Dispensational Distortions - The Gap Theory

One the most interesting and completely exclusive characteristic to Dispensationalism is the concept known as the Gap Theory. Also called the Parenthesis Theory, this characteristic is the lynchpin to the entire Dispensational system.

THE GAP THEORY

The gap theory teaches that the totality of Messianic prophecy can be found in four verses in the 9th chapter of Daniel. These verses describe a span of 490 years and supposedly teaches the introduction and fulfillment of the Messianic Kingdom. The first 483 years ran in perfect succession, but when the jews rejected Jesus, the final seven years were “postponed” until some time in our future - some 2000 plus years since the beginning of the gap. When the church is raptured the “prophetic clock” will continue and the seven final years of the Jewish economy will commence.

In case you think I may be overstating the importance of this characteristic to the Dispensational views…

“All prophecy stopped at the end of the 69th week” Scofield

“[the] interpretation of Daniel 9 is of major importance to pretribulationism” Walvoord

“no other utterance is more crucial” McClain

“[Daniel 9 is] the indispensable chronological key to all New Testament prophecy” Pentecost

“No other portion of Old Testament prophecy is more important to the Dispensational understanding of the future than Daniel’s 70 week prophecy…the entire system rests on this passage…” Ryrie

Notice the emphasis Ryrie gives this passage. The entire system rests on this passage. A passage that is confusing, difficult and never until 100 years or so ago has even been understood the way the dispensationalist teach it.

So just what are the problems?

1. Nothing n the passage allows for a gap of any length, let alone over 2,000 years, to be inserted into the passage

2. No where else in Scripture is a gap of time inserted. There are examples of changes of times and seasons (ie God not destroying Ninevah), but in every instance god tells us about the change.

3. What does this do to the trustworthiness of the word of God?

4. It calls God’s sovereignty into question? Wouldn’t he know if it was going to last more than 490 years?

5. What about the 70 year captivity? In the passage Daniel references the soon coming end of the 70 year captivity. He is praying for God’s direction as the time was closing. In fact, the 70 years of 7’s is the basis for the 490 years. What if after 75 years Daniel and the Israelites are still being held in captivity? Would not Daniel question God’s veracity? Would you believe that God would respond with…”Hey Daniel…I just put a “gap” in between year 69 and 70. When you are released that will be the 70th year!” That would obviously be foolishness and so is placing an unknown, indertminable gap in the Daniel passage.

The only reason the gap is inserted is because it is necassary for the dispensational timeline to work. It is not exegetically valid and should be abondoned for the sake of the truth.

REALLY LONG TOES

Daniel 2:31″You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.”

The above passage deals with the four great kingdoms leading up to the Roman Empire. Because of the necessity to place a gap of 2,000 plus years, there is also a need for the toes of the final kingdom to be stretched over the same two millennia. This is what Gary DeMar called Silly Putty Exegesis, stretching the passage to make it fit your system rather than making your system fit the Scriptures!

Next we will look at the ever important Church/Israel distinction.