Identifying the Seed: An Examination and Evaluation of the Differences between Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology

by Robert McKenzie

This book has one goal in mind, to try and bring greater understanding between two dedicated groups of Christians. Dispensationalists and Reformed Christians have a very different understanding of how God has worked in this world as well as how God will continue to work. There is a theological divide that has developed after many years of discussion and stems from a mixture of ignorance; misunderstanding and actual disagreement. Robert McKenzie seeks to examine what each side believes, fleshing out the differences and misunderstandings. He takes a look at the history of each system as well as their theological developments. The author seeks to be faithful to each system pointing out their strengths and weaknesses all the while citing the Scriptures that are used to support each side’s belief. It is hoped that with greater understanding the two groups will be able to engage in conversation with a clearer view of why a doctrine is believed and how the different doctrines build into the system. Whether you are a Dispensationalist, believe in Covenant theology or you aren’t quite sure if you fall in either camp this book can be tremendously helpful. TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword ii Acknowledgments iii Introduction v 1 Reformed Hermeneutics 1 2 The Covenant of Redemption 14 3 The Covenant of Works 24 4 The Covenant of Grace 34 5 The Abrahamic Covenant 49 6 The Mosaic Covenant 64 7 The New Covenant 71 8 The Two-Age Model 81 9 The Second Coming 95 10 The History of Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology 103 11 The Hermeneutics of Dispensationalism 118 12 The Seven Dispensations 127 13 The Tribulation Period 144 14 The Millennial Kingdom 156 Conclusion 178 Bibliography 182 Scripture Index 190 Subject and Name Index 196

Genres: Theology, Christianity

218 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2018

About the author

Robert McKenzie is privileged to serve as a Ruling Elder at Westminister Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Indian Head Park Illinois, just outside of Chicago. He is currently finishing his Master of Divinity with Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando Florida. He has worked in publishing for fifteen years. Rob has been married to Melodie for over twenty years.

Reviews

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding resource!

Growing up with dispensational theology being the only eschatology I was ever exposed to and growing into covenantal theology through the study of Scripture, I found myself tough pressed between two worlds knowing that most of my close family in Christ did not see things as I am firmly convinced the Bible teaches, and yet seeking confirmation on what was being made apparent to me, I was thankful to find that many in the Body do believe and teach now what I know is Covenant Theology.

This author gets it! He clearly exposes both views and lovingly compares and contrasts them in such a way that both sides can grow in grace and knowledge to the positions of others in the body. A fantastic resource! Highly recommended.

[Jennifer Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book writes from a Covenantal, Reformed theological viewpoint, but since he was previously Dispensational for many years himself, he is well informed about what each side actually believes. The book is concerned with helping the two groups of faithful Christians develop understanding and eliminate straw man arguments and confusion, even if there are some areas where they can’t agree. I personally hold to a Reformed and Covenantal viewpoint, but I have attended a Dispensational church for 15 years, so perhaps, strictly speaking, I didn’t need to read this book, as I’m well aware of the theological differences! But I was curious to see how the book handled the issues. I was pretty pleased with the book. Its conciliatory tone and emphasis on the common ground between the two groups (such as belief in the inerrancy of Scripture) is refreshing and encourages respect and affection between both sides. I was glad to see that the author adequately addressed the complexity of the term “dispensationalism,” which can cover everything from the “Progressive Dispensationalism” taught by John MacArthur (which best describes my church) to the Classic Dispensationalism of Scofield and Ryrie, etc. He covers each viewpoint’s basic view of things, starting with the Covenantal view and then going on to the Dispensational view. Along the way, he gives plenty of advice to both sides for how to discuss the issues, encouraging patience, noting terms that can cause confusion, and explaining how certain arguments “sound” to the other side’s ears. I didn’t find anything that seemed inaccurate or unhelpful. I didn’t completely finish the book because I just wanted to move on to some other things (and like I said, it’s not all that necessary for my situation), but I read the majority of it and feel confident recommending it to Christians on either side who want to understand more about each other.

[Rodney Harvill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a proponent of Covenant Theology, this book first describes Covenant Theology in detail, with intermittent comparisons to counterpart aspects of Dispensationalism and then does the same for Dispensationalism. Having been a Christian for my whole life, I am still ignorant of many of the details about these two theological systems. I grew up in and spent more than half my life in a denomination that likely would have rejected both systems. For example, it divides history into three theological periods, patriarchal, Mosaic and church age, with break points at Mount Sinai and at the cross. In this it has a vague resemblance to Dispensationalism. On the other hand, it rejects millennial eschatology and holds that the blessings of Abraham are now in the possession of the church and no longer retained by Israel. It does not see the modern existence of Israel as an independent nation as the fulfillment of prophecy. In this it is more like Covenant Theology. I have since been part of denominations that more or less hold to one or the other systems but without necessarily wearing it on their sleeves. As a result, my understanding of both systems is quite lacking and I am unqualified to evaluate the accuracy of Mr. McKenzie’s descriptions and arguments.

If I learned anything from this book, I am not sure I fit in either system. The system of covenants makes sense to me as these are actual covenants in the Bible, but the double interpretation of prophecy to which Covenant Theology (and likely Dispensationalism) appeals seems a bit off. For example, Mr. McKenzie describes how Matthew 2:15 reinterprets Hosea 11:1 to make it all about Jesus, and I am unconvinced. Hosea discusses how God called his son out of Egypt only for the son to be disobedient and rebellious. It is about the past and present relative to Hosea and not a prophecy about the future. It makes more sense to me to understand Jesus as fulfilling this passage by being the obedient son that Israel never was. Another issue I have is the tendency to interpret prophetic passages symbolically. While I don’t object to symbolic interpretation as long as it is justified, I can give an example external to this book where symbolic interpretation was taken to an extreme. Earlier this year, I did a detailed study of Daniel, and at least one of the commentaries I used as a reference used symbolic interpretation. I remember several instances where a commentator described a certain aspect of a passage as symbolic although he was unsure what it actually represented. Really?! If you have no idea what something symbolizes, then it is not intuitively obvious that it is symbolic. Your theology, and not the Bible, is in the driver’s seat.

In the book, Mr. McKenzie brings up a valid point about Dispensationalism. It interprets the Bible literally, except when it doesn’t (my words, not his). According to Dispensationalism, the millennial kingdom will feature a temple with sacrifices being offered based on the vision of the temple in Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 43, it is clearly stated that these offerings are sin offerings. However, because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, there is no longer any need for sin offerings. On account of this, Dispensationalism dispenses with literalism here and claims that these are memorial offerings. As with my earlier criticism of one aspect of Covenant Theology, the theological system, not the Bible, appears to be in the driver’s seat.

Both theological systems have radically different approaches to the modern nation of Israel. According to Covenant Theology, the blessings promised to Abraham are in the custody of the church; hence there is no theological significance to Israel today. In contrast, Dispensationalism holds that the restoration of the nation of Israel in 1948 was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the return of Israelites to their land and is integral to the future tribulation period. Having heard various accounts of providential, if not miraculous, events in the Independence War, I have trouble accepting that Israel is no longer the recipient of the blessings; the data tells me otherwise. On the other hand, the prophecies of the return to the land either predated or coincided with the Babylonian captivity, and I view them as fulfilled when Cyrus the Great permitted the Israelites to return home. Is there a rule requiring God to foretell by prophecy deeds manifesting His faithfulness to His people? I think not. Again, I don’t exactly fit into either system.

In theological discussions I have had with various individuals, it has been apparent to me that disagreements cropping up in these conversations go beyond what the Bible has to say on an issue and appear to be based on how we interpret the Bible as raw data. Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism are different systems of interpretation, and conclusions that are intuitively obvious to adherents of one system will absolutely mystify adherents of the other. In other words, appealing to certain Bible passages in discussions may not do any good if the other person interprets them differently than you do. One thing I find interesting is that people often internalize a theological system without being overtly taught its structure. As a result, they often don’t recognize that the interpretive content of their beliefs. In other words, where do their (or my own) theological presumptions end, and where does the Bible begin? Books like this are useful in helping us to understand such matters.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Our conversations should be based on what we teach not upon what others mistakenly believe we teach.” (pg. 181)

This is an awesome introduction to dispensational and convent theology. The author presents his arguments for covenant theology but both sides of the issue are presented. So I found this book helpful in not only comparing the two views but in understanding dispensationalism.

I would highly recommend.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking for a book that would compare and contrast Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology. I stumbled across this title, and found exactly what I wanted! The author is a former Dispensationalist who now adheres to Covenant Theology. He is knowledgeable about the history and the changes within the Dispensationalist camp. He's also very versed in Covenant Theology. Rather than displaying the usual antagonism toward one side or the other, he seeks to find common ground and to promote greater communication and understanding. This book is fairly easy to read, given the subject matter. It's been eye-opening for me as a dispensationalist. I recommend it highly!

[The Reading Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“A careful, convicting unpacking of theological roots—essential for those navigating the tension between dispensational and covenant frameworks.”

As a Reformed Baptist who grew up in dispensational circles, Identifying the Seed was exactly the book I needed to help me articulate what changed in my understanding of Scripture. Robert Thomas doesn’t just list the differences between dispensationalism and covenant theology—he walks you through the heart of the divide, and more importantly, points you to the gospel thread that ties Scripture together: Christ, the promised seed.

What I appreciated most was the tone—charitable, clear, and deeply rooted in Scripture. This wasn’t a polemic. It was a loving but firm call to examine biblical covenants, the nature of the church, the people of God, and how we understand redemptive history as one unified story, not two competing plans.

From a Reformed Baptist view, this book resonates deeply. It upholds the centrality of Christ in all of Scripture, sees the church as the fulfillment—not the interruption—of God’s redemptive plan, and avoids the errors of flattening distinctions or erasing God’s faithfulness to His promises. Thomas affirms that all who are in Christ—Jew or Gentile—are Abraham’s true offspring, and that changes everything.

📌 What impacted me personally:

As a dad, it clarified how I teach my kids to read the Bible as one story pointing to Jesus—not a set of disconnected “ages.”

As a church member, it reinforced the beauty of the local church as God’s covenant people—no longer a parenthesis, but the outworking of His eternal plan.

As someone who came out of dispensationalism, it gave language to the theological shift I experienced when I saw Christ as the center of the covenants.

📌 Strengths:

Scripturally saturated—Thomas lets the Bible speak clearly.

Shows how covenant theology preserves God's unity, promises, and redemptive purposes.

Thoughtful engagement with classic dispensational arguments without caricature.

📌 Mild critique:

It’s best suited for readers already somewhat familiar with the debate—it’s not a true “beginner’s intro.” Some background helps.

While balanced, the book could’ve benefited from a slightly deeper engagement with 1689 Federalism for Reformed Baptists like myself.

Favorite quote:
"The seed is not ultimately a nation or a land, but a person—Christ. And all who are in Him inherit every promise of God."

Final Thoughts:
Identifying the Seed helped solidify my convictions as a Reformed Baptist committed to covenant theology rooted in Christ. If you’re wrestling with how to rightly divide the Word—especially the relationship between Israel, the church, and the promises of God—this book is an invaluable guide. Thoughtful, faithful, and soaked in Scripture. Highly recommended.

[Kevin B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think about that!

I thoroughly enjoyed a presentation of the two opposing theological viewpoints. The author has definitely done his homework. His unique life experience of knowing and embracing both theologies at different times of his life gives a deep and personal goal to bring peace to true Christian’s on their life quest to grow in the Grace and KNOWLEDGE of the Lord Jesus Christ! Like listening to a symphony and hearing something that is out of place and don’t fit, the author is truly gifted in detecting glitches in the systems of theology. I’m not fully convinced of either systems at this point but I’m closer to the Lord and God’s word now that I’ve began the journey of finding out which theology is the best and closest to scripture. Im better off now than before I picked up and read this book ( In two days from cover to cover.) I just couldn’t put this book down it was so well written and interesting. Oh, that more authors would take this approach! To honestly give a personal conviction on the topic but to respectfully represent both sides in love. Thank you Robert McKenzie for allowing me the privilege of gaining the knowledge this book richly provides. May your ministry flourish and continue to bless the Church, we need more men of God like you! Just imagine, we are on this side of eternity and we have God’s word, the Spirit of God, and good teachers like Robert to get us going in the right direction. I wonder how we will think about what we know now compared to what we will know in the future, (probably a drop in the ocean!)

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that summarizes the differences between Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology without getting too deep in the weeds. As a recent convert to reformed theology from over 30 years of Dispensationalism, this was an eye-opening book at just how Dispensationalism permeated my past teachings and current thoughts. There were many ideas that I was taught growing up that were presented as "this is what the Bible says", when a closer examination of scripture shows that this isn't necessarily the case. In other words, I'm repeatedly finding myself realizing, "Oh, so Christians have NOT believed X or Y for 2000 years...."

Also, I had always found Hebrews, Revelation, and any talk about covenants to be extremely confusing: I now realize that it was the confusion and inconsistencies in Dispensationalism that were contributing to this. Last month, after having been in the reformed tradition for over a year, I read Hebrews and found it surprisingly understandable, which made me wonder what the problem was before. Reading McKenzie's book has made me realize that covenant theology is less confusing and reconciles with Scripture so much better than Dispensationalism and I believe this is why I felt at such a loss with some biblical concepts. Of course, no one knows all there is to know about Scripture, but thanks to McKenzie's book, I feel more confident that Covenant Theology is a more solid foundation and closer to orthodoxy than other viewpoints.

[Brett Rudder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. It's useful, and fairly easy to follow. The writer clearly and helpfully provides and explains beliefs, and subsets of beliefs, and inserts helpful quips and disagreements here and there.

One of the best parts of this books is the tone of the author. Many well read men and good writers with good education have a lot to say regarding Dispensationalism and Covenant theology, on both sides of the issue. But rarely do you find something written with good information on it that is also coated with a desire for unity, love, compassion, and understanding within the whole body of Christ. The author does not finger point. He longs to be clear, and biblical, and also longs to know truth - not shades of hte truth. This kind of tone will go a long way in important discussions about the Bible between different traditions of Christianity.

[Clayton Gillespie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful, balanced, applied and accessible introduction to covenant theology dispensationalism. I knew surprisingly little about either of these, though I was familiar with much of covenant theology without the title itself. This will probably better suit the covenant theologian looking for an introduction to dispensationalism than the other way around. I gained a lot from discussions around the extent to which the end of Joshua fulfills the abrahamic covenant and the possible theories surrounding the millennium kingdom. Ultimately, however, I was left feeling like dispensationalism pleads God's sovereignty at some times but refuses it at others and relies on an overly literal hermeneutic that I felt was incompatible with the way the NT reads the OT. I felt McKenzie wrote well and focused on the right things and this is definitely a go-to intro on the topic.

[History7teacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sincere Effort

This book is a sincere effort to bring understanding between Covenant theologians and Dispensational theologians. The author makes great effort both to understand to express his reactions to teachings he disagrees with. He deals fairly with both sides, not using caricature, letting theologians on both sides explain the Scriptures.
I learned much from this book. I learned new points of exegesis that I hadn’t thought through before. I came to understand my theological opponents and their positions in a clearer way. And most importantly I learned from the example of this author, a more Christ-like way to discuss the Scriptures with people who do not hold my views.
This book contains summaries of both Covenant and Dispensational theology, that would be most helpful to any Christian.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has set out to help each side, whether covenant theology or dispensationalist understand each other better. You may look to gain "ammo" for the opposing side from your belief system. However, this book was a great help in helping me understand why I believe what I believe and having a more clear view on where the opposing side comes from. I highly recommend this book if you're looking to have a better understanding of why you believe what you believe or even just to see the main hermeneutics of Christians today.

[Lynette Karg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not find this to be the balanced examination that it claimed to be. He spends a great deal more time explaining and defending the covenental perspective than the dispensational which gives it a decisive slant. I appreciate his call to constructive conversation but I disagree with how important he thinks this discussion is. A discussion that focuses on our differences, like this one, is likely only to divide not to bring us together in the one faith that we share.

[GreatHeart Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched and written entry level examination of Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism

The author provides a great service to the church helping engage open conversations between Reformed and Dispensationalist Christians. He provides a thoroughly researched, fair, and open entry level examination of both systems. I also believe he shows how Covenant Theology is most in line with Scripture and historical church tradition.

[Jay Albrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book that provides an overview of the main points of Covenant Theology, and Dispensationalism, with the aim of helping people have well informed discussions about honest disagreements, and dispense with misrepresentations. Written from the perspective of a Covenant Theologian who was raised in Dispensationalism.

[Casey Holencik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

Great read, clearly laying out both sides of the Dispensational \ Covenental conversation. Well worth the time and money to bring two lines of Christian though together for actual conversation

[Eric Tomkulak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, clear, and concise. Valuable for anyone interested in an introduction and survey of these two systems.

[Michael Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only did I read the book and really appreciate it, but I also got to interview the author.

https://restlesspodcast.podbean.com/e...

[Samuel Muñiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una excelente introducción para entender ambas perspectivas.

[Curry Wyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative on the two camps of belief