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The Late Great Planet Church: The Rise of Dispensationalism

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I just "watched" this DVD for the second time. I say "watched," but "listened to" would be more accurate. Why?? Because many of the extraneous, "special effects" visuals on this DVD are of such poor quality - blurry - dizzying - irrelevant - that it is painful to watch. (I am not referring to the sections of men speaking, or visuals of historic quotations, those are great & the information communicated is thorough and well-documented)

As for the auditory tracks, the speaking narration is fine. But what is with the second track of music? I use the term "music" advisedly. Grating, fingernails-on- the-blackboard noise would better describe it. At several places, it is so loud you can barely hear the narration. And some of the noise is so overpowering, it makes you want to scream and most definitely makes it hard, if not impossible at times, to focus on the excellent information that is being communicated.

I looked forward to this DVD with great anticipation after watching the Nicene Council's DVD - Amazing Grace - The History and Theology of Calvinism. I had hoped to share this as a springboard for discussion with several friends who are caught up in the dispensational system. The sad truth is that I will NOT be showing this to ANYONE because of the overriding distraction of the technically poor quality of the visual "special effects" and the incessant "background" music.

One other concern is the ad hominem attack on Scofield. I am fully aware from my own research that the information is accurate. However, it is possible to discredit his teaching, and show the many errors in his theology, WITHOUT dragging in all of the dirt about his personal life and relationships. The treatment of Scofield is NOT in accord with the opening statements about the tone and purpose and methods that would be used in challenging Dispensational Theology -

"[An] In-house discussion as we challenge many dear brothers and sisters regarding their dispensational teaching, ... may God preserve the bonds of love as we all strive to see the church come into the unity of the faith ... We are going to say some very direct and severe things about this system of theology and it's founders. Don't mistake this frankness for a harsh or unloving spirit. ... Our desire is to speak the truth in love, while being bold while speaking that truth. Our challenge, which we lay at the door of Dispensational Theology, will be from Scripture."

Sadly, the detailed recounting of Scofield's scandalous personal life could accurately be described as "harsh" and "unloving." Furthermore, by no stretch of the imagination is it consistent with a "challenge of Dispensational Theology FROM SCRIPTURE."

And, this is another reason why I will not be sharing this DVD with others. It provides a way for someone to derail a discussion about Dispensational Theology and dismiss the entire presentation as "unfair," "biased," "prejudicial," and/or "unloving".

It is sad to see such a much needed tool rendered virtually unusable because the focus was on being artistic or "hip" or whatever???? instead of concentrating on the excellent handling of the substance, with careful, God-glorifying thought given to not being a stumbling block or offense or distraction to the very audience the DVD seeks to reach.

Well I took the time the other week to sit down for about 2 hours and review the long awaited video from NiceneCouncil.com, The Late Great Planet Church (The Rise of Dispensationalism). First and foremost, congratulations to Jerry Johnson and his son Tyler on the production finally being completed. It is very well down both quality wise and in it's content.
This is the first volume in a two volume set that which will be released sometime later. This volume however is an introduction to what dispensationalism is and is not and also discusses the major proponents of dispensationalism such as Charles Ryrie, C. I. Schofield, and John Darby. These are some of the men who made dispensationalism so popular from the 19th and 20th century. Others of late note include such men as Hal Lindsey (where his book Late Great Planet Earth is punned by the title), and those who established Dallas Theological Seminary have turned out millions of people who believe in dispensationalism, though the Bible knows nothing of it. The primary focus of dispensationalism is to somehow divide the people of God into two categories, the geo-political structure of the nation Israel (or those as dispensationalism puts it, who are "physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and those of the New Testament Church. Rather than see the continuity of both the Old and New Testaments in the people of God and those who are really the children of God as one people, they seek to destroy what Christ has established according to Ephesians 2 where he makes from the 2, Jew and Gentile, one new man. There is to be no more distinctions physically. Rather the distinction is purely spiritual. Thus the true Jew, Paul tells us, is the one that has been circumcised not of the flesh, but of the heart.
So this video seeks to attempt to deal with the birth of the thinking of dispensationalism and also those who promoted it. It primarily is not a theology but an eschatology that has then been read back into the Scriptures and thus the doctrines gained do impact one's thinking. At no time in church history was dispensationalism known until the 1800's. So it is relatively new. This does not make it wrong, but one should be careful in believing something that the church has not held to since the creation. Along with the primary distinction of the Church and Israel, there are also other doctrines such as a secret rapture and a 7 year Tribulation somewhere in our future followed by a 1000 year rule of Christ from Jerusalem. There are also disturbing doctrines regarding what takes place in the millenium that I'm sure will be discussed in volume 2.
However for volume one sit back and listen at least to the birth of dispensationalism, the character of it's earliest proponents and at least see if it isn't valid to ask, whether we should not take a serious look at dispensationalism if for no other reason than the character of those who first popularized it, such as John Darby and C. I. Schofield. In the end it is what the Bible says and teaches in its context that determines the truth, but we should be on guard against those who seek to draw sheep after themselves as these men did and then shut off any other believers from them. On top of that some of the disturbing things that were in these men's lives also reflect a lack of godliness and qualification for one to teach the Word of God, much less add notes in a study Bible.
I highly recommend this first installment of "The Late Great Planet Church" for personal viewing, as well as, for groups. Now, if you are a dispensationalist, don't discount what I write here and not view the dvd. Get it and take in the information and then respond to it. I am one that use to be dispensationalist many years ago, but when I was forced to study through books of the Bible an do so in their contexts there is no way one would ever come to the conclusion of dispensationalism apart from someone teaching it to them, because the concepts are foreign to the text itself. With that I will end on the note of encouragement to arm yourself with the facts contained in the video. Jerry is an excellent researcher and makes sure his facts are straight before publishing them. As a former contributer to Watchman Fellowship, a counter cult ministry in Texas, he is widely known and is the president of NiceneCouncil.com and writer for the Amazing Grace, The History and Theology of Calvinism DVD.

This film explains how Dispensationalism got started in a respectful loving way. Every dispensationalist owes it to him or herself to find out how this system really got started and what it took to get it started. Film brings clarity to the differences between historical premillenialism and dispensationalism and how they are not to be confused. Also covers progressive dispensationalism which is the latest trend to this movement. I am looking forward to volume two where they will deal more with the dispensational approach to scripture versus the covenental approach to scripture.

Dispensationalism - a system of interpretation, and a theology built solely on eschatology - true or false? This is the question being addressed, and by studying through that which this DVD study portrays, you will get some very interesting and excellent answers!

For a period of thirty years I remained in a religious belief system that was reflected in arminianism (man's free will to choose God for himself); antinomianism (down, against, and without God's moral law as reflected in the Ten Commandments); semi-peligianism (God and man working together towards man's salvation and justification); dispensationalism (the view that God's dealings with men have proceeded through well-defined time-periods called dispensations, in each of which God reveals a particular purpose to be accomplished in that period, to which men respond in faith or unbelief).

I attended churches that held to these teachings, and attended both Bible College(s) and Seminary that also held to these things. Some of the churches and institutions that I attended were very closely aligned with Dallas Theological Seminary.

Volume One of, "The Late Great Planet Church - The Rise of Dispensationalism", captures the essence, roots, and history of dispensationalism, from its inception to the modern day.

The information covered in this first volume depicts exactly what I was taught, and in a very all encompassing way. While viewing this study I was transported back in time to places and people that instructed me in these teachings, beginning with my introduction to Hal Lindsey's book, The Late Great Planet Earth, which I bought hook, line, and sinker, without even questioning anything that I was reading.

Before the dawn of a new day in now being steeped in the Doctrines of Grace, the Reformation, and Covenant Theology, I was indoctrinated into a religious belief system, a system of interpretation that presented its content as `the only' real truth, and claimed to be always, `rightly dividing the truth.' I took for verbatim, that which I was being taught as true, and without any self study to cause me to think otherwise.

The atheistic philosopher Bertrand Russell wrote, "Most Christians would rather die than think - in fact they do." I would add to that, that most Christians would rather listen to an entertaining message, or read something by some current contemporary author rather than study for themselves the Scripture's and except that as truth.

Often times we unfortunately take at face value the content of whatever is being preached or exposed from the pulpit, Bible study, or other as `the truth.' In this case dispensationalism, a system noted for its literal hermeneutic.

The Late Great Planet Church is a much needed presentation on dispensationalism, especially at this point in time of God's plan of redemptive history. It brings to light the reality of where the church is today, and causes one to quickly consider and rethink that which one has been taught.

The information provided on the founder of dispensationalism, John Nelson Darby is excellent, but the information provided on C.I. Scofield, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Charles Ryrie, and Dallas Theological Seminary was a real eye opener.

It often amazes me as to the theological and doctrinal box that many try and paint C.H. Spurgeon into. These quotes by Spurgeon were and are very revealing:

"These who saw Christ's day before it came had a great difference as to what they knew, but they were all washed in the same blood, all redeemed with the same ransom price, and made members of the same body. Israel in the covenant of grace is not natural (or National Israel), but all believers in all ages."

"Difference of dispensation does not involve a difference of covenant; and it is according to the covenant of grace that all spiritual blessings are bestowed."

"Mr. Darby is to all intents and purposes a thorough Pope though under a Protestant name. He will never admit that he is in error; and there he very naturally declines to argue with those who controvert the soundness of his views."

And finally George Muller writing on John Nelson Darby and dispensationalism, "I' am a constant reader of the Bible, and I soon found that what I was taught to believe did not always agree with what my Bible said. I came to see that I must either part company with John Darby, or my precious Bible, and I chose to cling to my Bible and part from Mr. Darby."

This most excellent study takes a very honest and sincere look at something that has had a very profound and negative affect on the church. Regardless as to what your theological preferences and priorities are, this study will leave an impact on your thought processes and cause you to really think about what you claim to believe, and Lord willing, cause you to have such a desire to study God's holy and sanctified word.

In a non-condescending way this study brings to light the facts and realities of dispensationalism. Theology and doctrine do matter, and are not to be abrogated to man's intellect and thinking apart from Scripture!

A well done presentation on the origins of dispensational theology. It is brief in critique but is a preparatory presentation awaiting Vol. 2 for an in-depth analysis of the theology of dispensationalism. Very nice!

This DVD is a goldmine of information! The DVD was well-researched, clear and concise on the difference between Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology. It really helped me to understand my now deceased grandfather's approach to the Bible. And, it encouraged me greatly in knowing that the Nicene Council is producing this type of media! To the praise of His glorious grace, Carolyn R.Guth

While I may agree with the theological position of the makers of this video, the quality of the production is horrible and the valuable content is relegated to the very end of this 2-hour screed of a DVD.

I can tell you that the 5-star review by Traci Johnson is certainly skewed to favor her husband, Jerry Johnson, who is the producer of this video. The information she provides about the production facility is also a bit misleading, as her husband's web company, "Apologetics Group, Inc." located in Virginia. is NOT the same studio that produced the DVD production "Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism", though her husband did help co-write that particular script with that film's producer, Eric Holmberg, current CEO and director of The Apologetics Group, located in Tennessee, prior to starting his own company. They are two completely different production facilities. The Apologetics Group and Apologetics Group, Inc. are NOT affiliated with each other. Considering this, Late Great Planet Church falls far short of the quality we are used to with Eric Holmberg and The Apologetics Group (for those of us familiar with their work), though with a lot more practice and experience, Apologetics Group, Inc. may eventually be able to achieve that goal. However, Jerry's pedantic and somewhat stiff narration style does not lend itself to persuasion very well.

Sorry, but I cannot in good conscience recommend this DVD. Instead, here is a succinct treatment of the subject, A Study of Dispensationalism, written by Arthur Pink. It is available to read free on the internet here:

[...]

A.W. Pink noted, "Why we should write upon our present subject, and that is to expose the modern and pernicious error of Dispensationalism. This is a device of the Enemy, designed to rob the children of no small part of that bread which their heavenly Father has provided for their souls; a device wherein the wily serpent appears as an angel of light, feigning to "make the Bible a new book" by simplifying much in it which perplexes the spiritually unlearned."

The Late Great Planet Church: The Rise of Dispensationalism is an excellent documentary that will help you better understand the "pernicious errors of dispenationalism". Though it only covers the history of the movement, the prodcuers promise a second volume to cover its abberant theology. I thank God for raising up men and organizations like NiceneCouncil.com & The Apologetics Group. (By the way, I Loved their production Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism.)

Don't waste your time with this video. Aside from the fact Jerry Johnson spends most of his time pleading with the audience that he is really being nice and not "mean spirited" , he spends 95% of his time building his case by using "Expert" witnesses like Gary Demar (The Angry Preterist), Ken Gentry etc. to prove his case and doing this by critiquing fringe people like C.I. Scofield, Tim Lahaye and Hal Lindsay. Johnson also says in the beginning something to the effect of some of the dispensationalists he knows are some of the most "sincere" Christians he knows, but then proceeds to lump them in the same camp as Scofield, Lahaye and Lindsay, which is a very common tactic in the Covenant Theology camp.

There was about 15 minutes of useful information in this video at the end, but for those of you with a sincere interest in seeking out Biblically based reasons for abandoning your Pre-millennial/Dispensational position and adopting Covenant Theology you will not find anything useful in this video (I had a hard time staying awake).

OK - We (Dispensationalists) have a gauntlet to throw down to you(Covenant Theologians) - quit using pop culture theologians like Tim Lahaye, Hal Lindsay and C.I Scofield as your straw men and start having an intelligent debate with some of the respected Dispensationalist Theologians.

P.S - If you want to see a good debate on this subject rent the Gary Demar vs. Thomas Ice (who also debated Ken Gentry) debate (available on Puritans Picks). After seeing that you will see which camp has the Biblically based position.

i would love to see this but sadly it is not captioned, so is of no value to me.