Michael Vlach’s New Book—The New Creation Model--Is Now Out!

 

What if God’s plans for the world are far grander than we imagined? 

Throughout church history, Christians have perceived God’s purposes and eternal life from one of two models. The Spiritual Vision Model focuses exclusively on individual and spiritual issues in this age and sees eternal life as an escape from earth to a forever spiritual existence.

In contrast, the New Creation Model embraces a comprehensive and multi-dimensional vision of God’s intentions, not only for humanity, but for all creation. And it presents eternal life as vibrant life on a restored earth in God’s presence with social and cultural activities.  The New Creation Model embraces the great truths of individual redemption from sin in Christ, but implores people to grasp all of God's creation, kingdom, and covenant purposes--in all their dimensions.

Now there is a book that addresses these two models and their implications.

In, The New Creation Model: A Paradigm for Discovering God’s Restoration Purposes from Creation to New Creation, Michael Vlach offers a compelling case for the New Creation Model as the biblical and holistic paradigm for understanding God’s restoration designs. This fuller understanding empowers the reader to grasp God’s plans with clarity, hope, and vision.

 

Vlach also examines how various millennial views and theological systems relate to the New Creation and Spiritual Vision models. This includes Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism. And it involves Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, Progressive Covenantalism, and the New Christian Zionism.

       424 pages

        See book and purchase information here.

     

5 Views of the Earth in Eternity

 by Michael J. Vlach

As I’m working on my book, The New Creation Model, I have detected five historical views on the future of the earth in eternity. This is not a full discussion of these views, but a brief listing of these five perspectives:

 

1. The new earth in eternity will be this present earth purified, refined, and renewed. God’s people will live on this new earth, which has connections with the present earth, forever. (many today hold this view)

 

2. The new earth in eternity will be a tangible replacement of this current earth. God will annihilate the present earth and replace it with a tangible new earth where God’s people will live forever. (many today hold this view)

 

3. This present earth will be vacated in eternity but it still exists as a memorial of God’s workings in history. It will be frozen in light. God’s people will live in Heaven forever and not on the earth in any way. (The view of Thomas Aquinas)

 

4. This present earth will not be renewed. It will become a fiery hell forever for the wicked. The saints will live in Heaven forever, while the earth functions as hell for unbelievers. (The view of Jonathan Edwards)

 

5. The present earth ceases to exist as God’s people live in Heaven forever. (Popular throughout church history after the fourth century AD)

Michael Vlach's New Book--Dispensational Hermeneutics

 

MICHAEL VLACH RELEASES NEW BOOK—DISPENSATIONAL HERMENEUTICS

 

October 19, 2022

 

Michael J. Vlach, Professor of Theology at Shepherds Theological Seminary in Cary, North Carolina, has released his latest book—Dispensational Hermeneutics: Interpretation Principles that Guide Dispensationalism’s Understanding of the Bible’s Storyline.

 

This 112-page book explains the ten interpretation principles at the heart of Dispensationalism and how it views the big-picture narrative of Scripture. He also responds to the seven interpretation principles closely linked with non-dispensationalism.

 

Vlach believes this book will be helpful to all who want to understand why dispensationalists believe what they do. “This book is for Bible students, pastors, teachers, and all who are interested in Christian theology and Bible interpretation.”

 

“My goal is to explain the interpretation principles that dispensationalists use to understand the Bible’s storyline,” says Vlach who is a dispensationalist and has taught on Dispensationalism at three seminaries. “I also show how these contrast with the interpretation principles other systems use so the reader can note the contrast.”

 

Published by Theological Studies Press, the book can be purchased in print or electronic form at Amazon.com

Dispensationalism Is a Continuity System

 by Michael J Vlach

Dispensationalism primarily is a CONTINUITY system since it believes the covenants and promises of the Old Testament will be fulfilled literally through the two comings of Jesus. With Dispensationalism, the New Testament maintains the Old Testament expectations. It does not reinterpret or transcend the Old Testament expectations. What was promised in the OT concerning earth, land, Israel, nations, the animal kingdom, Day of the Lord, an earthly kingdom, etc., will be fulfilled literally in a way continuous with what the inspired OT authors intended.

Yes, Dispensationalism believes in certain discontinuities like the church is not Israel and that Christians are now under the New Covenant, not the Mosaic Covenant. But overall, Dispensationalism is a continuity system, more so than the other evangelical systems which see the NT reinterpreting or transcending OT expectations.

Where Premillennialism and Postmillennialism Agree Against Amillennialism

 by Michael J. Vlach

A brief theology nugget about millennial views: 

Premillennialism and Postmillennialism agree on one thing against Amillennialism. While Amillennialism says Jesus' millennial kingdom is only a spiritual kingdom, both Premill and Postmill see Jesus' millennial kingdom as much more. Both believe Jesus' millennial kingdom transforms society and creation too.

In other words, Premill and Postmill believe Jesus' kingdom includes but involves more than just human salvation and spiritual realities. Earth and its political/societal structures are transformed and function for God's purposes. This is related to the rule and subdue mandate in Genesis 1:26-28.

Premill and Postmill disagree when this transformation occurs. Postmill says it happens before Jesus returns while He is in Heaven. And Premill says the transformation of all things occurs after Jesus comes again when He reigns from and over the earth. But the impact of Jesus' millennial kingdom is extensive and widespread with both the Premill and Postmill views.

I personally believe Premill has a much stronger case that the restoration of all things can only happen when Jesus reigns on the earth. But to restate, both Premill and Postmill agree against Amillennialism that Jesus' kingdom is much more than just spiritual and more than just salvation from sin. Of the three millennial views Amillennialism offers the weakest millennial kingdom of Jesus since it limits Jesus' kingdom to spiritual salvation and spiritual matters.

A Note on God's Purposes

In class recently, we started discussion on the doctrine of anthropology (man). I noted that before sin and salvation became an issue, man was tasked to fill, rule, and subdue the earth for God's glory (Gen. 1:26-28). Thus, a successful kingdom rule over the earth by man as mediator is foundational to God's purposes. This is a good clue that a kingdom rule over creation is the primary thing God is pursuing. 

Redemption of people is a big and wonderful theme in Scripture, but it fits under God's kingdom purposes. Redemption/salvation is not an end in itself. It is a means in God's purposes for both relationship (with God and people) and function (rule and subdue the earth).

For a theological system to be comprehensive it must do more than address salvation, as important as that is. It must adequately account for the 'kingdom over the earth' theme in Scripture.

Theology Nugget About Millennial Views

 A theology nugget about millennial views: 

Premillennialism and Postmillennialism actually agree on one thing against Amillennialism. While Amillennialism says Jesus' millennial kingdom is only a spiritual kingdom, both Premill and Postmill see Jesus' kingdom as much more. Both believe Jesus' millennial kingdom transforms society and creation too.

In other words, Premill and Postmill believe Jesus' kingdom includes but involves more than just human salvation and spiritual realities. Earth and its political/societal structures are transformed and function for God's purposes.

Premill and Postmill disagree when this transformation occurs. Postmill says it happens before Jesus returns while He is in Heaven. And Premill says the transformation of all things occurs after Jesus comes again when He reigns from and over the earth. But the impact of Jesus' millennial kingdom is extensive and widespread with both Premill and Postmill.

I personally believe Premill has a much stronger case that the restoration of all things can only happen when Jesus reigns on the earth. But to restate, both Premill and Postmill agree against Amillennialism that Jesus' kingdom is much more than just spiritual and more than just salvation from sin.