Ian: << You said: 'This is a view found amongst dispensational premillennarians, but not even all of them hold to that position. Many premillennarians are not dispensational at all, and would reject this view.' I'm not up to date on the latest Premillenial thinking, but I understood even Historic Premillenialists like B.W.Newton held to literal animal sacrifices, literal Levitical priesthood, etc. Am I wrong? >> You may have to refresh my thinking on Newton. If I am not mistaken Benjamin Wills Newton was an early Plymouth Brethren, and a contemporary of John Nelson Darby. If I have the right Newton, then he would qualify more as a Dispensational rather than as a Historical Premillennarian. He and Darby had well-known disagreements, and eventually there was a split, but not over these issues. Would you classify John Nelson Darby as a Historic Premillennialist? If not, I do not think that Newton would either. Therefore, I do not think he should be cited as an example of a Historical Premillennarian who holds to the reinstitution of Mosiac ordinances in the millennium, but rather as a typical early Dispensational Premillennarian who held such views along with many of his contemporaries. When I think of Historic Premillennialists I would include J. Barton Payne, Alva J. McLain, George Eldon Ladd, J. Oliver Buswell, R. Laird Harris, and others. I do not know of any evidence that these men taught the reinstitution of Mosaic ordinances during the Millennium. I would be very surprised if any of them did. I would suspect that in their writings we would find them adamantly opposing such teachings. << And how do those who don't believe this explain the OT prophecies of such millenial sacrifices, if not literally? >> I don't know how they did. Nor do I have their materials at hand to be able to research the answer to this question. I still think that this teaching is peculiar to Classic or Traditional Dispensationalism. I do know that Oswald T. Allis called such teachings "the Achilles heel of Dispensationalism", referring specifically to the Scofieldian brand of Dispensationalism (see his Prophecy and the Church). While I disagree with his assessment, his criticism needed to be taken to heart, and I believe that it has been to a great extent by later generations of Dispensational Premillenarians. However, there are still works being published during the last decade defending these errors by Dispensationalists, and I find this perpetuation very disturbing. I have done extensive research over many years on this issue for two reasons: 1. Out of respect for Dr. Allis, and the realization that his criticisms are not to be taken lightly; and 2. Because the contemporary critics of Dispensationalism (including my beloved brethren at the Bunyan Conference!) keep throwing it in my face. My personal conclusions thus far are as follows: 1. I believe that Ezekiel 40-48 and its parallels may be some of the most problematic and difficult prophetic passages to sort through. 2. I am leery of anyone who thinks that they have no doubt how these passages should be handled, or, conversely, not handled. 3. I am not convinced that such passages should be made the ultimate hermeneutical test cases. 4. I do not doubt in the dark what I knew to be true in the light, nor am I willing to cast adrift my hermeneutic established by clear passages when I encounter difficulties in the dark passages. 5. I think that Covenantism has been guilty of bringing the Mosaic Covenant in the front door, while Dispensationalism has been guilty of letting it in the back door. However, I also conclude that while it is consistent for Covenantism to do so, it is inconsistent for Dispensationalism. 6. I know that the teachings of the book of Hebrews must, at the end of the day, rule out any reinstitution of Mosaic ordinances following the institution of the New Covenant at the Cross. 7. All of that being said, I see the problem, and face it squarely, but am not willing to hasten to judgment. I am content at this point to say that I have no ultimate solution or answer, and to leave it at that for the time being. It remains on my long list of questions and issues I will bear to the Throne for my Bible studies in Glory (also included: what was Christ writing on the ground, who wrote Hebrews, what did Paul hear in the third heaven, what was the "present distress" in Corinth, who were the Nicolaitanes, etc., etc.). Soli Deo Gloria, John T. Jeffery SSG, PAARNG BFV Maint Sect SGT "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" TF Saber, HHC 1-172nd AR BN 2nd BCT, 28th ID APO, AE 09362-9997 Ar Ramadi, Iraq DNVT 318-521-2222 (BMO's Office) http://ironsoldiers.army.mil/newsletters/index.htm -- Read the Sound of Grace pages at http://www.soundofgrace.com To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... To view our online archive go to our web page at http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace