I'm not going to go over and over again about Luke 21:20, 21 and Matthew 24 as we have talked it to death only to keep repeating our self. Dispensationalist will never see the Spiritual in the literal scripture by how they are taught to only see the literal in scripture. This is why you reject what we are trying to get you to see that is literal and also prophetic in the Spiritual of end time events.
Dispensationalist only believe that literalsim is the best way to view scripture. They also believe there is no non-literal fulfillment of messianic prophecies in the NT. If a literal interpretation is not used in studying scripture there is no objective standard by which to study scripture.
Dispensationalist hold that the church has not replaced Israel in God's program and that the OT promises to Israel have not been transferred to the Church.
To sum it up dispensationalism is a theological system that emphasizes the literal interpretation of Bible prophecy and recognizes a distinction between Israel and the Church and organizes the Bible into two different dispensations or administrations.
This is why you reject all the Spiritual prophecies found in the scriptures.
Dispensationalist's do use the 'literal' method of interpreting the Bible. But, this term is somewhat deceptive. If I remember right, it is not a term Dispensationalist's came up with. It is the way those who oppose Dispensationlist's describe us. But, it has stuck so we have to deal with it.
I would point out that 'literal' is not contrary to 'spiritual'. Anything in the Bible that is literal, is spiritual also. For example, the Virgin Birth of Christ. Was that a literal event? Yes it was. Was it spiritual? Yes it was. Because I believe it really and literally occurred just as it says, does not make it less spiritual.
The literal method of interpreting Scripture is not opposed to symbols, metaphors, similes, or allegory as long as that is shown to be the case. But we do not interpret Scripture metaphorically or spiritually. As though what is said is not to be taken literally. As though we must find the true 'spiritual' meaning behind what is said. What is said is spiritual. Every word of the Bible is spiritual.
As a Dispensatinalist, I don't reject the literal fulfillment of prophecy in Scripture. I believe every word of it. Just like the 1000 year millennium you brought up before. I believe it will be just as it says....a 1000 year literal reign of Christ on Earth. I reject the 'spiritualizing' of that to mean it is something other than what it says.
Yes, Dispensationalist's do see the Church and Israel as two separate bodies of believers. I am of the opinion that this belief that we the Church are 'spiritual Israel', is the result of so many years of there being no nation of Israel. Until 1948, there was no visible Israel. Thus Christians would be constantly asked what about Israel? God was not faithful to His promises to her. How can He be trusted. Their answer....God will fulfill His promises because the Church is the true Israel today. But, such an answer was not necessary. They should have just said, God will be true to His promises to Israel, exactly as He said. Just because there is no Israel at present means nothing. There will be. And we see it coming to pass.
Dispensationalist's hold to more than just two dispensations. It is usually agreed that there are 7. And you yourself acknowledge a certain dispensational teaching if you recognize the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Law and Grace. You just don't recognize the other dispensations that we do.
I don't agree with everything dispensational. And there are some hyper-dispensationalist's that I disagree with also. But over all, I agree with it. I believe it is a key to understanding the Scripture. And I believe the Scofield Study Bible is the best Bible to have in understanding the Dispensational view.
Quantrill