Mid-Acts dispensationalism is a theological framework for understanding the Bible that sees a distinction between God’s plans for Israel and the church. The “mid-Acts” refers to the view that the dispensation or administration changed in the middle of the book of Acts, specifically with the apostle Paul’s conversion in Acts 9.
Here are some key points about mid-Acts dispensationalism:
- It sees God as having two distinct plans – one for Israel and one for the church.
- The dispensation changed from the age of Law to the age of Grace in Acts 9 with Paul’s conversion.
- Paul receives new revelation from God about the church as a mystery and body of Christ.
- The gospels focus on Jesus’ earthly ministry under the Law to Israel, not the church.
- The letters of Paul contain doctrines for the church age, distinct from the gospels.
- The church did not begin at Pentecost but later with Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles.
- Baptism and Communion have different meanings for the church than for Israel.
- Future prophecies relate to Israel, not the church – the church will be raptured before the tribulation.
- Salvation has always been by grace through faith, but the content of faith differs between dispensations.
Mid-Acts dispensationalism gets its name from the view that the turning point in God’s dealings with mankind occurred not at Christ’s birth, death or resurrection, but at the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. This is where Paul received his commission from the risen Christ to go to the Gentiles, and revelations about the mystery of the church as the body of Christ (Ephesians 3:1-6).
Prior to Acts 9, Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was focused on Israel under the Mosaic Law. But beginning with Paul’s ministry, a new dispensation begins with new revelation and doctrines for the church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers united in Christ. The gospels and the book of Acts up until chapter 9 deal with the former dispensation, while Paul’s epistles elaborate on the latter.
Mid-Acts dispensationalists point to passages like Romans 6:14 to show the Law has been completely done away with for those under grace: “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” They see the Sermon on the Mount and other Kingdom teachings by Jesus as intended for an earthly Jewish kingdom, not part of the doctrine for the church today. Instructions about Sabbath-keeping, tithing, Temple ritual and water baptism all applied under the prior Israel-focused dispensation according to mid-Acts dispensationalism.
At the same time, mid-Acts dispensationalists affirm that salvation has always been by grace through faith in every dispensation. But the content of that faith differs – Old Testament believers put faith in the promises of a coming Messiah, while church age believers put faith in the finished redemptive work of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The unity of the Bible is maintained while allowing for these divisions or dispensations in how God deals with human groups over time.
A key implication of mid-Acts dispensationalism is the distinction between Israel and the church in end times prophecy. Promises made to Israel about the Davidic kingdom and Tribulation judgments are seen as applying to Israel, not the church. The church will be raptured before the 7-year tribulation described in Revelation. After the tribulation Christ will return to establish his millennial kingdom on earth and fulfill promises made to Israel.
This distinguishes mid-Acts dispensationalism from classic or revised dispensationalism, where the church is seen as a “parenthesis” and the dispensational boundary is typically seen at the birth, death or resurrection of Christ, rather than Paul’s conversion. It also differs from progressive dispensationalism which blurs the lines between Israel and the church in end times prophecies. Additionally, hyper-dispensationalism is rejected which disconnects the Pauline epistles from earlier gospels accounts.
Key figures in mid-Acts dispensationalism include Charles Baker, Walter Dibble, Cecil J. Blay, Charles F. Baker, E.C. Moore and Cornelius R. Stam. Their writings emphasize Paul’s apostleship, the church as a mystery, and discontinuity between the church age and the time period covered in the first part of Acts. Mid-Acts dispensationalism is closely associated with a theological stream known as Pauline dispensationalism which emphasizes the uniqueness of Paul’s apostolic authority and teaching for the church age.
In summary, here are some of the main beliefs in mid-Acts dispensationalism:
- The dispensation changed with Paul’s conversion around Acts 9.
- Paul received new revelation about the church age.
- The Gospels focus on the Jews and the Law, not the church.
- Paul’s letters contain church age doctrine for the body of Christ.
- The church is distinct from Israel.
- Baptism and Communion have different meanings than for Israel.
- Prophecies relate to Israel, not the church.
- The church will be raptured before the tribulation.
- Salvation has always been by grace through faith.
This theological framework aims to understand the Bible in its entirety while recognizing God’s unfolding plans in different ages. Proponents argue it provides coherence to the message of the Bible while explaining apparent discontinuities. Critics contend it imposes an artificial structure not intended by the biblical writers. Understanding mid-Acts dispensationalism provides helpful perspective on this system of biblical interpretation.