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.

Principle: God’s essence and character never changes, 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 rightly divide or 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, we use I John 1:9. 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, in our dispensation Christ has already fulfilled the Law 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 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.

There have been and still are various ways in which to classify the dispensations. For our study and understanding the following is the way in which I will classify them:

1. Dispensation of the Gentiles- Genesis 1-11
1. From Adam to Abraham
2. Patriarchal priesthood
3. One Language: unknown
4. One Race: Gentile
5. One Culture
2. Dispensation of Israel- Genesis 12 thru Malachi 4
1. From Abraham to the Birth of Jesus Christ
2. Jewish nation established
3. Levitical priesthood
4. Law of Moses (includes the Ten Commandments)
5. Many Races
6. Many Languages (Tower of Babel)
7. Conditional and Unconditional Covenants given to Israel
8. Holy Spirit temporarily indwells the believer (enduement)
3. Dispensation of the Hypostatic Union- Matthew 1 thru Acts 1
1. From the Birth of Jesus Christ to the ascension of Jesus Christ
2. Christ proclaims the Kingdom to Israel
3. Israel rejects the Messiah
4. Christ prophesies the Church Age
5. Christ lives a sinless life as an example to believers
6. New Covenant
7. Death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
8. Christ fulfills the Mosaic Law
4. Dispensation of the Church- Acts 2 thru Revelation 4
1. From Pentecost to the Rapture
2. Royal Priesthood of the believer
3. A mystery in the Old Testament revealed
4. Holy Spirit permanently indwells the believer
5. Canon of Scripture completed
6. Law of Christ
7. Exit of the Church as the bride of Christ (Rapture)
5. Dispensation of the Tribulation- Revelation 5-20
1. From the Rapture to the Second Coming
2. A seven years period continued from the Dispensation of Israel
3. Holy Spirit removed (all restraint of sin is gone)
4. Satan attempts to set up his own millennium (world peace, etc.) and fails
5. Anti-Christ is revealed after 3 ½ years and sets up his throne in the
6. Temple
7. Time of great persecution of the Jews
8. The battle of Armageddon
9. Satan bound for a thousand years
6. Dispensation of the Millennium- Revelation 21-22
1. From the Second Coming to the Great White Throne Judgment
2. Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest
3. Christ rules on earth
4. Universal peace
5. Universal prosperity
6. Longevity of life
7. Perfect environment
8. All covenants to Israel fulfilled
9. Universal knowledge of God