Bible Prophecy and Covenant Theology – how does Covenant Theology (CT) deal with prophecy in the Old Testament? Does it try to avoid the subject? I’ve looked at this topic previously. But I wanted to make some additional observations.
Recently, Westminster Seminary Press republished a book by Herman Bavinck: The Wonderful Works of God. It is an abridgment of his Reformed Dogmatics. The book looked interesting enough for me to watch some promo videos. Aside from my observations below, it looks like a worthy read.
At one point in a video discussing Wonderful Works, one of the participants remarks about the Old Testament, Southern Baptists, the Dispensationalist Tradition, and end times charts etc. He then connects 1 Peter 1:10 to Bavinck’s assertion that the whole Old Testament speaks of the dual mission of the Son and the Spirit.
This is a rather pious way proponents of CT sometimes dismiss large prophetic sections of the OT which don’t conform to their theological tradition. On the other hand CT preterists enjoy discussing prophecy because it gives them an excuse to demean dispensationalism. Perhaps I’m being unfair, though.
One Reformed CT apologist made similar dismissive remarks while mentioning genre, types, symbols, apocalyptic literature etc. Sober futuristic premillennialists understand and work well with these principles. Tony Garland’s commentary on Revelation is helpful. See also HERE.
Meanwhile, of Bavinck, Paul Henebury (Dr Reluctant) has noted:
As an example of a major voice from this [Replacement & Covenant Theology] perspective one can hardly get more authoritative or more trenchant than Herman Bavinck, who avers,
The community of believers has in all respects replaced carnal, national Israel. – Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, 4.667
When we reject the premillennial view and discard future national Israel, we’re forced to re-interpret vast sections of the OT though an NT Christological lens etc. One example is Thomas V. Moore’s commentary on Zechariah where he reads the church in place of Israel.
In my review of Rhett Dodson’s excellent book, Every Promise Of Your Word: The Gospel According to Joshua, I praised him for his strong view of Scripture. Yet he departed from this position when addressing God’s future promises to Israel by inferring that Israel’s promises have ultimate fulfillment in the new heaven and earth (Christ & the church). He is constrained to this view because of his non-premil CT position.
Charles Spurgeon has been cited by futuristic posttribbers against pretribulationism. Yet while he was posttribulational and premillennial, he also held to historicism and Covenant Theology (often interpreting church for Israel). He didn’t hold to a future 70th Week of Daniel; likely thought the Antichrist and Beast system were associated with the Roman Catholic Church, and thought the church was already in the tribulation.
In Michael Reeves’ book “Spurgeon and the Christian Life“; he also notes that Spurgeon was raised as a postmillennialist, who converted to premillennialism shortly after moving to London. However, he frowned on any prophetic speculations. Reeves observed that…
Yet his [Spurgeon’s] concern was that the person of Christ – not the millennium or the date of Christ’s return – should be central to the Christian hope. And with Christ before them, Christians should live in active hope, not sequestered debate or theorizing. (p 178)
I’m somewhat sympathetic to Spurgeon’s warning about debating. However amil-postmil Covenant Theologians of that era frowned on premillennialism and prophecy in general, regardless of the degree of focus.
This comes out strongly at various times in Andrew Bonar’s “Diary and Life.” Andrew and his brother Horatius were premillennialists who took strong interest in prophecy. Andrew was often concerned about his brother being bypassed for ministerial positions because of his millennial position prophetic interests.
A similar bias can be currently seen in the stable of J. C. Ryle books kept by Banner of Truth. Banner has published all of Ryle’s books except those relating to his views on prophecy – e.g., “Are You Ready for the End of Time?” I can only surmise that even though Ryle was covenantal, his prophetic views do not align with Banner of Truth’s millennial position. Barry Horner (Future Israel) cites Ryle…
I might show you by scriptural evidence that the Jews will probably first be gathered in an unconverted state, though humbled, and will afterwards be taught to look to Him whom they have pierced [Zech 12:10-14], through much tribulation. ~ Future Israel (p 345)
I’ve often stated how I love reading the Puritans and many Reformed works. These contain a high degree of emphasis on the Five Solas, doxology, Christology, the Trinity and attributes of God. They honor God’s Word (Sola Scriptura). I’ve been spiritually blessed by these people.
Yet when it comes to prophecy – especially relating to future national Israel and the millennium – they switch hermeneutics. Of course, they don’t see it that way. See Abner Chou’s video The Hermeneutics of Christ-Centered Preaching.
Honoring God’s Word ought to include acknowledging the plain-sense of God’s revealed future plans. After all, the Bible devotes a good portion to it. I hope one day some of our Reformed friends will consider taking a fresh look at their tradition regarding prophecy.
Maranatha!
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