and covenants

Contract	Covenant
Legal arena, settled by law in the court	Relational or spiritual arena, settled between participants
An agreement held in place by law and consequence	An agreement held in place by a pledge and the willful intent
Requires consideration, the exchange of something of value from the parties to the contract	Represents something participants fulfill
Parties cannot be forced to enter the agreement	Includes the committing and giving of oneself to the other
Is an exchange of goods, or what each will do or not do for/to the other	Intends to employ the strengths of each participant to help the other
Is mutually beneficial to the participants
Either party can opt out by agreement or default on the terms

Are there any Covenants or Contracts within the Godhead?

Since controlling agreements are required to hold autonomous individuals with differing goals and mindsets, it can be supposed there is no reason for Covenants or Contracts within the Godhead.  All three Persons are of the same perfect mind.

Is either of the two agreements superior?

A Contract is a rigid agreement that relies upon the completeness of the terms to foresee and address all issues related to the desired outcome.  All circumstances and challenges must be anticipated and answered.  On the other hand, a Covenant is much more fluid and flexible in navigating challenges to the desired outcome.  A failure of a participating party to a contract would find himself in default and the contract possibly broken.  The same failure of a participant of a Covenant could expect the other party to lend his help to keep the agreement intact.  Both Contracts and Covenants seek an end goal.  The difference lies in the degree of the participants’ reliance on relationship and aid when the agreement is threatened by failure to meet the terms.

A Covenant is far superior, but comes at a higher personal cost to the participants.  Failure in a contract results in the parties walking away, perhaps with penalties.  A Covenant is as robust as the participating individuals.

God employed both Contract and Covenant in Man’s Salvation.  The Law was fully satisfied in Christ’s perfect execution of the terms.  He alone has fulfilled the Contract without any failure.  In turn, Christ simultaneously offers/commands the ability to enter into the new Covenant, while relieving us of our obligation to the Contract through the fulfillment of the terms we are held to.  He paid the price of our obligation; He brought us into Covenant with Him to see us Saved; We are possessed of His Spirit to teach us governance; We are no longer parties to the Law/Contract and therefore have died to the sin it’s terms declare.

Some Other Notes

• Duration – All covenants have terms of duration through the end of their intended outcome.  Abraham’s is in force as long as the heavens and earth remain; marriage is until the death of one of the spouses; a short term covenant (more likely could be termed as a vow?) could be until the conclusion of something like a battle.  Covenants are typically fully binding and cannot be broken.  One exception is in marriage, where God has allowed certain circumstances, perhaps due to His mercy for our inability to forgive.
• Terms of Fulfillment
  • Parties (engaged in the covenant)
  • Seed of Abraham
    • Physical Descendants – Abraham’s physical and inherited line.  Inherited is demonstrated in the case of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25.24-34).  Though Esau was first in line by birthright, he surrendered it for a meal, and Jacob deceived Isaac into conferring his paternal blessing – thus assigning Jacob to the inherited line of Abraham.
    • Genuine Israel – The remnant, and those referred to by Paul; genuine believers and followers of God, not simply those born to the Nation and religion.
    • Gentile/Nations – Christ following, non-Jewish believers, as well as the benefits of Jewish contributions conferred to all people in the world.
  • No Transfers – This is akin to “God has no grandchildren”.  Our covenant through Christ is ours individually.  Our children must have their own covenant with Him, for while they benefit under our households, they cannot be adopted through ours.
  • Not all yet fulfilled – As we await the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant – the rescue of those belonging to God, the defeat and removal of God’s enemies, the establishment of Christ’s governance on Earth, the elevation of true Israel over the saved Nations – we have already seen most, but not all, of the terms of the Covenant fulfilled.