While dispensationalism has indeed morphed substantially over the past 100 years, I think the initial controversy over the "7 dispensations" is how was man saved during these times.

The one holding to the covenantal view and the "covenant of grace," which overarched the so-called 7 dispensations, is that faith in the coming Redeemer (Christ) has always been the only way that anyone in any age has been saved.

Some dispensationalists (such as Hitchcock currerntly, and of course Scofield) struggle with this in that Christ was not fully revealed in the OT (why, you don't even find the name "Jesus Christ" there!)

Of course, Christ himself answered this in John 8 (Abraham looked forward to HIS day, and rejoiced), and in Matthew 22:41-45 (David called Jesus 'my Lord' 900 years before the incarnation). He also said Moses wrote of Him, and that Isaiah saw His glory. (In fact, Isaiah has often been called the "Gospel of Isaiah", because one could easily read much of Isaiah (especially chapter 53) and find the way of salvation. The Ethiopian Eunuch had it in Acts 8, he just needed Philip to help him put 2+2 together.

Why some dispensationalists have struggled with this is understandable to some extent, but with full revelation having been given, it should not be so baffling.

__________________
Randy Harris
Heritage Church (Independent)
Oklahoma City, OK