Antisemitic or anti-contextual Bible exegesis?

As Pastor of the Eternal Grace Baptist Church, I am confident that Jerry Falwell is not Antisemitic, but he (along with many of the dispensational mindsets) is anti-contextual in his Bible exegesis. Hence, his views have been causing deep concern among those Falwell truly cares for, as well as discrediting true born again believers. These Dispensational views have dampened the effects of Christ's Church in the 20th century. Dispensationalism sees a great persecution yet to come where "two thirds of the children of Israel in the land will perish" during the "Great Tribulation." The Bible teaches us, however, that what is erroneously predicted today as a near future coming Tribulation has already occurred during the Jewish Roman wars in the first century (AD 67-70).

Falwell, an outstanding leader in many areas, is nevertheless among the "Lazy literalists" who have failed to understand that while believing the Bible literally one must incorporate the historical, contextual, grammatical verbiage which utilized metaphorical symbolism. For instance, Falwell has said, he "wouldn't be a bit surprised" if Christ returns in the year 2000. His dispensationalism is delusional at times primarily because of omitting the historical aspects of the passages from the Bible. Although he claims his views about the Antichrist are based on Scripture, there are even objections being raised among those in the dispensational camp.

Here is an example, fellow dispensationalist John Walvoord who is chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, a center of dispensational views, takes issue with Falwell's statement saying, "I think very highly of Rev. Falwell but . . . he's gone beyond what the Bible says. The Bible doesn't say the Antichrists will be Jewish."

What the Bible actually says regarding the subject of the antichrist may be reviewed as follows: First, note that "antichristos" is a combined form of "christos" - Christ - and the prefix "anti." One of the renderings of "anti" would be "against." However, it also carries the idea of "in the place of" as a substitute for another. The concept of Antichrist, according to Scripture, contains both of these senses.

The Apostle John in the first century is the only one who specifically addressed the issue by name. Notice and keep in mind that in that first century the Holy Spirit forcefully indicates that the Antichrist was already alive. Incidentally, the following passages are the only ones which mention by name the Antichrist. These passages should be used to determine the topic of antichrist.

(1 John 2:18 KJV) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

(1 John 2:22 KJV) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

(1 John 4:3 KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

(2 John 1:7 KJV) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Again it must be noted that the Apostle John was writing these epistles in the first century. Therefore, his immediate audience was capable of discerning antichrist. Hence from the above Scriptural authority on this subject, either a male or female Jew or Gentile (non Jew) could be antichrist.

Another dispensationalist, Dwight Wilson, author of Armageddon Now!, convincingly demonstrates that dispensationalism fostered a "hands off" policy regarding Nazi persecutions of the Jews during World War II. Since, according to dispensational views regarding Bible prophecy, "the Gentile nations are permitted to afflict Israel in chastisement for her national sins," there is little that should be done to oppose it. Wilson writes that "It is regrettable that this view allowed premillennialists to expect the phenomenon of `anti-Semitism' and tolerate it matter-of-factly." Wilson describes himself as "a third-generation premillenarian who has spent his whole life in premillennialist churches, has attended a premillennialist Bible college, and has taught in such a college for fourteen years." His views cannot be viewed as prejudiced against dispensationalism.

Jerry Falwell is not Antisemitic but his eschatological positions that come from his delusional dispensationalism which, therefore, makes him suspect among Jewish detractors, and irrelevant in the matter of Biblical prophecy.

About the author of this article: Pastor John Stephen Brown has pastored, for over thirteen years, the Eternal Grace Baptist Church which is a historical, particular, unregistered Baptist congregation that believes and proclaims the Victory of Christ, King of the saints, in time.

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