Israel, the Church, and Prophetic Fulfillment

Dispensationalism vs Covenant Theology vs Full Preterism

Dispensationalism

Covenant Theology

Full Preterism

Topic
Dispensationalism
Covenant Theology
Full Preterism
People of God
Israel and Church distinct
One people of God
One people of God
Church
Distinct from Israel
Fulfillment of covenant people
Fulfillment of covenant people
Modern Israel
Often prophetically important
No necessary prophetic role
No prophetic role
Ezekiel 37
Future restoration of Israel
Fulfilled in Christ and His people
Fulfilled in Christ and New Covenant Israel
Second Coming
Future
Future
Fulfilled by AD 70
Resurrection
Future bodily resurrection
Future bodily resurrection
Covenantal, Corporate, or IBV fulfillment by AD 70
Final Judgment
Future
Future
Fulfilled by AD 70

The Key Observation

On questions about Israel, the Church, Ezekiel 37, and the New Covenant, Covenant Theology and Full Preterism often stand much closer to one another than either does to Dispensationalism.

The major dividing line is usually not Israel—it is whether biblical prophecy was completed in the first-century transition (Full Preterism) or whether major events such as the Second Coming, Resurrection, and Final Judgment remain future (Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism).