Three Measures Of Leaven

Kingdom Parable Of Christ Identifies Dispensational System As Antichrist

lthough most Christians are virtually illiterate in terms of accurate New Testament doctrine, as it is commonly buried within the historic avalanche of theological development, one of the shortest parables of Jesus Christ wonderfully summarizes the entire subject in the most concise language imaginable.

Ironically, perhaps the largest subject ever addressed by Christ is the Kingdom of God; yet His parables on that specific topic are the shortest in the entire Bible. In one of the His most profound statements, we find the following:

"Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened" (Luke 13:20,21).

Webster's Dictionary uses the phrase "weigh out," or measure, in its definition of the root word dispense; however, such documentation is unnecessary, for common usage tells us the dispensational system is related to how the LORD dispenses, ormeasures out salvation. What is truly amazing is how the Dispensational system (known to most as the Rapture theology) specifically designates three stages (or so called dispensations) of salvation within the faulty system.

Sadly, most of those ensnared in the belief system which began in a small European cult are completely ignorant of systemic theologies which preceded Rapturism, as most of them have been thoroughly indoctrinated to believe there is no other viable view of prophecy. To this end, most "Christians" caught in the Rapture Cult refuse to even consider (or examine for that matter) the compelling historical record which conclusively documents the origin, development, and rise of the Spiritual ruse that is the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine.

Obviously, Jesus will hold such "believers" accountable for refusing to respond to His own warning concerning just how the Kingdom of God would be leavened (see Matthew 22:12,13 for their fate).

Dispensational teachers tell us the first Dispensation was Israel, as seen in the Old Testament and the law. The second alleged "dispensation" was what is usually called the  "church" age, and the third (and final) of the three is when the "church" has supposedly been Raptured, and the tribulation then is said to center on Jewish salvation, in the  final dispensation of 7 years. Thus, there are three stages of Spiritual "development" in this pattern.

Setting aside the timing verses which clearly place the resurrection of the believers (which would include the "dead in Christ" who will "rise first" in the supposed Rapture) at "the last day" (John 6:39.40,41,54), the figure of leaven plainly speaks of sin and iniquity.

What usually stumbles so called believers confronted with the truth is their Dialectical reasoning process, rather than an absolute commitment to the truth of the Gospel. In other words, it doesn't seem possible the Kingdom of God could be diminished, so they evaluate the concept, and reject it based on their conditioning. However, the Word of God never returns void, and it militates that leaven is indeed a figure of a progressive deception which, if not aggressively refuted, will eventually grow until it "leaveneth the whole lump."

The New Testament flatly tells us that leaven is a picture of false doctrine which we are to scrupulously avoid:

"Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matthew 16:12).

When Paul repeated Christ's warning, and said that leaven would progressively destroy the entire "lump," he used the identical figure of speech which he used for Israel, in describing them as the original root, or lump blessed by God. Speaking of the "casting away" of Israel as being directly associated with the salvation which had come to those who received Jesus Christ as their Saviour, he noted how the "lump" of Israel was sanctified as holy before their "branches [were] broken off" (Romans 11:15-17).

Further, the most angry denunciations Christ ever made were against the religious practices of the Pharisees and the Sadducees -- which He repeatedly identified as the doctrine propagated by the Jewish leaders.

Thus, we see the parable says there are three stages of sinful doctrine in the Antichrist dominated end of the world. The evil doctrineis associated with the lump of Israel, and the doctrine put forth by Jews, and it will ultimately compromise the entire loaf, or lump. Since the common denominator in all three "dispensations" is the blasphemous lie that Israel is chosen by the LORD on a racial basis,rather than Spiritual rebirth in Christ as ably plainly articulated throughout the New Testament, we conclude Jewish primacy articulated by the Pharisees, still seen in the Rapture Cult (and all forms of Messianic thought), is the leaven which corrupts the Kingdom of God.

However, we are of "good cheer" for Christ has overcome the world and its Antichrist religion, and God has promised He will always preserve a Remnant -- and that Remnant is a Spiritual body -- not of the so called "church," as seen in the leavened loaf, but the only Remnant ever identified in Scripture.

"The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid" (Zephaniah 3:13).

For more on the true Identity of genuinely born again believers, listen to the short audio online at THE REMNANT IN ROMANS.