This is the third part of our interviews on Premillennialism. Introducing our second view, Progressive Dispensationalism, is Dr. Darrell Bock of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Interview with Dr. Darrell Bock on Progressive Dispensationalism

Darrell Bock

When and how did you first become interested in eschatology?

I have always been interested in what the Bible taught and how held it together since I became a Christian in college. Dispensationalism is not just about eschatology. It is about the entire program of God and how the Bible holds together.

What are the differences between your view, Progressive dispensationalism (PD), and traditional dispensationalism? Why do these differences matter?

These are catalogued in the book Three Central Issues in Contemporary Dispensationalism. The key one is the continuity PD (Progressive Dispensationalism) sees in the Covenants and that all three are inaugurated in Jesus’ first coming. For example, Jesus’ seating and activity at God’s right hand is seen as the execution of messianic activity that is tied to the New Covenant (as his seating is a part of the Davidic covenant).

This also has meant the Gospels and prophets become more important for contemporary ethics than they were in some older forms of dispensationalism (I say older forms because there is not just one brand of traditional dispensationalism but several). So that is why the difference matters.

If you see problems with traditional dispensationalism, why seek to adapt it rather than simply adopting Historic Premillennialism as others have done?

Because there is a distinction between Israel and the church in God’s program that Historic Premillennialism equivocates about. PD is also clearer on a future for national Israel.

What do you see as the strongest aspect(s) of your view?

I think it treats the continuity and discontinuity of God’s administrative arrangement across time for his program most comprehensively. It maintains God’s grace and faithfulness in how it sees him deal with Israel. It stresses how reconciliation is a powerful witness for God and highlights the ethical dimensions of the teaching of the prophets, Jesus and the epistles most consistently.

What (if any) future role does the physical nation of Israel yet have to play in God’s plan?

God’s covenantal commitment to Israel is honored when he restores Israel in the future as Romans 11 teaches and as Acts 3:18-22 declares by calling people to look to what the OT says to understand what Jesus will do when he returns. It does not say to reread or change the way you read those texts.

What is the purpose of the future Millennium?

There is no substantial difference between PD and other forms of dispensationalism when it comes to the millennium. God completes his program for the world in the context of this history and shows himself faithful to his promises to all that he gave them to.

Other than the Bible, were there any influential authors/books that helped develop your current eschatological views?

My work with Craig Blaising has been the most influential. Exegeting core texts in the gospels was important. Acts 2, Luke 3:16-17, 11:20; 17:20-21 are among the key texts here. So, commentary discussion on those texts were important for developing my views.

Do you have any publications that articulate your position more fully than this interview allows?

The two best sources:

How important should eschatology be to the Christian? What encouragement would you give to someone who sees eschatology as unimportant?

If you are saved then it is important, as salvation is about eschatology. Eschatology is about far more than what is going to happen in the future. It is about God’s program to save starting in the present and rooted in past promises. How can it not be important then?

Many thanks to Dr. Darrell Bock for taking the time to do this interview. Next week we’ll have Dr. Jim Hamilton on Historic Premillennialism.

Here’s a recap of what we’ve covered so far: