Darby, Dualism, and the Decline of Dispensationalism [Paperback]

Ronald M. Henzel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2003

In Darby, Dualism, and the Decline of Dispensationalism, Ron Henzel argues that traditional Dispensationalism's current plight can be traced back to its founder, John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), although not for the reasons that non-Dispensationalists have generally assumed. Dispensationalism's critics have tended to focus on Darby's excessively literal approach to the interpretation of biblical prophecy, but Henzel offers a new paradigm for understanding Darby, one that has far-reaching consequences for those who would attempt to understand both Dispensationalism and its problems without first consulting the writings of its primary architect.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Henzel’s excellent, carefully researched book ... is a must read for anyone interested in this topic. -- Dr. Walter A. Elwell, Professor, Graduate Theology Studies, Wheaton College, Illinois

About the Author

Ronald M. Henzel (M.A., Biblical Studies, Wheaton College, Illinois) served as Coordinator of Ministries for LaGrange Gospel Chapel (LaGrange Highlands, Illinois) in the mid-1980s, and is now Senior Researcher for Midwest Christian Outreach (Lombard, Illinois). He resides in Cape Coral, Florida, with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Benjamin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Fenestra Books (July 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587361337
• ISBN-13: 978-1587361333
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,459,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional research and scholarship..., March 1, 2006

By 

Carl E. Olson "Author of 'Will Catholics Be '... (Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darby, Dualism, and the Decline of Dispensationalism (Paperback)

...are evident throughout this fine book, probably the best work written about the unique theological ideas of John Nelson Darby and how they resulted in the creation of the dispensationalist system, which Henzel rightly describes as being "a deliberately iconoclastic system" (p 22). Henzel brings to the foreground Darby's radical dichotomy (never before promulgated by anyone claiming to be an orthodox Christian) between the heavenly people and the earthly people of God and carefully and fairly shows how Darby broke with orthodox Christian understandings on many issues, including eschatology and soteriology. The dualism posited by Darby, Henzel argues (and demonstrates), "was a dualism as great as anyone had ever posited between the sacred and the secular, or between the spiritual and the natural" (p 87). That is strong, but accurate, assessment - and one that needs to be heard by many Christians.

Although I am Catholic and a former Evangelical and Henzel is an Evangelical who is a former Catholic, we certainly agree on the weaknesses and dangers found in Darby's work, and on the effect they continue to have in differing forms of popular dispensationalism. I highly recommend this excellent book.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dispensationalism, January 31, 2006

By 

Thomas J. Nicholson "CARRIBEAN ADVENTURE FAN" (CELEBRATION, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darby, Dualism, and the Decline of Dispensationalism (Paperback)

The type of people that are interested in Dispensationalism are extreamly polorized for or against the theory. This book trys to bring the two ends together and probably in the end some readers are less pleased. I would have prefered a stronger stand against this theory, like it is not from the Bible. It was invented by John Darby, who also invented the "rapture" also not in the Bible. The author will not come out and say this is a false teaching, you just have to go along with that idea and gradually come to that conclusion.

13 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Primin' the Same Ole' Pump!, May 21, 2006

By 

E. Perruso "Edro" (Wake Forest, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darby, Dualism, and the Decline of Dispensationalism (Paperback)

Great! Another writer that uses the "I used to be a dispensationalist but now finally see clearly" approach. This has been done to death...although this guy appeals to our sense of emotion when stating his past dispensational instructors are remembered "with great affection" (vii). The author claims that the book "is not intended as an attack on Dispensationalists" but merely an "invitation to the sorely-neglected area of study: the life and writings of John Nelson Darby." Well, intended or not, the attack is obvious. Even with such a conclusion as "we owe them [dispensationists] a debt of gratitude for standing in the gap as the authority of Scripture was challenged in many American seminaries in the 20th century," the author's disgust for the system cannot be hidden.

One major consideration omitted is any (and I mean any) reference to other dispensational systems such as Acts 9, 11, 13, or 28; all of which would've have effectively answered every question concerning the heart of his citique, the New Covenant. These four systems are even more militant in there heaven/earth dicotomy than the classical (Acts 2) model Henzel opposes. Being that this author sees this dicotomy as fundamentally flawed, then he should have no problem making short work of models (Acts 9, 11, 13, 28) that embrace this dicotomy to an even greater degree...but not one word.

Not one word on the dispensational scholars that have already answered his charges (Bullinger, Baker, Sellars, O'Hair, Welch, Stam); although his biography does cite Stam and Welsh but their actual citations are obscure at best (I'm actually not sure if they are even present).

The author manipulates his use of the dispensational scholar Fruchtenbaum. His uses Fruchtenbaum's words to oppose Darby (p.154-55) but "decided" not to use some of his words from his best known work when addressing the New Covenant. If Henzel would have only cited Fructenbaum's "Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology," much of his dispensational critique would've suffered (see "Israelology" p.744). Ohhh noooo, somehow that source was omitted.

Furthermore, not one word on Morgan Edwards; a pre-Darby rapturist by half a century. And his information on McDonald is misapplied and unfortunate.

Finally, I've seen some of the other reviews by anti-dispenationists and their objection to the absence of the term "rapture" in the Bible. Well....the term "Bible" isn't in the Bible either. Nor are the terms "omniscience" or "omnipresence." To be fair, shouldn't their reasoning now call into questions God's knowledge, presence, and control over time and space? It seems as if that little tid-bit of information will be omitted.