Friday, January 29, 2016

Christian Zionism and the Scofield Reference Bible: A Critical Evaluation of Dispensational Theology

 Christian Zionism and the Scofield Reference Bible
The author has purposed in the writing of Christian Zionism and the Scofield Reference Bible to provide an objective analysis of the multiple doctrinal as well as prophetic issues raised in the extensive notes and commentaries included with the scripture text of the various and changing printings of the Scofield Reference Bible. Through an objective examination of this work of Cyrus Scofield and his editorial committee, many obvious conflicts and contradictions are revealed when compared with what the scriptures actually say. Problems become more apparent when you realize that several revisions have been made over a century with most of those coming after Scofield’s death. The copyright belonged to Oxford University Press, and yet they continued to show Cyrus Scofield as editor many years after his death. Dispensational theology has received a very broad acceptance among conservative and evangelical Christians.

Yet when honestly scrutinized, we find that many tenets of doctrine, as well as prophesy presented, are in contradiction to what the scriptures clearly teach. An examination of the book will provide the reader with ample evidence that what has been asserted here is in fact true.

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I discovered this book while researching an article on Christian Zionism. I was already familiar with the evils of this system, and with the checkered history of Cyrus Scofield and his Zionist-backed reference Bible. Therefore I wasn’t really expecting much new from this book. Was I surprised! Dean, who spent years (like myself) being exposed to Darby-Scofield-Dispensational theology, shatters it. Using Scripture and clear-thinking logic, Dean shows how the Scofield-Hal Lindsey set misconstrues prophecy. He presents accurate, common-sense interpretation of those same prophecies, e.g., Daniel and Revelation, with outstanding insight. I came away from this book very enlightened. On top of everything else, Dean understands the truth about 9/11 and current events—very rare to find among Bible expositors. Although he is a layman, I have not encountered this level of wisdom in other contemporary theologians. God often chooses the humble to be his greatest servants. 
The only change I would make to this book: when the Scofield Bible notes are quoted at length, they are not set off as block quotations. Sometimes it took me a few moments to discern whether I was reading the words of Scofield or Dean. That minor formatting issue aside, I UNCONDITIONALLY RECOMMEND this book for anyone interested in the truth about Christian Zionism and Dispensationalism. Thank you, David Lance Dean. I’ve ordered his previous book, “These Prophets and the Revelation,” and look forward to reading it.

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