Lesson for May 20, 2020
Knowing the Bible
Lesson 2
Dispensations
Definition: A period of human history expressed in terms of divine viewpoint. The administration of God’s purpose for the human race, by which a person can adjust to the justice and righteousness of God.
God’s essence and character never change, however, the way in which He deals with mankind does change. The various changes in administration prove to Satan that God is just in condemning him to the Lake of Fire. For regardless of God’s dealing with mankind, God’s grace and perfect justice is proven over and over again. Therefore, for us as believers and students of the Word of God, it is essential that we understand dispensations in order to handle accurately the Word of God. Failure to do so results in misunderstanding of current divine guidance and creates apparent contradictions in divine mandates for the believer. Salvation is the same in every dispensation; faith alone in Christ alone.
Under the dispensation of Israel, animal sacrifice was mandated; we no longer sacrifice animals. Under the dispensation of the Gentiles, the father was the priest and represented his family and servants before God; in the Church Age we represent ourselves before God. Under the dispensation of Israel, believers were mandated to keep the Law of Moses, in our dispensation Christ has already fulfilled the Law of Moses and we now have a new law, the Law of Christ. Under the dispensation of the Gentiles and Israel, the Holy Spirit indwelt very few believers and could be taken away; in the Church Age, the Trinity indwells the believer permanently. Under the dispensation of the Millennium, Jesus Christ will rule the world system, not Satan. Under the dispensation of Israel, the Church Age was a total mystery. Under the dispensation of the Hypostatic Union, Christ offered the kingdom to Israel, but they rejected it. Therefore, much of what is in the Gospels is not written to believers of this age, though it all has application as does each book of the Bible. Under the dispensation of Israel, believers used the Faith-Rest Technique to fulfill God’s plan, we use the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine.
After you have accepted Christ as your Savior, what is God’s plan, purpose and will for you? If God does not have a plan for you after salvation, then why didn’t He simply take you to Heaven immediately? The fact is, God does have a plan for your life. However, God’s plan for the believer depends upon which period in history that person lives. In the period in which we live, we can know God and His will only through His Word, the Bible. Therefore, His plan for us after salvation is to learn and apply the Word of God (Bible Doctrine). Only by learning about God and His character, and then applying that truth to one’s life, can a believer truly appreciate and love Him. This is also the only way to develop a spiritual life. And, His will is revealed only in His Word. (Romans 8:32-39; I Peter 1:4-5; II Timothy 2:15; II Peter 3:18)
The Christian Way of Life is a supernatural way of life that requires supernatural thinking (the mind of Christ). This is accomplished under the concept of spiritual growth and is a process that requires the consistent intake and application of Bible doctrine. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT! Glorification of God is the goal and is one of the results of the transformed thinking of a believer in Jesus Christ. This transformation, however, is never the result of reformation. It is the result of renovation of the old way of thinking. To guide us in reaching our goal, God the Holy Spirit indwells the body and provides the supernatural power necessary to fulfill God’s plan and purpose. Proper understanding of God’s Word is foundational to the entire process. (Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 2:16; II Timothy 3:16-17; Philippians 2:5; Romans 8:29-30, 9:23-24; Ephesians 4:22-24)
One of the most foundational doctrines to understand as a believer in Christ is Dispensational Theology. The reason that we need to understand dispensations is that a dispensation is a divine administration of God’s plan for mankind by which we can adjust to the justice and righteousness of God. Though God Himself never changes, the way in which He administers His policies toward man does change. The various changes in God’s administration of His plan for mankind in different dispensations prove to Satan and his demons that God is fair in condemning them to the Lake of Fire. Salvation is the same for all dispensations: faith alone in Christ alone.
Within each dispensation, God’s will for mankind is always made clear. Man’s responsibility to fulfill or obey God’s will is revealed and there is always a time period in which to accomplish His will. Each dispensation is characterized by: 1) a test of man’s obedience to God’s will 2) failure to obey the revealed will of God and 3) divine judgment for the failure to obey His will.
We will classify human history into six dispensations and we will see that God’s plan is different for each. Lack of believing in or understanding dispensational theology leads to misinterpretation and misapplication of God’s Word. (James 1:17; Hebrews 6:17; Ephesians 1:10)
The six dispensations can be categorized into three types of dispensations, Theocentric, Christocentric and Eschatological. The Theocentric dispensations are The Age of the Gentiles and The Age of Israel and extend from Adam to the birth of Christ. The Christocentric dispensations are The Hypostatic Union and The Church Age and extend from the birth of Christ to the Rapture of the Church. The Eschatological dispensations are The Tribulation and The Millennium and extend from the Rapture of the Church to the end of human history.
The Dispensation of the Gentiles
(Genesis 1-11)
(4004 B.C. – 1689 B.C)
Characteristics:
- From Adam to Abraham
- Patriarchal priesthood – Father is priest of the family including servants.
- One universal language
- One race – Gentile
- One culture
Within the Dispensation of the Gentiles there are three divisions, which are sometimes classified as ages. The first is “Innocence” and extends from the creation of Adam to the Fall of Man. It is called Innocence because Adam and Eve were created perfect or innocent from the hand of God. The second is “Conscience” and extends from the Fall of Man to the Flood. It is called Conscience because mankind was no longer “perfect,” therefore, God used the human conscience as a ruling factor in the life of human beings. It is the human conscience that is influenced by God the Holy Spirit. The third is “Human Government” and extends from the Flood to the call of Abraham. Since man failed to obey God when ruled by his conscience and restrained by the Holy Spirit, God introduced Human Government to further restrain man and administer punishment to those that violated His divinely established laws.
The Age of Innocence – Genesis 1:26-3:24
God’s Will – To be fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth and the things in it and rule over them. Do not disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit.
Man’s Failure – Disobeying God by partaking of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (sin).
Divine Judgment – Spiritual death, eventual physical death, expulsion from the Garden of Eden, pain in childbearing and man must work by the sweat of his brow, Satan became the new ruler of this world system.
The Age of Conscience – Genesis 4:1-8:19
God’s Will – To honor God by obeying His mandates on the basis of the human conscience and the restraint of the Holy Spirit.
Man’s Failure – Cain refused to bring the proper sacrifice to God, which eventuated in the first murder in human history. The wickedness of man increased and “every imagination of man was continually evil” (Genesis 6:5). This means that every evil thing that man could think of was being done.
Divine Judgment – The universal flood to destroy all of mankind with the exception of Noah and his family.
The Age of Human Government – Genesis 8:20-11:32
God’s Will – To honor God and obey His mandates on the basis of the human conscience, the restraint of the Holy Spirit and human government.
Man’s Failure – Noah’s descendants failed to populate the earth but congregated at Babel in order to build a tower to reach God, representing human works or religion. (Genesis 11:4)
Divine Judgment – Up until this time there was a single universal language. God confused their language so they began to speak many different languages, which resulted in them being scattered, thus populating the earth.
The Dispensation of Israel
(Genesis 12 – Malachi 4)
(2126 B.C. – 397 B.C.)
Characteristics:
- From Abraham to the Birth of Christ
- Jewish nation established
- Levitical priesthood – tribe of Levi were priests
- Law of Moses given
- Many races
- Many languages
- Conditional and unconditional covenants given to Israel
- Holy Spirit temporarily indwells the believer
Within this dispensation we have two divisions or ages, “Promise” and “The Mosaic Law.” “Promise” covers the period from the call of Abraham to the giving of the Law of Moses. The promise is a covenant between God and Abraham. The promise concerns the birth of Isaac, the child of Abraham’s old age, a guarantee that Abraham’s family line would continue. It was a promise that Abraham would be the father of a great nation and that he would have a great name. There was also a promise that Abraham’s descendants would have the Promised Land, forever. “The Mosaic Law” was, of course, given to Moses for all of Israel after the previous ruling factors failed to bring them to Christ or produce the righteousness of God in the life of the believer. The Law was, therefore, given to show Israel their need for a Savior and to establish certain divine establishment principles.
The Age of Promise – Genesis 12- Exodus 18
God’s Will – To obey God and His mandates under conscience, restraint of the Holy Spirit, human government and promise from God.
Man’s Failure – Abraham and his descendants failed by disobeying God on several occasions. Abraham fathered Ishmael, which continues to be a source of conflict for Israel. The Jews failed to return to the land of Canaan (their place of destiny) after the famine ended in Joseph’s time.
Divine Judgment – In Egypt they were enslaved to a cruel pharaoh and threatened with extinction. Ishmael (Arab nations) has always been a “thorn in the flesh” of the Jew.
The Age of the Mosaic Law – Exodus 19-Malachi 4
God’s Will – To obey God on the basis of the ruling factors of Conscience, the restraint of the Holy Spirit, Human Government, Promise and the Mosaic Law.
Man’s Failure – The nation of Israel continually disobeyed God’s law, even going after other gods. The nation was split, and the majority of their kings were corrupt before God. The result was scar tissue and black out of the soul.
Divine Judgment – The nation suffered captivity under the Assyrians, the Babylonians and the Egyptians. The nation was divided and failed in their responsibility to disseminate the Gospel and the Word of God to the nations, which removed the blessing of God upon the nation.
The Dispensation of the Hypostatic Union
(Matthew 1 – Acts 1)
(4 B.C. – 33 A.D.)
Characteristics:
- From the Birth of Christ to the Ascension of Christ
- Christ proclaims the Kingdom to Israel
- Israel rejects the Messiah
- Christ prophesies the Church Age
- Christ lives a sinless life as an example to believers
- Christ introduces the New Covenant
- Death, burial and resurrection of Christ
- Christ fulfills the Mosaic Law
The Hypostatic Union of Christ is the union of deity and humanity in one person, Jesus Christ, forever. Not normally classified as a dispensation, it is a unique period in history and a transitional period of time when God administered His policies toward mankind on the basis of both law and grace. It must be pointed out that God’s grace has always been operational toward mankind but not always as a ruling factor. This dispensation, which separates Age of Israel from the Church Age, becomes the “springboard” into the Age of Grace.
God’s Will – Israel is to accept Jesus Christ as Messiah (Savior) and usher in the Kingdom of God.
Man’s Failure – Israel as a nation rejected Christ, delayed the setting up of God’s Kingdom on earth and crucified the Savior. Of course, we know that this was all a part of the divine plan to provide salvation for all mankind.
Divine Judgment – Worldwide dispersion of the Jew. Gentile nations replaced Israel as the client nation (one who acts on the behalf of another). A client nation is where freedom exists to guard and communicate the Word of God. Divine judgment was placed upon Christ for the sins of the world and the Kingdom of God was postponed until after the Tribulation.
The Dispensation of the Church
(Acts 2 – Revelation 4)
(33 A.D. – unknown date)
Characteristics:
- From Pentecost to the Rapture
- Royal Priesthood of the believer
- A mystery of the Old Testament revealed
- Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer
- Canon of Scripture completed
- Law of Christ introduced
- Exit of the Church as the Bride of Christ (Rapture)
The Dispensation of the Church is also called the Age of Grace, because mankind now has a new ruling factor from God. Introduced by Christ in the Dispensation of the Hypostatic Union, God’s grace has replaced the Mosaic Law as ruling factor in the life of mankind. Grace is defined as all that God is free to do for us on the basis of what Christ did for us on the Cross. Though God’s grace has always been, and always will be, operational in the life of every human being, in this dispensation it becomes the factor by which God administers His policies to mankind. 1) conscience, 2) the restraint of the Holy Spirit, 3) human government and 4) promise are also still valid ruling factors in this dispensation as well. It is only the Mosaic Law that has been superceded by grace. (Galatians 3:19-25; Romans 6:14; Titus 2:11-12)
God’s Will – To accept Christ as Savior and obey God on the basis of grace, because of what Christ has done for us, not in obedience to the Law of Moses. We have a new law, the Law of Christ. We are to follow His example and produce His character under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Man’s Failure – Rejection of grace by unbelievers for a “by works salvation” of religion, which is no salvation at all. Many believers fail to learn and apply the Word of God. Not learning God’s recovery system from sin, results in no spiritual life, no glorification of God, reversionistic and immature Christians.
Divine Judgment – The unbeliever’s judgment is reserved until after death. The believer, however, is dealt with as a child of God, receiving divine discipline in three stages: warning, intensive and premature death (the sin unto death). (Hebrews 12:5-13; I Corinthians 11:27-28)
The Dispensation of the Tribulation
(Revelation 5 – 20)
(Dates unknown)
Characteristics:
- From the Rapture to the Second Coming of Christ
- A period of seven years continued from the Dispensation of Israel
- Holy Spirit removed (all restraint of sin is gone temporarily)
- Satan attempts to set up his own millennium and fails
- It is a time of great persecution of the Jews
- Ends with the Battle of Armageddon
- Satan is bound for a thousand years
This dispensation is, in reality, the last seven years of the Dispensation of Israel, which was delayed until after the Church Age. This age is also called the “Seventieth Week of Daniel,” fulfilling a prophecy recorded in the Old Testament book of Daniel. The Church will be taken out of the world prior to this dispensation by the Rapture. Many who remain will believe in Christ during this period. It is during this dispensation that we see the Antichrist, the False Prophet, the Mark of the Beast, etc. It will be a time of great persecution for believers, especially the Jews, and culminate with the Second Coming of Christ to destroy the Antichrist, the False Prophet and all unbelievers. Only believers will remain alive and go into the Millennium.
God’s Will – Since this is the continuation of the Dispensation of Israel, God’s Will is to obey God and His mandates under the ruling factors of conscience, the restraint of the Holy Spirit, human government, promise and the Mosaic Law. One new mandate will be added: do not take the Mark of the Beast.
Man’s Failure – Many will utterly fail in this dispensation by taking the Mark of the Beast, which is tantamount to rejection of Christ as Savior. Upon rejection of Christ much of the human race will worship and serve the Antichrist as god.
Divine Judgment – Many will be killed during this period in the last half of the Tribulation, as violence becomes the method of the Antichrist to control the world. The culmination will be the coming of Jesus Christ with His army to destroy the Antichrist, the False Prophet and all that oppose God (unbelievers). Satan will also be bound at this time for a thousand years.
The Dispensation of the Millennium
(Revelation 21-22)
Characteristics:
- From the Second Coming of Christ to the Great White Throne Judgment
- Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest
- Christ rules on earth
- Resurrected believers will reign with Christ
- Universal peace will exist
- Universal prosperity will abound
- Longevity of life
- Perfect environment
- All covenants to Israel will be fulfilled
- Universal knowledge of God
During this age there will be three ruling factors: conscience, human government and the theocratic rule of Jesus Christ. This dispensation is the time in which “the lion will lie down with the lamb,” as peace will be restored to the animal kingdom. It will be a time of universal peace on earth, as all crime will be dealt with swiftly and severely under capital punishment. The nations that refuse to worship Christ will be punished. (Isaiah 11:3-4; 29:20-21; Zechariah 14:16-19)
God’s Will – Obey the righteous rule of Christ, live at peace, worship and serve God.
Man’s Failure – Many that are born during this dispensation will reject Christ as Savior and outwardly refuse to obey His rule. Others will inwardly do the same and many of both groups will join Satan in the final battle against God at the end of this period. This should be an excellent lesson for us, that perfect environment and peace on earth cannot solve the problem of man’s sin nature.
Divine Judgment – God and His army of believers will destroy Satan’s army and Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. This will be the final proof to Satan and all fallen angels that God is just and righteous in His sentence. The Angelic Conflict will be resolved forever. (Isaiah 11:3-4; Jeremiah 21:29-30; Revelation 20:9-10)